France has the reputation of having some of the world's greatest food, but it is also exceptional for riding bicycles. The greatest bike race in the world, Tour De France, is held here for that reason. On a cycling tour, you can see the real countryside, and some of the best tours let older adult riders go at their own pace -- which can be great for retirees or families with children whose legs might not churn quite as fast as others. There are cycling tours in different parts of France, and even tours that allow cyclists to ride the route of the Tour De France! Many of the best cycling tours for families and older riders are handled by French companies. Some riders prefer small-group tours, and some companies even offer private or self-guided rides. Is bicycling through France on your bucket list? Here we'll review some of the best cycling tours for active tourists.
Bikestyle offers a Western Front tour, which explores the sites from World War I, starting at Lille and ending in Paris. They also offer a trip to Normandy and you can tour the sites of the Battle of the Bulge of World War II. You may also focus on the wine country, or there are also tours that focus on famous food places.
Tour operators provide carbon-fiber road bikes. Most of them provide high-quality bikes, but it is good to check first. Most will not allow you to bring your own bike. A GPS that is pre-programmed with route maps is also provided.
The ability to ride a bicycle is all that is really necessary. The best cycling tours are rated as to the level of difficulty - with things like how many hills and how steep, as well as distance. You can probably find a tour that will fit your ability, but it is good to underestimate your ability, just to be sure.
Thomson Bike Tours offers a tour that involves watching some stages of the Tour De France, and there are bike rides included that utilize part of the route. There are three daily rides of different lengths to give riders some options. Note that senior riders who purchase this tour should be regular cyclists because of the varied terrain.
Bikestyle Tours is another company that has rides that coincide with the Tour De France. They have eight trips to choose from, giving more options for seniors with different levels of athletic ability. You may ride the route on days when the actual racers are not using it, and there are a lot of other quiet country roads to ride on during your tour.
With a tour group, all you do is the ride. Everything else is provided. They will even make any repairs needed during the ride. "Fully supported" rides are those that take care of all the details.
Grand Tours Project is a French Company that allows riders to ride all of the route "every kilometre" the day before the actual race. This can actually aid race organizers as sort of a warmup for the real thing. The route changes a bit each year, so you would be riding the most current route. This is an advanced ride for experienced riders in good physical condition. There are three weeks of the tour. You may do all three, or ride one of the three weeks.
The best cycling tours offer three and four-star hotels. The tours all stop for the evening and your hotel is part of the package. Meals are also generally included, but you may go off on your own and sample local cuisine. The tours are designed often to stop for the day in the town, near nightfall, at your hotel.
French Cycling Tours offers some breathtaking tours for seniors of all ability levels. One of the easiest tours is also one of the best -- this is the six-day Loire Valley Tour, which includes wine tasting, riverside cycling, gourmet dining and more for just $3,305 per person. Retirees with moderate biking abilities can tackle the six-day Bordeaux Vineyards Tour for $3,139 per person.
These tours are typically accompanied by a bus or other vehicle with staff to provide water, snacks, and lunch along the way. Seniors who get tired can ride to their next checkpoints, ensuring that nobody is overworked or left behind.