First Family Tour in France - anything important to know?

[Time Waster]

Anything we really need to know?

The totally new thing I learnt is the budgie smugglers in swimming pools. I guess there must be other french laws and requirements for a family cycling holiday through Brittany. Things we learnt in the Netherlands last year was traffic lights for cycle paths, priority to cyclist (and pedestrians) from cars coming out of side roads. Basically what's different, truly different?

I just hope there's no helmet laws requiring us to wear them.

 

[Salty seadog]

No helmet laws,
They drive on the wrong side side of the road so I suggest you do whilst you're there .
You will be met with much more indifference than you're used to.
You can park almost anywhere.
There will be smoking still in some bars.
They're usually good at pizza but crap at kebabs.
It's a great place for cycling.

 

[Heltor Chasca]

Any moules that float before cooking, chuck. Any moules that float after cooking, chuck.

 

[Julia9054]

They follow the rules of the road and expect you to do the same. If you try to wave through a car which does not officially have priority, it just confuses them!
I didn't realise how much i let cars through in the UK because i don't want to hold people up and potentially make them annoyed. Far fewer impatient and angry vibes from motorists in France.
(Disclaimer: i have never cycled in large French cities as i am there on holiday)

 

[Nibor]

They speak French

 

[Salty seadog]

They speak French

Oh yeah, that too

 

[derrick]

Stay away from Paris, the rest ain't to bad.

 

[Low Gear Guy]

They speak French

Or possibly Breton.

 

[RobinS]

If camping, take your own toilet rolls. Even the smartest sites rarely provide it.

 

[slowmotion]

Learn a few words of French. They will be appreciated.

 

[Ian H]

Many small-town bars don't serve food. They'll be happy for you to order their drinks and bring snacks/sandwiches from a nearby shop.
It's polite to offer a greeting as you enter a shop or bar.

 

[derrick]

Learn a few words of French. They will be appreciated.

Then they can just take the piss, After a rescent ride to Paris, the guy i was riding with spoke pretty good french, but the French all seem to have a chip on there shoulder, there are a few french who will be helpful. But i will not be going back, Belgium is the place to ride.

 

[User66445]

Not my experience at all, the french really appreciate those trying to speak their language. They'll correct you, but that's in the spirit of helping you learn the language, nothing to do with taking the piss, which is alien to the french sense of humour anyway, Jamal excepted.

If you eat a pizza or a kebab in France, you need your head examined.

 

[NorthernDave]

If you'll be cycling after dark, don't forget to adjust your lights for cycling on the other side of the road.

Seriously, the post about at least trying to speak French is very true - while the French think we all sound like Officer Crabtree from 'Allo 'Allo, they do like visitors to make the effort and will often reply in English.

 

[Ian H]

Not my experience at all, the french really appreciate those trying to speak their language. They'll correct you, but that's in the spirit of helping you learn the language, nothing to do with taking the piss, which is alien to the french sense of humour anyway, Jamal excepted.

To be fair, Parisiens can sometimes be a bit spikier.