We’re just getting ready to take my son to Poole for a ferry and the start of his cycle adventure in France. So I thought we might share what we have learned (so far) about maps and guide books.
He plans to cycle south from Cherbourg, down through Normandy, and on down the south west coast of France to the western edge of the Pyrenees. From there, he plans to ride the Raid Pyrenéen through the high passes of the Pyrenees (including the cols of the Tour de France). Then a train to Nice, and the Grande Route des Alpes.
We looked at quite a few of the maps and guide books we hold on the Bike Ride Shop France page, and decided on the IGN 1:100,000 series of maps. They have plenty of detail and show contours well.
An exception is that he’s going to use Cycling Southern France from Excellent Books instead of the IGN maps for the coast route from La Rochelle down to Biarritz. It has Michelin maps and information about towns along the way.
The other guide book he is using is the Lonely Planet Cycling France guide, which has detailed descriptions of the Raid Pyrenéen route, with information on where to stay etc.
France Lonely Planet Guide
It doesn’t have good enough maps to cycle with though, so back to the IGN maps (numbers 166, 167, 173 and 174).
For a written description of the Grande Route des Alpes, we have used Cicerone’s Cycling in the French Alps, though there are no maps in the guide book.
There used to be a single map of the Grande Route des Alpes, from Geneva to the French Riviera. Unfortunately it is now of print, so again it is the IGN maps (numbers 144, 151, 158, 165). I have added them as a pack for the Bike Ride Shop.
From Geneva, he will take the train to Lyon to catch the European Bike Bus all the way back to Britain.
Keep an eye on the Freewheeling France website which has some great articles on cycling in France and good tips. And to read as you cycle south – what better than Edward Enfield’s Downhill All The Way, a lovely tale of cycling amongst the French.
I am sure we will learn more as Richard pedals, so I’ll add more information by and by.
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