The bike is in place. Glorified in cities where it has become an unmarked mode of transport, the two-wheeler is now ubiquitous in the French mountains. A” Velvet which is sorely lacking in statistics but is empirically verified summer after summer. It is enough to take a look at the available offer (building of paths and trails, weeks for cyclists in past stages of the Tour de France, etc.) to take in the extent of the detachment at the top of the discipline. . Because if there has always been mountain biking, it has long attracted a small part of the population that can swallow kilometers of asphalt as a dancer or play hotheads on steep mountain bike paths.
This last, ” arrived in the late 1980s marked the first turning point “, – says Julien Rebuffet, director of the National Union of French Cycling Instructors. The discipline quickly developed into a very similar model to backcountry skiing, with equipment rental and lessons with an instructor, but remained aimed at the athletic population. Electrical assistance has completely changed the situation. You no longer need to be an experienced cyclist to pedal in the mountains. »
VIEW FILE – Bicycle tourism and cycling tourism. tips and directions
” Within the same group we can find different profiles with practitioners who are older or less athletic than others. Some are on muscle bikes, others on electric bikes, and all are evolving together Henri Faure, founder and creator of cycling holidays for the LaRébenne agency based in Ariège. Parallelly ” we are seeing a rejuvenation of customers Julien Rebuffet notes. The bicycle has become a household object for many people, and those who use it in the city can hardly use it on vacation. »
With some nuances. Because if the bicycle in the broad sense is flourishing, it combines different practices and more or less expensive (a high-end VTTAE can reach 10,000 euros), from road cycling to mountain biking, with hybrid bikes and very fashionable gravel bikes. , a kind of wide-wheeled road bike that is able to cope with exits from tight roads to thrive on more forest tracks. Why such success? Because the bike ticks all the boxes. it allows you to be active, to move, limiting your carbon footprint, but also, and most importantly, to enjoy the breathtaking landscapes where you are often alone. ” An ambassador for slow tourism, cycling is unbeatable in terms of discovery as you cover 5 to 10 times more distance than you would on a hike. says Julien Rebuffet.
More or less gentle routes that cover the entire area or almost. cross the Alps or the Pyrenees (a particularly dynamic region in terms of cycling facilities), a trip to central Corsica, the Cathar trail in Occitanie, cycling in the Vosges, crossing the Massif Centre. , from the Auvergne volcanoes to the Mediterranean, wild escapes in Queiras, a tour of the charming villages of Diois in the Drôme… Will be tested all summer long, but also, and this is an important advantage for mountaineers, a popular seasonal destination. the wings of spring and autumn, when the temperature drops and the vegetation turns gold, red and copper.
Around Bauges, between Savoy and Haute-Savoie
This new 130 kilometer route connects the stations of Aix-les-Bains and Annecy via Chambéry, Montmelian and Albertville in both directions. The route follows the V62 and V63 cycle routes and easily winds through the landscapes of the Bauges Regional Natural Park, multiplying charming stops and views over lakes (Bourget, Saint-Andre, Annecy), vineyards and surrounding peaks (Dent du Chat). , the Épine Mountains and Mont Revard). The most athletic can even afford extras and muscle cracks to the Dent du Chat, Granier or Aravis passes. A course to be followed over three to four days, also compatible with ViaRhôna.
Bauges Tower (Savoie-mont-blanc.com).
Fun mountain biking in the Luron Valley
You don’t need to be an experienced alpine skier to start the new green run of Peyragudes, the longest mountain bike trail in the Pyrenees. ” One of the biggestEurope Ludovic Henry, Technical Director of Luron Valley Intercity Syndicate; It’s a fun flow trail type track in two sections. Wide, reassuring, it has a lot of ground movement, making it very fun and easily accessible for beginners. The start is at 2,250 meters above sea level via the Skyvall gondola and then a chairlift. The lower portion of the trail should remain open in the winter, allowing you to mix skiing down and mountain biking to Loudenville on the same day.
Peyragudes (Peyragudes.com).
Ride a bike on the Vercors Plateau
Everyone is on track. Lovers from June 10 to 12 pump paththese routes, which alternate between collisions and reversals, in which we “ pump ” on his arms to keep up his pace, but also the Sunday cyclists will meet together for the first edition of the Vercors cycling festival. A sort of big cycling party for the general public, the event combines several competitions (Vercors-Saint Nizier enduro, Vertaco Bike, balance bike for 2-5 year olds, etc.) to attract as many riders as possible. as far as possible the trails from Saint-Nizier-du-Moucherot, Lans-en-Vercort, Autrans-Meudre and Villard-de-Lans. With high plateaus, limestone cliffs, terraces with views accessible to all and forests, the first loop starts at 12 kilometers and 250 meters high.
Vercors Bike Festival (Vercorsbikefestival.com).
Gravel weekend in Haute-Provence
A hybrid and versatile bike, halfway between road bikes and mountain bikes, the gravel is the mountain of the moment. To test the car, set out to attack the lavender and olive groves of Haute-Provence, the tourist office has invented a new express but committed package (almost 180 km) 2 days/1 night at the beginning of Chateau-Arno. A circuit that runs along the EDF canal in Durance, crosses an ornithological reserve, passes along the Route Napoleon, at the foot of the impressive Pénitents des Mées and climbs up to the Valencole plateau before stopping at Moustiers-Sainte-Marie. The next day, head to the Mondenier massif, a kingdom of deer, birds and bats, before discovering the emerald waters of Lake Sainte-Croix du Verdon and the gorges of Trevance.
Château-Arnoux Tourist Office (Tel.: 04 92 64 02 64). All-inclusive formula for €85 half board, including luggage transfer, dinner and breakfast in a 3-star guesthouse. From 2 to 12 people.
Electric assisted mountain biking in the 3 valleys
The ambitious Via 3 Vallées cycling project, a route between forests and mountain pastures between Méribel-Mottaret and the summit, has been completed with the Col de la Loze section (at 2304m) launched in Méribel in 2019. From Tougnète, above Saint-Martin-de-Belleville. The ski lifts allow you to discover the 34 kilometer paved road of the VTTAE that connects Courchevel 1850 to Val-Thorens via Méribel and Les Menuires. The panorama and thrills are guaranteed.
Les 3 Vallées (Les3vallees.com), €24 for a day of mountain biking
Instructions: to go to VTC this summer
“ To start, especially with children, prefer a short circuit of 3 or 4 days Pascal Godin, head of Savoyard agency Vélohorizons, says: and stay at a reasonable distance. Count on 30km/day, max 40, with 400m elevation gain during the day. In terms of equipment, the must-have trifecta is a helmet, gloves/mitts and shorts to avoid back pain and hand injuries in the event of a fall. We also take sunscreen, enough water and food. However, be careful not to overburden yourself, therefore, the interest prefers a connection that integrates the transportation of luggage. Of course, we avoid driving during the hottest hours, identify water spots along the route before we set off, and always have a map handy, warm and rain gear enough to charge our phone, and a bike repair kit with patches. , inner tubes and possibly chain tools.»
Source: Le Figaro
