Rhônes-Alpes

Café-cycliste, a category we didn't include in our guide! In the old Duingt railway station, along the cycle path that circles the lake, it's impossible to miss Le Bon Wagon. A multi-faceted venue with one common denominator: bicycles. Terrace and refreshment room with a café - delicious small dishes, quality coffees, craft beers, cold drinks - a boutique (everything for bikes), a bike rental service and a host of services to help you get back on your bike with peace of mind, such as a tool kiosk and an inflation station.

Created in Lyon in 2005, this service for bicycles is a lyon pride since it was the first of its kind in France! Developed in collaboration with the JC Decaux company, it covers, Lyon Villeurbanne, Vaux-en-Velin, Caluire-et-Cuire and Vénissieux, and is available every day without interruption. In the state of having more than 14 years, several systems rentals are available: in the year (from £13 to €25 the subscription), for a week (€5) or for a day (€1.50). The first thirty minutes are always available and the maximum length of rental is 12 hours. LPA subscribers, Autolib, QPark, Vinci and Effia, enjoy free the first time. In case of a problem with bike or station, just call the unique number and the location is always quickly regulated.

If you have any doubts about your sense of direction in the city, this 14-kilometer greenway is for you! It's very simple: by following the rails of the T3 tramway in its entirety, you absolutely cannot go wrong! Connecting the Part-Dieu station to the Meyzieu Gare station, it is a good alternative to public transport for outdoor training. Its smooth asphalt surface allows access to all physical activities: on foot, by bike or on rollerblades.

Among the modes of urban travel in Lyon, the bicycle is largely in the lead for our personal well-being and the speed of our journeys on the dedicated lanes. But it's all well and good to want to ride a bike, but you still have to do it in style and efficiency. This is the challenge of these shops - there are now three in the Metropolis - under the Cyclable banner, one near the "soft fashion" tunnel in the 6th arrondissement, one in Oullins and the other in Villeurbanne. A sign that mixes sport, transport and, it must be admitted, fashion. At Cyclable you'll find a little more than just bikes, you'll find bikes that look and feel great! City bikes, beautiful bikes with vintage looks, many electric bikes, folding bikes including a Brompton that we love and many other beautiful bikes for all uses, for all families. Not to mention the accessories and what makes our bike unique. Two charming and competent women, Aurélie and Séverine, to receive us, advise us and, if necessary, take care of preparing and maintaining our bike. Also rental of top-of-the-line electrically-assisted ATVs. Addresses to remember when riding on two wheels.

4 other shops welcome you in Lyon in the 4th and 7th as well as in Oullins and Villeurbanne

This valley is a delight for mountain bikers and cyclists of all kinds. Taking the Dolce Via is like rediscovering the old railroad line, disused since 1968, from Saint-Agrève to Saint-Laurent-du-Pape, and allows you to pedal in complete peace and quiet through wild landscapes. The Dolce Via is a 55-kilometre stretch of safe, gentle path through unspoilt countryside. On foot, mountain bike or horseback, come and enjoy a family outing. And all along the way, campsites and farmhouses offer rest and refreshment.

A chairlift ride out of winter season, to enjoy an extraordinary panorama at the top. Departure towards the High Plateaux of Vercors, you can go back down on foot by a hiking trail, or else: go up by chairlift with your mountain bike and ride down the slopes on the pedals. Be careful to protect yourself with at least a helmet. It is also possible to rent a Trottin'herbe at the foot of the slopes where helmets are provided. And off you go for a really fun descent. Great with family or friends to enjoy a good breath of fresh air!

In the Pré-la-Joux area of the Portes du Soleil, you'll find a mountain paradise dedicated to downhill mountain bike enthusiasts. Open all summer long, this area offers access to 6 exceptional zones, 5 of which are accessible via the Blues & Rock green trail. With a total of 20 trails, including 3 green and 4 blue runs, as well as numerous variants, there's something for everyone. Châtel's DH runs are distinguished by their extreme technicality.

More and more machines with no motor, bikes but not really…, travel through our trails. Riders don't just attack the powder, but the dirt of the paths! On our super-equipped Commencal ATV, we're proud. For the lovers of the descent, all summer nights, Méribike organizes a 1 km descent to Brides-les-Bains from the hotel. The ball!

Valérie has a state certificate in mountain bike and bicycle tours in the Pilat region. She can accompany you on foot, on a mountain scooter (with green, blue, red or black trails depending on the difficulty and physical ability of each person, so as not to lose the notion of pleasure) or on a mountain bike. Departure from one of the proposed routes in group or solo, from the crêt de la Perdrix or the crêt de l'oeillon. To be discovered to spend a beautiful sporting moment in the heart of nature. Also overnight stays under a heated tepee.

A good address on your Drôme cycle route. This bicycle workshop-boutique offers a wide range of services. You'll find a second-hand section, new, multi-purpose sports and electric bikes from German brand Vélo de Ville, customizable, as well as accessories, new and used spare parts and advice. Come and have your bike serviced or repaired by passionate and committed professionals, aka Nico and Antoine. Pedal stroke after pedal stroke, they make their contribution to a more environmentally-friendly world.

With the mythical Col de la Colombière often visited by the Tour de France, Le Grand-Bornand is a paradise for sport cycling. The resort also has its freeride mountain bikers who swap their snow equipment for their downhill and speed bikes in summer. In summer, discover 8 itineraries (75 km of marked trails) at the top of the Rosay gondola, and 2 trails from the Châtelet chairlift! The Aravis ski pass is 200 km of slopes in 3 resorts. Possibility to learn or ride with a guide in the freeride area.

A forerunner in Europe in the promotion of mountain biking as a new-generation sport, and a recognized leader in the field of mountain biking, Les Gets boasts a Bikepark covering 128 km of marked trails. This area includes zones suitable for families as well as more adventurous riders. Access to the vast Portes du Soleil ski area offers the opportunity to enjoy downhill mountain biking on 650 km of marked trails, catering for a varied public ranging from enthusiasts to families.

Whatever your level, you will find the best advice to practice this sport or leisure activity from these passionate people who have been in place for over 10 years. Bike rental for all uses - road, trail, nature - and even electric mountain bikes to make your outings more fun. Descending the Semnoz, hiking in the Bauges or through the Crosagny pond: from small to large, there is something for everyone. Moreover, the Maison du vélo offers training courses for young people, from training to competition, and organizes raids over several days.

The beauty and variety of the landscapes of Savoie and the Mont-Blanc massif are characterized by a wide range of gradients. As a result, the difficulty levels of the cycle touring routes encountered by cycling enthusiasts are just as varied. If the great Alpine passes of the Tour de France are still the stuff of dreams, the kilometers of véloroute, some sections of which are part of the famous "Léman-Méditerranée", are a hit with everyone. The region offers an increasingly varied range of cycling activities for all levels.

Tournon-sur-Rhône is an ideal town for cycling and cycle touring enthusiasts. Ardétour specializes in these activities, and offers a variety of routes for discovering the region by bike. Take advantage of your stay in Tournon-sur-Rhône to discover the region's magnificent landscapes by bike.

In the heart of the Ardèche region, this Bee's station, like the one further north in Tournon-sur-Rhône, offers electrically-assisted bicycles for hire for cycling along the Rhône river and other soft paths. Repair, replace, recycle: that's the credo of this France-wide structure dedicated to cycling and cycle tourism. Each station is dedicated to welcoming you, advising and guiding you in your purchases, rentals and bike maintenance.

Departing from Boucieu-le-Roi station, enjoy the great outdoors! Along the valley of the Doux, enjoy a 360° panorama on board carts driven by a set of pedals. Several descents are available: the Chestnut tree descent with the crossing of beautiful viaducts, the Narrows descent in the heart of the Doux gorges and the Grande Aventure, the most sportive. At 300 m from the station, don't forget to discover Boucieu-le-Roi, a town classified as a Village de Caractère.

The association Sou des écoles and the USEP organize every year a nice walk or mountain bike ride to discover the beautiful green area of Chimilin! Spring is really the best time so no more excuses to laze around, put on your sneakers and let's go! All profits will be donated to the Sou des écoles.

Distance:21/30/50 km by mountain bike and 9/15/22 km by foot.

Departure :from 7h30 to 10h30.

Difficulty:easy.

Refreshments along the route and refreshment bar.

L'Alpe-d'Huez is famous for its emblematic climb, which is a recurring feature of the Tour de France, even though it is not the steepest. The Tour's regular visits, and the often decisive importance of this stage, have contributed to its international renown. Every day, some 300 cyclists of all nationalities tackle this climb. Every July, the resort is also the venue for the finish of the La Marmotte cyclosportive, bringing together some 6,000 to 7,000 participants.
The climb has 21 bends, a vertical drop of 1,121 metres, an average gradient of 7.9% and a maximum of 14%. Alpe-d'Huez also offers an exceptional mountain biking area, with over 250 km of marked trails, including 5 downhill runs, and the Mégavalanche, the world's longest downhill run over 30 kilometers, linking the resort to neighboring villages in the Grandes Rousses massif.
Alpe-d'Huez hosted the first Tour de France finish in 1952, won by Fausto Coppi. It took almost a quarter of a century for the Oisans resort to return to the Tour schedule. Since then, the finishes have multiplied, building the legend of the climb, with memorable duels such as those between Bernard Thévenet and Hennie Kuiper, or Greg LeMond and Laurent Fignon, as well as the famous photo finish of Bernard Hinault and Greg LeMond hand in hand. Since 1995, Italy's Marco Pantani has held the record for the fastest climb in 36 minutes and 40 seconds, at an average speed of over 23 km/h!

Lyon Sprint Evolution is a sports school located in Lyon, at 27-29 Rue Garon Duret. The club offers a range of cycling-related activities, including leisure cycling, health cycling, cycling school and competition at national 1 women's level. The club also takes part in cycling competitions and events, such as the Race Across France, the Born To Ride, the AURA CLM Championship and the Trophée National des Jeunes sur Piste. These events enable club members to compete against other cyclists and proudly represent Lyon Sprint Evolution. The club is also committed to developing women's cycling, and has a National 2 Women's team.