HOW TO: speak french in a bike shop
With thousands of English mountain bikers coming to enjoy Morzine, Les Gets and Avoriaz each summer for their magnificent trails, there is of course the need to visit a bike shop, either to arrange your rentals bikes or get yours fixed.
The French owners and staff in all the shops in the region speak English which is great, but…….. It’s kind of polite to try a little French, so we’ve put together this handy guide to help you along the way!
Useful Phrases:
Hello! I’m sorry I don’t speak much French, can you help me please? - Bonjour, je suis désolé de ne pas parler beaucoup français, pourriez-vous m'aider s'il vous plaît ?
Do you speak English? Parlez-vous Anglais?
Do you have…..? Avez-Vous
How much is it…? C’est combien?
Smashed my wheel to pieces - C’est F***ed!
Yes I know, I am an idiot - Oui, je sais que je suis un idiot
Can you bleed my brakes - Pourriez-vous purger mes freins ?
How much to build me a new wheel? - Quel est le prix d'une nouvelle roue ?
Can you change to English brakes - Est-il possible de changer les freins pour des freins anglais ?
This is the best MTB bike shop I’ve ever been to - C'est le meilleur magasin de VTT que j'ai jamais visité
Is this beer or cider? C'est de la bière ou du cidre ?
Expected response: Its brake fluid mate, can’t help you - C'est du liquide de frein, mec, je peux pas t'aider
Please - S'il vous plaît
Are you joking? - C’est une blague?
Thank you - Merci
I love France - J’adore la France
I’m drunk - Je suis bourré
Where is the medical centre - Où se trouve le centre médical ?
Left - À gauche
Right - À droite
Rise - de hauteur
Do you have a bus timetable? - Avez-vous un horaire de bus ?
Expected response: No but try here - Non, mais essayez ici Bus Timetable Morzine and Les Gets
I keep hearing this noise - J'entends constamment ce bruit
Expected response: New bike mate
Best Restaurants? Morzine here and Les Gets here
Top Tip: When you ask for new spokes and they say “Yes sure what size?” do not say “It’s a 29er” - what they mean is what size spokes would you like. You got that?!
Components / Parts / Tools / Clothing / Accessories
Spokes - Rayons
Wheels - Roues
Tyres - Pneus
Discs - Rotors
Six hole or centre lock - Six trous ou centre lock
Handlebar - Guidon
HeadTube - Tube direction
Brake Lever - Levier de frein
1 finger lever, 2 finger lever - Levier à 1 doigt, Levier à 2 doigts
Frame - Cadre
Seat - Selle
Seat Post - Tige de selle
Grips - Poignées
Allen Key - Clé Allen
Pliers - Pince
Puncture - Crevaison
Tubeless Sealant - Liquide preventif / sealant
Inner Tube - Chambre à air
Nuts / Screws - Vis
Pump - Pompe
Riding Pants - Pantalons
Jersey - Maillot
Shoes - Chaussures
Socks - Chaussettes
Protection - Protection
Chest - Poitrine
Boa - Boa
Sunglasses - Lunettes
Helmet - Casque
Gloves - Gants
24 - Vingt Quatre
26 - Vingt Six
27 - Vingt Sept
28 - Vingt Huit
29 - Vingt Neuf
30 - Trente
32 - Trente Deux
35 - Trente Cinq
you get the gist?
Thanks alot, this is great. Merci, c’est super! And there you go, you don’t need to be fluent, but this should help and a little goes a long way. Bon ride!