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Cycling Regions Reviews
The first step to planning a Hosted Cycling Vacation is to choose the region most appropriate for your group's cycling interests and skills. We know all the regions and properties personally and so can guide you but here are some guidelines to help you start the process. At Hosted Villas, we use a scale of 1 to 10 to rate each region on five key factors: Route Variety – How many different routes – both hilly and moderate – does this region afford? Hills – How hilly is the area? Some riders love them, others hate them. How manageable then is the the cycling for moderate or novice cyclists? (N.B. A high number here indicates there are lots of good hills. If your group wants a less hilly area, focus on a low “hill” factor.) |
Congestion – How dense is the habitation
structure? How heavy is the vehicular traffic in the area? Does the
local road network allow you to avoid most of it? Basically how “Free”
from the world will you feel on-bike. Experienced cyclists are more
comfortable sharing the road than novices.
A high number here means the area is LESS congestion, there is less traffic. Off-Bike Interest – the cycling might be world-class but how much is there to do when your group is off their bikes, or for non-cyclists? Weather and Seasons – how reliable is the weather? How early or late in the season is it reasonable to travel? (Note that we don't do grade inflation. So, no perfect 10/10 ratings. 8s and 9s are outstanding scores.) |
FRANCE
Of the three three great cycling nations in Europe (in our opinion, France, Italy and Spain) we feel that, overall, France is the most cycling-friendly.
The primary reason is that the system of paved roads goes five levels deep right down to paved vicinal virtually traffic free, single lane tractor paths (Italy by comparison maxes out at three levels deep before you hit the strada bianca white gravel roads.) Furthermore, the network of roads is denser which allows for a greater variety of routes, both difficult and moderate.
Of the three three great cycling nations in Europe (in our opinion, France, Italy and Spain) we feel that, overall, France is the most cycling-friendly.
The primary reason is that the system of paved roads goes five levels deep right down to paved vicinal virtually traffic free, single lane tractor paths (Italy by comparison maxes out at three levels deep before you hit the strada bianca white gravel roads.) Furthermore, the network of roads is denser which allows for a greater variety of routes, both difficult and moderate.
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Provence (8.5/10)
In a nutshell, the advantages of Provence as a cycling destination are: the reliable weather (cycling in April and even November is not unreasonable), the wide variety of lightly trafficked routes some of which are among the worlds' greatest (such as the Mont Ventoux) and the wonderful non-cycling diversions such as markets, food and wine. Ventoux area (8.5/10) There are few better cycling areas in Europe than the Ventoux (30 minutes NE of Avignon.) Though just north of the Luberon, the Ventoux area is more spread out and so affords a greater variety of cycling loops. Route Variety 8/10 Hills 6/10 and 9/10 Congestion 8/10 Off-Bike Interest 9/10 Weather and Seasons 9/10 The Alpilles area (overall: 8/10; cycling 7/10) The Alpilles region is a 300 sq. mile triangular area south of Avignon, border by the Rhone and Durance rivers to the NW and NE and by the badlands below Arles to the south. Route Variety 6/10 Hills 7/10 Congestion 6/10 Off-Bike Interest 8/10 Weather and Seasons 9/10 The Uzege (west of Avignon) 8/10 The Uzege is the area just 30 minutes west of Avignon. It is is like a large circle with enchanting market town of Uzès at its center. Route Variety 8/10 Hills 7/10 Congestion 9/10 Off-Bike Interest 8/10 Weather and Seasons 8.5/10 |
Southwest France
Dordogne (8/10) On the other side of France from Provence is another world in terms of cycling. The Dordogne area (between Sarlat and Bergerac) replaces Provence's agricultural landscape with woods and rushing rivers. Route Variety 8/10 Hills 7/10 Congestion 9/10 Off-Bike Interest 8/10 Weather and Seasons 7/10 St. Emilion (8/10) What the St. Emilion region might seem to lack in terms of absolute cycling toughness (this is after all relatively flat viticultural land) it makes up for in history, culture food and most certainly wine! This is after all home to some of the world's greatest wine names – Petrus, Cheval Blanc, Angelus, Figeac. Route Variety 8/10 Hills 5/10 Congestion 7/10 Off-Bike Interest 9/10 Weather and Seasons 7/10 |
Northern France
Burgundy (8/10) Like St. Emilion, Burgundy combines natural beauty, a deeply ingrained food and wine culture, centuries of history to offer up an outstanding cycling destination. Hosted Villas' roots (both in tourism and in cycling) were in Burgundy and so it is a region we know and love well. Route Variety 7/10 Hills 7/10 Congestion 7/10 Off-Bike Interest 9/10 Weather and Seasons 7/10 |
