Cycling in Vendee

milese

I'm off to the Vendee for a weeks holiday at the end of May.

I'm going to take the bike, and hope to get out for an hour or so a day, plus one bigger ride of around 4 hours or so.

Question is, what bike do I take, the road bike or the MTB?

I've seen that there is over 1000km of off road tracks in the area, and I like the idea of being able get get away from traffic on the MTB, and I dont really mind riding the MTB on the road. But any idea what these tracks are like, will I be able to do a decent ride on them etc?

Or if i take the road bike I'm sure I'll easily find some low traffic coastal roads?

Any thoughts or advice?

Thanks!

Aggieboy

I go there every year. Not sure about MTB (perhaps ask in the CC?). The Vendee is pretty flat and I usually cycle the coast roads and inland around St Gilles Croix de Vie, Les Sables d' Olonne and Longville sur mer.

Achamore

#1 coastal route
Nice early morning ride before its too busy thro' Les Sables and hopefully not too windy
- lots of coffee and cake options too.

Some good forest cycle paths to explore on the MTB just north of Les Sables.

cwm

i'm off over there with a group of mates in about 3 weeks,the owner of the house we are staying in is staying with us to show us around,acting as a guid.,We are staying in Thouarsais Bouildroux which is inland a bit from you but its my 1st trip away of this kind and really looking forward to it
will try and log some rides and post on here at a later dates

markos1963

Last time I was there, Port Bourgenay, I spent far too much time tasting the Cognac and eating the seafood to go riding

Bobbinogs

The tracks are pretty flat, if a little windswept with some lightly roughed up surfaces. It all depends on your intended mileage. I reckon a good match for days out would be road bike, but with 28mm Marathon Kevlars if your frame/brake bridge will take them. I find my hydrid uncomfortable on the arms after a day in the saddle due to the lack of position variation.

john-e-big-guns

Take ya road bike ...buy a local Michelin map of the area...and go for it

natrix

I took a rigid mountain bike with slick tyres, lots of cycle paths and loads of people using them. Keep an eye out for any local races, they're great fun to watch - the French don't mind closing off the roads for an evenings racing.

If you've ever done the high ropes Go-Ape type of course, there are some great ones in the Vendee region, better and cheaper than the ones in the UK (imho)..........

wjcrombie

I agree- take the road bike and a map - lots of very lovely lanes to join up. The coast road is a bit busy, but the little ones are lovely and traffic is very curtious...

milese

Thanks for all the replies. Have ordered a map and will take the road bike.

Now lets hope for some perfect weather!

Any other tips for things to do in the region (with a 5 month old) would be great.

cwm

enjoyed trip even though weather was pretty rubbish,ended up drinking more litres than riding miles.
click on sig at bottom for routes which may help

Redhog14

Hi - I am contemplating this as we trip with Speedyburd later in Sept. Is it feasible to leave the car at Plymouth for example and load up the bikes for trip round? She has a real distaste for out and back style routes so am looking for loop that is doable in week and that includes some "down time".. any pointers appreciated.

Aggieboy

It's a few hundred miles to the Vendee. Better to go Ply - Ros and tour Brittany for only a week? Lovely place, nice scenery, beaches and towns etc.

milese

cwm wrote:

enjoyed trip even though weather was pretty rubbish,ended up drinking more litres than riding miles.
click on sig at bottom for routes which may help

Thanks for reply.

I cant see any routes, just a few stats?

Redhog14

cheers Aggieboy - your right Brittany is a closer option, might just go buy a map a lunchtime...