> I'm not sure about the rest of Europe, but > everything I've read and heard indicates > that in France there has always been a very > strong sport/leisure/touring cycling tradition.
This is about to veer off topic so I'll keep it brief. It may very well be that most cycle touring innovations were developed in France but I can also tell you from personal experience that, by the 1970s, any cycle tourist in France was presumed to be a foreigner. Occasionally, you might find 3 or 4 French guys on racing bikes followed by a Citroen 2CV (or motorcycle) carrying their gear. Otherwise, even someone touring on a French bike is usually assumed to be from Germany or Britain. (And also from my experience, that is the case apart from the odd American, Dutch or Swede.) Cheers, Fred "erstwhile odd American" Rednor - Arlington, Virginia
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