Every details to prepare your bicycle trip !
Here, we offer advice – on the route, on what type of bike to choose, on equipment you might need – to ensure you are well prepared for your cycling trip along La Voie Bleue.
Choosing your route and the level of difficulty
If it is your very first cycling trip, especially as a family, opt for the shorter stages (30km per day) that will also allow you to enjoy more time discovering the landscapes, heritage and activities proposed along the route.
La Voie Bleue presents no particular difficulties as regards slopes, but it is advisable, especially if cycling with children, to choose sections without motorized traffic (so sections reserved for cyclists – ‘en site propre’ in French) and that are well signposted. Avoid sections undergoing works and/or with detours in place.
Finally, it is important to decide clearly the stages you wish to undertake and to reserve accommodation in advance, especially during the summer holiday period and French spring public holidays.
Interactive map, guidebooks & GPS tracks
To plan your trip, make use of our interactive map (under the section heading ‘Cycle Route’). Here, you will find descriptions of the various stages and their distances in kilometres. To refine your calculations, consider using the function ‘Calculate my route’, accessible from the Home Page, or click on My GPS, accessible via the interactive map. This enables you to see precisely the recommended cycle route and distances between whichever towns interest you.
You could also consider investing in the French guidebook L’Echappée Bleue, published by Editions Chamina (covering the whole route), or the Guide du Routard Bourgogne du Sud à vélo (also in France, covering Mâcon to Auxonne), or then there are the GPX tracks available to download for each stage.
Your bicycle & equipment
For a day trip, any type of bicycle is suitable. For a longer trip, it is recommended that you use a hybrid bike or a touring bike, specially designed for long-distance journeys.
See below for our advice on equipment and safety.
As a basic minimum:
- Remember to check your brakes, lights, gears and tyre pressures
- The French Code de la route, or Highways Code, applies to cyclists: clearly, make sure that you ride safely on the right, always keep focused on the track ahead of you and always stop at crossings.
- If cycling along on any road in France, here is the cycling equipment that is obligatory (in French).
For long cycling trips:
- Make sure you have comfortable clothes for cycling, and appropriate shoes
- Always carry water and energy bars
- Don’t forget to pack a first-aid kit
- Opt for panniers rather than a rucksack, which can become tiring in the long run
- A handlebar bag also proves very useful, for maps, guidebooks and other practical items
- Carry a small repair kit including: a puncture repair kit, a spare inner tube, a cyclist’s multifunction tool, a bicycle pump and connection suitable for your valves
- If travelling with young children, consider getting a bike trailer or three-wheel bike, or a trailer-cycle / trail-a-bike, much more comfortable than a baby seat.
- Check the weather forecast before setting off
- Remember to use a bicycle lock when leaving your bike unattended