Do I have to stay from weekend to weekend?
Are there any books on the area?
Are the holidays suitable for me?
Is there enough riding for a week?
How flexible are the itineraries?
Do I have to wear Lycra shorts?
It's flat where I live. Will I cope with the hills?
I'm not very good at going downhill. Will I cope?
Do I have to stay from weekend to weekend?
No. We try to fit in with your requirements rather than expect you to fit in with ours. We're close to Valence TGV and Grenoble airport so it's generaly possible to meet you when you arrive. If you fly into Lyon or Chambery during the day we may have to compromise if we're busy with other guests.
Are there any books on the area?
The Lonely Planet guide to Cycling in France has a chapter called Vercors Contrasts. There's a proposed three day tour which misses many of the most scenic roads. This highlights the fact that a moving-on tour is not always the best way to explore an area.
There's a very well written book called Tears of Glory: the betrayal of the Vercors by Micheal Pearson. It's a gripping account of the French Resistance defending the Vercors against the invading Germain forces in 1944. Unfortunately it's out of print but you can get it through your local library.
Apart from these there are some guide books on France which briefly mention the Vercors.
Are the holidays suitable for me?
Gastrobiking Holidays are designed to cater for a range of fitness levels.
For the recreational/fitness/leisure cyclist there's a fantastic range of cycle routes using quiet country roads.
For the sports cyclist there are long undulating circuits and plenty of challenging climbs in the Vercors.
As we mainly have groups of six to eight cyclists we can assemble groups of similar riders.
Is there enough riding for a week?
There's enough to keep even the fittest of cyclists occupied for a week or two. Depending on the type of terrain you want to ride we'll advise you on which routes are most suitable. Back to top>
How flexible are the itineraries?
Detailed route plans are available so you needn't spend hours looking at maps and trying to work out distances and gradients, and where to stop for lunch. You're provided with all the information you need leaving you free to explore the area at your own pace, do the distances you want to, and visit the sort of places you like (cafes, bakeries, bike shops etc.).
If you don't want to cycle everyday you don't have to. There are plenty of superb walks, especially in the Vercors.
People come out with a variety of bikes from mountain bikes, touring bikes, hybrids, tandems to light weight racing machines. Back to top>
Who goes on the holidays?
We get a broad cross-section of cyclists. From people who ride to keep fit to those who ride for the joy of suffering. Most have a good sense of humour although it's not rare for people to experience the occasion failure in this department half way up a hill. In general they are people who treat the cycling as a hobby rather than being obsessed with it and they do have interests outside of heart-rates and gear ratios.
You may be surprised to hear that many return. It's an area where the more you get to know it the more you realise that there is to know. Several people have been for a fortnight six years running.
Ages range from 12 to over 80 but most are between 20 and 60 years. It's usually a mixture of couples and singles. Back to top>
Do many women go?
Yes. These are not 'macho men only' affairs. Back to top>
I don't know anybody who wants to come on holiday with me. Is it OK if I come on my own?
You're not the only one in this situation! Some people are quite used to cycling on their own but if you want to cycle with a group it's never a problem. If you're coming on your own get in touch and we can advise on dates etc.. Back to top>
How difficult is the riding?
St Nazaire-en-Royans offers an excellent variety of terrain making it suitable for all cyclists. The circuits range from 30km (20 Miles) to however long you want.
There's not a lot of flat in the Vercors but the gradients are 'cyclist friendly' so as long as you have a certain level of fitness you'll be OK.
If you're not used to riding up long hills it might take a couple of days to get used to it but the sense of achievement and the scenery makes all the effort worthwhile. The routes are graded so that you know what they involve. And of course you can rest on the way down. With the gentle gradients it's more a matter of stamina rather than strength. Many people surprise themselves and discover that hill-climbing becomes an obsession. You might not believe it, but it's true. Back to top>
Do I have to wear Lycra?
No. But it's best to wear some sort of padded underwear when you're cycling. In the evenings most people wear normal street wear. Back to top>
How fit do you need to be?
It's difficult to give a precise answer as people perceive their level of fitness differently. An approximate answer would be that you should be capable of riding about 30 to 40 miles in a day. This needs to be about 100 miles for a Cyclosportive Holiday From Hell.
If you have any concerns please get in touch.
As a rough guide:
If you take regular exercise whether it be cycling, jogging, swimming, rowing, gym etc. you'll be OK.
Remember that you can ride as little as you want and you can alternate easy rides with hard rides and have a day off the bike. We're used to dealing with a wide range of abilities.
Compared to other holiday companies they fit somewhere between 'Cycling For Softies' and 'Sporting Tours / Graham Baxter'. Back to top>
How safe is the road riding?
There is a big campaign by the French Government to improve road safety. This has included a requirement that vehicles have to allow 1.5 metres (about 5 feet) when passing a cyclist. Should a driver hit a cyclist it's up to the driver to prove that it was the fault of the cyclist otherwise s/he is in for a tough time with the Law.
The roads in France are well maintained and there is a programme of building 1.5 metre cycle lanes on all roads with over 1,500 vehicles an hour.
Gastrobiking Holidays provide routes which avoid the busy roads wherever possible, which is most of the time. Back to top>
How secure will our bikes be?
Your bikes are stored in a secure garage and there are maintenance facilities available. Back to top>
Which bike should I bring?
People come out with a variety of bikes from touring bikes to hybrids, tandems to light weight racing machines.
If you're confident enough to use toe straps or clip-in pedals they would be a definite advantage when tackling the hills. Mudguards, luggage racks and panniers aren't really needed. Back to top>
Recommended gearing
The following gearing is generally what is needed to tackle the terrain. Though much will depend on your riding style.
|
|
Front |
Rear |
|
Sports-cyclist |
53/39 |
13/23 or 26 |
|
|
50/34 |
12/26 |
|
Recreational |
30/42/52 |
13/23 or 26 |
It's flat where I live. Will I cope with the hills?
Long climbs get a bit of getting used to. With the right approach and technique you'll find them quite rewarding and not as bad as you thought. Advice on hill-climbing is available from Phil, a qualified British Cycling Coach. Back to top>
I'm not very good at going downhill. Will I cope?
Long descents take a bit of getting used to. The gradients in the area very suitable for someone to gain confidence. Phil is a qualified British Cycling Coach and can give you descending tips either on a one-to-one basis or during a group ride. With a bit of practice you'll soon be descending in a confident manner. Back to top>
Non-biking partners?
The Gastrobiking centre at St.Nazaire-en-Royans is good for non-cycling partners. Those with non-cycling partners can set off straight after breakfast and get a 2 to 3 hour ride and get back for lunch. They can then spend time with their partner or family. Back to top>
What's the weather like?
In the valleys the weather is suitable for cycling most of the year. In the Vercors the weather can be rather variable. If you're worried about the heat during July and August the Alps can be hot but in general the mornings are cool and it's not until mid-afternoon that temperatures can reach 30 degrees centigrade. Back to top>
Can I hire a bike?
Gastrobiking has a small fleet of road bikes available for hire. They're good quality road bikes with triple or compact chainrings. Back to top>