We are looking for a 20-30 mile one day bicycle trip primarily on flat terrain and not on major roads in Provence. While we would consider a guide, our preference is to just go on our own. Any suggestions?
Posted by
Springfield, VA, USA
283 posts
We have stayed Sablet, which is north of Avignon. Lots of quiet country roads and lots of bikes. Flat terrain, depending on where you go. I never paid attention if there are any bike rentals.
Posted by
OP
SLIPPERY ROCK
9 posts
Sounds like a nice area. We will be close to there and may give this a try. Thanks!
Posted by
Greeley, co, usa
2588 posts
Get a Michelin 1:200,000 scale map of the area. Stay on white or yellow roads. Checkout www.crazyguyonabike.com journals
Posted by
OP
SLIPPERY ROCK
9 posts
will do. thanks
Posted by
Boston
4132 posts
If you are renting a bicycle the shop that rents will be able to give you very good advice on routes based on your requirements. For planning purposes a topo map is much better than the Michelin maps, but if you just want to follow a route Michelin should be okay. IGN has a topo series for France.
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10629 posts
About topos: check to see when the one you need was last updated. Years ago we took off hiking for a week near Montsegur with an IGN topo map but found out the first day that logging roads were no longer in use and were covered with downed trees we had to climb over, property lines had moved and now had fences not marked on the map, a bridge no longer existed, and so on. The most detailed Michelin you can get would work too.
Posted by
OP
SLIPPERY ROCK
9 posts
What would be ideal is if there are any specific bicycling trails that are off road, such as the rails to trails system in the United States. Anyone know anything about something like this?
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
We were in the Luberon area last fall and saw many people on bicycles. However, we didn't see a lot of flat roads although there is a nice road into Lourmarin. Very hilly out there.
Posted by
Vancouver
32 posts
We rented a good hybrid bike from this place in Avignon: http://www.provence-bike.com/index.htm . The shop is at the south end of town so you can cycle out of the busy municipal area quickly. Perhaps you could even arrange for a ride out of town and a pick-up later. Near Avignon (east) is an interesting destination, Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, with a large, fun market Sunday and Thursday. If you stayed there a night, the next day you could cycle out and back on a very pleasant country road to Fontaine de Vaucluse, where the Sorgue River comes right out of the rocks. If you're planning a trip before mid April beware of the mistral wind - it's brutal on a bike!