Hi, well I'm from San Diego but spent alot of time in Marin over the years. I lived there full time from 2004-2007. The road can be alot of fun, but I also has some very close calls - with deer on foggy nights and with crazy drivers on wet roads. I almost always took hwy 1 along the coast to go to work and went back over panoramic. Hwy 1 in the early morning was always fantastic, especially when you break out of the fog and no one on the road.
I've been in Paris for 5 years. Don't know Montpellier at all, but I've been down to the Var a couple of times. My riding mostly involves negotiating Parisian traffic, although every once in while I get out on the road just for fun. I should have my new bike on Saturday morning, then I'll take it out for a good 'rodage'. I'm getting it from the same shop where I bought the '08. They will take the trade in and gave me a fairly good deal on the 2012. I'll post a few pics when I get the bike.
Cheers,
Paul
pjcaetano@yahoo.com