Aurelien in Nantes, France enjoying the lovely weather, 19 degrees for February!

Nineteen degrees in February. Aurelien picked the right day for a ride along the Loire.

That smile says everything about what a bamboo bike brings to the experience. This isn't training, it isn't commuting, it isn't exercise ticked off a to-do list. It's simply enjoying being on a bike, in beautiful surroundings, on an unexpectedly warm winter day.

The setting is pure western France — reed beds, calm water, that distinctive low-angle winter light that makes everything golden. Nantes sits at the confluence of the Loire and the Erdre, surrounded by this kind of waterside cycling terrain.

The bike itself is understated. Natural bamboo, clean lines, drop bars wrapped in what looks like white tape. No flashy components or attention-seeking colours. It fits the scene rather than dominating it.

Our French builders have always had a particular sensibility. There's something about combining traditional craft with the cycling culture that runs so deep in France. From Tour stages to village vélo clubs, bikes mean something here.

The puffy jacket and trainers say this is casual riding, not a training session. The kind of ride where you stop to take photos, maybe find a café, let the route unfold rather than following a plan. That's what 19 degrees in February calls for. ☀️