Lonely Planet Cycling France [Paperback]

Ethan Gelber (Author)

Book Description

Series: Cycling | Publication Date: October 1, 2009

Lonely Planet Knows France.

Idyllic countryside rides along tranquil canals, dramatic coastal routes atop rugged sea cliffs, demanding alpine climbs - France offers a wealth of great cycling experiences, and we have chose the crème de la crème, for every interest and ability level. Whether you want a gourmand's tour through vineyard and farmland, or to conquer the principal climbs of the Tour de France in the High Alps, this guide gives you the best of France on two wheels.

In This Guide:

Everything you need to know to get prepared
Bike maintenance tips to keep you on the road
Comprehensive listings for sleeping, eating and facilities along the way

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The French have a nickname for the bicycle: la petite reine, or the little queen. With the country's fondness for the queen of the road, its vast network of quiet back roads, magnificent scenery, and scrumptious eateries, it's the perfect choice for discovering the world on two wheels. Lonely Planet has created an excellent guide to touring in France, chock-full of itineraries, maps, information, and advice for those who want to get off the bus and set their own pace. They've mapped out the best rides in the country for neophytes, veterans, and off-roaders, with itineraries ranging from a few hours to two months. Here's a sampling: In Paris you can take the bike paths along the Seine or all the way to Monet's gardens in Giverny. The Loire Valley offers intimate excursions beside sandstone villages, magnificent châteaux, and scenic waterways. Take the tiny, winding roads of Provence to see perched villages and spectacular panoramas of the Cote d'Azur, or dip into Champagne for the terraced vineyards of Dom Perignon. For those up to the challenge, there's the dramatic volcanic landscape of the Massif Central, with its steep climbs and sweeping descents. The guide includes a chapter on the island of Corsica, with its rugged coastal scenery and prehistoric sites.

Traveling by bicycle calls for a plethora of information not found in the typical tourist guidebook. Lonely Planet has it all. "Facts for Cyclists" provides practical information on when to ride (based on the weather and wind patterns), a checklist of what to bring, information on buying or renting locally, a list of cycling events, and Internet resources. There are tips for senior, disabled, and gay and lesbian cyclers, and those riding with children, as well as lists of which airlines and which types of trains are bicycle friendly, and how to pack and transport your bike. The "Health and Safety" chapter explains the French rules of the road (including the confusing "Priority to the Right"), and gives tips for getting and staying fit, and treatments for common ailments on the road. Of course, there's the usual information on where to stay, what to eat, and what to see for a wide range of tastes, from camping to a night in a château. There's also a section on the history of cycling in France and a chapter on the Tour de France and its nuances. With the inclusion of the requisite chapter on bicycle maintenance and repair, you're ready to ride. --Lesley Reed --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: Lonely Planet; 2 edition (October 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1741040442
• ISBN-13: 978-1741040449
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #88,436 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #8 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Individual Sports > Cycling > Excursion Guides
  • #44 in Books > Travel > Reference & Tips > Guidebooks

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

63 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The best book available as of 2001, October 12, 2001

By 

Geoff Darst (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lonely Planet Cycling France (Lonely Planet Cycling Guides) (Paperback)

As of October 2001, this appears to be the best book available on the subject of bike touring in France. Neither Karen & Terry Whitehill's nor Jerry Simpson's books come even close to being as comprehensive as this book. The best thing about this book is all of the useful logistical information it provides. For example, the authors thoroughly document how to get out of Paris with your bike (both from Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports). They also explain the SNCF's fairly unfriendly policy with respect to bikes on trains. And in typical Lonely Planet fashion, they also document the myriad of important details for survival in France, such as how to make a telephone call and how much to tip.

With respect to the actual tour documentation, this book does a good job. There are tour choices in all regions of the country including Corsica. Routes are well documented and the road choices seemed pretty reasonable. Cue sheets are provided with good distance information between all intermediate points. Some tours have elevation profiles included. I would have liked to have seen a bit more information about food and lodging availability--particularly in the intermediate towns.

The truth about cyling in France is that the bike touring part is really easy. Unless you are worried about hills (in which case you should stay in the Loire), all you need is a Michelin map. The color scheme tells you all you need to know about route choices (seek out the white roads, and green highlights mean scenic routes). You can usually find some place to stay and eat in any town and if you can't, you can usually find another town a few kilometers down the road. All of France is wonderful for riding, so you really don't need a book to lay out a tour for you. What you do need is information telling you how to get around with your bike and how to survive once you are over there. This book does that exceptionally well.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Have Book for Cycling in France, October 28, 2003

By 

William H. Overmyer (Perrysburg, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lonely Planet Cycling France (Lonely Planet Cycling Guides) (Paperback)

Six of us used this book this past June for a nine day trip to the Dordogne region of France. The book is indispensable for do it yourself travel. It tells you everything you need to know regarding the nuts and bolts of putting a trip like this togethter. The suggested routes, restaurants, and hotels were all excellent. I would suggest another book to supplement this one as far as detailed information about the sites is concerned.

22 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This book sucks!, June 20, 2004

By 

Rez B "mbigouben" (Seattle, WA; United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lonely Planet Cycling France (Lonely Planet Cycling Guides) (Paperback)

Sorry to be so blunt, but I spent the last 5 weeks cursing the authors of this book (and those that I met on the road with this book felt the same way). Do NOT waste your money on this thing. It is FIVE years old (I live in Seattle and met one of the authors before she left in June '99). The information is totally outdated and some of the campsites no longer exist! My advice is to get a good guide that is updated regularly, maybe get a good idea for a route from the Mountaineers and then get the Michellin map following the scenic (green) routes (or get the special bikes maps from any bookstore (librarie) while you are there). Cycling in France is a breeze. Enjoy France on the bike...there is no greater place to ride. Don't let McGuide mess with your fun. Live to ride...ride to live...