Traveling with your bike

     by Air

We prefer to bring our own bikes with us rather then renting. There are many obvious reasons as to why it is preferable to bring your bike from home. With some precautions and preparation, transporting your bike should not be too much of a problem.

When you book your tickets with the airline, make sure you tell them that you will be traveling with your bike. We have learned through experience that there are only a certain number of spots available for bikes on some planes. Also some airplanes are not large enough to take bikes on them. Ask the airline if all flights accept bikes. On this trip we had to make a last minute change because our connecting flight with Lufthansa from Munich to Bordeaux did not accept bikes, so we had to fly from Frankfurt into Toulouse instead. This usually is not a problem if you are on a 747 but if you are on a small commuter plane it can be. Confirm with the airline that the bike can be taken as part of your checked luggage. Most airlines do not charge for bike transportation if you are taking an international flight.

We always try and box our bikes for the trip. A bike box can easily be picked up at your local bike shop. Deflate the tires (airline policy) and remove the pedals (15mm wrench), I usually use some cardboard and tie wraps to add some padding and protection to the rear derailleur and the drive train crank. With most bike boxes you will have to remove the front tire and seat post. Mark the seat post and handle bar stem height before removing, it will save time during assembly. The next step is to remove the handlebars; turn the handlebars 90 degrees and place the bike in the box. Secure the front tire to the frame with tie wraps or black electrical tape, use the same tie wraps and tape to secure the handlebar to the frame. Everything should be secure, do not leave anything loose in the box. Your sleeping bag and tent can be placed inside the box for added padding. A handle bar bag and cycling helmet can also be placed in the box. Mark the box with your name and address, show with arrows which way is up. Check in the bike at the airport counter and hope for the best. We have never experienced any problems transporting our bikes with any airline. The box at times was torn here and there, but everything inside was fine. If you are arriving and departing from the same city, you can sometimes store your bike box with your hotel for the return trip. If that is not possible, some airlines sell bike boxes at the airport. We purchased 2 boxes at the Toulouse airport for 11€. You can also give in your bike as is by just removing the pedals, turning the handlebars 90° and deflating the tires. If you have to check in the bike without a box, try and do it on the return trip only. If the bike gets damaged, it is easier to fix at home. You should have easy access to all tools required for reassembly when you get to your destination. It should take you about 1 hour to put the bike together when you get to the airport. For additional information on transporting you bike go to this web site http://www.bikeaccess.net/

     by Train

The rail system can be very useful, for getting to and from start/end points on your cycle tour. Like in many countries in Europe, France has a very extensive rail system. The SNCF advertises that you can take your bike on any train for free. This is true, although there are many rules and regulations that need to be followed. If you take the faster TGV and Corail trains your bike will need to be packed in a bike bag (called une housse in France). Some slower regional trains called TERs and “Trains” will carry your bike in the fourgon (luggage carriage) without any kind of disassembly, this of course is much easier. Regional trains that carry bikes will be indicated on the train schedule by a bike logo in a small blue and white box. You will have to load and unload your own bike.  With a lit bit of planning you should be able to get to your destination using these regional trains. For route planning and schedules visit the SNCF website.

Money

We usually don’t bother bringing cash with us when we travel to Europe, just $50.00 in case of emergencies. We just simply get off the plane, find the first ATM machine at the airport and withdrawal some Euros. It’s that simple. ATM machines are plentiful and work very well in France. You also get the best exchange rate from the machine. Credit Cards are also widely accepted and are a great way to pay for hotels, train tickets and restaurants.

Believe it or not, a budget-minded traveler can travel fairly cheap in France. By staying in campgrounds and making your own meals, one can get by on as little as $20 to $30 a day. We spent between $25 and $60 per person per day. This included stays in 2 star hotels, several dinners in restaurants and a few entrance tickets to museums and other attractions.

Of course, one can spend a great deal of money as well. So no matter what your budget is, traveling in France is for everybody. The following are some sample prices from 2002.

Keep in mind $1 (CDN) = 0.60€ and $1 (US) dollar = 1€ (approx)

2 Star hotel = 30 to 40€

Campground for 2 people and 1 tent = 6 to12€

Baguette = 0.75€

Diner for 2 with vine = 30 to 40€

Bottled water 1.5L = 0.65€

Coffee at a café = 2.75€

Museum or attraction = 6 to 8€

Internet or phone card = 7.70€

Weather

We were lucky with the weather. After the spectacular hailstorm we had in Bordeaux that first day and a few showers the second day (both non cycling days), we did not see another drop of rain. For the most part we had bright sunny days, the mornings were cool (between 3-7˚C) but the temperature warmed up nicely during the day. The highs ranged from 18-23˚C.  Autumn is a great time to cycle in Southwestern France, with changing forest colors, cooler temperatures and generally bright days. In addition, you avoid the hordes of tourist who flock to this beautiful area during the summer.

Roads and Maps

Cycle touring was made for France. For the most part you are cycling on quiet back roads through the countryside. France has one of the best secondary road systems in the world, making cycling wonderful and we think the best way to see this beautiful country.

Drivers are generally very respectful when they see a cyclist on the road, though caution is always a good idea. We have cycled all over France and have never had any problems with any motorist. Roads are narrow compared to North American standards, at times you may think that you are on a bike path. You will also have to get used to all the ronds-points (traffic circles), they love their ronds-points in France. For the most part the best cycling is found on the roads marked “D”, you may however have to get on the busier “N” roads for a short distance. The roads marked “A” are off limits to cyclists, these are France’s National Highways. All roads are well marked and it is difficult to get lost. The Michelin Maps we carried (1:150,000) are very detailed, we found them to be perfect for cycle touring. We used Michelin 1/150,000 Lot, Tarn-et-Garonne Local 337 and Michelin 1/175,000 Gironde, Landes Local 335.

Cycling in this part of France does involve some climbing, so be prepared. Some training before a tour is always a good idea. Road surfaces were generally good to very good, we used 26Cx700 tires and had no problems.

Photography

I used a 35mm Cannon A2E SLR Camera with 2 different lenses, one was a 28-200mm zoom lens and the other a 50mm Macro lens. Weight is always an issue when you go cycle touring, so unfortunately you are limited on the amount of equipment you can bring on the tour. The 28-200mm (F3.5-4.5) zoom covered most focal lengths and the 50mm (f2) was used when I needed a faster lens. I did not bring a tripod as it was difficult to pack and carry. I used Kodak Ektrachrome 100VS, Ektrachrome 200, Fujichrome Provia 100 and Fujichrome Sensia 100 slide film. I also shot some Kodak T-Max 100 and 400 black and white print film. A few filters are always handy, I always bring my Circular Polariser and 81C warming filters with me.

My wife brought her point and shoot automatic camera, which comes in handy for candid shots. Southwestern France is very beautiful with many interesting subjects to photograph. It is a photographer's dream; landscapes,  rivers, flowers, forests, sacred places, enchanting villages, markets, food, festivals, parades, charming people, it has it all. Bring lots of film with you. Film tends to be more expensive in Europe than it is in North America and it is difficult at times to find high-end film.

I would recommend film be transported in a special lead lined bag that can be purchased at most professional photo shops. It will protect your film from airport x-ray machines. You can try asking for a hand inspection, but since 9/11 security is a lot tighter at all airports. I never had a problem with hand inspecting film before 9/11 but since then all my film has gone through the x-ray machine.

Accommodations

We usually stay in campgrounds when we go cycle touring, but because it was late in the season many of the campgrounds were closed. (Most close after September 30th). This meant we stayed indoors more often then we did outdoors. When we did camp, we paid anywhere between 6€ and 12€ for 2 people and one small tent. Staying in 1 and 2 star hotels in France offers pretty good value; the rooms are always clean and generally come with an in room shower. We paid anywhere from 28€ to 38€ per night for a hotel room. In St-Cirq Lapopie we stayed in a Gîtes d’Étape, (hostel type of accommodation) which cost 10€ each.

Camping carnet cards are useful at campgrounds, you can use them as I.D. instead of your passport and some campgrounds will give you a discount. Your local automobile club like CAA in Canada can supply you with this card. International Youth hostel cards are also useful if you plan on staying in any IYH around the World. Membership can be obtained from your local IYH or you can buy membership abroad from any IYH.

Food and Wine

Much of French cuisine is meat based, although as lacto-vegetarians we never had any problems. There is more than enough of a selection of cheeses, pastas, breads, salads, etc. to choose from. There is nothing like picking up some fresh bread from a boulangerie, some brie from the fromagerie and a nice bottle of wine and going for a picnic next to a gentle flowing river like the Dordogne. This is a must! Picnic lunches are great fun and will save you lots of money. It is also an absolute must to go to an open air market. There are all sorts of local treats to be discovered. Most towns have their own market days, so check with a local tourist office for details. If you need to buy food for a picnic lunch keep in mind that most stores will close between 12-2pm for lunch. France has amazing restaurants. We found that when eating out it is best to ask the locals for recommendations.

We love wine, but hardly consider ourselves wine experts so we’ll spare you any recommendations. Safe to say the wines of Bordeaux live up to their reputation. There are lots of opportunities for wine tasting along the route.

Disclaimer

*We've tried our best to be as accurate as we can, but much of the information throughout this website is from memory and therefore may contain some errors. Also, keep in mind that things change and prices fluctuate.