In this beautifully illustrated guide to travelling across France by bike you will discover hidden lanes, stunning gorges, amazing places to eat and stay, plus the best of French cycling culture.
"The book and map describe touring routes north of the Loire. The book also details an additional 100-plus greenways, covering all the major off-road traffic-free trails in Northern France. The waterproof map describes 8 touring routes with 1:200,000 Michelin mapping plus detailed area and town maps. The 8 routes are - Brittany Coast to Coast; Around the Cotentin; St. Malo - Mont St. Michel Circular; Avenue Verte & Seine Valley (Dieppe-Paris-Le Havre); Boulogne to Lille; Paris & the Marne Valley; Rhone to Rhine via the Vosges; and, North Burgundy (Burgundy & Nivernais Canals). The accompanying 256 page book has supporting information for the featured touring routes including directions, cycle-friendly accommodation listings and places of interest. The section on greenways explores these additional routes region by region, the majority being detailed on 1:200,000 Michelin maps - ideal rides for day trips and long weekends."--Publisher description.
French Cycling: a Social and Cultural History aims to provide a balanced and detailed analytical survey of the complex leisure activity, sport, and industry that is cycling in France. Identifying key events, practices, stakeholders and institutions in the history of French cycling, the volumepresents an interdisciplinary analysis of how cycling has been significant in French society and culture since the late Nineteenth century. Cycling as Leisure is considered through reference to the adoption of the bicycle as an instrument of tourism and emancipation by women in the 1880s, forexample, or by study of the development in the 1990s of long-distance tourist cycle routes. Cycling as Sport and its attendant dimensions of amateurism/professionalism, national identity, the body and doping, and other issues is investigated through study of the history of the Tour de France, the track-racing organised at the Velodrome d'hiver in Paris in the 1920s and 1930s and otheremblematic events. Cycling as Industry and economic activity is considered through an assessment of how cycling firms have contributed to technological innovation at various junctures in France's economic development. Cycling and the Media is investigated through analysis of how cyclesport hascontributed to developments in the French press (in early decades) but also to new trends in television and radio coverage of sports events. Based on a very wide range of primary and secondary sources, the volume aims to present in clear language an explanation of the varied significance of cyclingin France over the last hundred years.
From its inception, the 1903 Tour de France was a colorful affair. Full of adventure, mishaps and audacious attempts at cheating, it was a race to be remembered. Cyclists of the time weren't enthusiastic about participating in this "heroic" race on roads more suited to hooves than wheels, with bikes weighing up to thirty-five pounds, on a single fixed gear, for three full weeks. Assembling enough riders for the race meant paying unemployed amateurs from the suburbs of Paris, including a butcher, a chimney sweep and a circus acrobat. From Maurice "The White Bulldog" Garin, an Italian-born Frenchman whose parents were said to have swapped him for a round of cheese in order to smuggle him into France as a fourteen-year-old, to Hippolyte Aucouturier, who looked like a villain from a Buster Keaton movie with his jersey of horizontal stripes and handlebar moustache, the cyclists were a remarkable bunch. Starting in the Parisian suburb of Montgeron, the route took the intrepid cyclists through Lyon, over the hills to Marseille, then on to Toulouse, Bordeaux, and Nantes, ending with great fanfare at the Parc des Princes in Paris. There was no indication that this ramshackle cycling pack would draw crowds to throng France's rutted roads and cheer the first Tour heroes. But they did; and all thanks to a marketing ruse, cycling would never be the same again.
This essential guide steers you along France’s best cycling routes, to the best patisseries, the friendliest places to stay and the most breathtaking scenery. Find a tour to suit you - a leisurely day trip, a week-long food and wine tour or an epic mountain climb. Including - 135 days of France’s best cycling - including Corsica; - on-the-road maintenance tips and a guide to French cycle-speak; - where to eat - from markets to cafes and restaurants; - where to stay - from camping to B&Bs and chateaux; - what to see and do, in and out of the saddle; - how to pack and transport your bike; - the Tour de France explained.
The nearly 150-year-old sport of cycling had its first competition in France in 1868. Soon afterward, the need arose for purpose-built cycling tracks because of poor road conditions at the time. Racing on blocked off pieces of street or grass soon evolvedinto racing on special tracks called velodromes. This development marked the split into what are still the two main forms of cycling competition: road racing and track racing. Initially, track cycling was more popular in terms of public attention and money to be earned by racers, but this gradually changed in favor of road racing, which has been the most popular form of cycling since at least the end of World War II. The Historical Dictionary of Cycling takes a closer look at the sport, as well asdiscussing the use of bicycles as a means of fitness, touring, and commuting. This is done through a chronology, an introductory essay, appendixes, photos, a bibliography, and over 500 cross-referenced dictionary entries on cycling's two main disciplines—road and track—as well as brief overviews of the other forms of cycling. This book is an excellent access point for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about cycling.
Lonely Planet's France is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Explore Bordeaux's wineries, lose yourself in Paris, or reach new heights in the French Alps; all with your trusted travel companion. Get to the heart of France and begin your journey now! Inside Lonely Planet's France Travel Guide: Up-to-date information - all businesses were rechecked before publication to ensure they are still open after 2020s COVID-19 outbreak NEW pull-out, passport-size 'Just Landed' card with wi-fi, ATM and transport info - all you need for a smooth journey from airport to hotel Improved planning tools for family travellers - where to go, how to save money, plus fun stuff just for kids What's New feature taps into cultural trends and helps you find fresh ideas and cool new areas our writers have uncovered Colour maps and images throughout Highlights and itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots Essential info at your fingertips - hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, prices Honest reviews for all budgets - eating, sleeping, sightseeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss Cultural insights give you a richer, more rewarding travel experience - history, people, music, landscapes, wildlife, cuisine, politics Over 55 maps Covers Brittany, Normandy, Lille, Flanders & the Somme, Paris, Ile de France, Champagne, Alsace & Lorraine, Bordeaux, Nantes & the Atlantic Coast, French Basque Country, the Pyrenees, Toulouse, Dordogne, Limousin & the Lot, Auvergne, Burgundy, French Alps, Jura Mountains, Lyon, Rhone Valley, Languedoc-Roussillon, Provence, Monaco, Cote d'Azur, Corsica The Perfect Choice: Lonely Planet's France, our most comprehensive guide to France, is perfect for both exploring top sights and taking roads less travelled. Looking for just the highlights? Check out Best of France, a handy-sized guide focused on the can't-miss sights. For a quick trip to Paris, check out Pocket Paris, a handy-sized guide focused on the can't-miss sights for a quick trip. About Lonely Planet: Lonely Planet is a leading travel media company, providing both inspiring and trustworthy information for every kind of traveller since 1973. Over the past four decades, we've printed over 145 million guidebooks and phrasebooks for 120 languages, and grown a dedicated, passionate global community of travellers. You'll also find our content online, and in mobile apps, videos, 14 languages, armchair and lifestyle books, ebooks, and more, enabling you to explore every day. 'Lonely Planet guides are, quite simply, like no other.' New York Times 'Lonely Planet. It's on everyone's bookshelves; it's in every traveller's hands. It's on mobile phones. It's on the Internet. It's everywhere, and it's telling entire generations of people how to travel the world.' Fairfax Media (Australia)