We all know someone, a colleague or a relative, for example, who has decided to make the few minutes of journey that separates him from his work by bicycle. Because yes, coming to work by bike is a trend that, in town, is meeting more and more success.
In the countryside, a little less. The longer distances between homes and places of work, both in number of kilometers and in travel time, are not likely to encourage the use of bicycles. And yet, in Mirebeau-sur-Bèze, north-east of Dijon, Pierre-Yves Goux chose to give up the car to reach his place of work in Dijon, 26 km further. A distance he covers at least three times a week on an electric bike!
Rethink how you go to work
A little journey for this webmaster at the Côte-d’Or departmental council, which began a year ago with a particular event: “At the start of 2022, my car was simply stolen. So I had to completely rethink my way of going to work” says the main interested party. During the first weeks, he chooses public transport, but changes his mind very quickly. “I’ve always been sporty so I thought to myself, why not invest in an electric bike, now might be the time!”.
Pierre-Yves Goux therefore buys a Lapierre bicycle and, last March, he made his first trip Mirebeau-sur-Bèze – Dijon. A remarkable first. “It was magnificent. I usually leave around 6:15 a.m. The sun rises, we hear the birds, there is sometimes a little mist. We really rediscover our territory, it’s very pleasant in addition to being ecological. And then, we have less effort to provide than on a classic bike, so we don’t arrive at the office swimming, which is a plus”.
They see me as an extraterrestrial
Since then, the webmaster no longer descends from his saddle and has built a small reputation as an adventurer in his workplace : “Of course, I have a lot of colleagues who come by bike, but they don’t do a 2 hour round trip like me. I’m seen a bit like an alien” laughs Pierre-Yves Goux.
An alien who completely melted for his electric bike : “I haven’t bought a car, no. Why? The electric bike has really become addictive for me. I couldn’t live without it because it’s the only activity that allows me to combine work , pleasure and leisure”.
– Antoine Comte
Leisure yes, because Pierre-Yves Goux’s wife also fell for the electric bike : “Now we also use the bikes on the weekends to go sightseeing or for walks. Having the electric assistance allows us to go further, to places where before we would have gone by car. That has totally changed the way we move on a daily basis”.
Padded saddle and spare clothes
Ecology, sport, outdoor activities, connection with nature, etc. So are there any downsides to e-bikes? “If you look carefully, you can find some, smiles Pierre-Yves Goux. Already, with 26 km to go, it is better to invest in a padded saddle. And then when you pedal in winter at 6 a.m., you need gloves and warm clothes”. Moreover, the fifty-year-old never leaves two things when he rides: his ski helmet, “because it warms the ears”and his backpack, in which he stores “clean clothes to change into once you arrive”.
But beware, Pierre-Yves Goux allows himself all the same a little infidelity to his dear electric bike : “When it rains too much, I take the bus” he admits with a smile, looking out of the corner of his eye at his two wheels, stored in the garage, loading. Because yes, tomorrow, we will have to go back to work… by bike!