France Routes

David Lamb

My Brother inlaw and myself are planning a two week break in France
next May. Our plan is to take a car along with our bikes on the
back... base ourselves in various locations for perhaps a day or two
and cycle out from base. We are both past 60 years old and therefore
do not wish to over tax ourselves! If it were not so akward to
transport I would in fact take my recumbent which I find so much
easier and fun to ride. Have readers of this forum any past experience
and suggestions of locations we might consider?
In anticipation.. David

dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers

From Bordeaux are some excellent cycle routes. Disused rail lines have been
converted into tarmac cycle/pedestrian routes which are well signposted and
have loads of refreshment places along them. You can get a map of the routes
from the Gite de France office in Bordeaux. The routes popular and pedestrians
are remarkably polite and there's no problems sharing the routes. If you go to
the north of the river & head east (Entre-deux-Mers), once you get off the
cycle track, it can be *steep* in places, but from Bordeaux to the south and to
the coast is gently undulating, with some lovely routes through forest. When I
cycled there in the summer, with my family, the French people were incredibly
welcoming and kind - make an attempt to speak French - even very basic French
and they were very, very welcoming, friendly and helpful. I want to go back -
avoiding a certain gite, not owned by a French person, and cycle the region
some more. We got there using the European Bike Express. Going back I'd
probably take the bikes on the back of the car, so I could spend some time
exploring vinyards a bit more & return with a larger quantity of the local
fermented juice of grape :-)

Cheers, helen s


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David Lamb

On 18 Jan 2005 18:39:49 GMT, wafflycathcs@aol.compomcom
(dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers) wrote:

>From Bordeaux are some excellent cycle routes. Disused rail lines have been
>converted into tarmac cycle/pedestrian routes which are well signposted and
>have loads of refreshment places along them. You can get a map of the routes
>from the Gite de France office in Bordeaux. The routes popular and pedestrians
>are remarkably polite and there's no problems sharing the routes. If you go to
>the north of the river & head east (Entre-deux-Mers), once you get off the
>cycle track, it can be *steep* in places, but from Bordeaux to the south and to
>the coast is gently undulating, with some lovely routes through forest. When I
>cycled there in the summer, with my family, the French people were incredibly
>welcoming and kind - make an attempt to speak French - even very basic French
>and they were very, very welcoming, friendly and helpful. I want to go back -
>avoiding a certain gite, not owned by a French person, and cycle the region
>some more. We got there using the European Bike Express. Going back I'd
>probably take the bikes on the back of the car, so I could spend some time
>exploring vinyards a bit more & return with a larger quantity of the local
>fermented juice of grape :-)
>
>Cheers, helen s
>
>
>--This is an invalid email address to avoid spam--
>to get correct one remove fame & fortune
>h*$el*$$e*nd**$o$ts**i*$*$m*m$o*n*s@$*a$o*l.c**$om$
>
>--Due to financial crisis the light at the end of the tunnel is switched off--
>
>
Many thanks for the interesting information Helen......much
appreciated. I especially like the idea of a car and 'the fermented
juices' :-]

Best Wishes
David. Co,Cork Ireland

Clifford Griffiths

David

Having cycled over much of France I think the area North of Dijon would be
very suitable for you. It is scenic and traffic free all the way up to
Champagne. The Troyes area is very quiet and pleasant. Another area worth
looking at is Alasace - again very quiet and not too hilly.

Enjoy it as much as I always do.

Cliff

Jon Senior

David Lamb wrote:
> My Brother inlaw and myself are planning a two week break in France
> next May. Our plan is to take a car along with our bikes on the
> back... base ourselves in various locations for perhaps a day or two
> and cycle out from base. We are both past 60 years old and therefore
> do not wish to over tax ourselves! If it were not so akward to
> transport I would in fact take my recumbent which I find so much
> easier and fun to ride. Have readers of this forum any past experience
> and suggestions of locations we might consider?

Having ridden there a lot I can recommend Brittany. It is allegedly the
heart of French cycling and consists of some relatively gentle rolling
scenery. Lots of old castles and sea fort towns.

Expect occasional cheering from the natives when you inadvertently ride
along the route of a criterium which starts in 30 mins time!

Jon