How nice is cycling in France??

[lanternerouge]

Hi all

I've just got back from a week's holiday in Charente-Maritime on the banks of the Gironde, between La Rochelle and Bordeaux. Sorry if this is very old news to everyone, but ]ust how ace is France for cycling? On Saturdays and Sundays it was TdF time with lots of kitted up roadies zooming around the country lanes. We pootled around the local villages on hire bikes. VTT trails all over the place, cars give you a lovely wide berth, everywhere seemed to be very velo-friendly. Both La Rochelle and Bordeaux have cycle hire schemes, and in Bordeaux the Mairie will even lend citizens a bike for 12 months for free!! Here we are cycling in the sun

http://www.flickr.co...lls/4870934167/

 

[snorri]

I can understand your being on a bit of a high after a good cycling holiday in France, but don't let it put you off exploring other countries by bicycle.

 

[lanternerouge]

No suggestion of that snorri - just really enjoyed it

 

[yello]

Well, you would kind of expect me to say it's great wouldn't you!

Having every day of the year to enjoy it though, I actually find July and August not to be the best of times. Often too hot, holidaying traffic etc. My preference is for autumn tbh, cooler temperatures and calmer roads.... but, in truth, it's always enjoyable. And I'd can well appreciate that when on holiday, away from UK roads (especially the south east) it's blissful!

 

[lanternerouge]

I just kept expecting cars to pop up and they kind of... didn't! So many quiet country roads too, France's size is something I always forget about. Perfect for my girlfriend who is a cycling newbie, she could zoom around with confidence and really enjoyed it judging by the grin!

Pretty villages like Talmont-sur-Gironde help too

 

[yello]

France's size is something I always forget about.

I do the same. Still. France is huge. I'll look at the map sometimes and think, I'll just head off over that way and then realise it's 300 or 400km away!

Or in the car, often you're on D roads (A road equivalents) and it can take a couple of hours just to do 100km. I actually find myself wishing for motorways sometimes!!

Pretty looking little village btw.

 

[lanternerouge]

"l'un des plus beaux villages de France" apparently!

 

[yello]

"l'un des plus beaux villages de France" apparently!

I can believe it! It's a 'marketing thing'. We've got one 5km from us (Gargilesse). It is pretty... and it was packed today!!

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Same population as UK, twice the land area, population concentrated in cities and 100+years of positive attitudes to cycling and cyclists. What's not to like? Well apart from Priorite a droite.....

 

[lanternerouge]

I can believe it! It's a 'marketing thing'. We've got one 5km from us (Gargilesse). It is pretty... and it was packed today!!

Thought so! I think my friends live near you - they are near Gueret to the east of Limoges

 

[aberal]

Shut up, shut up, shut up....! Now I will be forced to go there if you keep going on about it like that.

 

[Arch]

Thought so! I think my friends live near you - they are near Gueret to the east of Limoges

I have friends near Confolens, not so far away from there. I've cycled with them to their house three times now, and loved every trip. They've made the permanent move now, retired, and it's really suiting them.

The roads, the nice drivers, the wine, the food....

The food....

 

[asterix]

I do the same. Still. France is huge. I'll look at the map sometimes and think, I'll just head off over that way and then realise it's 300 or 400km away!

Or in the car, often you're on D roads (A road equivalents) and it can take a couple of hours just to do 100km. I actually find myself wishing for motorways sometimes!!

Pretty looking little village btw.

Yes it's dreadful here, really.

 

[summerdays]

Did you drive down and base yourself in one location or were you moving around?

 

[rich p]

Thought so! I think my friends live near you - they are near Gueret to the east of Limoges

I stayed in Gueret while on a weeks tour through the Creuse. Lovely area with many lumps!