Everything you need to know about cycling in France your independent guide

Lyn

Cycle from Monaco to Barcelona in Spain
Hi JabandieWelcome to the Freewheeling France community - you are certainly breaking no rules by asking great questions.I'm very jealous of your planned ride!The route sounds very exciting - you might want to check out this suggested route - ht…

Comment by Lyn April 9 permalink
Casual Cycle Hire
Hi PatriciaBike is a wonderful way to see this area - it is so peaceful and beautiful.The tourist office in Albert hires bikes out - see their information on our Picardy Bike Hire page - http://www.freewheelingfrance.com/202See also on that page the…

Comment by Lyn April 9 permalink
Roscoff to St-Malo - Need a bike!!
Hi JPRoad bikes are harder to come by than touring bikes, hybrids or mountain bikes.Try one of these guys:http://www.roscoff-tourisme.com/index.php/content/view/full/1774/(Let me know how you get on - if you have any luck, I will add them to the sit…

Comment by Lyn March 23 permalink
Bordeaux along the waterways
And this from Gerry via Facebook:"Hi, We lived on, and cruised the French canals (cycling as much as we cruised) We were fully legal for the waterways... never came across the need for specific cycling permit..... There are many sections…

Comment by Lyn February 20 permalink
Bordeaux along the waterways
Hi WileyTim at Relax Rentals, which hires bikes along the canal, has contacted the Canal Authority locally, and it seems the permits are not really required (they don't check them, apparently).I have to say I have never heard of anyone botherin…

Comment by Lyn February 20 permalink
Cycling in Brittany
Here is a nice article full of good ideas for cycling in Brittany:http://www.brittanytourism.com/ideas/art-de-vivre/10-great-ideas-for-cycling-in-brittany

Comment by Lyn January 22 permalink
Bike Rentals or Day Tour near Cavalaire-Sur-Mur
Hi VickieThere is a holiday bikes outlet in Cavalaire-sur-Mur, but you'd nee to enquire re the types of bikes etc.There are also a couple of outlets in St Tropez, which isn't far away, and one in Le Lavaanou. Again I'm not sure what …

Comment by Lyn January 17 permalink
BOOKINGS FOR BIKES ON FRENCH TRAINS
Hi thereThere is an interactive map of the French railways network here:http://train.voyages-sncf.com/Note it highlights all lines but only the major stations on each line. There are many smaller towns/villages with stations along each line - to fin…

Comment by Lyn October 2012 permalink
Bordeaux along the waterways
Hi LesThanks heaps for the update.Glad you had a great trip and very jealous re those goosebumps.Lyn.

Comment by Lyn August 2012 permalink
Which French city as home base for a road cycling trip?
Hi rnantal,You could try narrowing it down to somewhere in Languedoc-Roussillon - there's an overview here, plus links to various cities/towns there.http://www.freewheelingfrance.com/82Lyn @ Freewheeling France

Comment by Lyn August 2012 permalink
Buying/Selling Used Bikes in France
Hi vruedebuIf you decide to buy one, try http://www.leboncoin.fr/ - it's (sort of) the French equivalent of Craig's List. As you'll be not far from Toulouse, you should find the site quite active in that region, so you may be able to …

Comment by Lyn August 2012 permalink
Posting luggage ahead
Hi MikeYes, it should be relatively straightforward.You'll have to send it using the Colissimo service, which is (sort of) the French equivalent to Parcelforce in the UK. It's for packages and registered post.There are details here in Engl…

Comment by Lyn August 2012 permalink
BOOKINGS FOR BIKES ON FRENCH TRAINS
Thanks heaps for this feedback, Mikey.Brilliant!

Comment by Lyn July 2012 permalink
Breath test kits now compulsory for drivers in France
Thanks for this - yes, you are right about French drivers also not being fined yet. However I think it is already compulsory - as in it's now written in law - but it's just that the fines don't start for non-compliance until November…

Comment by Lyn July 2012 permalink
BOOKINGS FOR BIKES ON FRENCH TRAINS
Hi howhanIt might depend on the train. Sometimes you have to book your bike when you book the seat (eg on the TGV), and on other trains you can call up afterwards and add the bike on to the reservation. For some routes, no bookings are taken/necessa…

Comment by Lyn May 2012 permalink
Canal du midi
Hi Fiona Have you tried searching via any of the links on our accommodation page? Please see http://www.freewheelingfrance.com/books-tours-and-travel/book-accommodation.html Cheers.

Comment by Lyn May 2012 permalink
Luggage
Hi buenavista Hotels are quite accommodating when it comes to leaving cars/vans in their car parks (as long as you're staying at the hotel at either end of your trip). You could try asking the same for your luggage - if you could leave it i…

Comment by Lyn May 2012 permalink
st malo to st cyprien
HI Chris,Here are a few thoughts.1) Heading in a southerly direction along the Atlantic Coast is one obvious option. There is plenty to see and lots of scenic detours (eg Ile de Ré; the vineyards of Bordeaux; wonderful beaches). See the section sub-…

Comment by Lyn May 2012 permalink
Bike Hire near Saint-Brieuc, Brittany
Hi BillTry Vulture Velo - http://www.culturevelo.com/-Saint-Brieuc-CheersLyn @ FF

Comment by Lyn April 2012 permalink
Cycling in Brittany
Hi CarolineYou could try Taxis Saint Malo - they seem to be pretty flexible in the services they offer: http://www.taxis-saintmalo.com/services.php?language=enYou could also try one of the cycling tour companies in Brittany as they may be able to o…

Comment by Lyn March 2012 permalink
Formule 1 Hotels
Hi ZinZanI put this out via Twitter @freewheelfrance to see if anyone had any suggestions and I got this useful and positive response:@cyclemundo: From own experience, no problem taking bikes in rooms at "automated" hotels: Etap, Formule 1…

Comment by Lyn January 2012 permalink
Bordeaux along the waterways
You could try any of the ones around the airport as they all have parking.You can do a search here:http://www.freewheelingfrance.com/books-tours-and-travel/book-accommodation.htmlThe Accor chain hotels are usually pretty good. A bit soulless but fun…

Comment by Lyn December 2011 permalink
Bordeaux along the waterways
Hi LesYou could get the Eurostar to Lille and then a TGV connection south to Bordeaux - you don't have to go through Paris.If driving, there is long-stay car parking at the airport in Merignac.Alternatively I've generally found most hotel…

Comment by Lyn November 2011 permalink
Does anyone know what the rules of wild camping are in France?
Hi guysWe now have a wild camping/free camping article on the site:http://www.freewheelingfrance.com/cycle-camping/wild-camping-in-france.htmlCheersLyn.

Comment by Lyn September 2011 permalink
Loire Eurovelo 6 info
And Rail Europe have sent in this general advice:"A quick summary of bike travel in France: TGV - some single and duplex TGVs cannot take fully assembled bikes. Those that can need to be booked in advance with a fee. Teoz - Travel with fully as…

Comment by Lyn August 2011 permalink
Loire Eurovelo 6 info
I've just received this from the guys at the Loire tourism board:"[The Loire train Bob writes about] is a new service that has been tested since July 1 and will run until the end of August on top of the 'usual' carriages in which…

Comment by Lyn August 2011 permalink
Canal du Midi
Hi GeoroidOne of our resident experts, Richard Peace, is a freelance cycling journalist who writes for Bike Radar, among others, and is the author of Cycling Southern France (and co-author of Electric Bicycles). He has sent me this (rather detailed)…

Comment by Lyn June 2011 permalink
Cycling the Somme
HelloA book just landed on my desk today that I thought might interest you, Peter, as well as anyone else interested in cycling the Somme.It's called Walking the Somme, but don't be put off by the title. The author, Paul Reed, has written …

Comment by Lyn June 2011 permalink
Do you know any good bikes shops in France?
Thanks for those names, Walter.Rebecca at easycycling.com has Tweeted to throw her support behind Decathlon."DECATHLON uk just isn't the same as DECATHLON france - the one in Annecy and Chambery is/are brilliant," she Tweets. "th…

Comment by Lyn June 2011 permalink
Excuses to Cycle in France
#2: Fête du vélo, Anjou#3: La Loire à Vélo en fête #4: Le Mans 24-hour Cycling Race

Comment by Lyn June 2011 permalink

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Username: Lyn
Email: lynatfreewheelingfrancedotcom
Joined: February 2011
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Last Active: April 25
Roles: Moderator

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