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Trip Overview
A leisurely voyage through a sunny corner of France |
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Cycling in Provence, France: Frequently-Asked Questions about The Provencal Cycle back through the centuries at your own comfortable pace. Explore Arles, an old Roman capital with its giant amphitheater still in use. Next come the clifftop remains of Les Baux, then the magical forests and stone-walled villages of the Luberon. This FAQ page is intended to accompany other pages about this trip and about our company (see links at left). Some of the answers below may include links to other other sites; please use the BACK key of your browser to return to this page. Contents:
When does this bike trip start and end?
Each trip ends after breakfast. There are no group activities on that day, so if you have tight travel connections, you can get up and leave as early as you wish. When your schedule allows it, you'll probably want to spend some time sightseeing in town, with others from the trip, before departing. How do I get to Avignon?
Avignon has two train stations: Avignon Centre is right outside the town wall. Avignon TGV station is a short cab ride from town; there are also shuttle buses. (TGV trains, as of this writing, can use either station.) You can also fly into Avignon from Paris and take a cab (about $20) to our hotel. What's the train schedule from Paris?
What books would be good reading before a trip in Provence?
The Peter Mayle of a few generations ago was Alphonse Daudet (1840-1897), whose Letters From My Mill paints a colorful portrait of life in Provence. You can visit his historic windmill, still standing in a windswept clearing amongst the olive trees, on our Provencal trip. A favorite book of ours is Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. He’s taken a subject in which he’s keenly interested (the building of cathedrals in the Middle Ages) and woven a compelling novel around it. We also recommend Travelers' Tales France. The editors have collected the best essays about life and travel in France from over a dozen writers, including Peter Mayle, M.F.K. Fisher, Alice Kaplan, and Jon Krakauer. Their varied perspectives provide fascinating reading for anyone who's about to visit, or has visited, France. What kind of bikes do you use?
We also supply a lock, spare tube and patch kit, and a handlebar bag or back rack for carrying a few small items. I want to bring a gel seat cover for my bike trip. What size is best?
How does the van support work for cyclists?
The specific van schedule varies day to day, based on a number of factors: the route, whether there's a picnic that day, and whether riders are all likely to be on the same road, or off on different options. Typically, the driver stays with or behind most of the group until about lunchtime (or earlier, if there's a picnic to set up), then drives ahead to deliver luggage into your rooms. If most of the group is likely to be on the same road, the driver may then circle back to see if anyone needs the van. However, we suggest various optional routes each day, and many people on our trips like to explore independently. That means cyclists may be spread out over many miles, and over several routes. In most cases, we find that a cyclist who needs help will get it fastest by calling the driver at the hotel, rather than waiting for the van to patrol all the spots where cyclists could be riding. We'll go over the details more at the briefing when the trip starts. On paper (or on a computer screen) the system can seem uncertain because so many variables are involved. In practice, it works out well. There are many weeks when no one ever needs the van. If you do need assistance, generally you're able to get to a cafe or other comfortable spot while you wait for help. I'm traveling alone. Will everyone else be in couples?
You don't need to pay the single supplement if you're traveling alone. We'll be happy to match you with a roommate. Pay the single supplement only if you want a bedroom to yourself. What's the weather like in Provence?
June through August are the driest months, but it's unusual for us to have more than one or possibly two days of rain at other times in the spring or fall. On a majority of our bike trips in France, we've had half a day of rain, or less. But, of course, we can't promise anything about the weather. You can have a great time even if conditions turn out to be a little warmer, colder, or wetter than usual, as long as you bring suitable clothing. We'll send some suggestions well in advance of the trip. Just how hard is the Provencal?
The route is not entirely flat. But most of it is flat or gently rolling; if you're ready to push yourself a few times, and possibly to walk up a couple of short hills, you can join a long list of people who have called The Provencal "the best vacation I ever had." The longest biking day (apart from the Luberon -- see below) is the first day, at about 40 miles. You'll face a couple of short hills the first day, but you could walk up the steepest one in five minutes. The biggest real hill that you need to get up comes on the fourth day, as we bike up to the ancient clifftop fortress of Les Baux. Less experienced cyclists may find themselves walking their bike for 10 or 15 minutes here, but it's well worth it, to see one of Europe's most impressive medieval sites. Two days later we get to the Luberon, a picturesque region of cool forests, a crystal-clear river where you can cool off on a hot day, and half a dozen small hilltop villages, each with its own personality and charm. We stay two nights in the same hotel here, so some travelers consider the Luberon a rest day and don't bike at all. Reasonably strong cyclists will probably want to visit all six of the villages; others will just cycle at one or two. We can also suggest appealing bike routes that are short and flat, and there's plenty to see and do for those who don't want to bike at all. Do I need to speak French?
I like to bike but my partner isn't into it as much. Is this a good trip for us?
Another trip the two of you would enjoy is Valley of the Kings, in the chateau region of France. This trip also includes two layover stops, and because there's so much to see, we've kept the biking routes fairly short. This is called a 7-day trip. Exactly what does that mean?
Our "7-day" trip thus consists of 6 full days and two partial days. Some companies promote a trip of this length as being 8 days since it includes pieces of 8 different days. We feel it's more accurate to refer to this as 7 days. I'm visiting Paris after the trip. Can you recommend a hotel there?
Is a stationary bike a good way to get in shape?
Can I talk to someone who's been on this trip?
Our website includes a full page of comments from past travelers. Most of them have volunteered to talk about their experiences with future potential travelers. Please call for the names and phone numbers of references in your area.
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