Questions about cycling in France

[coffeejo]

I'm going to Brittany in a fortnight with a group of other cyclists. We've rented a house near St Malo and will be spending a week exploring the area by bike as well as lounging about and, most importantly, boosting the income of local pâtisseries ...

Between the 9 of us, we've come up with loads of questions. Most of them have been answered (mostly through common sense!) but a few have stumped me - including why on earth I what possessed me to volunteer to find the answers!

Legal requirements
Our ferry's not docking until 9pm so our first 10kms on the wrong side of the road will be at dusk - or in the dark if the weather doesn't improve! I've been told that it's the law to wear reflective clothing after dark, but can't find anything detailing the specifics. Does anyone know if it has to be a reflective vest or will any jacket/gilet with reflective strips be ok? And any tips for things we should be aware of? (Rights of way, etc.)

Maps
We've got various paper maps but I want something to stick on a SD card for the Garmin. Any recommendations? I don't mind paying, just want something up to date and accurate which shows contour lines and differentiates between major and minor roads. Oh, and that doesn't require a PhD to download and install

Insurance
I've applied for my EHIC - any recommendations for additional travel/medical insurance? I'm a member of the CTC.

I'm probably making too much of a big deal about some of it but I'd rather know than not!

Cheers.

(I tried to look at the "tips for France" sticky thread but Chrome insists it contains malware.)

 

[sight-pin]

http://about-france.com/tourism/cycling-holidays.htm#wheels

Scroll down to "Highway code for cyclists in France". etc

 

[StuAff]

Legal requirements: Sight-pin's got that covered.
Mapping: OpenStreetMap variants for free, or Garmin City Navigator NT if you're buying. DC Rainmaker has a good guide on downloading and installing the former (aimed at Edge users but most of it will apply to all mapping Garmins)
Insurance: Your typical travel insurance package (no need for 'dangerous sports' coverage etc!) should do you nicely for anything the CTC third-party doesn't cover.

 

[mmmmartin]

A gendarme could easily take issue if you had nothing reflective on at night. Something with a bit of reflective would probably be ok. You will see loads of cyclists in France without hiviz, but 10k in the late evening in mid summer will take you half an hour or so, hence lights will be a good idea but the French would be astonished if the gendarmerie stopped you for having the wrong clothing. Something yellow and something reflective worn by a few of you would be ok. Hi viz gilets cost a few euros in the supermarkets if you want to buy one.

 

[sazzaa]

I know for driving you have to give way to vehicles joining from your right, it totally caught me by surprise when drivers weren't stopping at junctions, so watch out for that!

 

[summerdays]

Have a lovely time, I'm trying to persuade Mr Summerdays to do a trip so any any information you get is interesting. And I want to see photos afterwards.

 

[andrew_s]

Legal requirement:
It's got to be an EN1150 approved vest (or the common or garden EN417 workman's vest will be OK as that's a higher standard).
The B'Twin vest from Decathlon is the best that's available in the UK

Priorite a droite still applies, except where there is signage to indicate otherwise (which is most places)

 

[Dogtrousers]

Maps
We've got various paper maps but I want something to stick on a SD card for the Garmin. Any recommendations? I don't mind paying, just want something up to date and accurate which shows contour lines and differentiates between major and minor roads. Oh, and that doesn't require a PhD to download and install

I use www.velomap.org for French maps. I have a Garmin 60CSx. As far as I remember the download process was relatively painless - not hassle free but quite easy. I ended up with a file called garmin.img or some such which I copied to the micro SD card. I can't remember if it has contours. I'll have a look and let you know tomorrow

 

[yello]

Re the high-viz, if you're staying within a town's boundaries (the law says agglomeration) then high-viz is not necessary. It's only once you're outside a town that you'll need it.

Given their cost and size though, I think it worthwhile to pick one up before leaving the UK. You may never wear it but at least it's there.

 

[yello]

You will see loads of cyclists in France without hiviz, but 10k in the late evening in mid summer will take you half an hour or so, hence lights will be a good idea but the French would be astonished if the gendarmerie stopped you for having the wrong clothing. Something yellow and something reflective worn by a few of you would be ok.

I'd agree with that assessment. That said, there are pedantic coppers everywhere so, as I said, me personally I'd be wearing an approved hi-viz vest (EN numbers as above) just in case. They're cheap enough, they don't need to be cycling specific!

 

[yello]

Re priorite a droite, whilst it is becoming less common with junctions now being marked stop or give way, it does still exist. In town centres and on rural roads. It's no big thing really (not on a bicycle anyway) and if you keep alert you'll soon see it working in practice and adjust.

What I would say to be aware of is on rural roads. A junction may well be marked stop/give way BUT the local old boys will be stuck in a time warp (or boozed up!) and sail blissfully through thinking they have right of way. Can't teach an old dog new tricks!

Again, not huge thing, it's only happened to me a couple of times in 6 odd years, but it is something to be wary of if you're approaching a junction.

 

[sazzaa]

Re priorite a droite, whilst it is becoming less common with junctions now being marked stop or give way, it does still exist. In town centres and on rural roads. It's no big thing really (not on a bicycle anyway) and if you keep alert you'll soon see it working in practice and adjust.

What I would say to be aware of is on rural roads. A junction may well be marked stop/give way BUT the local old boys will be stuck in a time warp (or boozed up!) and sail blissfully through thinking they have right of way. Can't teach an old dog new tricks!

Again, not huge thing, it's only happened to me a couple of times in 6 odd years, but it is something to be wary of if you're approaching a junction.

It happened to me twice in two days!

 

[yello]

Re helmets, your call but there is no legal requirement.

Pretty much all roadies wear them. Many casual cyclists do. The old dear/bloke picking up the breakfast baguette, never! And they're not the norm on cyclo-tourists, though I have seen it.

 

[yello]

It happened to me twice in two days!

That's bad luck, maybe you were in a more populated area. Rural roads around here are pretty quiet so it's not often I see a vehicle, so meeting one at a junction is even rarer!

 

[sight-pin]

I know for driving you have to give way to vehicles joining from your right, it totally caught me by surprise when drivers weren't stopping at junctions, so watch out for that!

Some do tend to drive a little complacent i agree. But on another note, if you are driving in or through France, they do have some of the best roads i driven on.
Speed limits are sensible: 110kph/130kph on the A / E roads, and have very frequent (park like) lay-by stops with good WC facilities, telephones and shielded from the road by trees, about every 20k iirc.
It's a shame though, as they don't know how to make a decent cuppa!