Rodez any routes?

Tomk

I'm off on holiday in August to a little place called Estaing and Espalion on the River Lot, in the Aveyron region, the nearest airport is Rodez. I wondering if its worth taking my bike - has anyone been here mountain biking? Know of any trails? or places worth visiting nearby? Or anywhere websites etc that might have some more bike info.

Thanks
Tom

Ocrider

Tomk, Its not exactly the most densely populated part of France, but there are lots of paths around there (and big hills!), however, with it being August there will be plenty of walkers (el camino de Santiago de Compostela passes through Espalion)

Link for the Aveyron tourist office page on biking in English
http://www.tourisme-aveyron.com/uk/sports/terre/VTT_cyclotourisme_aveyron.php
links to scans of waymarked bike trail maps a few minutes up the road:
http://campings.blogs.com/valdesaures/files/VTT-PDF1.pdf
http://campings.blogs.com/valdesaures/files/VTT-PDF2.pdf

If you prefer to be guided, here's a link to something the tourist offices are doing in July and august:
http://festirando.netrando.fr/velo.html

If thats not hardcore enough for you, here are two big rando events in the Aveyron:
The Caussenarde (40, 80 and 105 km courses all have at least +-1000m)
The Roc Laissagais (20, 40, 50 and 77 kms) Absalon used this to prepare for the Olympics last year.


One last thing, take it easy on the aligot, you cant ride far with a belly full of that stuff!

robertpb

Try this website www.utagawavtt.com then go to traces VTT.

You can find trails all over France with IGN, Google and gps maps even has a weather report.

The search criteria can be pretty fine tuned.

This is the most comprehensive MTB site for rides I have ever seen.

I was looking up the other day how many miles of footpaths there were in the UK, about 13,500 so I looked up France over 110,000.

I think you'll find whereas in the UK it's a case of where to ride, in France it's a case of how am I going to ride all of this

Tomk

Wow, thanks for all the info guy's.

willlin

I went here in Easter on holiday just by Entraygues, which is just along from Estaing. It's really quite nice there, loads of VTT trails, although pretty hilly!


Sorry no specific info, but I'd definitely take my bike there...