Bordeaux, January 28, 2011. Photo: Matthieu Sévère
Thanks for reading Freewheeling France.
As the site is usually just me tinkering at odd hours of the day and (usually) night, I welcome any feedback you might have, as well as ideas and other bits of cycling in France inspiration. Please also don't be shy pointing out typos, mistakes or links that don't work – I appreciate all this feedback as it helps me to fix things up and keep the site as helpful as I can make it.
Please get in touch, too, if you know of a cycle-friendly place to stay or a good organised cycling tour (or charity tour) of France and we'll see if they want to be listed on the site.
You can email me at lyn@freewheelingfrance.com
You can also follow Freewheeling France on Facebook and Twitter, or by adding your photos to our Flickr stream. Leaving comments at the end of articles and blogs can also help give other riders more information than I'm able to provide.
Lyn @ freewheelingfrance.com
Richard Trillo:
Mar 02, 2011 at 06:22 AM
Great new site. Congratulations! I'll look forward to dipping in.
Lyn:
Mar 10, 2011 at 06:59 AM
Thanks Richard.
Mark Bartnik:
Oct 23, 2011 at 02:43 PM
Great Website! Found you via the Connexion, an English language French newspaper http://www.connexionfrance.com/
I'm living in pretty little village in the mountains of Limousin near Lac de Vassiviere. I suggest you
ventoux bikes:
Nov 14, 2011 at 08:26 AM
Hi, Ventoux bikes is a rental bike shop at the start of the mont ventoux road (D974)We rent road bikes : aluminium frame with flat bar or carbone race bikes for half day, 1 day or more to cyclo-tourists in vacation around Ventoux. We are located in Malaucène.
(rental/sales/workshop/bike parts/bike clothing.. )
it would be nice if you could give our website address to cyclist who wants to visit Provence or climbing to the top of Ventoux.
Thanks a lot and best regards.
JC Cabot
Lyn:
Nov 21, 2011 at 11:56 AM
Hi JC
Thanks for letting me know about Ventoux Bikes - I've added you into our bike hire listings for Provence - http://www.freewheelingfrance.com/bike-hire-in-france/bike-hire-in-provence-alpes-c%C3%B4te-dazur.html
Cordialement,
Lyn
harry walker:
Nov 29, 2011 at 02:58 AM
We are looking to see if we can rent 3, hybrid, 21 -gear bicycles for June 16th to 23rd in Richelieu area.
Lyn:
Dec 10, 2011 at 08:00 PM
Hi Harry
There are lots of hire places listed in the Loire on our bike hire pages:
http://www.freewheelingfrance.com/201
I don't have anything specifically in Richelieu but hopefully something on the list will be suitable. Do let me know if I can help further.
Cheers
Lyn.
Jennifer Reynolds:
Apr 19, 2012 at 04:43 AM
I wonder if you can tell me the current phone number of breton Bikes, Gouarec.
Thank you
Jennifer
Lyn:
Apr 23, 2012 at 02:07 PM
Hi Jennifer.
Try +33 (0) 2 96 24 86 72.
Cheers
Lyn.
Doug Allen:
May 07, 2012 at 02:00 AM
I want to rent a cycle for the Paris - Roubaix ride on June 10. Is it possible to get a decent bike in Paris?
Lyn:
May 09, 2012 at 12:26 PM
Hi Doug,
Yes, please see our Paris bike hire listings: http://www.freewheelingfrance.com/bike-hire-in-france/bike-hire-in-%C3%AEle-de-france.html
In this article - http://www.freewheelingfrance.com/where-to-go/fontainebleau.html - one of our contributors, Bruce McAleer (who runs French Mystique Tours in Paris: www.frenchmystiquetours.com/) recommends IAllo Vélo, Paris à Vélo C'Est Sympa and Paris Bike Tour (all are listed in our bike hire listings).
Hope that helps.
Cheers
Lyn @ FWF
Viv:
May 27, 2012 at 06:18 PM
Hello:
We're planning to bike this summer from Rennes to Carnac. We need biking route info. Any tips?
Thanks in advance!
Lyn:
May 28, 2012 at 12:10 PM
Hi Viv,
The Carnac area (and much of Morbihan) is lovely for cycling.
Here is one suggestion from MapMyRide:
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/66374842#notes
You could also go from Rennes to Vannes and then on to Carnac (http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/2920680)
Here is our Vannes info: http://www.freewheelingfrance.com/96
Also, here is our overview of Rennes: http://www.freewheelingfrance.com/80
You might also find our Brittany overview useful: http://www.freewheelingfrance.com/81
(It has a missing photo - apologies - I need to fix this!)
It might also be worth a Tweet or email to our Brittany writer, Wendy Mewes, who has (among other things) just written a guide to Brittany's megaliths (see http://www.brittanyexpert.com).
She's also the author of the Footprint guide to Brittany (http://amzn.to/Kz4yVU) and a guide to the West Coast of Brittany (http://amzn.to/Lxa3lX) - either of those might also be of interest.
Hope that helps.
Would be great to hear how you get on.
Cheers
Lyn @ freewheelingfrance.com
Viv:
May 29, 2012 at 10:09 AM
Thanks so much, Lyn!
All the info really helps. We're planning to bike 50 km per day hoping the terrain is not to rough. I'll definitely tweet Wendy for further info. Again, THANKS a bunch!
Lindsay:
Aug 17, 2012 at 10:21 AM
Lyn you asked about a link to themountainbikehirecompany.co.uk If you send me a banner I can place a good exchange for you send it direct to me not to malc. :)
Lyn:
Aug 17, 2012 at 11:50 AM
Cheers Lindsay - is the hire@... address the best one to use?
Steve:
Sep 18, 2012 at 05:53 PM
Hi,
Am just in the process of starting a bike hire business in La Fouillade near Najac, Aveyron. We are called Velovista.......www.velovista.com How do I get it mentioned on your site?
Thanks
Steve
Lyn:
Sep 20, 2012 at 11:22 AM
Hi Steve
Congrats on the new business and thanks for getting in touch.
I'd be happy to include your info on our bike hire listings pages.
Your site looks to have all the info I need so I'll add you in as soon as I get a chance.
Cheers
Lyn.
Chris :
Feb 04, 2013 at 02:10 PM
Hi, does anyone know if it's possible to rent road bikes from nice and return them to Toulouse. We are doing a tour on the TDF first week of July and our tour does not include bike hire. Thanks
Lyn:
Feb 04, 2013 at 02:59 PM
Hi Chris
A few suggestions.
Firstly, I'd try the guys at
Cycle Côte d'Azur in Nice (www.cyclecotedazur.com).
They know Nice- if they can't help, they may know someone who can.
Also see our bike delivery page (http://www.freewheelingfrance.com/bike-hire-in-france/bike-hire-in-france-delivery-services.html) for the following contacts:
* Bike Rental France
Deliver rental bikes anywhere across Burgundy and the south-west of France. (www.bikerentalfrance.com)
* Relax Rentals may do Nice-Toulouse on request:
Bike delivery and pickup across Herault, as well as anywhere along Canal Du Midi from Toulouse to Sète. English and Dutch spoken.
(www.relaxrentals.fr)
* VéloLoco
Bike hire service covering southern France (and further afield by special request), with collection anywhere between Bordeaux and Avignon, and northern Spain. (www.veloloco.com)
Would be good to hear how you get on.
Cheers
Lyn @ freewheelingfrance.com
ayme:
Mar 24, 2013 at 09:24 PM
LES PROS DU TOURISME à VELO
Entre amis, entre potes ou copines, ou tout simplement en couple, ou pour motiver et fédérer vos collaborateurs au sein de votre entreprise, Nature Bike Provence est votre partenaire idéal pour un choix de destinations et de thèmes multiples.
A la journées, en week end ou à la semaine, notre savoir-faire est reconnu et nous sommes les acteurs les plus proches d'une Provence de vos Rêves .
Le Vaucluse est une destination de choix pour les amoureux du vélo .
Paysage variés aux multiples facettes . La Provence nous enchante avec ses couleurs et ses senteurs .
Ses petites routes de campagnes, les plus beaux villages de France, de Orange à Isles sur la Sorgue, de Chateuaneuf du Pape à Gigondas, la route des Côtes du Rhône Cairanne , Beaume de Venise, et les dentelles de Montmirail .
Le Haut Vaucluse dominé par le Mont Ventoux nous invite à silloner la Provence à vélo .
Loueur de vélo et organisateur de séjour à vélo : LA PROVENCE de vos REVES!
Promenades en Provence à vélo électrique :En solo ou en groupe, formule à la carte , le vélo accessible à tous