Video: Local Customs, Stunning Scenery & Great Riding in Central France
Words: Tristan Deggan
Releasing this video feels like I’m spilling the beans on a juicy secret… I’m from Vancouver but also grew up part of the year in Central France where I have taken my bike on countless adventures. The “Massif Central” of France is a place I am very attached to and few people from outside the region know just how incredible the bike trails are. At first glance you might have difficulty finding much (there’s basically no trails mapped on Trailforks). You’d be easily forgiven for leaving the bike at home and going on one of the thousands of hikes that the area is known for, but if you connect with some of the local rider, maybe bribe them with a Pain au Chocolat it’s likely that the Auvergne will make it on your top 10 places to visit.
I’m drawn back to the rugged no-bullshit attitude people have in these mountains, and it’s obvious that those who live and ride there are proud to call it home. Riding through these landscapes, it’s quite humbling to experience a place that feels like your life is a quick blip in its long history. Looking up from my bars and seeing the 12th century “Château de Murol” marking the horizon, riding down century-old paths that once were the economic and social arteries connecting villages to each other or shuttling up the Mont Dore in the still working all wood and metal hillside elevator built in 1898, now classed in the “Monuments Historiques” reminds us to pause and reflect on the moment.
And that is why this place, shaped by now extinct volcanoes, is so special to me. If you see this video, share it with a friend and if you are ever near Central France make sure to bring a bike and a few euros for coffee. Heck - buy a beat up Peugeot to cruise around, chat with the locals and eat a Truffade after a long day. That’s what I did for the past six months and I have made some incredible lifelong memories! -Tristan Deggan.
Mountain biking has brought an immense amount of happiness into my life, a joy that is almost beyond words, and I thoroughly enjoy sharing that joy to others. I am very attached to the place where I was born, so being able to share it through this video is an absolute pleasure. Filming with Tristan is simply amazing! We share the same vision of cycling, and with this video, we wanted to convey the same message. We are truly delighted to share the magic of the Auvergne trails with you." -Gabriel Magnaval.
Check out Tristan's Youtube, Instagram tristandeggan_mtb and @gabriel__mgl.
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Member since Jul 17, 2014
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If you want you don't even need to add content, just by linking your Garmin, Wahoo or Strava account to TF your activities will sync to the platform and per each activity you get 0.3 points, per each POI you pass through you get 0.2, per each check in on a trail head you get 0.1, per each mark ridden trail you get 0.2 points, per each vote you get 0.5points. And if you want to get those points quickly you can add content, trails, routes, photos, videos, reports after your rides so the trail builders know the current status of the trail and act on it.
And by the way, the web site is COMPLETELY FREE, so go ahead, use it on your cell phone, there you have, all the trails of the world in your hand. You are welcome.
"stop handing your agency to corporations" the last thing I'll say on this, feel free to put your money where your mouth is and make a free, open source app to replace Trailforks. Or just gurn on pinkbike about them not running Trailforks for free, whatever works.
I lived in Auvergne, Puy-de-Dôme, 15 years ago and sometimes I miss these mystic landscapes and the strong personnality of its people and culture. You've made want to go back there, also because they have the best cheeses in France (St Nectaire, Gaperon, Salers... :-)
If you're ever in the area again shoot me a message on IG!
Bonne chocolatine au chocolat!!!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0j9dTBJWWE
or this
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KAKxC1ORoc&list=PLUfzktmsmNRzmd1G0Y7GPtE4j1MEIGXjK
Don’t dis Americans when they spittin their game,
This is Pinkbike so I’ll keep it kinda tame,
Your comment really sucks, AKA it’s pretty lame.
But let me circle round to my time in Gothenburg,
I turned on the radio and it sounded quite absurd,
“Ya sure ya betcha” was what I think I thought I heard,
I laughed so hard, I almost dropped a turd,
So the point of this rhyme is that we’re all unique,
Some like it normal and others just want a freak,
But when it comes to bikes, we always wrench and tweak,
And climb so hard that we can barely speak,
So next time you’re out in the P-N-Dub,
Drop me a line and we’ll get some grub,
I’ll take you on a ride and then to the pub,
And if you then like rap, we’ll hit the club.