By Bearfoot Principle’s Director, Linda Romero
Bike touring in France, seems like a dream journey itinerary, proper? With a community of well-maintained and well-signed bike paths, plentiful tenting choices, and largely flat terrain, France is presumably the perfect place possible for a biking journey.
This previous summer time, Bearfoot Principle’s Director, Linda, and her husband rode the Velodyssee, a biking route that spans your entire Atlantic coast of France. They spent two weeks using their bikes, tenting, sightseeing, consuming scrumptious French delicacies, and having fun with the attractive shoreline.
On this submit, Linda shares all the data it’s essential to plan a visit to go bike touring in France.
Able to journey? We’re stoked to share this information to bike touring in France alongside the Velodyssee with you.
Overview of the Velodyssee Bicycle Route
The Velodyssee is a 1250 km bicycle route that runs alongside your entire Atlantic coast of France, beginning in Roscoff within the north and ending in Hendaye within the south. 70 % of the route is on traffic-free paths – that means bicycle paths separate from the street (the perfect!) – with the remaining 30 % on quiet roads. It’s among the finest routes for bike touring in France.
The complete route could be accomplished in 2 weeks in case you are snug using practically 90km (about 56 miles) per day. Nonetheless, we discovered that we moved a bit slower, using solely 30-40 miles per day. If you wish to have time to cease and benefit from the surroundings, make sure you plan some additional time into your journey.
Remember the fact that you don’t have to finish your entire route. As a substitute, you’ll be able to focus your journey on a single part relying on the size of your journey. As a result of restricted time we had, we solely rode the southern half of the Velodyssee, from La Rochelle to Hendaye. It took us 9 days of using to finish this stretch.
You may journey the route in both path, however we selected north to south as a result of we had been persevering with on into Spain. The route is signposted your entire approach (in each instructions) and is fairly simple to comply with, making it the right introduction to bike touring.
Velodyssee Bicycle Route Stats
• Complete distance a method: 1250km
• Minimal time to finish your entire route: 2 weeks
• Share of the route on devoted bike paths: 70%
The Greatest Time to Journey the Velodyssee in France
The very best time to journey the Velodyssee is late spring or early fall whenever you’ll have the perfect likelihood of nice climate with fewer crowds. Summer season is peak season alongside the European coast, and along with being crowded total, it may also be extremely popular. I might additionally keep away from using the Velodyssee within the winter because the climate could be chilly and wet and the times are brief, so that you’ll have much less of an opportunity to benefit from the lovely shoreline you’ll be using alongside.
We rode the Velodyssee through the first two weeks of September and loved fantastically heat, sunny days with low crowds and solely skilled two days of sunshine rain. We had been capable of journey into any campground with no reservation and had no downside getting a spot. One other bonus is that the ocean was nonetheless heat in September so we had been capable of swim and benefit from the sunshine on the attractive seashores we rode previous.
How you can Get to the Velodyssee
If coming from the U.S., Paris is probably going going to be the place to begin to your journey with Charles de Gaulle and Orly being the 2 worldwide airport choices. We flew into Charles de Gaulle and took a taxi (€50) into Paris to a bike-friendly resort we had booked. We assembled our bikes on the resort and after 3 days of exploring town, we loaded up our gear, rode to the practice station, and took a practice from Paris to La Rochelle (about 2 hours and 45 minutes). You may simply take the practice from Paris to Roscoff the place the Velodyssee begins as effectively (about 4 hours).
Insider tip: E book a bicycle-friendly resort in Paris. House is proscribed within the metropolis heart, with many lodges and Airbnbs requiring a stroll up a flight of steps and tight quarters the place it may very well be tough to suit a bicycle.
Suggestions for Touring With a Bicycle
Most airways enable the transport of bicycles, however every have totally different pricing and packing necessities. Airways usually require that the bicycle is disassembled and packed into a motorbike field – both a bicycle particular arduous case or a cardboard bike field which you will get (usually without spending a dime) at your native bike store.
We flew with Norwegian Air, which charged $80 per bicycle every approach, whereas different airways charged round $100-150. When flights, make sure you examine the “Sports activities Tools” part of their baggage coverage to verify they permit bicycles and to see packing necessities and pricing.
Insider ideas: Purchase a direct flight if doable. In case you are flying a number of legs with a number of airways, it’s possible you’ll must pay a charge to your bicycle for every leg. A direct flight additionally reduces the variety of occasions airline workers are dealing with your bike field, minimizing any alternatives for harm or loss. Whenever you pack your bike, ensure to safe and pad the items so that they don’t rattle round and get broken through the transport course of.
RENTING A BICYCLE IN FRANCE
If disassembling your bike, packing it right into a field, and flying with it isn’t one thing you need to do, there are alternatives for renting a motorbike in the beginning of your journey in France. The Velodyssee web site lists a lot of suppliers of one-way bicycle leases that may drop off and choose up the bicycles to the beginning and ending factors of your journey. These suppliers ought to be capable of outfit you with a correct bicycle for the journey in addition to racks and panniers to hold your private objects.
TAKING THE TRAIN WITH A BICYCLE
Many – however not all – trains in France take bicycles. When reserving your practice ticket, ensure the practice takes bicycles and make sure you ebook a ticket to your bike as effectively (this normally solely prices a number of euros and could be finished on the net reserving system). Trains do promote out and costs enhance nearer to the departure date so purchase your tickets upfront at any time when doable.
Give your self loads of time to get to the practice station – particularly in the event you’re using your bike (I received a flat tire on the best way to the practice station, and we barely had sufficient time to patch it and make it to the station in time). Additionally make sure you arrive half-hour early, so you’ll be able to navigate to the departure observe and have time to get your bike on board. Every practice usually has a automotive reserved for travellers with bicycles so hold a watch out for this when boarding.
Insider tip: If doable, take a direct practice. Remember the fact that every time you switch, it’s important to get your bikes (and all of your stuff) off the practice, navigate to the observe the subsequent practice is departing from, and shortly hop on with all of your stuff, which could be fairly the effort.
Issues to Know Earlier than Biking the Velodyssee in France
Earlier than you intend to go bike touring in France, go on some lengthy bike rides to get an concept of what number of miles you’re snug using in a day. Then consider that you simply’ll be carrying as much as 30 lbs of substances in your bike, so that you’ll be transferring a bit slower. This can allow you to get an concept of how a lot time it’s essential to give your self to finish the route and allow you to determine how a lot of the route you’d wish to journey.
Having fundamental bike mechanical data, or being with somebody who does, is essential when happening any lengthy distance bike journey. You’ll must put your bike collectively whenever you arrive in France after having taken it aside to field up for a flight (until you determine to hire a motorbike in France) or carry it to an area bike store to do it for you.
You or somebody you’re travelling with ought to know learn how to change a tube, keep brakes, and keep and repair a motorbike chain. Bike retailers abound in France, so that you’ll don’t have any bother discovering one in the event you want a tune up or assist to diagnose an issue. With that mentioned, it’s good to have fundamental data in case you get a flat exterior of city.
The place to Keep When Bike Touring in France on the Velodyssee Route
When touring the coast of France by bike, there are many choices for lodging together with tenting, Airbnb, lodges, and hostels. We camped your entire time we had been on the Velodyssee, apart from a 4-night break the place we rented an Airbnb in Hossegor.
There are campgrounds in every single place in France, I imply actually – in every single place. Almost each city has a minimum of one campground to select from so we didn’t fear about precisely the place we had been going to finish up every night time. We merely regarded on the path to see what cities and campgrounds we might be passing via to get an concept of doable stopping factors for the night time.
France has a 5-star ranking system for its campgrounds based mostly on facilities, with 4-5 being essentially the most facilities (assume swimming pool, water slides, mini golf, playgrounds, grocery retailer, bakery, WiFi, and so forth), 3 being center of the street, and a pair of being fundamental. To avoid wasting money, search for the native municipal campground in every city which tends to be cheaper however nonetheless has the fundamentals.
Each single campground we stayed at, together with the municipal ones, had sizzling showers, bogs with flush bathrooms, and sinks for doing dishes and laundry. Many had WiFi and coin-operated laundry machines as effectively.
One factor campgrounds in France don’t have are picnic tables, so we discovered ourselves consuming our meals on the bottom picnic model. Fortunately, we introduced a floor material which was excellent for picnicking, however we did miss having chairs and a desk after some time.
If you happen to don’t need to carry tenting gear with you or just don’t need to camp, you’ll be able to definitely keep in a resort or hostel in every city you intend to cease in. This simply requires a bit of extra advance planning to give you an itinerary you’ll be able to stick with. I like to recommend reserving your lodging upfront so that you’re not resort looking on the finish of a protracted day of using. Simply be sure to give your self ample time between every location so you have got time to benefit from the journey, see the sights, and have some wiggle room in case you have got a delay.
The very useful Velodyssee web site has resort and hostel suggestions for every part of the route. On their route maps, you’ll be able to see “Accueil Vélo” accredited lodges which suggests these lodges are lower than 5km away from the Velodyssee bike route and are bicycle pleasant.
What to Pack for Bike Touring in France
The very best recommendation I can provide is to pack light-weight. You may be hauling all the pieces you carry with you and might be packing and unpacking continuously because you’ll be on the transfer every day so it actually helps to maintain issues easy. Solely carry what you want, pack journey dimension toiletries, and solely carry a number of units of versatile clothes realizing you’ll be able to simply do laundry. Mentioning all the pieces you want deserves a complete weblog submit of its personal which is within the works, so make sure you examine again for an replace.
Here’s a transient rundown of what to carry bike touring in France:
- A touring bicycle that you simply’re snug using (until you’re renting in fact)
- Racks, panniers, and bike luggage for holding all of your stuff (ditto)
- Multi-tool for assembling/disassembling your bike and making repairs
- A patch equipment & a spare tube
- Comfy footwear for strolling and using
- Sandals for hanging on the seashore and utilizing public showers
- Sunscreen and different journey dimension toiletries
- A large-brimmed hat with a cinch strap so you’ll be able to shield your self from the solar whereas using
- A set of using garments plus a set of unpolluted, dry garments to vary into
- Layers (a protracted sleeve base layer & fleece mid layer)
- Rain jacket to interrupt the wind and hold you dry (listed below are Bearfoot Principle’s favourite rain jackets)
- Heat hat
- Heat socks
- Gloves for using (nice when its chilly, wet, or when your fingers are fatigued)
- Sun shades
- Light-weight tenting gear (in the event you’ll be tenting)
How you can Price range for Bike Touring in France
We went approach over our estimated funds as a result of we indulged in oysters and wine extra usually than anticipated (hey, whenever you’re in France…).
Listed here are some basic bills to present you an concept of how a lot cash you’ll be able to anticipate spending:
- Dinner at a restaurant: €50 for 2 folks with a glass of wine or beer
- Lunch at a restaurant: €40 for 2 with a glass of wine or a beer
- Selecting up lunch to go at a bakery: €10-20 for 2
- Tenting: Wherever from €8-27 for 2 folks with bicycles and a tent.
- Laundry: €10 for self-service washing and drying
Listed here are a number of methods to economize when bike touring in France:
- Chorus from consuming out and ingesting at eating places. If you happen to do eat out, eat out for lunch moderately than dinner. You may usually discover a lunchtime set menu for an affordable value.
- Restrict your self to solely consuming out from time to time, like whenever you see a seafood stand serving mussels and fries that’s simply calling your identify.
- Choose up meals at bakeries moderately than sitting down at a restaurant. Bakeries are in every single place and have contemporary bread, pastries, and savory objects like quiche, pizza, and sandwiches.
- Store at grocery shops and native markets and make your individual meals as usually as doable – that is undoubtedly the largest approach to economize and in addition among the finest methods to take pleasure in all of the contemporary, native meals France has to supply. Cheese and a baguette had been our go-tos.
- Keep in municipal campgrounds moderately than greater priced choices.
- Do laundry by hand moderately than utilizing coin operated washers/dryers.
Insider ideas:
- Solely purchase meals for 1-2 days at a time to restrict the load you’re carrying. It’s good to plan forward, so you have got a pair meals in case you don’t discover a retailer, however generally, you’ll journey via cities with shops and markets day by day so there’s no want to hold a ton of meals.
- Remember the fact that France takes its breaks significantly. Most, if not all, shops shut from round 12-5pm, give or take a number of hours. Additionally, most eating places shut between lunch and dinner, normally from 3pm-7pm. And just about EVERYTHING is closed on Sundays.
La Velodyssee Bike Touring in France Highlights
There’s a lot magnificence alongside the Atlantic coast of France that may be loved by bicycle – from lovely seashores and forests to sand dunes and historic cities and fortresses. These had been our favourite highlights throughout our journey alongside the southern half of the Velodyssee from La Rochelle to Hendaye:
An attractive coastal metropolis with a historic Fifteenth-century fortress surrounding an outdated harbor. You’ll discover preserved structure, a beautiful seaside promenade, and welcoming seafood eating places lining the water.
If you happen to like oysters, Marennes might be a spotlight for you because it was for us. We didn’t truly enterprise into town of Marennes because the bike path stays on the outskirts close to the coast, however that is the place the oysters are. If you happen to see a stand or restaurant promoting contemporary oysters, do your self a favor and get some. They had been the freshest we’ve ever had and pair completely with a chilly glass of rose.
Royan’s historic central market is likely one of the finest we visited. It’s the right place to top off on native meats, cheeses, jams, and honey for a picnic. For the last word expertise, come on a Wednesday or Sunday when the indoor market spills into the encircling space. You’ll discover many extra distributors providing scrumptious native olives, produce, and ready meals.
A ritzy resort city with a big, welcoming sandy seashore and beautiful belle epoque villas. We solely rode via, but when we had extra time we might have stopped to lounge on the seashore and have lunch at one of many charming little cafes.
A cool, laid again surf city harking back to southern California with nice meals, enjoyable bars, good sandy seashores, and good waves. We rented an Airbnb right here for 4 nights and loved taking a break from bike touring in France and being on the go.
We had been blown away by the glitz and glam of Biarritz. It reminded us of a scene from a James Bond film. Journey out to the lighthouse for a beautiful view of town and cease for a swim at one of many lovely seashores if the climate’s proper. This was one in every of our favourite stops on this bike touring in France itinerary.
A stunning seaside city that could be a great instance of Basque structure and tradition. Saint Jean de Luz has a pleasant central market which is finest to go to on Tuesdays and Fridays when you’ll be able to pattern native meats, cheeses, and different scrumptious meals from native distributors that arrange store exterior.
Do you have got questions on bike touring in France? Or have you ever been on a motorbike touring or bikepacking journey and have something so as to add? Go away a remark beneath!
