Wishbone Ash wrote: » I'd imagine a road bike is also easier to pack, assemble/disassemble and lighter than a MTB for flights.
Going back to the Vendee this year. Went last year, but couldn't find anywhere to hire anything approaching even a decent hybrid, but bringing a road bike this year (not the best bike, as it will probably do shopping runs too).
JMcL wrote: » I think most of the bike hire places will be along the coast.
Resurrecting this, as back to the Vendee this year and paid the final instalment this morning which got me thinking "which bike" again... We're staying beside Lac du Jaunay this time, a but further north. So road bike, gravel bike, or winter road bike with the GP4 seasons? Following the strava heat maps, seemed to be a lot of "dirt" roads, which I'm not sure I really trust to be honest when I look at google maps (although can't get street view on some of them either)
You're probably better off looking at various roads on Streetview and making a call. I'd say that you could have fun on any of those bikes.
I've had a hybrid and a road bike in France and whilst I used both on different surface types, I still had lovely spins.
There's no streetview which makes me think they're more dirt/ farm tracks - certainly from what I can see at junctions on streetview they're not paved anyway. I'm actually thinking the compromise might be slick/ semi slick gravel tyres on the gravel bike. Speed isn't going to be that important (but I'm back cursing my 2016 Defy Disc lack of clearance!).
We spent a while just south of Nantes in 2019. I took the Croix de Fer with slick gravel tyres (if that makes sense) and found the tracks round and about great craic. They were all hard packed, so no mud or sand to contend with, as well as being relatively flat. Assuming you're not planning on nailing a few segments while you're there I think having the option to leave the tarmac would be well worth it.
Thanks, I think gravel bike is going to take it, with slicks/ semi slicks if I can be bothered even changing from the Gravel Kings on it.
Hi All, just jumping in here to check if anyone can recommend a decent bike rental shop. Staying in Longville Sur Mer in June and hope to get out on road bike for some early morning spins. Seems to be plenty bike rentals but aimed towards leisure/hybrid bikes.
It's not a recommendation, but I had a quick look to see what there was. I got this place https://velocompany.fr/tarifs-location-velos/ in La Tranche sur Mer, which is next to Longueville. They don't mention road bikes in their web page itself, but do mention them in their tariff page so might be worth contacting them
In case you want to explore further and your french isn't up to it, googling "location velo de route vendee" will get you some hits
When you get tired of cycling the bike and need a change, take a trip inland from North of La Rochelle (southern end of the Vendée) and visit the Marais Poitevin around Coulon and Le Mazeau. All pretty flat but full of canals due to the low-lying reclaimed nature of the area. You can hire a row boat for a few hours and rest-up on a field.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Regional+Natural+Park+of+the+Marais+Poitevin/@46.3025368,-0.6084996,13.71z
The only place that I looked the first year we were that looked like a hope, didn't seem to even open outside of season. However, there does seem to be a few bike shops in Les Sables-d'Olonne that may have been a better bet. It was some the vendee velo routes around there that I thought were great.
Anyone done any local sportives while on holiday in France? There appears to be a local Gravel event on when we're there (negotiations not even opened yet though!)
Do you have the details Macy - I will be over there later on this year and wouldnt mind doing a local gravel event if everything lined up!
Came up on the "Gravel Bike Vendeé" facebook group.
Edit - negotiations haven't started well, so may have to work my way down from the 110km distance!
Very interesting, I'm actually over in Vendee too at the time of that gravel event!
Only 40km away, very tempted to do it.
I was going to bring my mtb with me though as it has a kids seat, the idea of doing 120km on a mtb sounds dreadful 😂
Couple of sites with useful info
This one https://veloenfrance.fr/calendrier-randonnees has a calendar of sportifs throughout France (a hell of a lot cheaper than here!)
At the risk of spousal banishment if such is a consideration, there's also a searchable list of audaxes here https://www.audax-club-parisien.com/organisation/brm-monde/ A French mate of mine has been doing a bunch of them this year and posting copious photos on Strava (jealous? moi?)
So a road sportive my second week there in Challans too! I think I'll stick with the Gravel bike (as can fit a rack) and chance the €8 on 75km one above (with a view to sucking up dropping back to the 55km!)
unfortunately that one is on before I will be there. I will take a look at the other links and see does soemthing line up. Thanks for the links!
In for the 75km Gravel anyway. I think I've the pass, on the argument I'll be back on site for 12! Looks a good spot for gravel based upon that facebook group - not the climbing of wicklow gravel anyway!
Back since last week - great gravel roads and trails all over the place (we were at Le Pin Parasol, beside Lac du Jaunay, as mentioned earlier in the thread). A lot of "agriculture" roads which you'd get away with "commuter" road tyres to be honest, but also some trails that I was glad of the extra volume and grip. Probably slicker gravel tyres the ideal, but I just pumped the tyres harder. I wasn't rushing, and lots of photo stops (will try to add to the thread later).
I used Strava Routes a fair bit and in general it did fine. Struggled a bit in some urban areas (along with I think my settings on the 530 which seemed slow to re-route rather than insist on U turns). 2 blocked gravel/ farm tracks (farmer blocked, with Private signs), and one where it tried to send me down by the waterworks which was locked. It did send me down some single track, and just as note Lac du Jaunay* isn't doable on a bike imo. A lot of steps on some sections. Vendee Velo routes very good as well.
I did the 75km Rando La Genote. Good route and people, for €8, totally let down by own standard of French. Was glad of the gravel kings on that route anyway - definitely wasn't just the agricultural "road tyre" doable trails.
*seems to be a fair amount of MTB trails around it, and met a few local MTBers on the trails. Actually the sportive passed a XC race (and shared the route on the day with a trail half marathon).
