Paris 2024 Day 1 and Day 2

What was it like on Saturday? Rain all day, the plan was to visit the individual time trial. I did that too, despite the rain. Before that I had to service my brakes, I had no more braking power at the rear, so I had to replace the pads. For your information (so that I don't forget), brake pads that specify a side direction are always in the direction of travel, so left is inside. After I had to google it hard and then rebuild it again, I was finally ready and could start. What I noticed on the way when I wanted to brake was that you should also brake in new pads. It was close! No sooner said than done, I kept accelerating to 30 - 40 km/h and braking. It soon looked almost too good. A few kilometers further on, I wanted to brake at a crosswalk and my brakes were a bit too strong and I slid around the bend. That's just the way it is. I chose a spot in a park for the race. I caught the last two riders from the women's race. And then it was time to wait in the rain. At the park, at a bend, behind a barrier surrounded by a lot of police and at some point it started, first the obligatory sweeper, then several journalists' cars and police and then one driver after the other. Very carefully into the bend, with a slippery crosswalk and accelerating out of it. I was standing maybe 20 meters away from the bend, and they were already speeding up again, unbelievable. Unfortunately, the lighting conditions weren't the best, so the photos didn't turn out the best. Anyway, being there is everything. Then it was already over and for me it was back to my accommodation, in the rain, in front of the TV, watching the swimming gold medal. The next day I only had a ticket for the women's soccer match between Brazil and Japan in the afternoon. In the run-up (18 months ago) it wasn't yet clear who was playing where, so I just bought tickets by chance. I had also bought tickets for mountain biking, but unfortunately I made a mistake there and bought wheelchair tickets by mistake, which I returned, but therefore didn't have an event for the morning. You are provided with very good information about events and how to get there. There is an app for everything. Above all, there is at least one bike parking lot at every event location, guarded and free of charge. I was stupidly told at work how stupid I was to take my bike with me. Yes, you only pay €50 a day for your SUV in Paris, I'm on the road for free. This toxic academic environment, no matter what you do, you'll be treated with hostility. That's just the way it is. There's nothing you can do but laugh. So I had all the information together and entered the stadium into the satnav and off I went. I soon arrived at the Stade de France, parked my bike in the free parking lot, went through the first security gate and wanted to get into the stadium. I was a bit surprised why there was already such a good atmosphere inside, it was still about an hour until kick-off and why so many France fans were running around? Went to the ticket control and wasn't let in. There was a lot of excitement around me, which soon died down, I was at the wrong stadium. I had to go to the Prinzenpark, which was about 15 km away. So I got back on my bike and sped off to the other stadium. I had entered the wrong stadium into the satnav. A typical Dr. Hübner. 30 minutes and countless red lights later, I was at the other bike parking lot and then soon through security and ticket and security again and just in time for kick-off, my butt was sitting in my seat and one wave of laughter after another washed over me. The game, remarkable. Brazil forgot to close the bag and Japan won luckily. Then out again, pick up my bike and head home. Paris is not as flat as you think and the way out was not along the Seine but a route I had already ridden a week ago. Somehow around the airport and then I was already home. All in all, I'm probably a bit too far out, but no matter, it's nice and cheap and sporty. Tonight I'm going to volleyball (my lunchtime session, again mountain biking, will be canceled for the reasons mentioned above), probably by public transport again this time. Social media makes it possible for me to meet up with old friends who are also in Paris tonight, in that sense.