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BICYCLING IN FRANCE

Bicycling

RECOMMENDED BOOKS


1999 Tour de France

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Beginning with follow-up coverage of the drug scandals that rocked 1998's race, this book follows the 1999 Tour de France from start to finish. It gives an overview of the course and the contenders, and covers every stage of the race. It includes a course map, descriptions and anecdotes of events, a diary page, and a list of the finishers. A 16-page color section features photographs by world-renowned cycling photographer Graham Watson.

Tour de France

by Graham Watson (Illustrator), John Wilcockson, Charles Pelkey

Paperback - 256 pages
Published October 1999 by Velonews Books.
List Price: $19.95
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ISBN: 1884737692

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Bicycling

France offers a wealth of wide, empty roads and flat or rolling countryside suitable for biking, and the French themselves are avid biking enthusiasts, as witnessed by their grueling annual marathon, the Tour de France. Bicycles can be rented from many train stations for around 50-90 francs a day; you'll need to show your passport and leave a deposit of 500-1000 francs (unless you have Visa or MasterCard). Generally, you must return them to a station within the same département or region. Bikes may be sent as accompanied luggage from any station in France; some trains in rural areas transport them without any extra charge.

For information on cycling in France, contact the Fédération Française de Cyclotourisme (8, rue Jean-Marie-Jégo, 75013 Paris; phone 01-44-16-88-86; Métro: Corvisart) or the Fédération Française de Cyclisme (43, rue de Dunkerque, 75010 Paris; phone 01-42-85-41-20; Métro: Anvers). Although the yellow Michelin maps are fine for roads, the best large-scale maps are prepared by the Institut Géographique National (IGN, 107, rue La Boétie, 75008 Paris; phone 01-42-56-06-68), which indicate elevations and steep grades.

In Paris, there's a company offering half-day tours of the city for 150FF ($26); reservations are required. For either tours or standard bike rentals, contact Paris à Vélo C'est Sympa (37, boulevard Bourdon, 75004 Paris; phone 01-48-87-60-01 ; Métro: Bastille). Paris has been making valiant efforts to become more biker-friendly. More than 100km (63 mi.) of bicycle lanes now cross the city, notably along the rue de Rivoli and boulevard Saint-Germain. On Sundays, cars are banned from some roads (including the banks of the Seine between the Tuileries and the Eiffel Tower, from 9am to 6pm, and the roads alongside the Canal St-Martin, from 2pm to 6pm. With their wide, leafy avenues, the Bois de Boulogne and the Bois de Vincennes are popular destinations. Pariscyclo (Rond Point de Jardin d'Acclimatation; phone 01-47-47-76-50; Métro: Les Sablons) rents bicycles in the Bois de Boulogne.

Bicycling || Boules || Fishing || Football || Golf || Hiking || Horseback Riding || Pelote || Skiing
Spectator Sports || Tennis || Volleyball || Water Sports || Other Sports
Links to Sports-Related Web Sites

Bicycling Links:

A Lot of France
Visitors to the Dordogne region of the Massif Central can consult a host of Cycling Clubs or rental shops listed in this directory.

A Moveable Seat - Paris By Bike Is A Feast For the Eyes
With a title parodying Hemingway's book " A Moveable Feast", Mike Gerrard offers his impressions of a bike tour around the City of Light, weaving through cobbled back streets through colorful neighborhoods, while the natives pause to smile and wave.

Cycling In the Lubéron
If you're contemplating an exhilarating -- if exhausting -- ride through the Lubéron hills of Provence, here are the places to rent your wheels. For an amusing anglophone's perspective on the experience, you'll appreciate Peter Mayle's audio tapes, " A Year In Provence"!

Michelin Bicycle Tires
Learn about the technology behind Michelin bicycle tires, and let the Michelin man recommend tires that suit your type of riding.

Paris Bicycling Tips & Resources
Essential information if you plan to carry your bike on public transports. Favorite bike trails around Paris. Safety tips, rental shops, and more helpful links.

Tour de France - Historical Overview
First launched in 1903, the world's best-known cycle race takes place every July, covering some 3,000 km over a 3-week period. As it winds its way through the French countryside, the course is lined by millions of people every year, and televised live throughout Western Europe.

Tour de France - Official Site
Recap the stages of 2000's Tour, survey chronicles of past years in the historical database, read about some of the mythical moments and the riders who lived them...or visit the Boutique for a souvenir. Learn about other amateur, mountain bike and track races held year-round.

More Recommended Reading:

Books

Bicycle Maintenance

Bicycling Magazine's Complete Guide to Bicycle Maintenance and Repair for Road and Mountain Bikes: Over 1,000 Tips, Tricks, and Techniques

by Jim Langley. Paperback -- 400 pages, 4th Updated Edition. Published in May 1999 by Rodale Press.
Usually ships within 24 hours. List Price: $18.95 -- Our Price:
$15.16 -- You Save: $3.79 (20%) .

Featuring information on triple cranksets, V-brakes, specialized seats, and new road and mountain bikes, the new edition of this top-selling maintenance guide has been updated and improved for 1999! 400 photos. 39 illustrations.

France by Bike: 14 Tours Geared for Discovery
by Karen Whitehill, Terry Whitehill (Contributor). Paperback - 238 pages. Published April 1993 by Mountaineers Books.
Usually ships within 2-3 days. List Price: $14.95 -- Our Price:
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Reader comments: "There are surprisingly few books in English on touring in France. Of those this is by far the best. My wife and I recently took our first bicycle tour and used this book to determine our route. The routes are clearly described, include helpful and interesting information about the region, and took us along lightly travelled, beautiful, backroads. If anything the authors are too fastidious about avoiding climbing whenever possible. My only complaint is that the book is geared towards camping rather than riding to hotels (which is what we did). On one occasion we were left scrambling to find a place to stay - but even that was an adventure with a happy ending. If you are considering a bicycle trip through France, do not want to go with a tour group, but are nervous about setting out on your own, this book should set your mind at ease." -- "Great Resource!! Just biked the trip from Dijon to Orleans in May 1999; the biking and camping was outstanding and the book gave great detailed directions..."

France By Bike


Author: Ian C. Mills © 1998-2000 All Rights Reserved
Bibliography: Fodor's 99 France, Editor: Natasha Lesser, Fodor's Travel Publications, New York. Paris From $70 A Day, Jeanne Oliver, 1998, Macmillan Travel, A Simon & Schuster Macmillan Company, New York. France 1998 Discovery Guide, French Government Tourist Office, New York. Passport's France Trip Planner & Guide, Emma Stanford, 1994, NTC Publishing Group, Chicago. Let's Go - The Budget Guide to France 1997, Thomas F. Moore, 1997, Let's Go Publications, Cambridge, MA, printed by St. Martin's Press, New York.
Image sources: Amazon.com Books - Cover shots of "1999 Tour de France", "Bicycle Maintenance", and "France By Bike".

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