Hello - Happy New Year everybody. I am thinking of doing the veloscenic in France next summer or autumn - the fairly new route from Paris via Chartres to Mont St Michel. Probably staying in B and Bs or wherever.
Has anyone done this route? It looks a pleasant and scenic ride, through scenery and terrain that I like. Any observations welcome.
Lewis
Veloscenic France
Re: Veloscenic France
A short article about a tour on this route appeared in the latest issue of Cycle mag.(Dec 2014/Jan 2015).
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Re: Veloscenic France
Yes, thanks, that's the one that sparked my interest - and the guy in the picture is a close likeness to me!! Looks a good, rewarding but relaxing route.
Lewis
Lewis
Re: Veloscenic France
I cycled a lot of this (Mt St Michel to Paris) last October.
I didn't know it by name, but found the route via cycle.travel
Beware that it is like a lot of the UK Sustrans routes, mostly unsealed. This makes the cycling hard work, and a little monotonous, so plan a few diversions off the route.
The highlight was the Coulée Verte greenway south of Paris. A pleasant surprise and very quiet.
Jon
I didn't know it by name, but found the route via cycle.travel
Beware that it is like a lot of the UK Sustrans routes, mostly unsealed. This makes the cycling hard work, and a little monotonous, so plan a few diversions off the route.
The highlight was the Coulée Verte greenway south of Paris. A pleasant surprise and very quiet.
Jon
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Re: Veloscenic France
Thanks Jon - only just picked up your reply. Gravel surfaces not a problem, though I was under the impression that the majority was tarmac.
I notice you did it west to east, most of the write ups I have seen refer to the east west direction. Eased along my tailwinds, were you??! It looks an interesting ride in the sort of terrain my wife and I like.
Did you camp, or use hotels / B and Bs?
Thanks.
I notice you did it west to east, most of the write ups I have seen refer to the east west direction. Eased along my tailwinds, were you??! It looks an interesting ride in the sort of terrain my wife and I like.
Did you camp, or use hotels / B and Bs?
Thanks.
Re: Veloscenic France
There is a lot of dirt. (cycle.travel will tell you how many kms are off-road.)
e.g. Chartres to Domfront
Total length: 227km (17 hours). Includes 300m on major roads; 800m pushing; 64.6km unsurfaced (estimate)
I didn't notice any wind issues - W-E was just the direction I happened to be going.
Northern France is quieter than I expected, but woods to camp in were plentiful.
Jon
e.g. Chartres to Domfront
Total length: 227km (17 hours). Includes 300m on major roads; 800m pushing; 64.6km unsurfaced (estimate)
I didn't notice any wind issues - W-E was just the direction I happened to be going.
Northern France is quieter than I expected, but woods to camp in were plentiful.
Jon
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Re: Veloscenic France
Thanks Jon, we are likely to go ahead with this - we may choose a different route if my wife comes with me, as she is on a hybrid type bike with narrower tyres, less comfortable on gravel / unmade surfaces.
That's an interesting website, cycle.travel, not come across it before you mentioned it.
Best wishes
Lewis
That's an interesting website, cycle.travel, not come across it before you mentioned it.
Best wishes
Lewis
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- Posts: 7
- Joined: 7 Jun 2007, 6:34pm
Re: Veloscenic France
Thanks Jon, we are likely to go ahead with this - we may choose a different route if my wife comes with me, as she is on a hybrid type bike with narrower tyres, less comfortable on gravel / unmade surfaces.
That's an interesting website, cycle.travel, not come across it before you mentioned it.
Best wishes
Lewis
That's an interesting website, cycle.travel, not come across it before you mentioned it.
Best wishes
Lewis
Re: Veloscenic France
I may have misled you with the term 'unsurfaced'.
That description covers a multitude of surface types, however in this case it simply means unsealed.
The surface is flat and ridable with any bike, easily for a few kms, but for these distances it can become tiresome.
enjoy your trip.
Jon
That description covers a multitude of surface types, however in this case it simply means unsealed.
The surface is flat and ridable with any bike, easily for a few kms, but for these distances it can become tiresome.
enjoy your trip.
Jon
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Re: Veloscenic France
Useful clarification, Jon, thanks. It's a part of France we know a little, but not cycled at all - as good a reason as any to give it a go!!