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09-02.-2004, 08:06 PM
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#16 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 79
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Re: Re: touring france
Quote:
If you are staying in hotels limit yourself to rear panniers and a bar bag. a small insulated rackpack can take any picnic bits. There are plenty of small hotels, Gites and Chambre de hote in France if you have any difficulties stop at the nearest cafe and ask. I have spent the night with a neighbour doing this and had breakfast in the cafe itself. as noted you can send your bike freight and they will insist on this for the TGV unless it is in a proper bike bag, I used an unpadded lightweight bag and strapped it to my rack with some bungees I also had a lightweight kit bag that fitted my panniers in. Use cycle clothes that will dry quickly and you can get away with 3 lots, a light cag (it will be warm) and some sandles as a change from cycling shoes. You need take no more kit for 3 weeks than for 3 days. I tend to use tops that can be worn in the evening then after riding, I shower, washing the gear I have worn that day, and change into the top that I will ride in the next day, it's going to be pretty manky after 20 mins anyway I usually take my iPod but end up only using it on the train, I need to be stronger and leave it behind. Light digital camera and plent of memory cards, swap them frequently and if any go missing or the camera goes west then you haven't lost all of your memories. remember to have fun. Regards Steve D |
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09-02.-2004, 08:57 PM
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#17 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Paris, France
Posts: 750
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Re: touring france
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I have yet to do it by bike, but I think it would be great. I would strongly recommend traveling in June or September (best month) rather than July and August. Traffic is lighter, and you will not have all the inconveniences of "half days" and summer shop closings, because most French shopkeepers also go on vacation during that time, and they just close everything down. During vacation, timing is tricky, in many towns almost everything is closed, restaurants stop taking tables as early as 1:30, when you can find one. It's a real pain, even in the car it has taken us hours to find a meager sandwich in the French countryside in August. But if you decide to go in the high season, you should to plan things through more carefully, and probably should make a few reservations. And buy guides. If you read a little French, pick up the "Guide du Routard" for the region you're traveling to, for up-to-date eats and hours and hotels and iteneraries to follow. If you go in September, everything is open again and re-stocked and ready to go for what they call "la rentrée", the new school and business year. There are lots of things to check out, it's all in full swing. Plus the weather can be really great. Check out some of the great hotels in old chateaux... www.relaischateaux.com has a lot of them. Some are pretty pricey - but you can probably get some good deals booking ahead or weeknights, and it lets you visit some beautiful properties and dine in style. A treat, if not for every night! For what it's worth, I think the French are relatively bicycle-friendly drivers and the roads have gotten a lot safer here recently. Sara
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The six-pack will be mine... |
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10-02.-2004, 07:44 AM
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#18 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 11
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Re: Re: Re: touring france
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Hi Steve Thanks for the great advice  Just to be clear, are you saying that if we take our bikes in bike bags we will be able to take them with us (as carryon?) on the TGV? I don't want to get to the train station and find I've got it all wrong  Regards, Kathy |
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10-02.-2004, 10:50 PM
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#19 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 79
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Re: Re: Re: Re: touring france
That has been my experience on several trips in France. Many local trains have somewhere to put your bike. The TGV's have less space but its still possible.
The luggage racks between carriages have a section that lifts up for larger luggage, skis etc, you can get two bikes in here easily. I had a bag made up by http://www.itsinthebag.co.uk/ without padding, which was fine and no one questioned it. A couple of bungee cords are useful for securing things in the racks. On one occasion I managed to bungee two bikes to the outside of the rack near the door, I then sat on the little seat in this area to make sure that people had access OK, again no one said anything. we often wheeled the bikes onto the platform and just stripped the bikes down bagged them and put panniers into a large stuffsack. Only once were we spoken to so we went around the corner packed our "luggage" and walked through the barrier. I've now done about 6 or 7 journeys using bike bags without issue The sleeper trains were more of an issue as there doesn't seem to be as much luggage space, they are also loud hot and bumpy. I would choose TGV next time. As someone else noted June is a good time as its not too busy and there should be plenty of accomodation available. I've always found the French to be cycle friendly and the roads generally quiet. Most hotels have somewhere you can lock your bike up safely. Regards Steve D Quote:
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10-02.-2004, 10:59 PM
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#20 | |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Kent, UK
Posts: 264
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: touring france
Quote:
Your comments are very interesting - I didn't know about the luggage racks on the TGV but I'll bear that in mind for future reference. One comment about travelling by TGV - make sure you book your ticket well in advance because they can get very full, especially in summer. You also have to pay a TGV supplement but it's definitely worth it for the increased speed and comfort. I would definitely advise against trying to take bikes on the standard inter-city trains because as you say there is a lack of space for bulky luggage. You might get away with it with your bike bagged up properly but I wouldn't want anyone to suffer the same experience I had. |
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26-02.-2004, 01:23 PM
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#21 | |
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 32
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Re: touring france
Quote:
My husband and I did our honeymoon cycle touring Provence last July. It was great! We went with Discover France Tours. We also did L'Alpe d'Huez and Mt. Ventoux. The tour company is very flexible and it all depends on what you want to spend. We were fully supported for the two climbs but did almost a week of self guided touring in between. The scenery is beautiful - rolling hills, vineyards - a lot like the California wine country. We have our photos on a web site if you are interested in seeing what it was like. Just let me know. Last edited by J Pugh : 26-02.-2004 at 01:26 PM. |
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26-02.-2004, 01:30 PM
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#22 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 11
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Re: Re: touring france
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Hi J Pugh - I would love to see your website photos - they may help us make a final decision as to our plans. Thanks, Kathy |
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26-02.-2004, 01:36 PM
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#23 | |
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 32
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Re: Re: Re: touring france
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Hi Kathy, You will have a blast. We would do it again in a flash! Not just because it was our honeymoon, either! Here is the web site - my husband did all the work on it - http://www.csulb.edu/~jostrow/tour/ Jean |
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26-02.-2004, 01:45 PM
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#24 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 11
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Re: Re: Re: Re: touring france
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Hi Jean Thanks for the link - you must have had a great time! Your pics are great and I like you husbands arty site. I can't wait till our holiday starts now Kathy |
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26-02.-2004, 01:50 PM
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#25 | |
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 32
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: touring france
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Hi Kathy, You'll have to let us know where you decide to go and how wonderful it was! Have a great time! Jean |
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27-02.-2004, 09:47 AM
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#26 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 79
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Re: Re: Re: Re: touring france
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Nice site! mine isn't as slick, more of a blog really but you're welcome to a look, one day I'll get around to finishing it. Regards Steve D www.guernsey.net/~sdorrity |
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27-02.-2004, 02:07 PM
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#27 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 277
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Quote:
I have cycled in the Luberon. Yes, its "hilly" in the sense that in order to view the hill towns one has to go, well, up a hill. Its really not that bad, I was not in great shape when I went and didn't find anything terribly difficult. However, I did not climb Mt. Ventoux which is included in many itineraries. I hear that is a tough climb so you may want to avoid it if you are concerned about your fitness level. The luberon is great if you like small hilltown villages. Plenty of restaurants and vineyards if you are a gourmand as long as money is no object (I found restaurants quite expensive). I highly recommend visiting Avignon and Arles if you want to incorporate larger cities into your itinerary. If you are doing it self-supported then have a look at the following site. Its really excellent - covers a lot of routes in France and has detailed suggested itineraries including kms and roads to take. I cribbed my entire itinerary from this site. Lonely planet also has a book entirely about cycling in France. http://www.mayq.com/Best_european_t...uberon_Azur.htm As far as trains: With TGV you must have a housse or bike bag to carry your bike with you. I believe with the Intercity and regional system you can take it on any train with a bike symbol OR on any train as long as it is outside peak hours. |
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04-03.-2004, 10:59 PM
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#28 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: South-west France
Posts: 13
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Hi from France itself
In general you can't take bikes, other than in boxes or bags, on the fastest trains, including all the TGVs that I know about. You can, however, take a bike on many other trains although they are by definition slower. A benefit of that is that they stop at more stations, so it's more likely you can get on or off closer to where you want. The main SNCF web site doesn't list trains that will take bikes. But there is a site for regional trains that does. Go to http://www.ter-sncf.com/, select the region you want and then the line, and up will come a timetable. On that timetable will be little bicycle symbols where appropriate. Accommodation is generally, and on the newest trains is always, alongside one or two of the passenger doors, according to the length of the trains. Look for a bicycle symbol on the side of the carriage. At small rural stations there will be so few passengers that station staff or the conductor are likely at least to identify the carriage. There will be about four bike spaces per train. They can't be booked and it's first come first served. On the other hand, I have never been anything but the only cyclist (other than my wife) on any train that we have taken, with the exception of a train from the Semaine Fédérale at Aurillac last summer. But given that there are 13 000 cyclists at the Sem Fed, that's not surprising. Even then, we were allowed just to prop oour bikes in the door space and take a seat. If you're nice to the conductor, remember to say Merci and S'il vous plaît and to call him Monsieur (which sounds a lot more formal than it is), your chances are much increased. I hope that helps. If I can tell you any more, just say. Oh - bikes go free, by the way. les woodland st-maurin, france |
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05-03.-2004, 07:42 AM
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#29 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 11
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Quote:
Dear Les Thank you, Thank you , Thank you! That is exactly what I needed to know. Kathy |
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07-03.-2004, 03:49 AM
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#30 |
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 16
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Les,
Thanks for the info regarding bicycles on trains in France. An added difficulty for us is that our bike is a tandem, so I'm worried it may not fit in the spaces provided. However, on the good side, we plan on riding just about everywhere we go once we get to Provence so we won't be getting on and off very many trains. So the main difficulty will be getting from Paris, or wherever we land to Provence (and back). I'm wondering if we might be better off buying an airline ticket with a destination of Avignon for example, rather than having to transport our bikes from Paris though it would cost several hundred dollars more that way. I wonder if there is a way to ship our bike directly to our first lodgings in Provence, and fly in to Paris ourselves, then take the TGV to Provence, which would give us the opportunity of visiting Paris without the hassle of the bike. Any further thoughts you have would be much appreciated. Merci Mark Taylor Seattle Washington In general you can't take bikes, other than in boxes or bags, on the fastest trains, including all the TGVs that I know about. You can, however, take a bike on many other trains although they are by definition slower. A benefit of that is that they stop at more stations, so it's more likely you can get on or off closer to where you want. The main SNCF web site doesn't list trains that will take bikes. But there is a site for regional trains that does. Go to http://www.ter-sncf.com/, select the region you want and then the line, and up will come a timetable. On that timetable will be little bicycle symbols where appropriate. Accommodation is generally, and on the newest trains is always, alongside one or two of the passenger doors, according to the length of the trains. Look for a bicycle symbol on the side of the carriage. At small rural stations there will be so few passengers that station staff or the conductor are likely at least to identify the carriage. There will be about four bike spaces per train. They can't be booked and it's first come first served. On the other hand, I have never been anything but the only cyclist (other than my wife) on any train that we have taken, with the exception of a train from the Semaine Fédérale at Aurillac last summer. But given that there are 13 000 cyclists at the Sem Fed, that's not surprising. Even then, we were allowed just to prop oour bikes in the door space and take a seat. If you're nice to the conductor, remember to say Merci and S'il vous plaît and to call him Monsieur (which sounds a lot more formal than it is), your chances are much increased. I hope that helps. If I can tell you any more, just say. Oh - bikes go free, by the way. les woodland st-maurin, france [/B][/QUOTE] |
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