French suggestions

RimTape
RimTape Posts: 243
edited October 2014 in Tour & expedition
We are riding from Nice to Brittany in May and June.
Initially we are going to Gorges du Vernon, Pont de Garde, Mt Ventoux, Ardeche Gorge etc.
Then up to Massif Central taking in Puy de Dome....

Suggestions welcome on bits from there on to Brittany eg. Loire valley cycleway? etc..

Otherwise we will just be linking the bits of road on the Michelin map with green shading on the side.

Cheers
Velox

Comments

  • prb007
    prb007 Posts: 703
    We did it the other way round, last year...Cherbourg - Nice.
    You cant go wrong, tbh, France is so picturesque, that as long as you don't
    pick obviously busy roads, and do a bit of research on your destination town/city
    each day, you should have a ball.
    Weather can make or break a trip like this - be careful you don't burn your @ss off down South
    and spend the next week peeling like an old rattlesnake!!
    If your going via the Loire I can strongly recommend Saumur for a stopover...

    not sure if this link to pics will work for you...
    https://plus.google.com/photos/11336718 ... iJe49MLTBw
    If Wales was flattened out, it'd be bigger than England!
    Planet X Ti Sportive for Sportives & tours
    Orange Alpine 160 for Afan,Alps & dodging trees
    Singlespeed Planet X Kaffenback for dodging potholes
    An On-One Inbred for hard-tail shenanigans...
  • Mikey23
    Mikey23 Posts: 5,306
    Plus one for saumur...
  • florerider
    florerider Posts: 1,112
    if you are doing the canal de nantes, eg as part of Brest to St Malo, can recommend:

    www.aurelaisdeloust.com

    just outside Josselin, right on the canal path.

    I have used in numerous times, but on business not cycling. Good honest basic French hotel, very clean, well priced, good meat, desert and wine at reasonable prices.

    Owner tells me he gets cyclists quite frequently. Can house bikes etc
  • whoof
    whoof Posts: 756
    I found the Loire to be very flat, Saumur was a highlight.
    If you are staying in Nice for a day or so I can recommend the Bike Bleu hire scheme. Register for 1 euro a day and you can get a bike for up to 1/2 for free.
    You can take in the Puy De Dome but not on a bike.
  • apreading
    apreading Posts: 4,535
    You might like this book: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0957 ... ROKL5A1OLE

    Written by one of the Saddle Skedaddle guides and based on the guided tour they do from St Malo to Nice, but I think with added info for anyone going on their own and wanting to customise the route.
  • DeVlaeminck
    DeVlaeminck Posts: 8,714
    http://www.freewheelingfrance.com/blog/puy-de-dome.html

    Link suggests they did open the PDD one morning this year.
    [Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]