Paris-based cyclist, adventurer, model, and co-founder of the Quiet Hiking Club, Jeanne Toinon represents a distinctly modern kind of cycle chic—one that moves easily between city streets and wilder terrain without treating them as separate worlds. Based in Paris, she is part of a growing wave of riders who see cycling less as a category of sport or transport, and more as an extension of personal style, curiosity, and everyday life.
Whether she’s navigating the capital on two wheels or stepping into creative projects that bridge outdoor culture and fashion, Jeanne brings a calm and vibrant energy to everything she does. As co-founder of the Quiet Hiking Club, she’s also helped build a space for slowing down and reconnecting with nature—an ethos that subtly informs her approach to riding in the city.
In a place as dynamic as Paris, Jeanne’s perspective stands out for its balance of practicality and imagination. Cycling, for her, is not defined by one style or setting, but by the freedom to move fluidly between them.
What is your bike style?
A mix of outdoor clothing, vintage pieces and slightly more girly items. I like being able to go from a café in Paris to a gravel trail without having to change.
What are your favorite clothes to bike in?
First and foremost, clothes that make me feel good. After that, it completely depends on the bike and the ride. If I’m taking my everyday bike or my cargo bike to run errands or head to an event, I can easily wear a skirt and heels. But if I’m going gravel riding, I definitely adapt my outfit a little.
Where are we most likely to spot your bike?
On the streets of Paris… or on a little country road whenever I get the chance to leave the city.
What do you like most about riding?
Freedom. A bike turns every ride into an adventure.
What is your dream bike for everyday cycling?
My dream would actually be to choose a different bike every day depending on my mood or what I have planned: a cargo bike, a gravel bike, a mountain bike with big tires… Every bike makes you want a different kind of day.
How would your friends describe your bike style?
They’d probably say I’m a little zinzin. It’s a French expression that means “cute crazy.”
Jeanne Toinon
How often do you ride each week?
Every day.
Do you have a favourite pre-ride ritual?
Not really. I just make sure I have water with me.
Any hidden bike-friendly gems in your city you can’t resist visiting?
The banks of the Marne River or the little roads around the Bois de Vincennes. You completely forget you’re in Paris.
Have you ever had a memorable mishap or funny incident on a ride?
I’ve lost count of how many times my clipless pedals have made me fall while gravel riding… Every time a fox, a deer, or another adorable animal crosses my path, I brake to watch it… and forget to unclip.
Where’s the most unusual place your bike has taken you?
Sleeping under remarkable trees during my bike tour around France in 2024.
What’s your favourite cycling accessory that combines style and function?
Osprey bike bags.
Give us a cycling-related tip for would-be bike commuters.
Don’t always choose the fastest route. Choose the most beautiful one.
If someone looked inside your basket, pannier, or bike bag right now, what would they find?
My phone, a few snacks, a waterproof jacket, a repair kit… and probably a few rocks or leaves I picked up along the way.
What’s the one bike accessory you can’t imagine riding without?
Trouser clips to keep the bottom of my pants away from the chain. Not very glamorous, but absolutely essential.
What’s your favourite café, bakery, or destination to ride to in your city?
Mass Works, a bike café in Paris.
If money were no object, what bike would you add to your garage tomorrow?
A custom-made titanium gravel bike.
Complete this sentence: Cycling makes me feel ____________.
Curious.