The Four Ideal Locations to Cycle in the French Pyrenees

The Pyrenees is a formidable range of mountains stretching for over 400km and bridging three massive countries- France, Spain and Andorra. Owing to its colossal size, enthusiasts would find it quite daunting to plan a cycling vacation here. Without sufficient knowledge of the region, it could be much difficult to find the appropriate base area, the best climbs and the locations, which are most suitable for biking.

According to most of the tourists, who have been there, the French Pyrenees stands to be the best for cycling. It has more challenging ascents, less traffic, and better facilities. This, however, does not mean that Spanish and Andorra Pyrenees are bad, they are obviously amazing, but the French Pyrenees is just comparatively better.

In the following discussion, let us explore the optimal areas of cycling in the Pyrenees France in details.

• Luz-St-Sauveur is an enchanting place for biking. The climbs are close to each other thus, cyclists could easily and quite comfortably move from one location to another. Lying at an altitude of 711m, it is a dynamic and picturesque town with excellent restaurants and a number of bike shops. Owing to its breathtaking charm, bikers would most certainly have an amazing time pedaling here.

• Bagneres de Luchon provides an awesome base to the bikers. From here, enthusiasts could pedal to numerous climbs of varying lengths and difficulties. Some of the ascents of this area belonged to the renowned and legendary event of Tour de France. It is a small town with the best facilities. Apart from cycling, enthusiasts could also participate in other sports like golf, tennis, tandem paragliding, skiing, etc.

• Tarascon is a tiny town located on the eastern side of the French Pyrenees. This location comprises of several great climbs. The undulating and hilly route offers a number of challenges in front of the cyclists. It is a phenomenally pleasant region that draws a lot of travelers each year.

• Tardets-Sorholus, situated in the Western Pyrenees, serves as a great base to those bikers, who wish to explore the breathtaking beauty of the location. This region has spectacular natural sceneries. It is much preferred by travelers because the roads have very less traffic. The location offers much-needed solitude to visitors, thus, providing them relief from the cacophony of urban areas. Pedaling amidst luscious greenery is something that the cyclists would cherish for the rest of their lives. 

So, if you are a biker and have decided to go on a trip of cycling in the Pyrenees France, the aforementioned locations are perhaps the best among the lot.

Places That Come To Mind While Cycling In the Pyrenees

Crafting a road cycling trip has been a common dream of millions across the border. And when it comes to having a trip to the Pyrenees the place has numerous things to offer. From the best cols and stage endings to serene roads and unpretentious ambiance- all beckon travelers to visit the place recurrently. Besides, when you would travel from east to west you can also take climbs to some infamous hills. Honestly; all of these fascinate innumerable travelers and that’s why travelers continue to throng here to luxuriate in the Cycling Pyrenees activity. And the percentage of travelers is going to be more impressive in the coming days.

Places to explore:
Well, every individual has personal preferences and that’s why it would be preposterous to say that these places are a must. But, the following places have been very much fascinating to a large section of travelers for years now.

• Le Mont Ventoux (1912 meters and 22 km. Average grade 7.1% with a maximum of 11% grade): Looking for a dominating landscape in all directions! Nothing can be better than this since Ventoux has appropriately called as "The Giant". Although there are more or less three to four ways to go up, but most of the travelers prefer village of Bedoin to start with. In addition, you will come across a memorial to the British pro cyclist Tom Simpson Just a half-mile from the summit.

• Le Col du Tourmalet (2115 meters and 19 km. Average grade 7.4% with a maximum of 10.2% grade): To those, who have already tasted the pleasure of cycling here, this place is the highest pass. Hence, a cycling tour in the Pyrenees would be incomplete without it.

• Col d'Aubisque (1709 meters and 16.6 km. Average grade 7.2% with a maximum of 13% grade): Riders just love this place because of the extremely praiseworthy neighborhood. Moreover, riders consider it to be a Tour staple because they just cannot turn aside from its twisting roads, carved to hug the mountainside.

• L'Alped'Huez (1860 meters and 14 km. Average grade 7.9% with a maximum of 14% grade): Just imagine how you would feel cycling through 21 switchbacks in the Alps; simply beyond expression; isn’t it! Yes, you have comprehended it right; you can get all of these here.

How to plan such cycling tour in the Pyrenees?
If you search best places in the Pyrenees I am sure the list won’t end with only four of the above-mentioned places. That’s why; discussing the plan with some professional service providers would help taking out the best Cycling Pyrenees activity. Besides, their customized packages would help you to plan the entire tour within your budget. So, what are you waiting for; just go out for an exciting tour in the Pyrenees.

Facts about Cycling Vacations that will ImpressYou

Vacation, to most the people around us, means spending time in some beachside and poolside either relaxing or having fun with friends and relatives. But there are also some people around us to whom vacation means an opportunity to cycle through the French Pyrenees in a walk long race. It also includes some famous climbs like climbs of the Tour de France with so many people with them. Well, it would seem to be a tormenting experience for many; but it would be just a terrific experience for all those travelers who wait for such terrific challenge.

You must be wondering how this kind of Cycling vacation in Pyrenees can be a popular choice for millions around the world. But, do you know that this type of challenging experience has a lot of things to offer other than a mere intuition of amazing natural beauty? Scroll down a little bit to know more about other additional benefits of such kind of experience.

Advantages of Cycling vacation in Pyrenees

• It can be a great fun for all of the participants since you can enjoy the entire experience along with your family members.  There would be a perfect arrangement for the family tour, or for couples.

• If you are a health conscious person then this experience would be appropriate for you. This kind of cycling experience would surely strengthen your quad, calf, and glute (buttock) muscles. It will also enhance the strength of your tendons. Most of the travelers join gyms prior to participating in such kind of cycling experience.

• Additionally, this would help you a lot to shred down extra fat from your body. As per scientific revelations, human body starts losing fat when the heart rate is at around 65 to 75 percent of your maximum capacity.

• A cycling vacation in the Pyrenees can be an effective tactic to better your cardiovascular system since it would make a better flow of blood within your body and that’s how the organs remain so much active.

How to plan the tour?
Well, diverse service providers have sprung up to arrange such tours in the Pyrenees. They offer some training camps as well as customized cycling holidays in the Pyrenees through some economical packages. There would be a perfect arrangement for Solo riders, couples, and small groups. They would devise some customized routes for each of the participant. You just don’t worry since all the packages would include all of the mentionable places in the Pyrenees.

Therefore, it would be reasonable for you to go for a reputed online service provider and allow them to customize the whole tour for you.

Selecting the Bike Route for a Cycling Trip in France

Almost all reasonably fit vacationers can find an apt cycling tour for themselves. But for picking the best one in France, a person should comprehend what’s important for him or her. If you’re keen to have the cycling holidays in the wonderful destination France, but you aren’t that sure where to go, consider reading this article thoroughly.

Initially, you should be clear about your ‘must sees’, be they the markets, castles, mountains or else hotels. Consider buying a foldout France map, grab the highlighter and start marking the destinations in order to provide you the birds-eye view of the route. In case your tour to France is just for testing yourself against cols, or else you desire to include an ironic climb, it’s finest to leave all these for later in the itinerary unless you’re confident that your pins are strong. On the other hand, if you’re dreaming of having a leisurely pedal in the coastal areas from point A to point B with hardly any hill in sight; consider looking into the prevailing winds in order to ensure that you won’t spend the entire holiday yelling into a headwind. Majority of the travellers nowadays prefer biking in the Pyrenees since the region comprises quite a number of ideal cycling routes.

Sources of inspiration

There are certain guidebooks which cover the whole country mentioning the series of paths in a region. Some of the cycling tour companies also post the itineraries online that can be the finest sources of inspiration. In case you’re striving to plan your itinerary, just consider the self-guided organized trip. This kind of trip is indeed a great mix of support provided by your tour company as well as your independent riding. Search Google for certain places that you’ll be passing. You can also visit the local tourist board sites.

Road hierarchies as well as Maps

If you’re interested in more detailed planning, consider the finest series for the cycling touring, the local yellow maps. These maps depict the topography plus mark up the cycle routes, city insets as well as tourist attractions. However, it’s significant for you to know that the autoroutes can’t be the ideal cycling route. These maps display the local roads of a region and communal roads. In case of scenic roads, their ‘scenicness’ is completely dependent on the weather.

Besides these, you can also determine your route via the availability of good accommodations. This is one of the significant reasons why people prefer biking in Pyrenees. The leading cycling tour provider in the Pyrenees comes up with the finest accommodation options. If you’re keen to make your cycling trip in France memorable, consider seeking the help of the reputable company that arranges cycling trips at pocket-friendly costs.

Explore the Unexplored through Pyrenees Cycling Trips

The bicycle was invented in France and has become an inseparable part of the lives of its citizens. The uneven terrains interspersed by large swathes of wide open fields and uniform streets of this spectacular country, make France the optimal destination for cycling. Among all the prominent locations, Pyrenees, in France offers travellers with best cycling trips. Owing to the wide-ranging benefits, this exhilarating sports activity is widely recognized throughout the world. It is a cost-effective option of transport, which have a positive effect on the environment as well as on the health of people. Let us discuss some of the obvious advantages, which have made biking extremely popular among larger segment of the population.

A Road Cycling Expedition amidst the Mountains

Cycling isn’t just a form of exercise anymore rather it has turned out to be a wonderful mode of a leisurely trip or a holiday amidst a pristine location. Such a cycling expedition waits for tourists and cyclists alike at the Pyrenees. The mountains form a natural border between the countries of France and Spain. It has some of the picturesque as well as challenging terrains. This visible contrast makes the place more popular. 

3 Rules to Stay Fit on Your Pyrenees Cycling Holidays

It is summer and the best time for holidays. The first thing that comes to mind when planning our summer vacation is to get away from our mundane daily routine and hectic work life schedule. Some  want a little more than a beach holiday and look towards a sports centred vacation. A most amazing sport  is cycling through mountains.  You will certainly find Pyrenees cycling holidays the best vacation experience.  However, many of us are unaware of the facts that we need to remember before a long cycling trip.

Nutrition

The number one concern when riding long distances on a bike is the correct nutrition.  It is essential that you eat and drink at regular intervals throughout the day in order that you can complete your trip.