Need help to prepare bike tour on France

[Guzhva RADOMIR]

Warm greetings from cyclists of Russia!
This summer (approx. from 15.06.2017) our group of 4 people would like to visit France by bicycles from Toulouse to Bayeux or vice versa.
We have bicycles touring (hybrid) 28" with bags Ortlieb. So, asphalt is the best for us but light off-road is no problem too. 
Duration: ~ 3 weeks
Overnights: B&B, chambres d'hôtes, tents... 
The project of our track is the following http://www.gpsies.com/mapOnly.do?fileId=nahismfdgtnnavgw&isFullScreenLeave=true
There are total ~2.100 km but we would like to cut distance till 1.200 - 1.400 km.
That's why we have to exclude not much interesting places... to take some parts by train etc.
We already visited last years Toulouse, Caen, Nantes and castels of Loire.
Which places are necessary to go/see and which ones are not? Maybe you can advise us any special places which we have forgotten to add to our list?
Thank you very much in advance for understanding and help.

[Bernard MOREAU]

Welcome back to France.

I don't have much time these days, but I'll try to have a look at your itinerary later.

Actually your itinerary takes you near my hometown in Brittany.

As you know lots of Russian tourists are not exactly the best of what your country has to offer, but since you are coming back for this 2nd trip, it means that as cyclists you probably were seen in a better light.

So, again, welcome.

I also see with pleasure that you stay away from Paris and hope that the results of the coming election do not push you away 😉 

[Guillaume LEROYER]

 

Il demande des conseils pour un voyage cycliste en France, vous avez fait l'effort de lire ou quoi ?

Si j'avais à faire un séjour cycliste en Russie, ça me semblerait tout à fait logique de demander des conseils sur un forum russe plutôt qu'ici

[Guillaume LEROYER]

Hello Guzhva (or Radomir ? 😉)

I live in Bordeaux, it's a great city to visit, and in your project I think the Pyla sand dune is unavoidable

 

On the other hand, for the part in the South of these points, between Préchac and Parentis-en-Born, you will ride on long straight roads, not very interesting and painful

To avoid this, I see two options

1) From Langon, you should take the train to Bordeaux, and after your visit of the town, take the train to Arcachon (nice small balnear city), go to the Pyla dune, and after this continue your itinerary

2) If you want to stay on the bike in this part, I advise you to take the cycling track in Uzeste (near Préchac), up to the Arcachon basin (via Villandraut, Saint-Symphorien, Hostens, Belin-Beliet, Salles, Mios and Biganos). From there you can go to Bordeaux by train to visit the town, and then go to the Pyla dune and after continue your itinerary

 

For all the part between Arcachon and le Verdon-Pointe de Grave, you will ride on cycling tracks, the first part up to Hourtin-Plage is very cool, after that it will be straight tracks, not as interesting, but it's "only" for 50 kilometers

 

I'm here for you for all your questions, here or in MP, and perhaps (why not ?) for riding a little part with you on my bike 🆒

See you

Guillaume

[Jean-Pierre FOURNIER]

plus 1 pour l effort guillaume ,je sais le lire mais pas l écrire ,mais après bordeaux ,il leur reste du chemin ,vive la communauté cycliste internationale

[Didier BRAILLY]

Hi , 

 

Guillaume has recommended as a must the Bordeaux area , that's indeed fine 

Between Toulouse and Bordeaux , if you wish to discover a bit of gastronomy , I think you will be able to afford a trip via Auch and Mont de Marsan (Foie Gras areas) .

 

Then , I would recommend the coastside road via Vendée (Les Sables d'Olonnes , St Gilles, Noirmoutier) towards Britanny and of course an entry in Normandy with a mandatory stop at Le Mont St Michel .

Last , the road alongside the D-Day beaches is possible just before the arrival in Bayeux.

 

A bit short message but if you wish additional details and speak in Russian , I am open to do it when you will have finalized the project.

Oudatchi  !

do ckopobo

Dug6e / Didier

 

 

 

 

[Guillaume LEROYER]

"A bit short message but if you wish additional details and speak in Russian , I am open to do it when you will have finalized the project.

Oudatchi  !

do ckopobo"

 

Alors là, très fort 🆒

[Bernard MOREAU]

Nous avons un forumeur russophone me semble-t-il, tu sais, le spécialiste des descentes à tombeau ouvert.

Me souviens plus de son nom.

Il faudrait le brancher sur ce fil. (Avec 2 fils c'est mieux parfois, mais là ça devrait faire l'affaire 😄)

[Jacques LITAIZE]

Stéphane Crapski

http://www.velo101.com/forum/voirsujet/flashe-a-47-kmh-dans-une-zone-50!!!--35464/

[Guzhva RADOMIR]

Dear Colleagues,

Thank you very much for the active discussion of my post. I see that most of the speakers here have a sense of humor and are well versed in politics. But... frankly speaking I came here with the hope of receiving practical advice on the merits of the matter. 

Please pay attention we visit France regularly and you can find herewith below done real tracks  of our travels by bicycle 

http://www.gpsies.com/mapOnly.do?fileId=aqcybjljgfdughbh&isFullScreenLeave=true

http://www.gpsies.com/mapOnly.do?fileId=hpgbynsksgypwzph&isFullScreenLeave=true

http://www.gpsies.com/mapOnly.do?fileId=ygefhwmmbqhgahuv&isFullScreenLeave=true

http://www.gpsies.com/mapOnly.do?fileId=ozpugbxmlsupkief&isFullScreenLeave=true

http://www.gpsies.com/mapOnly.do?fileId=bqwxmllbzdjlfsox&isFullScreenLeave=true

http://www.gpsies.com/mapOnly.do?fileId=fqfapkhptfmiiezx&isFullScreenLeave=true

As you see we know more or less your country and like to go there each time.

Now we have idea to visit few areas as your can see at my project of track. 

But I am not sure that my wife and others can do it with pleasure.

That's why I have to cut so long distance and ask your help for to do it right.

Bernard MOREAU,  Hugo PASCO,  Guillaume LEROYER,  Didier BRAILLY and others, 

I will study with attention your advices and come back to your in case of any questions.

The main question now is the following: which parts we can exclude from our trip without compunction?

Radomir is my name 😆.

 

[Guzhva RADOMIR]

I also wanted to note that our trip from Lyon to Nice in June 2015 was the best, thanks to numerous tips and recommendations from site http://www.vttour.fr.

As to language it is better to speak English because unfortunately I can't speak French and the translator Google sometimes so distorts the sentence that it is impossible to understand their meaning abusively.

But if someone owns my native language, it would be easier for me to communicate in Russian   but here it does not work out. 

[Guillaume LEROYER]

I agree with you

When I want to translate a text from a foreign site (danish, dutch, ...), I translate it in english, it's easier to understand

If I try to translate it in french, even if I'm french, I don't understand anything 😃

 

[Didier BRAILLY]

Hi, 

 

I see you know already quite well our country .

So , in this case , after Bordeaux , go and ride to discover Britanny (Vannes to St Malo , then Le Mont St Michel, D Day shores and end in Bayeux ).

It is true , even with a russian keyboard adaptor , it is difficult to write in russian on forum sites , so english is fine but lateron , I hope we will the opportunity to discuss a bit in russian.

Didier 

 

 

[Didier BRAILLY]

Hi, 

 

I see you know already quite well our country .

So , in this case , after Bordeaux , go and ride to discover Britanny (Vannes to St Malo , then Le Mont St Michel, D Day shores and end in Bayeux ).

It is true , even with a russian keyboard adaptor , it is difficult to write in russian on forum sites , so english is fine but lateron , I hope we will the opportunity to discuss a bit in russian.

Didier 

 

[Guzhva RADOMIR]

Hi there,

According to your advices I have done some changes of our itinerary and begin our trip from Bordeaus instead of Tolouse. We will flight to Paris and take TVG from CDG to Bordeaus.

After assembling our bycicles and sightseeing tour around Bourdeaux (for my wife and our friends 😆) we will take a train to Arcachon area.

There are 2 questions now:

1. I think to take a ferry boat to Cap Ferret. But here  www.bassin-arcachon-info.com we can find just old timetable of ferries. Can I find ahywhere a new one? What is the best (more ferries) point for departure from Arcachon area to Cap Ferret: Arcachon, Moulleau or Dune du Pilat?

2. Can you advice obligatory to visit île de Noirmoutier? It will take a little bit time of our trip but we don't have too much of the above.

 

 

[Guillaume LEROYER]

"we can find just old timetable of ferries"

 

Why, "old timetable" ? It seems to me the timetable is good (2017)

You have to take the ferry in Arcachon (Jetée Thiers), I've seen in june you have departures at 9,10,11,12,14,16 and 18.00

The ferries from Moulleau and Dune du Pilat only travel in summer (july and august)

[Guzhva RADOMIR]

I saw http://www.bassin-arcachon-info.com/navette.php and there is written periode 03 Nov 2016 au 31 Mar 2017.

But I understood that we have to departure from Arcachon. 

[Guillaume LEROYER]

When you point your mouse on Horaires (on the left) / Embarquement, you can click on "Départ Arcachon"

After this, on the top of next page, you can choose your date and see the hours (navettes maritimes)

[Guzhva RADOMIR]

Guillaume LEROYER, thank you, I understood the right way.

During last days we worked with our trip...

At the end of all final project of our track is the following  http://www.gpsies.com/mapOnly.do?fileId=sjmufhakehyogpbk&isFullScreenLeave=true

Direct lines are trains or ferry. From Caen to Paris Orly - by Ouibus.

4 people will go to this trip: we will start together with my wife on 03.06.2017 by airplane and reach Bordeaux by TGV. 2 other people will arrive in Les Sabbles from Paris CDG via Nantes by train.

All non refundable tickets (airplanes, trains, bus) already bought.

Total run by bicycle is about 1560 km. I am ready to cut a little bit this distance but I don't know where.

Can we cut something? Or no? Where if "Yes"? (I mean some uninteresting places which better to cross by train).

 

[Bernard MOREAU]

I'm pretty busy these days and will not look in detail, but when you are in Perros-Guirec or Trébeurden, if you like boats and birds, try getting on this

http://www.santguirec.com/

It's a sail boat that takes you to the "7 îles" natural park. It's a great experience because you spend the all day and might even do your bit helping out. SOOOO much better than taking a fast motor boat and going for a quick tour. Sure, it will cost you twice as much, but it's so much nicer. Bring your lunch.

DEPARTURE  from either Perros-Guirec or Trébeurden depending on tides.

https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/R%C3%A9serve_naturelle_nationale_des_Sept-%C3%8Eles

Apparently no english version 😕