info@french-biketours.com
During this trip you will stay in the same place, so you only have to unpack your suitcase once! The described routes are only some examples of the tours you can do. When you receive your trip details, we will give you about different routes you can choose from each day.
You travel independently to Fontevraud. Check in at your hotel and have a stroll around the abbey (or buy tickets to visit later on in your stay) and through the town centre.
Cycle at an easy pace through the woods and sunflower fields (when flowering) to the magnificent historic town of Chinon. Visit the fortress or enjoy life on a terrace by the banks of the majestic Vienne river. On the way back to the hotel you could also visit the museum of the famous French author François Rabelais.
Challenge: 53 km, 525m ascent, 525m descent
Today you'll cycle to Saumur, with it's chateau that overlooks confluence of the Loire. The Château de Saumur has been listed as a "monument historique" by the French Ministry of Culture since 1862. The town of Saumur is very pleasant, with its imposing 17th century church of Notre Dame des Ardilliers and at Saint-Pierre square, you can admire its half-timbered houses. You can also visit a distillery in the centre or try some wines from the region! From Saumur you get to choose: cycle back or take a boatride on the Loire river to Montsoreau. From there it's only 4 km. back to the hotel.
Challenge: 37.1km, 557m ascent, 556m descent
Today you'll cycle around in the countryside of the Anjou area (which is nowadays called the Mainee-et-Loire department), also known for the Chenin Blanc grapes. You will continue your way to Cadre Noir, which is ‘the’ center for equestrian fans ( the French military riding academy). The route continues through the idyllic valley of the Loire, back to your hotel.
Challenge: 47.8km, 480m ascent, 481m descent
If you haven't done so far, take some time in the morning to visit the world-famous abbey of Fontevraud. The vast Royal Abbey with its delightful architecture and the effigies of Richard the Lionheart, Eleonor of Aquitaine, Henri II and Isabelle d’Angoulême. Local artists will be delighted to welcome you into their work shops. If you decide to go cycling we suggest you take a short loop of 38 km to Roiffé south of Fontevraud through the country side, vineyards, fields and small villages. Do not miss the visits to the unusual castles of Brézé (and its underground passages) and the castle of La Mothe-Chandeniers (abandoned for a long time and which has been transformed into a true masterpiece of nature).
Challenge: 37.8km, 519m ascent, 518m descent
After breakfast end of the trip...or you extend your trip and book some extra nights?
All accommodations are carefully selected for their location, atmosphere and/or unique services.
We have chosen a comfortable 3* hotel where all rooms have private en-suite bathrooms and every morning breakfasts are included and 2 dinners during the trip : one ‘gastronomic’ and one ‘bistro’.
For this trip you can choose between Comfort and Comfort +. When choosing Comfort +, you will be staying in an "Ambiance room".
If you don’t bring your own, you can rent a bicycle (hybrid or ebike) from us. You will find your rental bikes waiting for you at your first hotel. The hotel reception staff will give you the keys for your bikes and direct you to the bicycle shed. All bikes are provided with chain locks. The frame and saddle height are set to your height, although you might want to adjust your saddle to be in the most comfortable position. We also recommend doing a first small test drive of couple of hundred meters to be comfortable with gears, brakes etc. If you have an issue with your bike, you can contact the service provider (name of bike rental in your reservation) directly. Or you can always call us on our emergency phone number.
Our hybrid touring bikes are at least 21-speed gear. You can find all the information regarding our rental bikes below.
Experience the advantages of an electric bike on your cycling holiday, particularly when there's a significant gap in ability and experience among cyclists. An e-bike provides a gentle boost up hills, allowing you to easily keep pace with your companions. With a small electric motor and battery, e-bikes make bike trips more achievable, and their batteries can be conveniently charged at hotels. While you still need to pedal, the e-bike significantly reduces the effort required. Familiarity with e-bikes is advised due to their quicker acceleration and heavier build compared to regular bikes, attributed to the electric motor.
Please note: Depending on the trip, different models apply
Our hybrid bikes have at least 21-gears with hand brakes.
The hybrid bikes are very good quality. Depending the trip, different model apply: Scott, Giant, Trek, Koga, ...
Whenever there is a big difference in level of ability, experience the many benefits of an electric bike on your cycling holiday. An e-bike will help you keep up with your fellow cyclists and give you a gentle boost up hills. An e-bike makes a bike trip more achievable. The e-bikes have a small electric motor and battery, which can be charged at the hotels. You still have to pedal: it just makes pedaling much easier. Some experience with e-bikes is recommended, as the bikes accelerate faster and are heavier than regular bikes because of the electric motor.
The E-bikes are very good quality. Depending on the trip, different models apply: Scott, Giant, Trek, Koga, ...
For some trips, we can give you the possibility to rent a Racing bike, more details on request.
For some trips, we can give you the possibility to rent a Tandem bike, suitable for two adults only. More details on request.
For children who are at least 125 cm, we can also arrange bikes (these are 24”or 26” for children that are bigger than 140 cm). The child bikes come with at least 7-gears and hand brakes. The maximum body height for a child’s bike is 155 cm.
Please note: for some tours, different models apply.
A tag-along bike is a good option for children between approx. 100 cm and 125 cm, as they can pedal themselves and at their own pace but don’t have to worry about other traffic.
The tag-along bikes cannot be rented for all our tours
Please note: depending the trip, different models apply.
Child trailers can be rented for a maximum of two children who are up to 100 cm (max. 35 KG in total).
Please note: for some tours, different models apply.
All our rental bikes come with a bell.
All our adult bikes come with hand brakes.
For children older than 30 months (max. 22 kg) it is possible to rent a rear child seat. This is also possible with e-bikes.
For some tours, it is possible to rent a GPS device, more details on request.
Helmets are not mandatory in France (if the cyclist is over 12 years old) but strongly recommended. The helmet is mandatory for children under 12 years. If you rent a bike with us, helmets are included. Please advise us, if you bring along your own.
All our rental bikes come with lights.
All our rental bikes come with a lock.
All our rental bikes come with at least a rear pannier and with a handlebar bag to put a roadbook/map if you wish.
The rental bikes come with regular pedals, so no click-in/SPD pedals. On request we are able to supply these pedals on certain trips.
If you wish to bring your own click-in/SPD pedals, please let us know prior to booking too.
All our bikes come with a quick release system, which makes it very easy to adjust the height of the saddle and the handle bars.
There is one small puncture kit included, which can be found in the pannier. If a rental bike has another problem, we always advise you to go to a bike repair shop.
Saddles can be adjusted in height.
Our saddles don’t come with a gel cover. If you usually cycle with this, we recommend you bring them with you.
French Bike Tours does not provide water bottles. We can also not guarantee that there are bottle holders on the bikes. You will always receive at least 1x pannier, so you can always store your water bottle in your pannier.
Article 1 Bike Rental Price
The bike rental price is determined by the rates mentioned on the French Bike Tours website at the time of the booking; or as subsequently agreed.
Article 2 Payment
a. The rental price and any other due sums regarding the rental agreement must be paid before the bike is handed over to you.
b. If, for whatever reason, you cannot make use of the bike(s) you have rented, French Bike Tours will not be held responsible for any resulting expenses or damage.
c. In the case of the article 2b, the client remains obliged to pay the full rental price and any other amounts mentioned in the invoice, in accordance with our General Terms and Conditions of Booking, unless the client can prove that his not being able to use the bike was the consequence of a defect that was already present at the beginning of the rental period.
Article 3 Rental Period
a. The rental period runs from the morning of the first cycling day (day 2) to the end of the holiday (last cycling day), as stated in the booking confirmation.
b. Extension of the rental period is possible only after approval by us and according to the (extension) rates as mentioned in article 1.
c. No refunds are possible after the rental period begins. If you return the bike(s) to us before the end of your holiday, the rental agreement will automatically be terminated and you will not get any of your money back.
d. At the end of the last cycling day of your holiday, the bike(s) must be returned to the hotel from where it was/they were issued, no later than the time stated in the booking confirmation.
If you book a one way tour tour you can leave the bike at the last hotel of the trip.
e. If the bike(s) is /are not returned by the return time stated in the booking confirmation, we will continue to charge you rent until such time as the bike(s) is/are returned to us or is/are received by us. In the event of late return, the rates as mentioned in article 1 will continue to apply, plus a fine of €25 per day. We also reserve the right to demand payment for any costs and/or damages suffered by us due to late return of our rental bike(s).
f. Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, in the event of late return of our rental bikes, we reserve the right to dissolve the rental agreement without judicial intervention and immediately claim back our bicycles where ever they may be and from whomever has them. French Bike Tours also holds this right in the event that the client does not comply with any of the other conditions stated in this rental agreement.
Article 4 Improper Use
a. The bicycle(s) may only be used for its/their intended purpose and only by the cyclists listed in the rental agreement.
b. The bike(s) must be returned to us in the same (clean!) state in which you received it/them.
c. You must take excellent care of the bicycle(s), as if it/they were your own. You must take every precaution against damage, loss or theft.
d. The bicycle may not be used on the beach; or on sandy paths in the dunes unless a paved path is unavailable.
Article 5 Damage, Loss and Theft
The renter will be held responsible for damages to or loss of the bicycle(s) or parts of it, as well as bicycle keys and chains and locks, for such an amount as is determined by us according to standard market prices. You must understand that you are not insured for damage to the bicycle(s) or for any damages to third parties.
Article 6 Costs During the Rental Period
Any charges and taxes regarding the rental bicycle(s), such as fines and ferry tickets, are to be paid by you. You will also be required to pay all costs ensuing from the use of the bicycle(s) such as parking fees, maintenance and repairs.
5 Nights included
3 Star Hotels
Tourist tax included
Breakfasts and 2 Dinners included during the trip : one ‘gastronomic’ and one ‘bistro’
Maps and tourist information on all the places of interest
24/7 Bilingual Emergency hotline
No Luggage transport. You are based at the same hotel for 5 nights
For time tables and further information check the website of SNCF or rome2rio for all French National trains (SNCF).
We strongly advise you to download the sncf mobile app prior to departure. If you want to travel on a train with your bike, you can find more information via this link.
Parking possibilities at the hotel
GPS tracks are available on request
The international Paris airports Charles de Gaulle in the North and Orly in the South are served by a large number of scheduled and low cost airlines.They are connected with Paris by metro and bus services. From Paris you can take a train to Saumur, see below.
Also, possibility of arrival in Nantes Airport (NTE) or Tours Val de Loire Airport (TUF)
From Paris, you can take the TGV (high speed train) to Tours (approx. 1h05). From Tours, you take the local train (TER) to Saumur (approx. 30 min). At the Saumur train station, you will need to take a taxi (approx. 20 min to Fontevraud), on request.
For timetables and further information check the website of SNCF or rome2rio for all French National trains (SNCF).
From Paris to Fontevraud (approx. 3h20 - 310 km/192 mi). Acces to driving routes see the website ViaMichelin.
If you are driving to the Loire Valley, you can leave your car at the first accommodation’s private car park for the duration of the trip.
55, rue Saint Jacques
24540 Monpazier
France
info@french-biketours.com
+33 (0)5 53 24 22 10
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