The Ultimate Southern France Cycling Guide

A guide to the leisure cycle routes south of the Loire Valley in France. It includes traffic-free routes and signed touring routes with a factfile and a text description of what to see along the way.

In this beautifully illustrated guide to travelling across France by bike you will discover hidden lanes, stunning gorges, amazing places to eat and stay, plus the best of French cycling culture.

This essential guide steers you along France’s best cycling routes, to the best patisseries, the friendliest places to stay and the most breathtaking scenery. Find a tour to suit you - a leisurely day trip, a week-long food and wine tour or an epic mountain climb. Including - 135 days of France’s best cycling - including Corsica; - on-the-road maintenance tips and a guide to French cycle-speak; - where to eat - from markets to cafes and restaurants; - where to stay - from camping to B&Bs and chateaux; - what to see and do, in and out of the saddle; - how to pack and transport your bike; - the Tour de France explained.

This guidebook describes a 240km cycle ride along the length of the Canal du Midi in southern France. Starting at Toulouse in the Haute Garonne and finishing at Sète on the Mediterranean Coast, the route is divided into five stages of about 50km. It is a flat, car-free and picturesque route mainly on the towpath, and is suitable for all abilities. The guide is written for those who want to explore the canal and visit attractions along the way. There are lots of optional detours to sites of interest near the canal, as well as six longer excursions including fortified Carcassone, Roman Narbonne, Vendres lagoon and the Portiragnes marshes. Detailed route descriptions are crammed with additional information about points of interest passed, and 1:200,000 scale maps clearly show the route for each stage of the way. Begun in 1666 the Canal du Midi is one of the world's most picturesque waterways and a World Heritage Site. This is 'La France Profonde', a region rich in history and culture, as seen in the grand homes and chateaux that grace the water's edge, and the fascinating Cathar strongholds of Carcassone, Lastours and Minerve.

A guide to cycling the Canal du Midi in the Languedoc, France. A UNESCO World Heritage Site the canal meanders through lush countryside rich in history and offers flat, car-free paths and excursions to the nearby hills. Ideal for anyone planning a cycling holiday, locals wanting to explore or canal travellers needing to stretch their legs.

From the Col du Tourmalet to Alpe d’Huez, from Mont Ventoux to Luz Ardiden, these climbs are the beating heart of the Tour de France. Technology may advance, training and diet may evolve, but these mountains are constant. They have witnessed triumph and despair, courage and heartache, they are where champions are made and where dreams are shattered. And yes, the greatest arenas of the world’s greatest race are open 365 days a year for every one of us to ride. So take up the challenge, emulate your heroes and make your mark on the 100 greatest cycling climbs of the Tour de France. For each of the 100 climbs this guide includes: A detailed description of theclimb with an accompanying photograph A map detailing the start and end of the climb with directions to help you find it. A factfile with altitude, height gain, average gradient, it’s tour debut and category A difficulty rating Simon Warren is the author of 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs,Hellingen:A Road Cyclist's Guide to Belgium's Greatest Cycling Climbs and Another 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs

Readers will get a real feel for each establishment when they refer to this guide. These are the special places they have been searching for but have never found, each listed with details of service and amenities. Full-color photos and candid evaluations give one a real feel for each location.