Roaming around by bike

Looking to escape for a cycling break of a few days, a week, or more?

Why not explore the South of France in a novel way? Whether by yourself, with the family or among friends, choose a roaming cycling holiday to suit you!

Before organising a roaming cycling holiday, ask yourself the following questions: Which part of the route should I choose? For how many days? What’s the best way to reach and depart from the starting point? Is there suitable accommodation along the chosen portions of route?

Here’s some advice to allow you to plan with confidence.

Add to a roadbook

Choosing which stretches of the route to cover

To help you decide which stretches of the route you might cover, you can:

use the interactive map outlining proposed daily stages. For each stage, you can see the level of difficulty (I’m starting out / with the family; I’m used to cycling; it’s steep…), the types of track you’ll be cycling along (greenways dedicated to non-motorized traffic, or roads shared with motorized traffic) and the shifts in altitude involved. (You can even download the GPS tracks.);
use the route calculator, if you know your starting and end points. (You can even add intermediate points along the stages.)
Find inspiration from suggestions on what portions of route to tackle, based on the number of days you have, your level of fitness and your interests…
You can also get further information from specialized cycling guides or at tourist offices.

Tips

The distance you might cycle per day will vary according to your circumstances. Count c.30km per day with the family, 40km to 60km per day if you’re well used to cycling, or even more if a seasoned rider.
Always factor in a margin of error as regards the distance you’ll cover in a day, to take into account any detours or unexpected additional stretch. Remember, there are specific factors you should also take into account, such as how exactly you’ll spend each cycling day, how much luggage you’re carrying, the varying shifts in altitude and the day’s weather.

Make sure you’re well equipped

Make sure you have all the equipment you need

To cycle along with peace of mind, opt either for a hybrid bike (vélo tout chemin or VTC in French) or an electric bike (VAE in French). A hybrid bike, with its sturdy tyres, is the best choice for tackling towpaths, sandy tracks and country lanes. Trendy gravel bikes are also suitable. A back mudguard can prove useful too.

If less used to cycling, choose an electric bike (vélo à assistance électrique or VAE in French) making it much easier to tackle stages with steep portions. A light handlebar bag or pannier can be a useful addition. When on a longer roaming cycling trip, avoid carrying too much luggage, focusing on the essentials, enough to fit into two large waterproof panniers. As far as possible, distribute the weight more towards the front – it’s better to push a weight than to pull it! You’ll notice the difference on climbs in particular!

You don’t have your own equipment or you don’t want to be encumbered by luggage?

Pas de panique, retrouvez toutes les adresses des loueurs de vélo qui proposent une large gamme de matériels (vélo + sacoches, remorques …) et saurons trouver LA solution adaptée à votre séjour !