| Title: | Bicycling |
| Notice: | Bicycling for Fun |
| Moderator: | JAMIN::WASSER |
| Created: | Mon Apr 14 1986 |
| Last Modified: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Number of topics: | 3214 |
| Total number of notes: | 31946 |
My wife and I live in the US and are planning to bicycle in France. We
will have 13 full days in France (June 12-25). Due to lack of
interest, the tour we signed up was cancelled. We prefer to be with a
group because of the logistic and mechanic support as well as
companionship. But we are determined to visit France for our 10th
anniversary; even if we have to be on our own. We are still inquiring
about other tour companies in the United States that arrange bicycle
tour. Our original tour was to be in the Loire Valley. Any locations
in mid France will fit. Specical interests are in Burgundy or
Bordeaux; but we won't rule out anything. (We are flying into Paris and
the tickets can't be changed.)
This entry is to ask other noters with bicycling interests these
questions:-
1. What bicycle tour operators in the US do you know that operate in
mid France? (Budget operators preferred.)
- our original agent was Sobek; we are checking with Baumeler, Euro
Bike Tour, Brooks Country, Vermont Bicycle Tour and American Youth
Hostels
2. Are there bicycle touring groups in operating in France that we can
join once we get to France?
3. If we have to be on our own, our plan is to pick a central location
in the Lorie/Burgundy area and do day rides from the based
hotel/inn. Any suggestions?
4. Would there be major problems transporting a tandem bicycle from the
Paris airport to a train station? How about getting it on a train?
Subway train?
5. Are motorists in the Paris area hostile to bicyclists? (as in most
metro areas in the US)
Any input will be appreciated.
(By the way, my wife speaks reasonable French. I can say 'thank you'
in French.)
merci,
Chak Lai
This is cross posted in the Paris conference.
| T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1911.1 | Might be useful info there | RUTILE::MACFADYEN | Norman Lamont's lodger | Thu Apr 25 1991 05:00 | 4 |
Take a look at note 1866 in this conference.
Rod
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| 1911.2 | Good questions | HERON::ROWLANDS | Rob Rowlands, TPSG VBO 828-5480 | Thu May 02 1991 12:38 | 26 |
You sound like you're making the right choices, going with a
US-based organisation for the mechanical and organisational
support that you'll get from them. There aren't many French organised
tours as far as I know, but I'd welcome being proved wrong on that.
Certainly the bike mags here don't show any ads.
Getting the Tandem from the airport (which one? Orly?
Charles-de-Gaulle? - Orly is closer to Paris but has less flights)
by public transport I think will be a bit of a bummer - unless
someone who knows Paris better has a solution. Transferring
at Orly or Charles de Gaulle will mean almost impossible situations
with the bike - busses, commuter trains, and Metro. So riding into
the mainline station in Paris will probably be the most convenient
solution, in spite of the traffic! You'll have to know which station
to go to, I think it'll either be Austerlitz or possibly Montparnasse.
Riding in Paris isn't as dangerous as it sounds, I rode there for
several years without minor or major incidents (except for getting 2
bikes stolen); but knowing where you're going will definitely help,
so be prepared with Paris/Paris suburb maps before undertaking
the transfer.
Have fun, the weather should be good; weather men usually divide
France in two, above the Loire and below it - so stay on the sunny
southern side if you can!
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| 1911.3 | FILMS::WIDDOWSON | Passe moi ton falzar | Thu May 02 1991 14:53 | 16 | |
>Have fun, the weather should be good; weather men usually divide
>France in two, above the Loire and below it - so stay on the sunny
>southern side if you can!
This is not just folklore- it is very very true: I have heard of at least
one case of fog right up to the bridge at Blois (across the Loire) and
blazing sunshine thereafter, all my personal experience backs it up as
well..
rod (small r)
PS:
Although any Proven�al person will tell you that the *only* good
weather starts at Valence and extends only as far as the Mistral
touches :-)
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