London to Nice

[Greg.M]

Hi everyone

I'm not much of a touring cyclist but I am looking into cycling from London to Nice for charity. I know its a very long way but obviously it's for charity so if it was short and easy, it wouldn't be as interesting! I was hoping people could help me with planning the route though? how do you decide what routes you can or can not take? I know there are companies that organise this cycle but I would rather organise it myself.
If anyone can help me it would be very much appreciated!

Kind regards

Greg

 

[betty swollocks]

France is an ideal place to tour on a bike. It had lots of small, virtually traffic-free country roads joining small villages and towns.
And the French like cyclists.
Just get some maps, and head south in the general direction of Nice, using these roads.
It really is that simple.
Enjoy.

 

[rich p]

What Betty said.
You need to end up at a place that will be able to accommodate you with either a hotel, chambre d'hote or a campsite, so if you aren't pre-booking then some thought will have to be given to the likely possibilities.
If you're intending to wild camp, ignore the above!
Use the maps, pick small or smallish roads and bingo.

 

[fraefreuchie]

The starting point has to be your choice of style of accommodation. If for example you decide to use one of France's low cost hotel chains such as Formule 1 then obviously you need to choose a route that reaches them each evening. Via Michelin is good for finding bike friendly routes between two points less than 250 km apart. Decide how you want to cross the channel. Decide how you want to negotiate Paris and you are on your way. E.g. Dover to Calais, East of Paris, Rhone Valley and turn left towards Nice.
You can read an account of Calais to Narbonne here: http://briansbigbikeride.blogspot.com/
Good luck.