A tale of two cities...

Spotted this bicycle in Glasgow last week with copper mudguards - asking to be stolen? 

Compare this one spotted in Paris that probably won't be!

More recycling...

Spotted while on our recent 'Randonnée des crêpes' in Etableau.

See more bicycle pics here

Recycling...

Bike bought at Sunday's brocante 'inaction'

More recycling...

Like the way nearby Lesigny are using these old bicycles as floral displays...thought they were only a temporary but looks as if they may be here for the summer.

On yer bike...

If you are a cyclist then this weekend you want to be around Saumur as not only is there the 'La Fête du Vélo en Anjou' - a weekend when, according to the local tourist board, 20,000 cyclists (and roller bladers!) pedal (and skate) their way along 120 km of 'reserved' roads on both banks of the river Loire between Montsoreau and Bouchemaine - but also the annual 'Anjou Vélo Vintage' in Saumur itself.

(Credit: Coralie Pilard)

The Saumur event promises a nostalgic look at the bicycle up until 1985 (don't know what happened after that) along with all things retro. Last year we popped over just after the event to see what they had been up to...we are not cyclists but it looked as if the town really gets behind the event in a big way..

More recycling...

At antique shop in Monsoreau.

Bikes in tandem...

On a drive through Montsoreau recently we spotted this pair of bicycles outside a restaurant, two for the price of one for my Pinterest bicycles.

Another one for re-cycling...

Bicycle in new friends Dennis and Angela's garden in the countryside near Maire. 

Have added it to my collection here

Re-cycling to a fine art...

When we visited Saumur on Friday they were preparing for their 3rd annual Anjou Vélo vintage weekend  a weekend of celebrating the bicycle and all things 'vintage'. Many of the local shops  had window dressings to support the theme. 

There was also an art 'installation' utilising one of the many tanks from the nearby museum and old bike parts 

It was still work in progress with the 'artists' selecting items from a pile of old bikes and then tossing them on the tank...art eh!

Here is the promotional video they used for the event ...quite charming.

 We couldn't attend due to 'changeover' on Saturday  and a trip to Tours airport on Sunday to take our son Paul for his flight home. There's always next year!

Cyclemental...

Another one for my collection, bicycle used by one of my neighbours to get to his allotment. Love the addition of the wooden carrier box, adding to the list of materials used in its construction.

Re-cycling...

This little solid tyre bicycle was on sale at Sunday's brocante, now,with a little care and attention...

On your bike...

Bicycles are as you can imagine are  a big part of the Dutch transport system with no better example than in Amsterdam itself where you cannot avoid them!... 

...this one is either for a baby with very long legs or a very brave parent.

Left over from the sixties?

Bike on-board.

In the pink.

White write...with its newsprint chain guard.

 Now where did I leave my bike?

 Elegance on two wheels.

.A place to rest your head...

By the time we arrived at our hotel (10pm) in the museum quarter of Amsterdam we were a bit out of sorts after our travelling but we still managed to head into the city centre for a meal in a good little Italian restaurant   

before heading back to our charming little street.

Our room was small but we decided as we would not be spending a great deal of time in it, it would do...

...that was before we spent an uncomfortable night in a bed that we discovered had started life as a single bed and had been given a rather crude extension - they moved us to a much superior room after breakfast. 

In the top picture there are a couple of things to point out that we saw as very characteristic elements of the city. The protruding beam from the rooftop that aids furniture movements...

...and the ability of the locals to cycle and hold an umbrella.

Re-cycling...

Spotted for sale at the 'Jam Festival' at Abilly  a bit of (re)cycling on the bridge.