With the clocks going forward and the onset of spring and the sunshine (hopefully!) of summer my mind is already focussing on one thing, the Tour de France. For three weeks the sporting World’s eyes salivate over the prospect of men in Lycra demonstrating a desire and spirit unmatched in any other arena on the planet, and oh not forgetting my wedding anniversary, sorry Sarah.
The whole experience is one to savour, with a party atmosphere following every pedal stroke, every fiery disagreement (of which there are plenty) and every cinematic flyby provided creatively by the exemplary television coverage.
But there is so much more to cycling in France, instead of encountering the suffocating shroud of mass tourism, the independent spirted traveller can experience a period of isolation and sublime discovery. Satisfied that the monotony of traffic jams, people and packed accommodation is a distant memory, thus allowing the adventurous to concentrate and immerse in the sights, sounds and smells of a landscape, the culture and human interaction. I am happy to elicit debate by not conforming to British indifference with the French, I openly admit, I adore France and its people.
There are several options for the cyclist, the Eurovelo, Voie Vertes and the Routes Nationals. The latter are of good quality and never busy, with the occasional motor vehicle encountered. The French drivers are usually extremely accommodating, sounding their horn to warn of their approach and happy to give a wide berth and welcoming wave as they pass. The Eurovelo is a intricate network of cycle routes across Europe, coordinated by the European Cyclists Federation (ECF). The routes can be used by long distance cycle tourists, as well as used on a daily basis by the locals. Currently it consists of 15 routes with seven crossing France through more than 7,000 kilometres. In order for a cycle route to be part of the Eurovelo network, it must meet the following requirements:
- have no gradient above 6%
- be wide enough for 2 cyclists
- have an average of no more than 1,000 cars a day (although on most routes in France, this number is much lower)
- have a hard surface for more than 80% of its length
- be open for bicyclists year round, have lodging available every 50 km, food every 30 km, and public transit every 150 km
AF3V is a national organisation of French citizens who promotes the development of greenways and long distance cycle routes in France. Voie Verte is French for Greenways and they offer a wonderful signposted delve into rural France. Motor vehicles are prohibited and the majority of the routes follow the contours of river or canal towpaths and disused railways. Currently there are over 3,000 kilometres of Voie Verte across France with varying distances from 10km to 50km, offering something for both the committed or less frequent cyclist. The simple ethos is to provide clean, green tourism whilst encouraging active leisure and exploration. If you’re in a hurry, then forget it. The environs take over, they possess your body and mind, immersion is inevitable. The unhurried, relaxed approach is infectious. One of the main advantages of the routes are their flexibility, you can plan your day, commit to an agreed distance with breaks and stop whenever to discover places of interest. There is excellent access to road or rail networks and plenty of places to hire bikes,(if you don’t want to bring your own along), which make them a perfect choice for any type of break. www.AF3V.org
If you haven’t experienced France on two wheels, then boy you are missing out, just a short hop across La Manche is a two wheeled nirvana awaiting to be discovered, don’t say I didn’t tell you so!
Happy Pedalling
Scot
Scot Whitlock Editor, CADENCE Cycling Magazine (coming soon)
Twitter: @cadencemag
Website: www.cadencemag.co.uk
Author ‘Simple Words from the Saddle’ & ‘Simply More Words from the Saddle’
Twitter: @saddlescot
Blog: [email protected]
Kazakhstan trip: www.pedaltheunknown.com
