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Cycling in France

My boyfriend and I are planning a 8 day bike trip in late September from the Normandy beaches to St. Malo. Would love any info on both 'general biking tips in France' and 'tips on sight-seeing and routes in this area.' Also, how accepting are hotels of bikes? (Itinerary: Bayeux, Beaches,Ste. Mere Eglise, St. Lo, Mont St. Michel, St. Malo). Merci!

Posted by
4132 posts

I have never cycled in Normandy or Brittany, but would say that France is a bike-friendly place and it is a great way to tour and get to know the land in a way you won't get from a train or a car.

If you are renting bikes your rental shop will be an invaluable source of help with your itinerary. They may even offer to book your rooms for you (you can decline) and provide other services, such as bike delivery and pickup.

There is also a Lonely Planet book about cycling in France with specific routes, including at least one in Normandy. It is out of print, and its hotel recommendations are quote dated, but the routes are still good; I'd seek it out at libraries or services like Alibris.

The IGN topo maps are also a great resource.

September is a relatively dry month but you will certainly encounter rain, so good gear is important.

Again, if you are renting, you will find that it is very hard to rent what we would call a road bike in France. The VTTs you will find are like hybrids and should be fine for the itinerary you describe, but (if you rent) make inquiries to satisfy yourself that you will have good-quality, well-maintained machines.

Posted by
12040 posts

There's some guy names Lance something or another who might know a thing about that...