The episode in detail
Building an authentic cycling community on Instagram
Marie Ravey, known as Une Particule, has gathered more than 10,000 followers on Instagram around urban cycling and bike travel in France. Her recipe: transparency. Sharing the struggles as much as the wins, showing her flaws rather than smoothing over a perfect image. At 26, she stands by carefully crafted content that brings real value to her community.
“My biggest reward is women writing to me and saying: thanks to you, I did my first 100 km ride today.”
Every post follows a clear intention. When Marie documents a bike route in the Vercors, she doesn’t just post nice photos: she shares the GPS track, the nearest station, the logistical advice. The kind of information that turns a viewer into a cyclist.
The culture of emptiness: why bike content needs to add value
Marie contrasts her approach with what she calls the “culture of emptiness”, content on TikTok and Instagram that leaves nothing behind for its audience: creators who show themselves without passing anything on, dubious partnerships with dropshipping products, a constant stream of noise with no substance.
“I don’t want to add to that pile pointlessly. I want every piece of content to have real use.”
This standard comes at a cost: Marie posts less often than other creators. But every post carries a considered message, whether it’s promoting local travel by train and bike, showing a courier’s daily life, or giving other women the confidence to get started.
Cycling collective in Lyon: the birth of the Mâchon Cycling Club
The Mâchon Cycling Club started from a simple wish: to ride as a group in Lyon, every Thursday evening. Within a few months, the weekly meet-up had grown to a scale Marie could no longer manage alone. She then structured the project as an association, with a six-person board and a smooth-running system: two riders opening and two closing the route on every ride so nobody gets left behind.
The numbers speak for themselves: around twenty participants in the depths of winter snow, 40 to 50 in good weather, and a peak of 80 cyclists at the back-to-school ride. The association meets once a month to review progress and plan upcoming events.
Bikes and terroir: the Lyon collective’s identity
The Mâchon Cycling Club isn’t just about sport. The group has a strong connection with the Lyon terroir. A ride around the time of Beaujolais Nouveau includes a stop at a winemaker’s for a tasting. The association is also preparing its first proper mâchon, the traditional Lyonnais morning meal. Mechanics workshops are in the works to teach members basic bike maintenance.
“We’re mates and we want to do cool things together. Bikes and terroir, that’s great.”
The goal for 2024: for members to get real value from their membership, beyond the simple pleasure of riding together.
Lyon’s ride groups: an overview for every kind of riding
Lyon has several regular cycling collectives. Team Kayllou rides on Wednesdays, focused on gravel. Impacted Gear runs urban rides the same evening, historically fixed gear but open to all bikes, with a relaxed, trick-riding vibe. Le Shop Grimpeur organises road rides on Sunday mornings with three pace groups for the more sporty riders.
Each group has its own personality. The Mâchon Cycling Club stands out for having no performance element at all: the last rider is always waited for, the pace stays relaxed, and each ride ends with a social moment.
Fixed gear in the city: feel and anticipation
Marie rides fixed gear, a bike with no freewheel or derailleur, where the pedals keep turning with the rear wheel at all times. Her advice for beginners: keep a front brake for safety and practise off the road first, in a park. The key is anticipating when to brake rather than making emergency stops.
Beyond the technique, fixed gear appeals through its minimalism. No cassette, no derailleur, a stripped-back bike with a strong look. A way of riding that creates a direct physical link between the cyclist and the wheel.
Pignon Particulier: a podcast for ordinary cyclists
A keen podcast listener, Marie didn’t see herself reflected in what was already out there, too focused on ultra-distance feats. She launched Pignon Particulier on 30 October to put the spotlight on ordinary cyclists with unusual stories: house moves by bike, setting up associations, bike polo.
“I want to take ordinary people and get them to tell their unusual stories.”
The project reflects the same philosophy as her Instagram account: showing that cycling goes beyond sport, that it touches on daily life, community and identity.
Travelling locally: train and bike over the plane
Marie only travels by train and bike, never by plane. Not out of showy activism, but out of conviction and budget. She documents her trips around France to show that you don’t need to travel far to have cycling adventures. The Vercors, the Beaujolais and the roads around Lyon are more than enough.
“I converted my parents to bike travel. They take the train now instead of the car.”
Her ambition: to develop partnerships with tourism boards and regional bodies to professionalise this approach and encourage more people to discover France by bike, station by station.
