EU cycling holiday with road+MTB phobe
Discussion
Hi, and thanks for clicking through
Im looking to book a holiday somewhere 4-6h drive from Calais next spring
Im going with my partner whos a handy runner and keen gym spinner but really, really doesnt like riding on the road
We've got gravel bikes so have a bit of versatility but are not equipped for crazy MTB technical trails and are looking for a comfortable base with nice trails/tracks/paths to ride without coming into contact with traffic. Ive thrashed things out and even quiet lanes in the 4rse end of France would rather be avoided
Ive considered stuff like the Loire and the Rhine - both have excellent traffic free bike paths (Rhine better than Loire from experience) as well as the Danube which is an unknown quantity. Issues here obvs involve every ride being a there and back rather than loop plus European train carriers have varying rules on taking bikes on trains. And it would be a bit repetitive.
Daily riding aspirations probs in the 60-100km bracket with some sensible rest/beer/pizza/waffle days too
I have a feeling NL and/or Belgium is potentially a good shout with networks of lovely dedicated cycle paths but my Google powers seem to have deserted me. Consequently Id be very happy to receive suggestions of good places in which to base ourselves which have convenient access to an extensive and preferably 'interesting' network of bike lanes. Even better if suggestions include towns or cities on said network we could base ourselves in for the week which have a bit of colour on days we choose not to ride. And boozers and restaurants
Cheers/chapeau
Im looking to book a holiday somewhere 4-6h drive from Calais next spring
Im going with my partner whos a handy runner and keen gym spinner but really, really doesnt like riding on the road
We've got gravel bikes so have a bit of versatility but are not equipped for crazy MTB technical trails and are looking for a comfortable base with nice trails/tracks/paths to ride without coming into contact with traffic. Ive thrashed things out and even quiet lanes in the 4rse end of France would rather be avoided
Ive considered stuff like the Loire and the Rhine - both have excellent traffic free bike paths (Rhine better than Loire from experience) as well as the Danube which is an unknown quantity. Issues here obvs involve every ride being a there and back rather than loop plus European train carriers have varying rules on taking bikes on trains. And it would be a bit repetitive.
Daily riding aspirations probs in the 60-100km bracket with some sensible rest/beer/pizza/waffle days too
I have a feeling NL and/or Belgium is potentially a good shout with networks of lovely dedicated cycle paths but my Google powers seem to have deserted me. Consequently Id be very happy to receive suggestions of good places in which to base ourselves which have convenient access to an extensive and preferably 'interesting' network of bike lanes. Even better if suggestions include towns or cities on said network we could base ourselves in for the week which have a bit of colour on days we choose not to ride. And boozers and restaurants
Cheers/chapeau
I'm vaguely eyeing up the Velodysee on the west coast. I'd want to stay en route rather than do out and return days. https://en.francevelotourisme.com/cycle-route/la-v...
How about Il de Re, near La Rochelle on the west coast? There are lots of lovely villages, all linked by miles of dedicated cycle paths around the whole island. A great place for leisurely cycling, and plenty of running / walking too. I've only been by car, but when I was there the majority of people were on bikes.
https://www.freewheelingfrance.com/where-to-go/cyc...
https://www.freewheelingfrance.com/where-to-go/cyc...
numtumfutunch said:
I have a feeling NL and/or Belgium is potentially a good shout with networks of lovely dedicated cycle paths
Luxembourg ?https://www.komoot.com/guide/547/road-cycling-rout...
A real crossroads sort of place, bit French, bit German. Reminds me of Strassburg.
It's got to be Netherlands or Belgium if you are into that kind of thing.
Mrs DS and I have taken our MTBs over to Belgium/France/Holland a few times - just got back from a trip on Tuesday. They're all far nicer places to ride on the road than the UK but NL really stands out as the cycling infrastructure there is amazing.
Places to go in Belgium (which is still great) - I can recommend the Ardennes area (Houffalize, Bastogne) - beautiful scenery, beer, history.
Similarly Ypres - we went on a ride last week on our eMTBs ...
https://cycling-friendly.com/en/route/belgium/flem...
... 25C gorgeous day. Lots to see on the route. Some trails (be ok on a gravel bike) and the St Sixtus Abbey (and brewery!) are on the route. Excellent day. Did some more rides - Passendale, Polygon Wood, Tyne Cot, Messines Ridge.
I only ride trails in the UK as I think the roads are utterly lethal (it's not so much the fact that you're more vulnerable, it's just that the UK is now a nation of thick chavs and I don't want to risk sharing road space with meatheads) but over there it's an absolute joy. Proper cycle paths and trails (not a painted line on a narrowed road with a car parked across it, full of fuming drivers). It's just marvelous.
Strange thing - when in Holland we were based at a friends house in a place called Best, near Eindhoven. We took a ride out to den Bosch which was very nice, however my rear tyre started leaking and splitting along the bead (second Maxxis DHR to do this - I'll not be buying another). Despite the astonishing number of bicycles in Holland you try getting hold of an MTB tyre. Numerous visits to numerous cycle shops - all fine if you ride a sit-up-and-beg Schwinn or something, but fat knobblies - nope! Eventually got a Decathlon own branded Rockrider jobbie (only one they had) which did the job but had very soft sidewalls, it really affected my range.
Also did quite a few rides around Normandy - based in Arromanches, so plenty to cycle out and visit, gravel bike friendly routes everywhere and you could ride along the coast on a nice path.
Mrs DS and I have taken our MTBs over to Belgium/France/Holland a few times - just got back from a trip on Tuesday. They're all far nicer places to ride on the road than the UK but NL really stands out as the cycling infrastructure there is amazing.
Places to go in Belgium (which is still great) - I can recommend the Ardennes area (Houffalize, Bastogne) - beautiful scenery, beer, history.
Similarly Ypres - we went on a ride last week on our eMTBs ...
https://cycling-friendly.com/en/route/belgium/flem...
... 25C gorgeous day. Lots to see on the route. Some trails (be ok on a gravel bike) and the St Sixtus Abbey (and brewery!) are on the route. Excellent day. Did some more rides - Passendale, Polygon Wood, Tyne Cot, Messines Ridge.
I only ride trails in the UK as I think the roads are utterly lethal (it's not so much the fact that you're more vulnerable, it's just that the UK is now a nation of thick chavs and I don't want to risk sharing road space with meatheads) but over there it's an absolute joy. Proper cycle paths and trails (not a painted line on a narrowed road with a car parked across it, full of fuming drivers). It's just marvelous.
Strange thing - when in Holland we were based at a friends house in a place called Best, near Eindhoven. We took a ride out to den Bosch which was very nice, however my rear tyre started leaking and splitting along the bead (second Maxxis DHR to do this - I'll not be buying another). Despite the astonishing number of bicycles in Holland you try getting hold of an MTB tyre. Numerous visits to numerous cycle shops - all fine if you ride a sit-up-and-beg Schwinn or something, but fat knobblies - nope! Eventually got a Decathlon own branded Rockrider jobbie (only one they had) which did the job but had very soft sidewalls, it really affected my range.
Also did quite a few rides around Normandy - based in Arromanches, so plenty to cycle out and visit, gravel bike friendly routes everywhere and you could ride along the coast on a nice path.
We should organise a Pistonheads tour. I'd be up for it. I tried to organise a UK-based one this year but I don't know many people who'd be interested and of those that were, none of them were ready for it when the time came.
Those distances - 60-100Km/day - would be perfect for me. I'm happy to ride on roads and trails. Obvs prefer to be away from roads but you have to take the rough/bumpy with the smooth (see what I did there?),
There are LOTS of YouTube cycling channels but I've found it quite overwhelming to try and plot a course based on those. For sure, many of them highlight places worth seeing, but they don't usually show you their route.
Those distances - 60-100Km/day - would be perfect for me. I'm happy to ride on roads and trails. Obvs prefer to be away from roads but you have to take the rough/bumpy with the smooth (see what I did there?),
There are LOTS of YouTube cycling channels but I've found it quite overwhelming to try and plot a course based on those. For sure, many of them highlight places worth seeing, but they don't usually show you their route.
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