Cycling in Brittany - Any suggestions?

[Kermit power]

Hi all,

A long shot I realise, but was wondering if anyone has any suggestions on good places to ride on the South coast of Brittany?

We'll be camping somewhere between Quimper and Vannes on the coast, but I've still got a week or so in which to pick the exact spot.

Ideally, I'd just like to be able to get out for a couple of 40-50 mile routes on my road bike, with nice views and the like.

Apologies for the vagueness!

[itsnotarace]

http://www.bikemap.net/

[racerbob]

I'm not too familiar with the Quimper end of that area, but at the Vannes end I would suggest anywhere around Auray or the Gulf du Morbihan, not too hilly and plenty of cycle tracks, well surfaced. Depends when you are going, July / August gets a bit hectic down there, but if so you could head inland towards Plouay or Languidic, Pluvigner, Baud, that sort of area is interesting but hillier, but less traffic.

Hope this helps and you get good weather !

[mad4amanda]

here is a fantastic curcuit round plumelec that was used a few years ago on the tour , it goes right past the outlaws front door ( look for the orange G4 landrover ) at le bissac , I try and get out on it whenever I am over there the descent at cadudal is awesome !
France is wonderful for cycling I hate cycling in the uk in comparisum

[racerbob]

mad4amanda, I've seen that G4 orange Land Rover many times on trips around Plumelec !! hate going up Cadudal though !

[mad4amanda]

Driver is normally Simon my FIL and is english and a cyclist has a scott tcr carbon very nice!
We go from Le Bissac up to Plumelec then out on the St Jean road then turn left at the corrigans creperie , that puts you down the hill then we turn left somewhere past the chateau and come back onto the D1 back home.
I really love it out there if only my language skills were better I would be out there permanently , they moved out in 1990ish with very little language skills now both the boys are bilingual and they are both fluent too , just writing this I want to go back !

Edited by mad4amanda on Monday 30th April 23:05

Edited by mad4amanda on Monday 30th April 23:50

[timbo48]

Mad4amanda is right. Road cycling in France is great. I'm an mtb'er but have a road bike (a Scott Speedster)which was bought for the work run and a bit of weekend stuff. It hasn't seen much of the latter, if I get time to get out on the bike I'll take the mtb most of the time. The other reason for lack of use is the volume of traffic and I must admit that I don't enjoy it as much as maybe I should.
However, we spent Easter staying with relatives in Upper Normandy. I took the road bike over and did a 20 odd mile loop (rude to stay out all day!!) around where they live and really enjoyed it. Very little traffic, drivers seem to know how to deal with passing cyclists and great roads which included switchback descent and climbs, not something I encounter where I live. I know from that that I'd do far more road stuff if I lived over there. Looking forward to the next time.

[Kermit power]

Well, we've now decided where we're staying, and will be in a place called Bénodet, about 15 miles south of Quimper.

Hopefully I should be able to get out for 2 or 3 decent rides whilst we're there.

[racerbob]

mad4amanda said:

Driver is normally Simon my FIL and is english and a cyclist has a scott tcr carbon very nice!
We go from Le Bissac up to Plumelec then out on the St Jean road then turn left at the corrigans creperie , that puts you down the hill then we turn left somewhere past the chateau and come back onto the D1 back home.
I really love it out there if only my language skills were better I would be out there permanently , they moved out in 1990ish with very little language skills now both the boys are bilingual and they are both fluent too , just writing this I want to go back !

Edited by mad4amanda on Monday 30th April 23:05

Edited by mad4amanda on Monday 30th April 23:50

Ah ok, I'll look out for him when I pass next. We've been out here since 2004, live nr Malestroit, I ride for the malestroit club and do some racing with them also. Yes, have to agree riding on the road here is a real pleasure, you can go miles without seeing another car. You do need to speak some french to live here, makes life a lot easier.