INTRODUCTION
This guide is written to help seniors who are thinking of cycling in the South of France and would like some information to help them plan for the visit. I myself am a Senior of Irish/English origin who lives and cycles regularly in this area. I have also lived and cycled in the USA so some of my notes may also help our American friends. These are just my findings from riding in just one small area of the South of France and I hope that they help newcomers to cycling in this area. I am describing mostly road cycling although there is also lots of good off road cycling.
Senior Limitations
Being a senior also means that rides of 150km (93 miles) with 3,000 meters (9,800ft) of climbing are not what I do. The most is about 120km (75 miles) and 1,000 meters (3,300ft) of climbing. There is wonderful cycling in the South of France with a range of difficulties from very easy to very difficult with all the ranges in between. There is unparalleled scenery, usually magnificent weather, and wonderful food and wine.
Helpful Planning
I have split the guide up into several sections to help planning.
Precautions
Most of the advice and information below is just common sense and most cyclists already practice it. Do remember however if it is your first foray outside the UK or the USA that there are likely more extremes in the South of France and you need to take more precautions. Climbs tend to be longer and steeper. Climbs of 6 miles(10KM) long and 1,000 feet (300m) of elevation are the norm and can often be double that. In the UK you can find climbs like that but often there are downhill sections in them. In the South of France they can be all uphill with only a slight easing of gradient in some places. Temperatures are generally higher than the UK.
Guide for Routes
The final section is suggested routes. There are 2 parts.
1. a series of fit files from my own GPS of routes that I have followed that can be used to plan with.
2. Small route sections with turn by turn instructions which can be added together to make routes and some suggested routes from these. These are being added to as I find the time to document them and should be regularly updated.
Just click on the sections below for more details. More will be added as I find time and there are interested parties to profit from it
