Suggestions for non-alpine biking in France

Alain Quay

Hi

I have some Aussie cobbers coming over in May who want to cycle in France
but who don't want to cycle in the Alps or Pyrenees, I would be grateful for some
suggestiions for a good area to be based in for road biking where it is less steep.

thanks

peter_andrew

Anywhere!!!
Try the Loire around Saumur
or
Dordogne around medievel town of Sarlat
or
Provence anywhere ther except Mt Ventoux
or
Carcassonne along Canal Di Midi
The list is endless
Peter

vernonlevy

Alain Quay wrote:

Hi

I have some Aussie cobbers coming over in May who want to cycle in France
but who don't want to cycle in the Alps or Pyrenees, I would be grateful for some
suggestiions for a good area to be based in for road biking where it is less steep.

thanks

Rhone Valley
Provence
Carmargue
Bordeaux

All wonderful.

ut_och_cykla

All the suggstions are good. Loire is culture & wine but personally I'd go for Provence, north near Nyons? in Alp foothills. Quiet roads, good weather, nice views and dips into Rhone valley for wine 'caves'. Quite a few footpaths too and an active MTB life if you should want that too!
. Bit hilly but worth the effort. Day trips to Orange, ventoux, Avingon etc.

pneumatic

peter andrew wrote:

Anywhere!!!
Try the Loire around Saumur
or
Dordogne around medievel town of Sarlat
or
Provence anywhere ther except Mt Ventoux
or
Carcassonne along Canal Di Midi
The list is endless
Peter

second that, these are great choices and I've done them all.

However, Provence and Dordogne can be quite hilly, as can the Massif Central and Auvergne.

If you want really really flat, go to the West Coast: La Rochelle, Cote Sauvage, Les Landes. Ile de Re is also a great visit from there.

bahzob

Biased because I lived there for a while but the Alsasce great for cycling, with a choice of pancake flat or hilly routes.

dobbo75

Alain, I can completely agree with the post above advising you to go to Sarlat in the Dordogne region. It is amazing!!!

mac111051

Have you thought abought Belgium great cycling country and everyone is cycling mad

mz__jo

Normandy, anyone, or south Brittanny. For a bit hillier the Morvan, Champagne or Burgundy. Around Roanne has all you need, rivers, canal, mountains (that are not very steep), wine. North of Macon is a bit "vallonnée" but very pretty and not too much traffic.
I would agree with Sarlat but the upper valley of the Dordogne is also worth considering (around Argentat).