Now that you’ve arrived your destination, what do you do with your bike?

A lot of train stations no longer offer storage.  To know if your travel destination train station does, check http://www.gares-en-mouvement.com/en/.  To be absolutely sure (because things change), please check the contact numbers listed on each of your  train station’s sites.  Some stations are connected to “velo stations” which serve as rental locations and bike parking spaces.  For logistical reasons, we’ve used the velo station in Grenoble a number of times to store bikes and bike cases (http://www.metrovelo.fr/) . We’ve also used the velo station in Chambéry (http://www.chambery-metropole.fr/83-velostation.htm).

Depending on the hotel you book, you may be able to leave your bike box in the reception area. Most (but not all) 3-star hotels offer this amenity.  1- and 2-star hotels (Formula 1, Etap, B&B) are reluctant for security/liability reasons.  So be sure to your hotels’ official policy on this point.

We can’t speak for other tour operators but, in our case, we will store bike boxes while our guests are on tour.  We do our utmost to be accommodating and—although we offer this service for people who don’t buy anything from us—preference is (of course) given to regular clients and clients who buy tours from us.   We also know some bike shop managers who offer the service free of charge when you buy an “assembly” service from them (when they assemble and disassemble your bike for you upon your return) and they have space!

Cycling or driving from Mont-Saint-Michel is now a thing of the past

You’ll revel in the dramatic work that is being done to give Mont-Saint-Michel its original island flavor. The dyke will be removed and a new elevated access way will open in 2014. But please be aware: Work has already begun, so vehicle access directly to Mont Saint-Michel isn’t possible anymore.  But the new dam is built, so visitors willing to park there and shuttle in will be able see Mont-Saint-Michel in a whole new light right away!

One enormous advantage of parking by the new dam is that it offers amazing views of Mont-Saint-Michel from approximately 900 meters away. The distance is post card and photo-perfect. Be sure to spend some time looking for the best “photo op” while you’re there.

FEES 

The car park fee is 8.50 euros per car per day.  Larger vehicles are charged more (campers are charged 12.50 euros).  You can park your bikes free.  We’ve been told the parking will be secure and electronically guarded with surveillance cameras (CCTV).  More details will follow as we find out more.

From the parking area, there are three ways to get to Mont-Saint-Michel:

-          On foot:  The average walker will arrive at Mont-Saint-Michel about 30 minutes after leaving the parking area.  On your way, you’ll have the chance to learn more about Mont-Saint-Michel; information boards dot the pathway

-          Shuttle:  Shuttles can accommodate up to 95 people and are free to ride.  They will run every three to four minutes in August; every five minutes in July and September; every ten minutes in May, June, and October; every fifteen minutes November through April except on week-ends when they’ll run every 10 minutes.  The shuttle journey takes about five or six minutes.  Please Note: Bikes aren’t allowed on the shuttles.

-          Horse-drawn carriage (called a “Maringote”) These accommodate up to fifty people.  Roundtrip cost per person is 6.5 euros.  The Maringotes run between the hours of 10:00 am and 8:00 pm in July, August, and September; between 11:00 am and 7:00 pm in May, June, and October; and between 11:00 am and 4:00pm during the off season.

Note: a shuttle operates from the Pontorson train station.  The cost: 2 euros one-way per person

Although still sketchy, you can find more information here:  http://accueilmontsaintmichel.fr/english/acces-au-mont.html

What does all this mean for Cyclomundo clients? Three of our Normandy cycling trips let you explore Mont-Saint-Michel:

-           “Mont-Saint-Michel and Bay” and “Brittany, Normandy, and the Island of Jersey”. Riders  can find accommodations in Pontorson.  For these trips—our hotel being steps from the train station—we recommend taking the shuttle from Pontorson.

-          For our “Short Escape to Mont-Saint-Michel,” our hotel is located just steps from the parking area.  We strongly recommend leaving your bikes and luggage secured at your hotel.  Choose how you get here, but get here! You won’t be sorry.

Renting a bike in France

Cycling has become enormously popular in France so bike rentals have mushroomed. Renting a bike is now far easier than ever before. But there are quite a few things to consider when renting a bike in France. Hybrids are available throughout France. Usually, they’re entry-level aluminum models. All come with triple-chainring; and most come with front suspension, making them comfortable (but heavy). Most renters provide a spare tube, a repair-kit, a pump, and a lock at no extra cost. Panniers and helmets are usually provided for a fee. Helmets are most often “one-size-fits-all”, though, so we highly recommend that you bring your own. Although clip-less pedals are often available, we recommend you bring your own for the simple fact that rental inventory is limited and some models (e.g., Speedplay) are not widely available in Europe.

Weekly bike rental rates vary from 75 to 115 euros, depending on the quality of the bike. Female seats, gel seats, seat covers, and extension bars aren’t always available so bring these with you when renting a bike if you want or need to use them.
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Racing bikes are more difficult to find. If you want to rent good quality road bikes (carbon-fiber bikes equipped with Shimano 105 or above) we strongly recommend that you book early (by July, it’s nearly impossible to reserve a road bike). And racing bikes are only available in areas where road cycling is enormously popular: e.g., Provence, the Alps, the Pyrenees.
Entry-level racing bikes are more widely available (although not everywhere!) and easier to find.
Regardless of the type of racing bikes you rent, they usually come with a spare tube, a repair-kit, and a pump (or a CO2 cartridge). Locks are often available on request.
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Kids’ bikes, extension bikes, trailers are usually available from renters located near bikeways. They are more difficult to reserve in the city.
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When renting, keep the following in mind:

• Renters will ask for collateral (either cash or a pre-authorized amount from a credit card) to cover the cost of the bike in case it’s damaged or isn’t returned. Be prepared to abide by the custom.
• Bikes don’t come with insurance. Riders are held responsible for damage or theft. But please Note: some credit cards include insurance for rented goods; check your credit card policy to see if yours does.
• Renters fees include only minimal service: most rental places will change pedals and seats at no extra charge (a few may charge a small fee) but will not change stems, handlebars, or reverse brakes (bikes in France, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland are the “Continental” type meaning that the right lever is the rear brake, the left one is the front brake) free of charge. Be prepared to pay more if you want more.
• Most renters will guarantee a bike type but not a specific model. This is because renters usually carry several brands and, although they have a system that lets them allocate a specific bike on a specific date to a specific rider, their inventories in the summertime are so tight that if someone returns a bike a few hours later than expected, or returns it with damage that requires fixing, there may no be other alternative than to give you a bike of a similar standard but of a different brand.

A list of bike rental firms can be found on Yellow pages (hint: use the search term “cycles”) or through websites. One such is http://www.freewheelingfrance.com/bike-hire-in-france/. Cyclomundo offers bicycle rentals in the French Alps and will help you reserve your rental bike throughout most of France.

This year is no exception. Starting from Dole on August 26 in the Jura and ending in Le Grand Bornand on September 1st, the route will take riders over Col du Telegraphe, Col de la Madeleine, Col des Aravis, and Col de la Croix-Fry

The day-to-day race is the following:

- August 26:  Prologue in Dole (4 km)
- August 27:  Dole to Belleville-sur-Saone (140 km)
- August 28:  Le Parc des Oiseaux to Chatillon-sur-Chalaronne (140 km)
- August 29:  Pont d’Ain to Annemasse (152 km)
- August 30:  Seyssel to Valloire (155 km)
- August 31st:  Valloire to Les Saisies (130 km)
- September 1st:  Beaufort to Le Grand Bornand (83 km)

The exciting news about the 2012 edition is the fact that the last 3 stages will be open to amateur riders!  The 4-night/5-day package includes the option of riding the whole stage, or the last 60 km… or for those who feel this too dreadful, to follow the race in one of the official organization car.

Detailed information will be posted on the Tour de l’Avenir website at http://www.letour.fr/indexTDA_fr.html.  For information on 4-night package, contact us (info@cyclomundo.com; Twitter: @cyclomundo)

Cycling along the Dordogne river from Beynac

With a 4 ½ hour train ride from the Austerliz train station, some feel that Dordogne is far-away place that requires too much valuable vacation time.

Think twice… It would be a shame to overlook this amazing cycling destination!   Taking a train from Paris is not the only way to get to Dordogne!  With new air service from some European hubs to Brive airport and better service to Toulouse airport, travelers have now more time-saving choices than ever!

Flying to Toulouse is an excellent choice.  Toulouse is serviced by all major European airlines from major hubs such as Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam, or London.   For more information on the airlines servicing Toulouse, make sure to visit the airport’s website at http://www.toulouse.aeroport.fr/en/airport.

To get to Souillac, starting point of most of our self-guided cycling tours in Dordogne, simply take the shuttle Tisseo” to Toulouse.  This shuttle runs every twenty minutes and will take you to the train station “Matabiau” in about 40 minutes.  The ticket costs 5 euros.   You may view more information about this service on the airport’s website or on the Tisseo’s website (in French only) .

From the train station “Matabiau” to Souillac, starting point of most of our bike trips in Dordogne, the train ride will take you less than two hours.  You may view train schedules at http://www.voyages-sncf.com .  To find out whether you can travel with your bikes on these trains, you may read our post about traveling with a bike on French trains.

Considering that it takes only 30 minutes to drive to Souillac from Brive, flying to Brive is a highly recommended alternative!

More so now since new service to Amsterdam has been added: starting July 7th and until September 1st, weekly service takes place between Brive and Amsterdam every Saturday.  This come in addition to the regular service from Paris and London.  More information can be viewed on the airport’s website at http://www.aeroport-brive-vallee-dordogne.com/en.

From Brive airport to Souillac, we can arrange your private transfer at the rate of 40 euros (only 20 euros per person if there are two travelers) one-way.  This applies only if you book one of our bicycle tours in Dordogne.

Finally, if you consider spending some time in the Southwest of France, flying to Bordeaux will allow you to explore its world-renown estates and reputed gastronomy before getting on a train to Sarlat.

Whatever your choice is, the reward is huge… you’ll explore an area that is like no place else:  medieval castles, prehistoric caves, quiet roads, etc… will all contribute to make your stay a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

If, on the other hand,you plan some serious riding and are very specific about your bike… you should not think twice and bring your own bike… providing you don’t have to go down 10 flights of stairs, take 3 buses, and 4 flights before getting to your departure train station in France.

CDG’s train station is centrally located and well-signed

If your travel plans involve a flight, we highly recommend that you fly to an airport connected to a train station. Flying to Paris’ CDG airport, Lyon Saint-Exupery, or Marseille for instance will make your trip much easier… These three airports are connected to a train station.

TGV train station in Paris' CDG airport

Buying your ticket and choosing the right train:

Two options, are possible:

• at the station, either from the counter or from self-service machines
• or you can buy online from the French National Railway’s website (www.voyages-sncf.com).

We recommend the last option as you’re more likely to secure special deals that way (in some cases, you can save a bundle!). If you are planning on travelling a lot around Europe, keep in mind that you can purchase a Eurail pass. Eurail tickets cover at least three countries, and they offer the ease of hopping on a train and buying a boarding pass, which usually only cost around 7-Euros. For more information, check out http://www.eurail.com/countries/france/trains-france

Regardless of the way you buy your ticket, and depending of your location, your train ride in France will be done on three different types of trains:

• High-speed TGV trains (the major lines in France)
• Intercités trains (Transregional lines which are not serviced by TGV trains)
• TER trains (Regional trains)If you buy your ticket online, the type of trains is clearly labeled…

Knowing the type of trains you’ll travel on is key when you travel with a bike:

- On TGV trains: TGV trains, you can take your bicycle boxed (the size should not exceed120 cm X 90 cm) as a luggage. There’s no charge for it. We’ve done it many times… If you travel on your own and if the train is not too full, it’s an OK way to travel. If on the other hand, you travel with fellow cyclists on a full train, we do not recommend it. As space is limited, chances are that you’ll have to travel standing up by your bike box.. and you’ll have to move it nonstop to let people pass.

bicycle logo = space for bikes (10 euro fee)

Bicycle logo on Intercite = space for bikes (10 euro fee per bike)

All these trains—theoratically—have space for bikes (they can travel “as is” meaning assembled). The cost per bike is 10 euros and it should be reserved beforehand. As far as we know, your bike can travel free of charge if is boxed and taken as a regular luggage (we did this many times on Teoz trains). As the change from Teoz to Intercite is quite recent (January 2012), we recommend that you double-check with the train attendant before boarding the train if she/he is OK with that. If worse comes to worse, you’ll be asked to pay a 10-euro charge and store your bike in the “bike car.”

- TER: Almost all TER trains accept fully assembled bikes, with some restrictions on certain regions during peak hours: Mon-Fri 7:00 am-9:00 am, and 6:30 pm-9:00 pm

bicycle logo on TER trains = space for bikes (no fee)

Boxed bikes can be taken on TER trains at no additional charge.

Do keep in mind the following when buying/traveling by train:

- The item you must remember to bring when traveling by train is a form of identification: a passport and/or visa for non EU citizens.

- Your luggage should be tagged

- The difference between first and second class seats: most trains provide a smooth & relaxing trip (even at high speed). There is a small bench seat outside each main seating area to make mobile calls. The seats in general are also spacious, and the option of Wi-WiFi is also given on some trains

For more information, we recommend:

• In French only: http://www.velo.sncf.com/
• In English: http://www.sncf.com/en_EN/html/media/CH0004-Everyday-life/BR0326-Bicycle-touring/MD0705_20070613-Read-article.html
• In English: http://www.fubicy.org/spip.php?article107

You may also contact us. We only cover areas that are reachable by train from Geneva. When scouting these areas, we most often travel by train!

“Going for the Yellow” trip

Going for the Yellow allows cyclists to ride Tour de France climbs and watch some key stages of the Tour de France

This self-guided four-day trip will allow fans to watch some of the tour and ride some of the most famous climbs in European cycling. The trip follows stages 10-12 of the Tour, and provides access to classic climbs like the very challenging “Grand Colombier,” and relatively new challenges like the climb to La Toussuire, which was introduced in 2006.Each day’s trip is designed to allow participants to watch the pros on the Tour. They will have a spot right at the stage 11 finish line atop the climb to La Toussuire, and will watch stage 12 start in Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne.

The trip is scheduled for July 10-13, and costs 815 € ($1,065 U.S.)  for each rider sharing a room.

L’Étape du Tour

Etape #1 follows the same route as Tour de France stage "Albertville - La Toussuire"

For amateur cyclists looking to experience a day in the life of a Tour de France rider, L’Étape du Tour is easily the most popular option. French for “stage of the Tour,” the event will involve 8,500 cyclists, who will have a rare opportunity to ride the Tour’s 11th stage when the road is completely closed, just like it is for the professionals.

The groups will ride over Col de la Madeleine, Col de la Croix-de-Fer, and Col du Mollard before tackling the challenging climb to La Toussuire, where Cyclomundo travelers will stay during their trip. Travelers will stay three nights in La Toussuire.

The trip is scheduled for July 6-9, and costs 620 € ($810 U.S.)

The Alpes Open Tour
True Tour de France geeks will love this eight-day trip, where small groups of cyclists are given the opportunity to ride with professional Tour de France riders. The trip is designed for serious cyclists, and will cover more than 100 kilometers each day over some of the most famous climbs in European cycling.

Riders on the Alpes Open Tour will make legendary climbs like Alpe d’Huez and Col de Sarenne.

Two-time winner of Tour de France, Bernard Thevenet with Cyclomundo riders

The trip will brush with Tour de France history in places like Pra Loup, the site of one of the Tour’s greatest finishes between Eddy Merckx and Bernard Thévenet. Riders may be able to hear about this piece of history from Thévenet (the victor) himself, as he is a regular on the Alpes Open Tour.

The presence of the pros and the sense of camaraderie forged between participating cyclists are the most important elements of this trip. It is an excellent opportunity for devoted riders to meet some of cycling’s heroes. Which pros will join the trip isn’t determined until a few weeks before the event, but among the “regulars” are David Moncoutié and Bernard Thévenet.

Now retired, Thévenet won the Tour in 1975 and 1977. He is perhaps best known for his nail-biting defeat of Eddy Merckx in ’75, when he ended five-time champion Merckx’s reign as Tour de France champion.

Celebrated for his climbing abilities, David Moncoutié has won two stages the Tour de France in his career with the French team Cofidis, and is the first cyclist to win the Mountains Classification (awarded for best performance on mountain climbs) of the Vuelta a España four consecutive times. Moncoutié has been a professional cyclist since 1997.

Cyclists will be able to mingle with the pros before each day’s ride and, for those who can keep up, at the feed stations along the way.

The trip is scheduled for Aug. 12-18, and costs 1,250 € ($1,633 U.S.)  for each rider sharing a room.

To Bruno Toutain, cycling is so much more than a sport – it’s his lifeblood. His philosophy states that not only is cycling is central to an environmentally friendly universe, it also bring people together by opening up new possibilities to have fun, enjoy life, and explore the world. Born and raised in Normandy, Bruno relocated to the Rhone-Alpes after years spent living abroad in the United States. Although hereturned to France, Bruno continued to travel the world by bicycle. In doing so, he learned that cycling allows for greater interaction with locals, a more intimate encounter with nature, and countless discoveries made impossible by other forms of transportation.Armed with that knowledge, and drawing on his extensive cycling experience and his passions for travel and meeting new people, Bruno took on a new mission in life: to indoctrinate others into his philosophy through a cyclotourism business. Thus Cyclomundo was born, and Bruno’s philosophy has since been adopted by countless green-minded adventure-lovers around the globe.

While at Cyclomundo, Candice is responsible for communicating with clients and reserving tours. If you are looking for more information on a particular tour or a cyclosportive event like La Marmotte or l’Etape du Tour, she will gladly assist you!A native of Haute-Savoie, France, Candice is thrilled to be strengthening her English skills through working with international clients. One of her greatest passions is traveling; she has been to Australia, Kenya, Mexico, Canada, Tunisia, Spain, and Holland, and her goal in life is to visit every country on Earth.For the moment, Candice is very happy to take up cycling while at Cyclomundo. An always active young woman, Candice particularly enjoys rhythmic gymnastics, which she has been practicing since the age of six. In the winter, she loves skiing and snowboarding in the Alps – like many French children, she has been skiing since she was two years old! In the summer, she loves wakeboarding and enjoying the beach at Lake Annecy. If you should have any questions about sports in the Rhone-Alpes, Candice would be a great resource.