How many of you have gone on a hostelling trip?
As I anticipated my first bike trip abroad, I told people I was going to stay in hostels, at least for part of my trip. In those days, most Americans--at least those I knew--had no idea of what a hostel was. What's really funny, in retrospect, is that some of the grown-ups in my life (I thought I was one; now I know I wasn't!) were actually more worried about that than about my plan to camp on nights when I didn't stay in hostels.
Actually, I didn't bring camping equipment with me, save for a sleeping bag and Swiss Army knife. On those nights when I "camped", I slept under bridges, overhangs or the stars (or clouds).
In the months leading up to that trip, I pored over hostel guides. In one of them, I found out that there was actually such a thing as a hosteling bike. In fact, the French bike company Gitane actually made a model called "The Hosteler."
When hosteling, one doesn't have to carry quite as much equipment as is necessary for camping. So, a hosteler probably can get away with riding a lighter bike with a somewhat shorter wheelbase-- and, while he or she would need sturdy pannier racks, they probably wouldn't have to be quite as strong as a camper would need.
BQNnKBRVl!~~60_57.JPG)
At least, that's what I surmised when I saw the one and only Gitane Hosteler I ever saw. It looked like a nice bike, and I expect that it would be, as Gitane made some well-designed and crafted bikes. (However, you never knew what components you'd get on your Gitane: They had a reputation for using whatever they had on hand. So, as an example, one model came with Huret Allvit, Simplex Prestige, Huret Svelto and Campagnolo Valentino rear deraileurs--all within the same model year!)
Anyway, I indulged in a few memories on coming across the photo I've included in this post. The owner of the Gitane Hosteler had just had it restored. However, I don't think there are any original parts on it! Still, it's a fine bike for hosteling. If anything, the modern drivetrain components made it even better.
As I anticipated my first bike trip abroad, I told people I was going to stay in hostels, at least for part of my trip. In those days, most Americans--at least those I knew--had no idea of what a hostel was. What's really funny, in retrospect, is that some of the grown-ups in my life (I thought I was one; now I know I wasn't!) were actually more worried about that than about my plan to camp on nights when I didn't stay in hostels.
Actually, I didn't bring camping equipment with me, save for a sleeping bag and Swiss Army knife. On those nights when I "camped", I slept under bridges, overhangs or the stars (or clouds).
In the months leading up to that trip, I pored over hostel guides. In one of them, I found out that there was actually such a thing as a hosteling bike. In fact, the French bike company Gitane actually made a model called "The Hosteler."
When hosteling, one doesn't have to carry quite as much equipment as is necessary for camping. So, a hosteler probably can get away with riding a lighter bike with a somewhat shorter wheelbase-- and, while he or she would need sturdy pannier racks, they probably wouldn't have to be quite as strong as a camper would need.
BQNnKBRVl!~~60_57.JPG)
At least, that's what I surmised when I saw the one and only Gitane Hosteler I ever saw. It looked like a nice bike, and I expect that it would be, as Gitane made some well-designed and crafted bikes. (However, you never knew what components you'd get on your Gitane: They had a reputation for using whatever they had on hand. So, as an example, one model came with Huret Allvit, Simplex Prestige, Huret Svelto and Campagnolo Valentino rear deraileurs--all within the same model year!)
Anyway, I indulged in a few memories on coming across the photo I've included in this post. The owner of the Gitane Hosteler had just had it restored. However, I don't think there are any original parts on it! Still, it's a fine bike for hosteling. If anything, the modern drivetrain components made it even better.
