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A dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 to 12:30 AM and 13:30 to 6 PM (French time) on the phone, or by email.
Useful information |
Our dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 am to 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm to 6 pm (French time) by phone - +33 458 140 435.
You can also send us your questions by email at info@france-bike-trips.com
Your equipment and gear
In the detailed description of each of our tours, you will find a complete list of necessary equipment and gear: clothes, gear, emergency kit...
Which mountain bike to travel with?
The quality and set-up of your bicycle are essential in order for your cycling holiday to go smoothly! This is an essential point on which we would like to insist.
We offer 2 solutions:
- You wish to make the trip with your own mountain bike: we strongly recommend that you bring a bike that is at least "mid-range". This guarantees you a certain reliability that you will not regret (and neither will your tour leader and the rest of the group...)! Important: remember to have your bike fully serviced before you leave.
- If you wish to rent a mountain bike from us: the possibilities vary according to the trip (please refer to the description of each trip). Important: remember to fill in the section "bike hire / your size" when you register in order to hire a bike suitable for your size.
Special equipment for Grand Raids Alpins
Grand raids in the Alps are a very special type of mountain biking. This practice requires specific equipment adapted to guarantee optimum pleasure and safety.
We have produced a complete document presenting, with pictures, the list of specific equipment that we strongly recommend for the Grand Raids Alpins..
You can download the document here.
How do you pack your mountain bike for transport?
When travelling by train in France, your bike must be transported in a bag with a maximum size of 120 cm x 90 cm. This allows you to travel with your bike as hand luggage on all SNCF mainline trains and TGVs at no extra charge!
For air travel, it is imperative that you protect your bike properly. After deflating the tyres, removing the wheels (by removing the axle), the pedals and the derailleur (which is left hanging on the chain), we strongly recommend that you "sandwich" your bike in a large sheet of foam folded in half and placed in the cover (dense foam 3 to 5 cm thick). A sheet of cardboard or rigid plastic placed between the foam sheet and the inside of the cover can be a plus to bring more rigidity to the whole. We explain everything in this video.
On request, we can send you a detailed document on how to pack your bike for transport by plane.
If you wish, we sell special bike covers for 70 euros (including delivery to your home). If you prefer a rolling bag with integrated protection, we can also offer you the Rollbag for 299 euros including shipping.
Physical level: the wheels
The success of your trip also depends on a good assessment of your physical condition. So read the table below carefully before you sign up for a trip.
| Easy (1 wheel) | 25 to 35km per day depending on the route profile. Altitude gain: 600 meters per day. You are not especially sporty but you enjoy mountain biking, only riding occasionally. |
| Moderate to demanding (2 wheels) |
35 to 55km per day depending on the route profile. Altitude gain: 1500 meters per day. You are fairly sporty and fit, you ride regularly at least half the year (once a week minimum). |
|
Challenging |
45 to 70km per day depending on the route profile. Altitude gain: 2200 meters per day. You are fit to very fit, you ride regularly throughout the year (once a week minimum), or practice another endurance sport during the off season. |
| Easy (1 handlebar) | Forest tracks, easy singletrack, quiet country lanes. No technical expertise required. The few technical sections are very short and can be passed on foot if necessary. |
| Moderate to demanding (2 handlebars) |
Forest tracks and singletracks, alternating smooth and technical sections with “obstacles” (rocks, roots, etc.) that can be avoided. You can control your bike speed and trajectory on moderately steep and technical singletrack. |
|
Challenging |
Singletrack with small drops or obstacles that can’t be avoided, with some very steep sections. You can pilot your bike with precision and safety, control your braking, know how to tackle steep passages, choose an ideal trajectory at very slow speed and know your limits on technical terrain. |
Accomodation
All the accommodation we use is carefully selected to guarantee you comfort, hospitality and regional flair. Please bear in mind that we sometimes operate in "remote" locations where we do not always have the choice.
Our standard offers include nights in 2* and 3* hotels as well as Auberges and Gîtes. Most of the time you have the possibility to sleep in a twin room (double bed or separate beds) or in a single room, subject to availability. Please refer to the Dates and Prices / Practical Information section of each tour.
Food
The discovery of the "local terroir" also includes the food, and this is particularly true for France. We give it special importance: hot meals in the morning and evening, picnics at lunchtime (mixed salad), race food, fresh and quality products.
In order to avoid cancellation before departure or the consequences of a possible accident during the tour, we strongly advise you to pay attention to your personal insurance and assistance contracts.
France Bike Trips has negotiated for you insurance policies adapted to so-called "adventure" trips and offers to each participant to subscribe to one of the two policies that we have selected, knowing that we only act as an intermediary between you and the insurer:
- The "comprehensive multi-risk" insurance cover (cost: 4,5% of the tour price) covers search and rescue, repatriation, medical costs, lost or stolen luggage, holiday interruption and cancellation.
- The "cancellation only" insurance cover (2.5%). This policy covers cancellation only.
- The "repatriation & assistance" insurance cover (1.6%). This policy covers assistance, repatriation, lost or stolen luggage and holiday interruption.
