#RideTheWorld – FRANCE

Adam Sultan
Aug 23, 2017 · 25 min read

Could I just forget cycling around the world and settle down in France for the rest of my life? Cycle tour for six months, ski season the winter months away? That realistic proposition was ever so tempting! Who knows, that may well be how I live in future…


France went well beyond exceeding my expectations. I’m hugely guilty of overlooking such a beautiful nation on my doorstep. I’m not talking about falling in love with Paris, in fact I’m not sure the capital would even make my top ten of places in France. Shock horror, but that is how fabulous France truly is.

I only planned to spend the months of July and August 2016 here, cycle touring anyway, well come the end of the summer and I found myself in southern France…oops! Not quite knowing exactly where in France to tour, I decided I would follow the 2014 Tour de France route, roughly may I add, oh and that it’s pretty cool to say I cycled a Tour de France route. Why 2014? Until mid July 2016 it was the only one I had ever witnessed, mega briefly, speeding along London’s embankment.


France has an extensive list of cycle routes, quite a few of the big EuroVelo’s pass through, as well as their own, many old railways have been turned into cycle routes, some lovely smooth asphalt, some interesting trails through woodland. I was amazed to see just how much I would come to enjoy the climbs of the Alps and then the Pyrenees, a seemingly endless list of mountain pass climbs. Oh the food and wine, there’s is no doubt the French take pride in preparing many a tasty dish, accompanied with the perfect drop of wine. The French people were great with me, I’ve made some wonderful friends, feel like I could call upon someone in each pocket of the country, and believe it or not they do speak English…or were extremely patient with my French, until they would kindly suggest ‘we can speak in English?’. Landscapes…I haven’t explored the whole world and I’ll wait to be proven wrong, but I feel like France has a little of every landscape possible.


Okay, on to where I cycled and my highlights. I say that I kinda cycled a figure of eight, which doesn’t make sense to anyone, mainly as the Tour de France lead me north to south, then south to north, before I then cycled north to south again.

The port of Dieppe and the north eastern corner of France is where I began, everything was new to me at this stage, meaning a good mix of pure excitement with nerves sprinkled in every so often. The first day along the coast, was damp, windy and chilly, it was July 1st, I was hoping this wasn’t a sign of things to come! Arriving in the city of Lille was a good first point to take stock and begin to comprehend that this crazy idea was now reality. Lille itself was relatively pleasant, my highlight would be watching France thrash Iceland in the European Championship quarter finals, with my first WarmShowers host.

From Lille it was briefly over the border into Belgium and the historic town of Ypres, I went to a remembrance service, honouring those who perished in the First World War. A ‘Last Post’ service is held at the ‘Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing’ every evening at 20:00 and has done since 24 July 1927, only interrupted by German occupation in World War Two. Cycling this area of Belgium and then back into France for the next few days, it was hard to comprehend what would’ve been happening in this same place exactly 100 years before me. Often visuals have such a greater impact than anything else, seeing so many cemeteries with unmarked gravestones, it probably hit home more than ever before just how devastating the war had been. It made me even more thankful to those who lost their lives, in order for future generations to grow up in peace.

Making progress, I was roughly headed south easterly, passing through the Champagne region, I managed to refuse a tasting tour on numerous occasions. It was here though I had my first amazing moment. Trying to to follow the Tour de France route had led on to a fast road. I soon got off it then realised my new quieter route was much longer. For the first time I had to push my bike up a hill, I was frustrated and late in the afternoon rolled into a village. I found a bench, left my bike and went for a walk. My thoughts were turning towards where I was gonna camp that night. I passed a lady in her garden reading, we exchanged “bonjours”. Moments later I paused, mustered up the courage to go with the few words of French and asked if I could camp in her garden. She was a little confused. I understood it as wait, as she went off to speak to a neighbour. Returning with a no, she thought I was asking for a nearby campsite, I then repeated again and pointed to her garden, “Oh” “okay”. By the time I went to get my bike and come in, she said I must go have a shower, by the time I came down from a shower, she said I must eat. Over dinner in broken English, French and Spanish she must’ve figured I was no harm in anyway. She said “my daughter is your age and travels, if she needed help, I would hope someone would be there for her, so I must look after you”. After dinner we then went driving the local area for an hour! Including up a wartime watch tower, perfect that sunset wasn’t until 23:00! Of course by the time we got back, there was no need to camp, I was welcome to sleep inside.

A few days later I had my first 100+ mile day of the tour and finally rolled into the city of Nancy. A welcome rest day was most certainly in store. My host offered me the chance to join him and friends on a trip to a beautiful lake. That was great to be on a trip with friendly faces, the perfect mix of exploring and relaxing. That evening we returned to the city to watch the final of the European Championship. France versus Portugal. The hosts, France, had been the best team of the tournament, duly deserving their favourites tag for the final. After 90 minutes the score line was 0–0. France had missed a host of chances, you could feel the frustration of the crowd. Almost inevitably Portugal got a goal in extra time and clung on to disappoint a nation.

The following morning I left Nancy, headed in the direction of the Vosges Mountains. My first taste of the French mountains, it was brief but a wonderful feeling to get up and over my first col. Later arriving in the Swiss city of Basel, with a brief 15 minutes in Germany. It was then straight back into France the following day and to the town of Belfort. I was fortunate to be hosted again, the next day was Bastille Day and I was invited to join them at a party. The next day I was packed and loaded, but then a huge lunch lead to me staying another night with hosts which felt like old friends.

I briefly followed the EuroVelo 6 route, which meant a well sign posted smooth cycle way along a river. It was one of the easier days, I love maps but signposted routes are also welcome! I was then briefly back in Switzerland, in the city of Lausanne, by Lake Leman/Geneva. Anywhere along this huge lake is beautiful, as I found when I cycled along it to Geneva and then back into France, still by the lake. Handily there is a cycle path around the lake, although it doesn’t always stick by the lake.

Having admired the beauty of the Alps from a far for a few days, it was then time to climb into them. First stop Morzine, the town was gearing up to host a Tour de France stage finish a few days later – a great time to arrive on bicycle! The next day, a big climb, Col de Joux Plane, a special moment at the top here. Unknowingly until it was visible I saw Mont Blanc for the first time. It was a beautiful, clear day and the view was unspoilt. I was in fact heading for it in the afternoon so I guess it was meant to be! A wonderful descent on fresh roads (ready for that Tour de France stage) and then some valley riding towards Chamonix Mont-Blanc. Late afternoon I was feeling it, I was in the town of St. Gervais and saw a sign for Chamonix and followed it. I was then on a highway…ooops! Of course it was one way, I was climbing, on a super long viaduct and despite lorries beeping at me, I told myself carrying on with the flow of traffic was the safest option. Yeah…eventually I made it to a lay by and place of rest. I saw the French roadside recovery helping someone. Actually, all my eyes really saw was a crate of water. I walked over and asked for some. I was directly told no, I thought to myself that’s just mean and wandered back to my bike. Slightly dejected a few minutes later he called over, pointing at the open back of the van. WOW I thought, I have a ride! Removing my panniers I just about got my bike in. The next 20Kms there was little convo, a little awkward almost, I didn’t really care to be honest, I had also gotten my bottle of water by now. I soon realised this guy picked me up for the sake of my own safety and that I was breaking the law on the highway, we went through a few tunnels, up to a kilometre in length, yikes I thought, thank goodness I’m not cycling this! Dropped off at a roundabout a kilometre outside of town I rolled into Chamonix with a huge smile. That is a special town, I instantly fell in love with it, I spent a few weeks hiking and taking it all in. I also decided this would be where I would finish the first leg of the tour and spend winter. More on that in my previous blog!

While in Chamonix, many were mentioning to me how beautiful nearby Annecy and its lake were, meaning a trip was a must. Annecy was to be the place where I made my best friends in France, Cyril and Barbara, who have an organic vegetable farm. I asked to camp on their farm through WarmShowers, I was soon volunteering on their farm and loving their way of life. Annecy itself is beautiful, but extremely busy in August. I actually only visited the city a few times, the trails surrounding the lake and lake itself offer the chance to enjoy the natural beauty of the area. There is also a great cycle path along the western side of the lake, which is well used by cyclists, runners and dog walkers alike.

Returning to the bike I briefly cycled into Switzerland and Italy. I thought it possible to cycle from Chamonix to Aosta in a day. A noon start and a few weeks off meant that was not happening! Late afternoon I was done, still a long way from Aosta, I saw a farm and asked to pitch up, there was minimal Franglais convo but I got the ok. A much needed 12 hour sleep and I was back on the road, climbing the Grand Saint Bernard Pass. About a 40 kilometre climb from Martigny to almost 2,500 metres, that is the toughest thing I have ever done on two wheels! The climb itself involved a few shortish tunnels and considering its difficulty wasn’t spectacularly scenic either. Eventually I was at the summit, much cheaper Italy offering €1 coffees, I had two! If climbing from the Swiss side was the most challenging, the descent on the Italian side was one of the most epic. An incredible 35Km descent into Aosta.

The following day it was time to return to France, on the Petit Saint Bernard, up and pass the resort of La Thuile. Annoyingly I just missed the shops in Courmayeur, before they closed for siestas. That meant climbing a 2,000 metre plus pass on trail mix and little else. In good weather I enjoyed the climb, stopping when I wanted, appreciating the beautiful landscape. On making the top and having missed out on proper lunch, I treated myself at the restaurant, omelette and chips, not really French nor Italian but something I hadn’t eaten in a while! I was planning to descend in the early evening light, then when leaving the restaurant I thought no. I’m camping up here tonight, quite an epic sleep that was. Unfortunately the next morning it began raining just as I set off, the descent was one where you’re on the brakes just trying to see to the next bend. I sat in a Super U supermarket in Bourg St. Maurice at the bottom that day for five hours before calling the day off and raced a kilometre to a nearby campsite. It was actually a great campsite with a lovely social area and the Olympics on, I wish I’d got there earlier! That turned out to be my only washout day, in nearly five months, in mid August!

In the heart of the French Alps the big climbs just kept coming, next up Col de la Madeleine, one of my favourite actually. A very nice and quiet climb to 2,000 metres, through the three valleys area. Upon reaching the summit I read it’s one of the toughest climbs out there, great for the confidence to read notes like that! Climbing from the north to south means an epic descent on the Col du Chaussy, 17 hairpin bends! SO glad I was descending this one! From there it was more quiet roads through idyllic mountain villages to Grenoble.

Grenoble is known as a city surrounded my mountains. I headed south west of the city, through the Parc du Vercors. This rates as one of my favourite days on tour. The mountains aren’t the high peaks I had experienced around Chamonix, that just means these mountains are yours! There are gorges and wildlife spread across tranquil villages, I feel like this would be a great place to explore on foot, one for the future!

Mont Ventoux, one of the most famous climbs in the Tour de France. I haven’t always been into cycling, but even I knew of this one. I happened to find out the day before there are three route to the summit, by chance I had chosen the easiest one, from Sault climbing for 26 Kms. This really felt like a Tour de France stage, almost as many support vehicles for club rides as cyclists. Some cyclists go for climbing all three routes in a day, my aim just the one on my tourer. Four hours later I was standing, knackered on the summit. The final six kilometres are a real killer, I was stopping every 500 metres or so. I really wish I got the details and photos of an SLR snapping tourist as I made the final ascent, “you’re crazy! How!? Why!? WOW! You’re amazing” he exclaimed. Named after the wind, I was thankful it wasn’t too windy for me! The views don’t really do the toughness of the climb justice, or maybe I had been spoilt in the high Alps.

Gorges d’Ardeche, the Grand Canyon of Europe. I’ll admit I didn’t even know places like this existed in Europe, let alone France and so easily accessible. The 30Km road which stretches the length of the gorge is specatacular. You’re constantly climbing or descending but that really isn’t a bother, the rewards are more than worth it! Touristy in places but not manic, considering it was the summer. I wish I had spent an extra day here and got in the water, maybe gone back and cycled the road pannier free!

For some reason, in my mind, I pictured the Alps ending and flat lands until the Pyreness. That was not the case, and so without any other option I had to embrace the constant of mountains, well ok then! Again the WarmShowers community was there to show me support. Like when I had to call someone to say I wouldn’t make it, so was invited for lunch as I passed the next day, only to stay all afternoon and the night. Or when I was sent on my way with a packed lunch, thankfully, as I had completely missed that fact it was a Sunday and all shops I passed were closed.

Carcassonne, famous for its Citadel, is indeed impressive. My stop over was literally that and I can’t say too much else. For me this was about the start of the Pyrenees mountains. As I left the next morning, a surprise hit me, headwinds, like I’ve never felt before. 100 soul destroying kilometres, it’s hard to explain just how frustrating headwinds can be. I even considered changing direction and heading south to Spain and one of my favourite cities, Barcelona. I later learned this area is famous for strong winds.

As I got more into the Pyreness, I had the mountains to block out the wind. I briefly toyed with the idea of cycling to Andorra, because why not? But then also, Why? Locals told me the road to it isn’t a nice one to cycle and what would I actually achieve, if anything I would have cycled in the wrong direction to my aim of the Atlantic Ocean. In fact most of the roads in the direction of Spain seemed to do just that, go to Spain, with no obvious loop back. I decided to follow my trusty Tour de France route and take on the Col de Peyresourde, and Col d’Aspin on the same day! These were lovely climbs, in fact the Pyrenees are lovely mountains. Smaller than the Alps and rounder peaks, but beautiful and inviting. I camped at the foot of Col du Tourmalet, the most famous climb in the range. Unfortunately, I woke up in the night with a virus. I couldn’t eat breakfast and the weather had turned. I was in no shape to cycle a tough mountain pass. I was disappointed but have no regrets in cycling out of the valley, Tourmalet will be one for the future.

I found myself in Lourdes and then the city of Pau. I’m quietly always keeping an eye open for potential places where I could spend a little more time in the future. Pau is one of these, a small city, but offering all one needs, with the mountains on your doorstep and an hours drive to the coast. That is unless I chose one of the coastal towns, like Biarritz. It was a personal landmark to get to the sea, the last time had been on arrival to France, in Dieppe. I loved cycling through the mountains but it was good to know I had easier days ahead of me for a while.

Along the Atlantic coast is another one of those EuroVelo routes. This time the EV1, I have to say I was a little disappointed in it. On my map I thought great, a cycle route with sea views, unfortunately it runs a few kilometres inland, no sea view. There is the chance every so often to deviate off and go to the sea villages but there just isn’t a coastal road. Admittedly the EuroVelo route does go through a huge forest, but that can also become boring after a few hundred kilometres! The highlight along here came in seeing Dune du Pilat, the highest sand dune in Europe. Currently standing at 110 metres, it wasn’t until I saw it I could compute how impressive it is. Returning here to watch sunset into the Atlantic Ocean and camp is most definitely something I really want to do in the future.

Bordeaux, perhaps most famous for its wine is one of my favourite bigger cities in France. I say bigger, it’s still kept itself smallish, I felt a great positive atmosphere wandering around here. Being hosted I learnt the best of the Bordeaux wine is from nearby town Saint Emilion. Cycling to Bergerac it seemed to be constant vineyards, Bergerac is also home to good wine. From Bergerac is was a direct route north to Paris, through the flatter lands of central France. I’ll mention Orleans, a city on the Loire river is one of particular interest. I was fortunate to be hosted by a couple I worked with on the farm by lake Annecy and with it the opportunity to explore more.

Paris, some love it, I’m not one of them. Maybe it’s because I’m a Londoner…(for me they are too similar, just speaking a different lingo, and I already love London as my home city) Having cycled in London, I felt reasonably comfortable cycling into Paris, although for some it would be chaotic. I had to cycle down the Champs Elysees, but was denied the chance to cycle around the Arc de Triomphe. I didn’t want to risk it on that crazy roundabout and security wouldn’t let me take my bike in the subway tunnel to the actual arch.

I was again hosted by a great person, and his housemates. They invited me to a big house party in the Normandy countryside and I couldn’t refuse that! On leaving Paris, I cycled past Versailles, wow, I wasn’t expecting to think much of it, but it is probably gonna be a priority the next time I’m in Paris. The day after the party in Normandy I had a short ride to the coastal town of Honfleur. Another landmark moment, the English Channel or in French La Manche, I didn’t expect to see this stretch of water for a long, long time but there I was. Honfleur itself is a lovely historic coastal town, home to many Parisians who became fed up with the big city.

Now I was headed along the Normandy coast in a westerly direction towards Brittany. My first day of this coastal ride is among my favourite of the tour, Honfleur to Bayeux, almost all along the coast, nothing incredible stands out, it’s just very pleasant. I say not incredible but of historical note are the D Day beaches, another wartime reminder in France. It’s then north to the tip of Normany, Cherbourg and Cap de la Hague, things can get windy here and on occasion hilly. Personally it was crazy to be so near England, months away and thousands of miles cycled to just be almost touching distance away!

On the border of Normandy – Brittany border lies Mont St. Michel, although the locals will remind you it is actually in Normandy. I’m not one to fuss to much over man made beauty, but this is an exception. I took a day off tour, but still ended up cycling a 75Km pannier free ride. It is mightily impressive, but unfortunately with that comes heaps of people. Tourists literally arrive by the coach load from Paris on day trips.

Bretagne (Brittany) WOW! This region completely justified me exploring more of France. I decided to more or less stick to the rugged coast. Dinard is smaller and seemingly more interesting than its big brother St. Malo. Along the coast the first point of amazement was Cap Frehel, although the road in the whole area was impressive, now following EuroVelo 4 at times. The coast has many a hill and bay in Brittany and so I cut to the city of Brest, with the promise of a bed. Brest as a city is Brittany’s weak point, in terms of beauty anyway. It was heavily bombed during the war and was rebuilt quickly, with little care to making the blocks pleasing on the eye unfortunately. I questioned cycling to the outlet of Crozon, but it was absolutely worth it. Very few locals or tourists reside here, I found the tranquility to match the beauty a perfect place to take a rest day. Further south along the coast is Pointe du Raz, one of the most westerly points of mainland France. A stunning place to watch a sunset, I have to thank my hosts who drove me out there, after a rainy morning I decided just to cycle the direct route to theirs! Now fully on the southern Brittany coast, the rocky, cliffy coast continued to impress.

Heading inland to Nantes, historically very much part of Brittany, today’s France regional map says it’s not so. Though I found the culture here is still predominantly Bretagne. Nantes itself was a great surprise to me. A vibrant city, the prefect mix of old with modern ideas. I pictured myself living there, there is just one thing which would stop me, it’s SO far from the mountains. If you visit, make sure you find the giant water squirting elephant, yes that’s right!

From here I logically would’ve cycled the Loire a Velo route, my route around France is anything but logical. I cycled south to La Rochelle, on the recommendation of many. Yet again I found a place with character, this city was full of life. On my rest day I cycled over to the close island of Ile de Re, a must cycle for anyone visiting La Rochelle. The island has cycle routes everywhere and is it feels like you’re in the middle of the ocean not just a few kilometres of the mainland.

Now I had the end of the tour in mind, I had the farm by lake Annecy to aim for. My body was slowly telling me a much longer rest than a day or two would be most welcome. The weather was changing, colder days, actually very cold, frosty mornings, beautiful in one sense, but I’m a summer guy! A final detour north to rejoin the Loire and the town of Saumur. This stretch of the Loire is home to many an impressive chateaux, I would cycle past some chateaux barely looking over, there really is so many I would get nowhere if I stopped at everyone! The two which stand out though are Chenoncaeux (over a river!) and Chambord (with a crazy number of towers). The Loire conveniently flows through Orleans, so I stopped at my friends again, and good timing, they had a house party!

South of Orleans the river gets pretty quite, although it was now November, so maybe that had something to do with it. I mentioned it was getting cold, but the colours of Autumn made the tree lined Loire incredibly picturesque. A guy who had been on the road for two years welcomed me into France right at the beginning of my tour and he invited me to stay as I neared his place. Meeting David again was awesome, he was so chilled when we met at the ferry port, while I was a bag of nerves. He gave me some great advice then “it will always work out, maybe not the first time, but keeping trying, something always works out”. Sound advice.

The tour wasn’t about getting to cities, but I had heard many a good word about Lyon, it made sense to cycle there on my return to Annecy. I now refer to Lyon as the perfect big city. Everything vital you would come to expect in a western big city, yet so near to the Alps. There is a great sense of the outdoors within this city, if I couldn’t live in Nantes, I could most definitely see myself living in Lyon. I also sneaked in another house party here, being connected to friends and family across France was special.

Flowing through Lyon is the Rhone river and from Geneva to Marseille is another major cycle route along it. On leaving Lyon I followed it for a while in an easterly direction, before beginning my climb back into the Alps. The next day, my last day of touring before winter, the weather got real cold, as I climbed my final pass the rain became snow, yikes! But cool! Climbing wasn’t really a problem I had all my layers on and my heart pumping, as well as the road all to myself! That descent is probably as cold as I’ve EVER been on a bicycle. I honestly have no idea how I was controlling by bike down that pass when I couldn’t feel my hands, feet, barely my limbs. Every little village I passed through I was desperately hoping for a cafe, each one came and went as my disappointment heightened. I accepted I just had to make it to the town of Rumilly. Once there I headed straight to the first place selling hot drinks. It happened to be a bar, with the locals surprised to say the least when I rocked up. I just sat inside for about ten minutes, then finally ordered a hot chocolate. That was good and I was still cold, so another followed. Quite a while later I was ready to tackle the final 40 Km of the year. Arriving in Annecy in November was markedly different to August. No tourists, anywhere, cycling through what I only knew as packed pedestrian side streets. Seeing the mountains surrounding the lake, the snow line on the trees, the cycle path along the lake, I had so much emotion within me knowing I was winding down on the first leg of my big tour.


Finishing in the French Alps meant restarting in the French Alps. In mid May 2017 I cycled away from the farm and Lake Annecy. I felt a mix of emotions, excitement at the next leg of the big tour, the sadness in leaving behind friends – unsure when I will next see them, nerves of life on the road again and all the unknowns that comes with. On that first day I was actually heading for a friend, in the city of Chambery, who I met on the farm the previous summer, of course. Chambery is another city I really liked, nestled in the Alps it’s another one of those I can see myself spending more time in the future perhaps.

South of Chambery I cycled the Parc de Chartreuse, famous for producing the drink. Both the Chartreuse and Bauges park the previous day offer good and gentle-ish (for the Alps) cycling. I would also see myself do some more hiking on the the many trails here, in fact there are some longish and tempting routes for a future hiking adventure. I say gentle cycling, I actually totally crashed on the afternoon of day two back on the bike and couldn’t refuse an inviting campsite when I past it, way before where I was aiming to get to.

The next day I quickly passed through Grenoble and then turned east directly towards Italy. I was passing Alpe d’Huez, that should’ve been tempting to me, but I knew my body was still in a little shock of getting back on the bike when it wasn’t in the slightest. The annoying thing of climbing Alpe d’Huez would’ve been that there is no through route at the top, it would’ve been climbing for climbing sake, some would say bragging rights. Anyways, Italy was now the priority. The next day the BMC cycling team passed me, I was cycling near to where a Tour de France stage would be held a few months later. Climbing Col du Lautaret came with the added challenge of snow. I thought I had left it late enough to avoid this, I should’ve known nothing is guaranteed in the mountains, especially weather! I was amazingly assisted with a tailwind up the mountain though! The cafe at the top was devastatingly closed, however a guy came and opened the door for me, he said they can’t turn away us crazy cyclists. A strong, warming coffee and pain au raisin tasted amazing. From here there is the option to climb further, north to Col du Galibier, but I was descending 28Kms to Briancon. This section of road is among the best I rode in all of France. The sun was now shining and unique mountain peaks seemed to line the steady descent. The bonus of getting out on these roads before summer is that there are fewer cars about as well. Having seen a glimpse of these southern Alps I was a little tempted to follow the route de Haute Alpes (route of high Alps). That will be a future ride, I’m pretty sure of that, now my body and head was telling me, rest weekend and to italy!

To me cycle touring is about discovering the world, Briancon my final place of rest in France is another great discovery. Surrounded by mountains and history, most certainly interesting. I enjoyed getting out to hike in the French Alps one last time and meeting my host, Romain, himself setting off on a big tour, aiming to get to New Zealand. From Briancon I had just over 10Kms to the Italian border on Col de Montgenerve. I had a lunch stop the French side, ever so briefly tried to recall as many of the memorable moments I could, and then just like that I was cycled out of France.


  • France has left a huge impression on me as a cycle friendly nation. The numerous cycle paths, in towns and cities, as well as the impressive number of long distance routes. When cycling on roads I found the drivers respectful and it’s not uncommon to hear “ALLEZ ALLEZ, CHAPEAU” coming out a car window. The French do genuinely like their cycling.
  • When on a mountain climb, you’ll conveniently be informed of the gradient over the next kilometre, the distance to the summit and your current altitude – that is a big help mentally, as well as knowing how hard to push – and not being too down when your going along at just five or six kilometres an hour. Most French roads will also have kilometre markers, sometimes with distance to the next town, another help when you feel like the day is beginning to drag.
  • Put yourself out there, embrace WarmShowers, the cycle tourers hosting community. Some see it as an option for a free night, that’s one bonus yes, but please don’t use it if this is all your after. My love of France has often come because of the people I’ve met, through WarmShowers, it’s about being social as a host/guest, exchanging stories, the chance to travel from home as a host, the chance to be a local as a traveller. Meeting locals is when travelling becomes more than Windows shopping.
  • Whatever you look for in your travels, I reckon you’ll find it in France. Jagged mountains, a city break, rugged coastline, a good wave to surf, cute country villages, food to make you lick your fingers, wine that’ll have you questioning your consumption before long, friendly locals (who from my experience do speak English!) and so much more to discover by just letting the road take you wherever it wants to!

MERCI BEAUCOUP FRANCE!!

For those of you who love a stat, here’s what I have:

Days: 171

Cycling days: 84

Distance: 8,817km, 5,478miles

Distance average: 105Km(65miles) per cycling day, 441Km(274miles) per week

Max speed: 71.11Km (44.19 miles) per hour (Mont Ventoux)

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Adam Sultan

Written by

Currently cycling round the world on a project I've named #RideTheWorld Blogs here, daily posts on Instagram @ridetheworld24

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