Mme poivre Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 My husband and I have always wanted to cycle from St Malo to our house in the Vendee. This year we hope will be the Year. Can anyone recommend 1. Any good cycling route books,maps ect. 2. any really good B&B places to stop. 3. Any tips Thanks in advance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 Don't know anything about your route but I have some long-distance cycling experience.You'd know this already no doubt, but make sure you have the right cycling shorts or trousers and make sure to have lots of high-calorie snacks to keep you going.Enjoy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cendrillon Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 I would contact any of the tourist offices en-route. I am sure I read last year that a new long distance cycle route has been opened from Brittany along a coastal route. Bon courage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mme poivre Posted March 25, 2015 Author Share Posted March 25, 2015 Thank you some sound ideas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Théière Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 Hello Mme poivre, what a challenge, must be the little cars broken again [:)] Post the route, if I am around I can shout as you go by just like the Le Tour only 50%. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vivienz Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 It might be worth checking out independent cycling holidays for Brittany and the Vendee to see which towns they head for and overnight in, on the basis that there are likely to be suitable B&B places there. It's also worth considering what type of route you want to take - fast with slightly larger roads or prettier with lots of stop/detour opportunities. Make sure that there are places you can top up your drinks during the day - if it's a hot one, you get through liquids very quickly and it's very unpleasant to run out without knowing when you can next get some more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre ZFP Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 That's no problem. Mme P can just send her Domestique back to the team car for drinks/gels etc [:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerekJ Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 Sounds like it should be a nice ride. What sort of distance is it likely to be (I realise this will be route dependent)? How many miles a day are you planning. I don't know how experienced you are as cyclists but it's worth looking at how much elevation you route will entail and also to have some idea on how the prevailing wind might effect you.You may find one of the many mapping web sites for cyclists useful. http://www.mapmyride.com/ might be of help as it will give you the opportunity not only to play around with routes but also to see how much climbing it will entail.Water top ups are often available from village eau potable taps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mme poivre Posted March 26, 2015 Author Share Posted March 26, 2015 Theiere - Not got little care anymore had to get bigger car to commute to work. But I'm sure if you are near I'm sure you could help push me up a hill :-) Vivienz - thank you for your advice adding to my list of considerations. Pierre ZFP - if you are offering to be a Domestique hop on board the more the merrier.Derek.J The website loos very useful thank you :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre ZFP Posted March 27, 2015 Share Posted March 27, 2015 I would love to do that ride but I would need more than a little training I'm afraid.Still, when the weather warms up a bit I intend to be out there peddling awaySlightly off thread but have you readGironimo!: Riding the Very Terrible 1914 Tour of Italyby Tim MooreFunniest book I've read in years, also 'French Revolutions' by the same author is excellent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vivienz Posted March 27, 2015 Share Posted March 27, 2015 For a few years now, OH and I have been threatening to ride part of 'le petit tour de manche'. We're close to Poole from where we'd get the ferry to Cherbourg and then head due south to St Malo, now with a little further ride of on to St Jacut. The main constraint at the moment, as ever, is time. But OH's retirement should be in the next couple of years and I think that will be the time for us to undertake this little adventure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mme poivre Posted June 28, 2015 Author Share Posted June 28, 2015 Well only three weeks and we will be on our way getting really excited about it now.We have found a fantastic cycle route which goes along way in our direction -La Velo Francette - and looking forward it We are planning to cover about 60 miles a day and plan to get to the Vendee in four to five days.We are looking for Bed and Breakfast as near to ESTRY as possible for our first overnight stop so any recommendations welcome. ESTRY between Vire and Conde -sur Noireau Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cendrillon Posted June 28, 2015 Share Posted June 28, 2015 http://www.villovelo.org/#!v43---v%C3%A9lo-francette/zoom/c1s3f/image_1k2wNot sure the above (link) will work[8-)] but I am still rubbish at doing links on here.This route is very newly opened and there has been mention of it in the local papers recently.The neighbouring tourist offices would have lists of local accommodation.Bon courage and do let us know how you get on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mme poivre Posted June 29, 2015 Author Share Posted June 29, 2015 Thank you Cendrillon I copied and pasted the link and it worked fine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerekJ Posted June 29, 2015 Share Posted June 29, 2015 Are you going to upload your rides to any of the cycling websites.... Strava? It would be interesting to track your progress. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mme poivre Posted June 29, 2015 Author Share Posted June 29, 2015 I have been using MapMyRide so will probably carry on using that one if it works in France if not i think Hubby got strava or endomondo but Yes we will try to :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Posted June 29, 2015 Share Posted June 29, 2015 Last year I was researching a route down to the South and came across this site describing a trip from St Malo to Narbonne. It passes through Vendée. http://francecoast2coast.co.uk/France-Coast-2-Coast-2007-Route-Map.htmlHaven't made the trip yet though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mme poivre Posted June 29, 2015 Author Share Posted June 29, 2015 That looks an awesome ride Tom unfortunately we could not get any Ferries to ST Malo as they were all fully booked ,could not squeeze two more bikes on, people yes bikes no :-( so we are going from Caen but maybe next years route :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mme poivre Posted August 6, 2015 Author Share Posted August 6, 2015 WE Made it 250 miles over 5 wonderful days 2 of them cycling down the Mayene not bad to two very over weight over 50's lolhave some photos but dont know how to post them any help appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 Wow! Full of admiration and ENVY!50 miles a day is very good going...........I'd have been proud of doing that too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cendrillon Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 Very impressed M. et Mme Poivre. Félicitations!Thanks for reporting your success to us on the forum.Hopefully now you have time to relax with a glass or two. [B][B][;-)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mme poivre Posted August 6, 2015 Author Share Posted August 6, 2015 One would like to think one deserved a Wine or two but new roof means all the bedrooms need de molding and re decorating :-( as they are now dry. Hubby had to go back to England to work after bike ride so its up to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cendrillon Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 Mme Poivre, what a shame you don't have time to sit and relax together now.Try and enjoy your "holiday" anyway. A change is a good as a rest.(Such are the joys of all those lovely "holidays" and time we spend at our second homes !) [;-)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerekJ Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 Well done. Very satisfying I'm sure. 50 miles a day over a few days is decent going.Did you manage to upload your ride to any of the sites we discussed earlier? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mme poivre Posted August 6, 2015 Author Share Posted August 6, 2015 Yes DerekJ I have got most of it on MapMy Ride but not sure how you would get to see it I did put it on Facebook thoughdo you know how to put pics on here? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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