Fat tire bike tour Paris

I took an all day bike tour in Rome last year and I highly recommend this! It was an amazing day which toured the Appian Way and gave a different perspective of the city that you wouldn't ordinarily get via car. Having said that- it was a 23 mile tour and we finished the day exhausted. Depending on your age and health- I would definitely suggest a bike tour! Are you one who regularly exercises? I am a fit 45 year old and the day was tiring for me. How many miles is the tour? There are lots of answers needed that would influence my re ommendation if to take a bike tour or not.
I hope this helps! Laura

We did a bike tour of Paris this past June...not with Fat Tire, and it was a very good experience. I just couldn't imagine Paris being a good place for a "group" bike tour but it was. The leaders managed to take us places that were quiet and without many cars. Occasionally we had to venture out into traffic to get to our places, and that's when I got a little scared for a few of the people in our group.

Liz - I'd suggest you get on a bike and try it out at home first. Long story short, the first time I got on a bike after a prolonged period without riding (not quite 20 years, but more than 5) I had a really hard time with it. Although you never forget how to ride a bike, you can certainly be extremely unsteady and have trouble staying in a straight line. I nearly had a panic attack as I was out in traffic. It does get easier, though if you practice.

I totally agree with Dina. I had your same situation and, although I did rent a bike and practice, I did not practice in traffic. It was nerve wracking to say the least. Someone had to baby sit me the whole time and I still managed to fall down once, taking down the baby sitter as well. Being in Paris does make you feel you can do anything, but you can't fool mother nature. Practice in traffic and if you still have doubts take Fat Bike's Segway tour. You won't regret it.

Fat Tire Bike Tour in Berlin was super and not at all difficult. The bikes they use are very stable and easy to ride. I like the suggestion of getting in a little practice before you go.

Liz, We did the Fat Tire bike tour a couple of years ago. It was great. In fact, my wife and I were just talking about how much fun we had and how it was a highlight of our Paris trip.

I have done all the FT bike tours over a period of 5-6 years. They are all fun, have done one in London too.
They are easy, promise.. I hadn't been on a bike for over 30 years when I did my first one, and I do not go to the gym or jog or anything sporty. On our tour to Monets Gardens( one of my favorite tours) we had three generations of one family, child about 11 or so, mom, and granny, who must have been pushing 70 ( I think she said she was 72 but am not sure now) and all did fine. Don't let the idea of biking in Paris freak you out, it did me a bit, in fact my very first tour was taken only because my sporty friend begged me to take on with her ( the Paris by Night Tour) she even said she'd pay. Well we had so much fun we did the Versailles one the next day!!( which was a tad tiring since we didn't get finished with Night tour till after 11 pm, and then had something to eat, and didn't get to bed till 12, then had to be at the Tour office at 7:30 am!!! ) Riding with a group makes being on the streets in Paris feel safe, its not like a car can't see you when theres a whole lotta bikes around you( ha ha, stay in middle of pack !)

We took this tour several years ago in Paris a night tour and the trip to Versailles. This was the highlight of a trip of highlights. The FT tours are very slow paced, designed to see the sights at a leisurely pace. Highly recommended. We are going back on Wednesday and plan to take the night tour again. It includes a Seine river boat tour and was amazing.

Thanks for all the replies. Since I am already in France, practice won't happen. I haven't decided yet. Maybe I'll just fiend a night river cruise.

I took the evening Segway tour with Fat Tire in Paris. It's definitely more expensive than a bike tour, but it was lots of fun and easy. The guide was great, had time to stop for some lovely photos too. The tour doesn't start until the guide is convinced that everyone can manage on the Segways.

We were in Paris this summer and did the Fat Tire tour. Anyone can do the tour; Paris is pretty flat, and the bikes have big soft tires. That said, your enjoyment depends a lot on the guide you get IMHO. We went to the Eiffel tower meetup and there was a guide there named Johnny who was a riot! Tons of personality! Back at the office they split us up into 2 groups and we got a guide that was very outgoing but somehow it seemed forced and not genuine. Nor did she really give a lot of history as we cycled around, although she did have some good anecdotes when we were in front of Les Invalides. Let me add that the "4 hour tour", in our experience, is really perhaps 2 to 2.5 hours of biking around. The way it worked our day is they had 2 guides at the Eiffel tower and as soon as they got the 1st group of 20 they went over to the office. The 2nd guide waited with everyone else until 11:15, although they have more guides back at the office to get back down to the 20-or-under group size. The guide gave us a Eiffel tower story while we waited. So in one sense that's part of the tour, the history lesson, but in another way its not biking around Paris. My advice is to get there 10-15 minutes early so you're part of the 1st 20 and head right out. I looked at my watch and by the time we walked to the office, paid for the bikes, got a bike assigned and seat adjusted, etc. and we were ready to actually head out it was noon. And there is a scheduled stop for lunch that takes another 30-40 minutes. To sum up, I was a bit underwhelmed by it and would not do it again if it was with the guide we had. However a different guide may be better; I suspect we would have had a better time with Johnny. Also don't forget to bring your RS guidebook for a discount.

Liz don't be a chicken, it will be fun!

John - Thanks for sharing your experience. My sister had a very similar experience and was quite disappointed with her Fat Tire tour last year. It seems that every other person has had a great time, so I was wondering if it was just her. She said her guide didn't know more than she'd already read in a guide book and while she enjoyed the bicycling around, she didn't really feel it was a great tour.