Shot during a four-day ride around the hills above Lyon, France, this charming 10-minute video from Thomas Silva paints a portrait of Paul de Vive, better known as Vélocio, an iconic trailblazer in the world of bicycle touring. Watch the video and review his Seven Commandments for the Wise Cyclist here…

Born in 1853, Frenchman Paul de Vive devoted his life to spreading the joys of traveling far and wide by bicycle. He was an incredibly dedicated and accomplished rider, an inventor and innovator, and an early proponent of the derailleur. Many credit him as the father of bicycle touring, and his legacy has inspired countless people throughout the years.

  • Paul de Vivie (Vélocio) est passé par là
  • Paul de Vivie (Vélocio) est passé par là

One such person is Thomas Silva, who recently took a slow and contemplative 350-kilometer journey from Paul de Vive’s home village of Pernes-les-Fontaines to his grave in the hills near Lyon, sharing a little about the storied figure and recounting his seven commandments along the way. Watch his wonderfully shot and edited tribute below (in French with English subtitles), followed by Vélocio’s time-tested Seven Commandments, as shared by Randonneurs USA back in 2009.

  • Paul de Vivie (Vélocio) est passé par là
  • Paul de Vivie (Vélocio) est passé par là
  • Paul de Vivie (Vélocio) est passé par là

Velocio’s Seven Commandments

  1. Make your stops short and infrequent so as not to lose your drive.
  2. Eat lightly and often. Eat before getting hungry, drink before you are thirsty.
  3. Never ride until you are so tired that you cannot eat or sleep.
  4. Put on extra clothing before you’re cold, and take it off before you’re hot.
  5. Don’t drink wine, eat meat, or smoke—at least during the ride.
  6. Never rush things. Ride within yourself, particularly during the first few hours of a ride when you feel strong and are tempted to force the pace.
  7. Never pedal out of vanity, don’t be a show-off.

Further Reading

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