Planning some cycling in the sun

richiemack

The darkness, the cold, the lack of decent conditions to get out on the bike are dragging me down. I'm going to Lanzarote in February for a glorious week of triathlon training, and spinning through the islands highlands and lowlands, but I know I will only return to an extra half hour of brightness in the evening, and further atrocious weather.
The plan to break things up before race season begins is to get a week in France cycling in april. I'm hoping to fly in somewhere, and only have to travel a short distance to somewhere I can base myself for a week. Cheap accomodation, and excellent cycling is what I'm after, fly out from Shannon, minimum travel and hassle, and maximum cycling and enjoyment. Somewhere with nice long rides, not looking for massive hill climbing, but a day of climbing be nice too. So has anyone any ideas? suggested locations you've either been to, or heard of?

blorg

richiemack wrote: »

The darkness, the cold, the lack of decent conditions to get out on the bike are dragging me down. I'm going to Lanzarote in February for a glorious week of triathlon training, and spinning through the islands highlands and lowlands, but I know I will only return to an extra half hour of brightness in the evening, and further atrocious weather.
The plan to break things up before race season begins is to get a week in France cycling in april. I'm hoping to fly in somewhere, and only have to travel a short distance to somewhere I can base myself for a week. Cheap accomodation, and excellent cycling is what I'm after, fly out from Shannon, minimum travel and hassle, and maximum cycling and enjoyment. Somewhere with nice long rides, not looking for massive hill climbing, but a day of climbing be nice too. So has anyone any ideas? suggested locations you've either been to, or heard of?

Well generally with France I tend towards the Alps or Pyrenees which offer spectacular cycling but may be hillier than you are aiming for. Flatter areas I have been that are nice are the Lot valley and the coast from the Spanish border to Bordeaux. Rodez for the former, Biarritz and Bordeaux for the latter, not sure if you can fly to them from Shannon though you can from Dublin. Whatever you do though go south weather in the north may be no better than here.

Ryder

+1 on Bordeax. Flat but fantastic roads and scenery

hinault

Sicily.
Weather is great from February onwards : nice and warm.

Great roads.
Plenty of flat roads.

But if you want to get some climbing in, there are plenty of excellent climbs around Monreale, for example.

ROK ON

April. Cycling. Race training.
Short distance.

Obvious - go to Belgium.

Ok. No sun.

richiemack

Ryanair fly into Carcasonne, right down in the south, so the decision is which direction to travel. I'm also between two minds to bring clip on paniers and do a loop , collecting bike box in the hostel we stay on first night, or to base myself in one place and spend all day everyday exploring and cycling in the area. Want to get the most out of the trip as triathlon season will not be far away when I get back

ROK ON

If you are going to Carcasonne, I would highly recommend staying closeby at Castelnaudary (35km from Carcasonne). Also it would be a lot cheaper to stay there compared with Carcassone.

Lovely quaint town bisected by the Canal du Midi. Also the home of the famous local dish, Casoullet. A huge amount of quiet country roads around that vary from flat to rolling to suit your training.

Also nearby are the Montaigne Noir if you want to get some climbing in. Worth cycling to Castre also, a lovely town (47km). Between Castelnaudary and Castres in the mountains, there is a fantatsic restaurant called Bout de Monde (sic). The speciality is Pintade (Guinea Fowl i think) stuffed with foie gras - to die for.

If you want a night of descent nightlife then Toulouse is pretty good town to go out in. Lots of good restaurants on Rue de Taur.

That area of France is pretty nice. Also it would not be that far to cycle from there to say Foix (90km).