Rides around Nice

godders
godders Posts: 84
edited August 2007 in Workshop
I am off to France in a few weeks and I have decided to take my bike. I am staying in Antibes which is about 12 miles from Nice. I know there is a lot of good riding out that way so could anyone point me in the direction of some nice routes/climbs?

Thanks
Phil

Comments

  • Mark Appleton
    Mark Appleton Posts: 14
    Hi Godders, before coming to work here at BikeRadar I was living and working just along the road from Antibes in Villeneuve Loubet. I highly recommend taking your bike on holiday with you, the riding is spectacular and the beauty of this part of France is that you have the option of flat riding along the coast or heading up into the arriere pays and getting stuck into some serious climbing. Invest in a Michelin road map of the area (less than a fiver) and you've got distances, elevations, scenic lookout spots and basically all the information you need to scope out some great rides.
    My favourite was up the Col de Vence which you can get to from Antibes by heading to east to Villeneuve Loubet then following the road along the course of the Loup river before making your way through La Colle sur Loup, St Paul de Vence and Vence after which the road snakes up to just under 1000m. It's do-able even for those , like me, who are not super fit as the gradient is never too vicious. Also while in Antibes check out the massive new Decathlon super store which has got a good cycling section where the prices seem remarkably cheap compared to the UK. BTW as you enter Villeneuve Loubet from Antibes you pass Stephen Roche's hotel next to Marina Baie des Anges - drop in for a coffee and you might get to have a chat with the 1987 Tour winner. Hope you have a great time - and why not tell the Forum about it when you get back?
  • timjohndavey
    timjohndavey Posts: 12
    Dear Phil,

    I live part time in Beaulieu Sur Mer. There are some great rides but the coast roads, the basse corniche and even the moyenne corniche have quite heavy traffic.

    You could take your bike, hop on the train to Menton, about 25 mins from Nice and do Lance Armstrong's original Madone climb up in to the hinterland. There are some really great roads up there and a couple aof gorgeous towns for lunch.

    Have a great time, Tim
  • godders
    godders Posts: 84
    Thanks for the great advice. I bought the Michelin map and headed out today up the Col de Vence and even managed to get to the ski station at Greolieres les Neiges. It was the best cycling I have ever done. The roads were smooth, I found a buddy to ride with and the traffic was so considerate. I was waiting at a junction to turn left and the car with right of way stopped to let me go out first! How often does that happen in England?

    I clocked up 75 miles and got from sea level to over 1400 metres.

    If you are interested in the photos there are some here: http://flickr.com/photos/philandlucyinnz/

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