Returned from touring France September 2010

[vwhite]

Best trip ever. The French fantastic, the public transport with bikes fantastic, weather fantastic, food fantastic, love cycle touring.
Taking our own bikes a fantastic decision.

[davidr]

hello,im in a group doing a self organised tour from avignon on 28/8 and have done research on your queries.
ctc.org.uk put out info sheets, the site is accessible but to read the sheets one has to be a member
info19 transporting a cycle to and in europe
frinf1 travelling in france on french railways
railplus do bookings on the trains and if you google the name the site will come up
one of our party enquired about hiring and the cost was too dear.
we are all taking bikes, to use most trains one needs it to be bagged, not boxed.
emirates allows 30kg luggage.
for me i have bought a dahon folder for ease of transporting on trains and planes, very practical and easy to have the standard gearing changed to suit
hope this is helpful
bye david

[rowdyflat]

You can buy cheap bikes in France new at Decathlon + second hand at lbs.
No need to book on local trains.
France is very bike friendly esp after summer holidays.

[cpical]

You can buy cheap bikes in France new at Decathlon + second hand at lbs.
No need to book on local trains.
France is very bike friendly esp after summer holidays.

And September is much better than earlier on in the summer, especially down South!!!

Makes me smile, don't think any French cyclists I know, and I know a few, would ever consider coming to Oz with the purpose.

[Arnaud]

Bonjour tout le monde !

Planning to become a "Cingle du Mont Ventoux" sometime in September 2011.
Check it out on http://www.cingles.ventoux.perso.neuf.fr.
Anyone out there thinking along the same lines ?

Arnaud

[toolonglegs]

La link c'est marche pas...mais Septembe dans Le Ventoux c'est magnifique .
Pour moi,September annee prochaine c'est pour les conte le monte.
!!!...6 semaines en NZ et j'ai oubli mon Francaise!...c'est la vie.

[Arnaud]

Your french is still serviceable...a degrease and lube should do it.
Anyway, don't worry, I'll do the talking...61 years of experience chatting up les Mademoiselles !
Sorry about the link...bloody computers...just Google "Cingles du Mont Ventoux".

[Arnaud]

I found the proper page: http://www.clubsinglesventoux.org .
Have a look at the statistics: youngest 10 years, oldest 80 years.
Only 13 Australians in total and in the 61~70 age group only one Australian.
I'll do my bit for this country and will enter the 61~70 category as an Australian.
Beautiful part of the world, heavenly food and serious mountains.

[lindqum]

Hi everyone...
I am currently in the early stages of planning a cycling holiday through france and Italy. I am planning to camp along the way also, so realize I will need to take tent, cooking gear, etc. I have done lots of reading and it sounds as though it's best to buy a bike before getting overseas...but big issues of transporting the bike and all my gear overseas. It seems as though there is only a 20kg limit on most airlines which really wouldn't be enough to transport everything, but it seems it would be so much easier to get everything sorted in Australia instead of landing in a foreign country..and spending ages trying to find the right bike. Anyone done a similar holiday?... advice would be much appreciated. Thanks, maddie

[TassieRambler]

It seems as though there is only a 20kg limit on most airlines which really wouldn't be enough to transport everything

Consider Emirates Airlines. They have a 30kg check in luggage limit, plus 7kg (I think) carry on which should get you there.

Last time I flew to Europe with my bike I got away with taking both an Ortlieb rear pannier and handlebar bag (both stuffed with heavy items) as my carry on luggage, and then had my bike in a soft stuffed bag (I use the tardis from Ground Effect plus \a lot of bubble wrap as it is cheap and has the advantage that you can just fold it up and stuff it in the bottom of your panniers until you need it for the return trip or for longer bus and train journeys which don't allow bikes). I put the rest of my panniers in one of those cheap red, white and blue laundry bags which weigh nothing. I've never had a problem with this combination and have used it on many overseas trips.