Cycling Tours In France - Things To Know First

There are a lot of things that every cyclist must be aware of prior taking up cycling tours in France. Here are top 4 things to get acquainted with.

Road Rules

Roads in France are often marked, paved and maintained well. As a cyclist, you should make every effort to put yourself on the best cycling roads, even if they take you a little out of your way. Far better to take a little longer to get on a route that is safer and scenic. After all, you are there to enjoy yourself. Keep away from all “A” (Autoroute / toll roads) and as much as possible all “N” (national highway) roads. “D” (departmental) roads are smaller and well suited to cyclists, but look carefully at your map; some can be busy.

Signs

The French drive on the right-hand side of the road and some major road signs resemble those in North America. Stop signs say “STOP.” Remember, any measurements will use the metric system. There may be some that you don’t recognize, but as a cyclist, many of these won’t concern you anyway. Signs can be confusing sometimes when following road numbers. Blue signs indicate auto route, red signs indicate national roads, and yellow & white signs are smaller roads.

Service

Breakdowns happen. During cycling tours in France of any considerable length, this is something that you may have to contend with. Even if you don’t end up snapping a chain or bending a derailleur out of shape, you may want a quick performance tune up while you stop to have lunch. Keep an eye out for the “velociste or a magasin de vélo”. Remember, many bike shops also service motorcycles and mopeds or scooters.

Lock

A top quality lock is an absolute must unless you plan on never letting your bike out of your sight. Do not skimp here on a cheap chain or wire lock. Consider getting something sturdy by spending a little extra money. Petty theft is rampant in France and an estimated 300,000 bicycles are stolen every year. Your shiny, unlocked bike will not be sitting there very long if left unlocked and unattended.