Preparing for a road cycling holiday in France

Preparing for a road cycling holiday in France

Preparing for a road cycling holiday in France involves a combination of logistical arrangements, equipment preparation, and ensuring you have the necessary essentials for a comfortable and enjoyable trip.

Here’s a checklist to help you prepare:

1. Plan your routes: Research and plan your cycling routes in advance. Identify scenic routes, challenging climbs, and points of interest along the way. Utilize online route planning tools or consult cycling guidebooks to create a detailed itinerary.

2. Check travel requirements: Ensure you have the necessary travel documents, such as a valid passport and any required visas. Familiarize yourself with the specific travel regulations and requirements for entering and cycling in France, especially if you are travelling from another country.

3. Pack appropriate clothing: Pack cycling clothing suitable for different weather conditions. Include items such as jerseys, bib shorts, arm warmers, leg warmers, a windproof jacket, lightweight rain gear, cycling gloves, and appropriate footwear. Don’t forget accessories like sunglasses, sunscreen, and a cycling cap.

4. Bring essential cycling equipment: Make sure you have your road bike in good working condition. Carry spare tubes, a puncture repair kit, a mini pump or CO2 inflator, tire levers, a multi-tool, and a chain tool. It’s also a good idea to have a bike lock, a helmet, and front and rear lights for safety.

5. Secure accommodation: Book accommodation in advance, ensuring it is bike-friendly and conveniently located along your planned routes. Look for hotels, bed and breakfasts, or campsites that provide secure bike storage facilities and cater to the needs of cyclists.

6. Arrange bike transportation: If you’re travelling from afar, consider your options for transporting your bike. You can choose to transport it by air, train, or hire a bike locally. If flying, check with the airline regarding their bike transportation policies and pack your bike securely in a suitable bike bag or case.

7. Research local resources: Familiarize yourself with local cycling resources such as bike shops, repair services, and rental options in the areas you’ll be visiting. Make note of their locations and contact information in case you need assistance during your trip.

8. Prepare a basic toolkit: Pack a basic toolkit to handle minor repairs or adjustments during your ride. Include items such as tire levers, spare tubes, a mini-pump or CO2 inflator, a multi-tool with Allen keys, and a chain tool. This will help you handle common on-the-go repairs.

9. Stay hydrated and fuelled: Carry a refillable water bottle or hydration pack to ensure you stay hydrated throughout your rides. Additionally, pack energy gels, bars, or other snacks to keep your energy levels up during long rides.

10. Research local customs and road rules: Familiarize yourself with local cycling customs, road rules, and safety regulations. Be aware of any specific regulations regarding cycling in France, such as wearing reflective clothing or using bike lights during certain hours.

11. Obtain travel insurance: Consider obtaining travel insurance that covers any potential cycling-related accidents, medical emergencies, or theft of your equipment. Ensure your policy covers the specific activities you plan to engage in during your trip.

12. Stay updated on weather conditions: Check the weather forecast for the region you’ll be cycling in and pack appropriate clothing and gear accordingly. Be prepared for changing weather conditions, especially in mountainous areas.

Remember, thorough preparation ensures a smoother and more enjoyable road cycling holiday. With the right equipment, knowledge of the area, and careful planning, you can make the most of your time exploring the beautiful roads of France

Flognarde – A Recipe from Sam’s Kitchen

Flognarde – A Recipe from Sam’s Kitchen

Flognarde – A Correze Classic

Sitting here in lockdown in France I miss cooking for our lovely guests, so I thought I would share a recipe with you of one of my most popular desserts – Flognarde. When we first opened in 2011, I would make a Tarte Tatin a week, but that was until I discovered this local variation of a classic French dish. Flognarde comes from Corrèze.  It is the local version of Clafoutis, which also originated in the Limousin, but which traditionally features cherries. Clafoutis is a delight, although you must leave the stones in the fruit, as I found out to my cost. The stoned cherries leak their juice out to give you an oddly pink dessert! So, I avoid Clafoutis as the idea of forcing guests to spit out mouthfuls of stones across the dinner table is not appealing, not least the risk of accidental choking…

Flognarde then is a delight. It is traditionally made with Apples, although it works well with many other fruits such as apricots, pears and plums. You can also combine fruit with the apples such as myrtille-blueberries (pictured) or blackberries. Flognarde is not a heavy dessert and is universally popular with all ages. It is easy to prepare in advance, although best served warm, drizzled in apricot glaze with some Calvados cream

The ingredients are listed in American ‘cups’ as ironically the best recipe that I have found for this French classic comes not from a French cookbook, but from the legendary Julia Child. If you don’t have ‘cups’ – and we are not talking about teacups here people – then you can easily find measurement converters on google.

You will need a pan that can be used both on the hob and in the oven.  I use a classic 28cm tarte tatin tin, but any heavy bottom pan will do. The Tefal frying pans with removable handles are ideal. If you don’t have anything like this, don’t panic, you can still make the Flognarde. Use a baking dish and omit the section where you heat it on the hob. The Flognarde will not have a caramelised bottom and the apples will sink more to the base, but it will still be delicious. You may have to add an extra 5 minutes or so onto the cooking time.

Ingredients

1 ¼ Cups whole milk
3 Eggs
1 Cup plain Flour
2/3 cups caster sugar, divided
1 tsp Vanilla extract
¼ tsp salt
Butter for greasing
3 -4 medium sized apples

Method

Heat oven to 180 oC

Peel, Core and Slice the apples into 1-2cm slices. Set aside

In a stand mixer or blender, combine flour, milk, eggs, 1/3 cup of sugar (half the total amount) and salt until frothy. If you don’t have a blender you can use an electric whisk (my preferred option – less washing up!). You can also use a hand whisk – just make sure there are no lumps and that everything is well combined. At this point you can put the mix, covered, in the fridge until you want to bake it. This can be done up to 24 hours in advance – just give it a quick mix with a hand whisk just before using.

Generously butter your pan and put on the hob to heat. When the butter is starting to bubble pour in about 1 third of the batter, or enough to cover the base in a thin layer and allow to cook until set.

Remove from the heat and arrange apple slices creatively on the surface of the smooth batter layer. I prefer concentric circles. You can also sprinkle with blueberries at this point.

Sprinkle the remaining 1/3 cup of sugar evenly across the apples. Then carefully pour over the remaining batter

Put in the preheated oven and bake until puffed up and golden – around 40 minutes. The Flognarde will deflate a lot as it cools. Do not worry this is normal!  After about 10 minutes run a spatula or similar around the edge and under the Flognarde to loosen it and turn it out onto a serving dish. If you wait until it is completely cold the pectin in the apple will stick to the bottom of the pan and it will be more difficult to get out.

Serve cut into wedges with some cream (I use crème fraiche sweetened with a pinch of icing sugar and about a teaspoon of calvados) and you can also add an apricot glaze. To make this you sieve apricot jam so that you have a smooth consistency and then add some alcohol (1tbsp approx.) of your choice to loosen it up – white rum or triple sec is good.

Enjoy!

Monedieres fietstocht – Monedieres Bike Tour

Monedieres fietstocht – Monedieres Bike Tour

I was thinking of an area of the Correze to take my Dutch friend on a cycling tour to show case how varied this lovely cycling region of France can be. Most cyclists are unaware of what the region has to offer for those looking for a road biking holiday in France. After much deliberation i decided a Monedieres fietstocht (a Bike tour of the Monedieres) in the Monedieres National Park would be perfect to show my friend that the Correze is not just Argentat and the Dordogne gorges,

The forecast was for clear blue skies ( max 11c ) albeit with a stiff cool northerly wind, so pretty much perfect for an end of winter ride around this wild and beautiful part of France. To make the day more relaxing we decided to drive to Correze village which is about 20 minutes from our base. The plan was to make a loop including Cheumiel , Treignac and the Suc au May (908m).

After a steep warm up climb out of the village we had a bracing ride up to Cheumeil against the biting wind, with the hope being that the very rustic and traditionally French cafe beside the church was open for a warm up cafe. We were in luck, it was Monday and often lots of cafes and restaurants are closed, but we even sat outside out of the wind in the warm sun contemplating the climb up to the Col de Lestards (856m).

After a few photos at the top and enjoying the view over the hills and mountains in the distance we set off on the very fast and thrilling 10km decent to Treignac and lunch. I called ahead and luckily my favourite cafe was open, but unfortunately plat du jour was tete de veau ( not always the best choice !!) but the chef was very happy to cook us Limousin steak and Frites, followed by a homemade tart and cafe. Fuelled and warmed up we were ready for more climbing up to the Suc au May (908m).

A 7 km climb with a max gradient of about 8% was enough keep us warm as the temperature started to fall later in the afternoon. Again, after a few more photos and taking in the wonderful views we put on our gillets to provide a little bit of wind protection against the cold ( 4c at the top !!) on our 2nd long fast decent of the day back down through St Augustin and to Correze.

At the end of our Monedieres Fiestocht (just got to get in my Dutch) we were ready for a coffee with the cake Sam made for us. Unfortunately, this time the cafe was closed !!, well it was Monday in France.

It was very pleasurable day and a very good showcase of what differing terrain the Correze has to offer for anyone choosing it as a French cycling holiday or tour destination,

An American Cyclist at Correze Cycling Holidays

An American Cyclist at Correze Cycling Holidays

Guest Blog by Forest Howard for Correze Cycling Holidays

I came to France with a seriously elevated expectation for some of the best road cycling in the world. Not many cyclists will dispute the fact that France is their Mecca. France is where serious cyclists of the world seek to pilgrimage. The diverse terrain and beautiful scenery are steeped in bike racing lore. The hype can go on and on, but I know you know. After all this is a French bike blog. Though my expectations were high, riding in a foreign land always brings about stressful unknowns. What conditions are the roads in? Are there dangerous areas? Is the traffic bad? Are drivers respectful? So many questions raced around my head as I plunged head first into my stay in France with Correze Cycling Holidays..

I planned on staying at Correze Cycling Holidays for little over a month, during which time I helped around the house with dining and food prep. The Parrys (the family behind the scenes at Correze Cycling Holidays) and I connected through the website Workaway. Workaway connects hosts with helpers from foreign countries as a cultural exchange opportunity. I almost jumped out of my jeans when I learned of an opportunity to work at a bed and breakfast specializing in bike tours through the French country side. For me, this was a literal dream come true.

After accepting Samantha’s offer to work in exchange for room and board, I realized how very little I knew about the Correze Region of France. Hopping on the computer I furiously googled the topic. In addition to the Alps and Pyrenees France has a third, lesser known mountain range, called the Massif Central, situated in the south-central portion of the country. Any cyclist not living under a rock is familiar with epic scenes of The Tour de France traversing the Alps and Pyrenees but the Massif? Although the Massif region often has exposure during the Tour it rarely gets the hyped publicity of the other two mountain ranges. Even though some of the most unique climbs in the country can be found in this region, the terrain here is often billed as transitional.

Arriving at the Brive-la-Gillarde train station I was blown away the entire drive up to Correze Cycling Holidays. Narrow, manicured roads wound up green flat-topped hills with cavernous valleys in between. Tiny villages spatter the prominences. Those familiar with the east coast of the United States might see a resemblance to Appalachia. Rolling linear hills and valleys as far as the eye can see piqued my interest. The most meaningful riding I have done at home has been exploring the deep green rolling mountains of Western North Carolina. The French terrain looked equivalent. James assured me that these were not even the “big” mountains but foothills. The rugged peaks of the High Massif were further south east.

The technical definition of “massif” means a tightly-grouped region of mountains bound by faults. The Massif Central in France is predominantly volcanic in origin and distinct from both the alps and Pyrenees. Looking at France via Google Earth it is easy identify the Massif area, nestled tightly in the south-central portion of the country. If one looks at the profile of the region from north to south the Massif is completely asymmetrical. The northern departments of the Limousin region are filled with rolling hills and plateaus divided by steep valleys and gorges. Moving south into the region of Auvergne, the profile gains elevation and culminates in a series of rugged volcanic peaks. The highest, Puy du Sancy, is 1886 meters. This terrain was captivating. The rolling green hills punctuated by ancient towns create an immersive rural environment unlike anything I have ever witnessed.

Expansive plateaus, lush hills and big mountains all sound like promising ingredients for unforgettable road riding, but did this all live up to the fantasy land my mind had constructed? My first rides out with James were surreal. We passed hilltop chateaus and medieval villages from bygone centuries. The roads surrounding Correze Cycling Holidays are complete gems, meandering around hillsides and valleys in only a way France can provide. Adding gold to those gems was the utter lack of traffic through the Correzien region. Some days we would not see a car for the first 10 km of a ride.

Cycling in Correze affords an alien experience to someone who knows only the roads of North America. The French roads are minuscule (a single lane by American standers) and are immaculately paved and maintained. Villages are interconnected by a spiderweb-like road network that presents infinite riding possibilities. One would imagine that because the Limousin is so rural, road density would suffer, this is not the case. The road layout has its roots in antiquity. Roads follow the crest of hills and the undulations of the terrain in ways that the Romans found easily defensible. The road density here is an order of magnitude greater than anything I have experienced in rural America. But again, coming from America, the most unfathomable part of riding in Correze was nearly non-existent traffic. I would finish rides thinking does anyone in France drive?

Even when encountering the occasional car the respect they provide cyclists is other-worldly coming from the US. On one occasion, I had a driver slow down in front of me on a flat section of road. My initial confusion was put to rest when he waved me into the vehicle’s slip stream. I accelerated in the draft. We sped up and he paced me down an otherwise boring length of flat road. His son in the back seat turned around and pumped his fist out of the window. Moments like this highlight the bike culture of the of Correze and all of France.

When walking into many cafes and bars around the country it is commonplace to see a green, yellow and polka-dot hats hanging on the walls. The memorabilia a telling sign the Tour was once close and the local people proud of the cycling heritage. The bike culture of the region was icing on the cake to a complete five-star riding experience.

Cycling the Massif Central Mountains. Try something different for your Cycling Holidays in France

Cycling the Massif Central Mountains. Try something different for your Cycling Holidays in France

Cycling the Massif Central mountains offers cyclists some of the most challenging terrain for their cycling holidays in France. These volcanic mountains are very different in character and structure from those in the Alps or Pyrenees. In spring and summer they are clothed in green changing to the dramatic reds and golds of autumn.  The Massif Central mountains are more rolling and less severe than other mountain ranges of France.  This gives the cyclist a slightly different cycling experience. We organise day trips to the mountains which are an easy drive from our base in the Corrèze.

There is something here for all abilities. Try a gentle climb up from the stunning walled mountain town of Salers to the Col De Neronne (1242m).  Alternatively you can ride the challenging route up to Pas de Peyrol (1588m) whose last few kilometres average 12 to 15%. The Peyrol has featured recently in the 2011 and 2016 Tour de France and is a perfect challenge for adventurous cyclists.  Salers is classified as a ‘plus beau village de France’ – a most beautiful village. So it is worth visiting just to see this stunning medieval town!

If you want a real challenge there is the little-known Col Du Perthus which is accessed from the lovely little village of Mandailles-St-Julien. The village sits at the head of the Valley De La Jordanne on the route to the Peyrol from the south. After a strong coffee in Mandailles you will be ready for the relatively short but punchy 5km climb. It never seems to go below 10% and sometimes reaches 14-15%. This climb was used in the 2016 Tour de France and seemed to provide as big a challenge to many of the riders as did some of the longer classic climbs in the Alps. The feature picture for this Blog was taken when we took a group to watch this very stage. We could see the pain on the riders faces as they passed, the climb splitting the field wide open.

One of our favourite circuits for your Bike Tour in France includes the ascent of the Peyrol known as Puy Mary. It starts in Velzic in the Jordanne valley which is about a 75-minute drive from our base. Starting at an altitude of 700m, the D17 majestically winds its way up the beautiful valley at a gentle gradient until Mandailles. This is where the true climb begins up to the Peyrol. The first half of the climb is easily the hardest with the grade reaching 7-10%. Then as you emerge from the tree line at the 5.5km point it gets a little easier and you get the spectacular views of the climb and surrounding mountains.

From the top, the 360-degree views are worth a stop and a well-deserved drink before the steep descent and gentle climb across to the Col De Neronne (1242m). There follows a gentle ride down to Salers on the D37 which clings to the side of the long U-shaped valley. After lunch and refreshments in one of Salers many lovely restaurants the route heads back south via the Col St-George and the Col De Legal (1229m). The day finishes with a breath-taking descent back to the crew bus for tea and cake.  If you drive here on your own, make sure you have something tasty in the car waiting for you. The idea of cake can keep you going during the last climbs of the day!  The distance of the circuit is 80km and the vertical ascent is approximately 1550m.

There are more of our favourite circuits in this part of the Cantal which we will cover in future posts, so stay tuned for more ideas of great rides in this area.

James Parry, Chef de Cyclisme, Corrèze Cycling Holidays