Published by Lyn on 3 May 2014
I was super excited recently to be asked to write an introduction to cycling in France for the New Zealand Herald's travel section – you can read the full article here.
It's very much a high-level overview of cycling in France, but hopefully it'll inspire some Kiwis (and others from farther afield via the internet) to consider taking a cycling holiday in France.
New Zealand is, of course, a fabulous place for cycling, with varied terrain and achievable distances for all abilities. (And I have a particular soft spot for New Zealanders, having made so many Kiwi friends during my years in London.) To return the favour and share the love, here's a link to info about cycling in New Zealand for anyone interested in another fabulous cycling destination.
I only had 700 or so words for the New Zealand Herald article, so for people travelling longer distances to get here, here is some more info on getting to France in the first place and info on getting your bike here by plane. What I would say following a recent trip home to Australia is that it is cheaper to sometimes fly via London, Amsterdam or Frankfurt and then to take a cheap budget flight on to France than flying direct to Paris, so make sure you shop around for the various options.
If it's easier and cheaper to rent a bike when you arrive, you'll find lots of contacts in our bike hire section. For those less familiar with the breakdown of the regions and how France is set out geographically, here's a map with an overview. You can also find info about accommodation options (I've also popped the map in below for you to browse) and see this guidance on how to choose an organised cycling tour if you need logistical support (or company on the road).
There is, of course, loads more on the site, so please feel free to browse. If anyone out there has any questions on planning a cycling trip to France, I'm more than happy to try and answer them via email – lyn@freewheelingfrance.com. Many of these questions I also post on the blog in case they can help other riders (and to save me answering the more popular ones multiple times).