velotel
09-13-2013, 03:50 PM
A forum member, Benny Profane, asked me at the end of the Col du Joly post for recommendations for a place to base out of in the region for a month or two of riding. Given that there are a number of others on the forum with lots of knowledge of France, decided to answer by starting a new post. Maybe others will see it and chime in with their advice, suggestions.
To answer, first I think you need to decide what you’re looking for when you’re not on the bike. Unless you’re a pro racer or a mentally challenged bike rider, you’re not going to be spending all your time on the bike. Quite possibly/probably vastly more off the bike than on. Thus what do you want to do with that time?
If you’re vastly younger than I (I’m old and currently that’s the only perspective I have, an old one) you might like a bit of life in the evenings/night, like going out, meeting people, enjoying living. If that’s the case, instantly a place like Grenoble, near which I live, leaps to mind because at night the place jumps. Not that I have any personal experience of that because I don’t but I’ve sure as heck seen how once the night falls, the place is jammed with people, mostly young and mid-range. Lots of music, bars, good food, etc.
Not so far away is Chambéry, another good town to base out of for riding alone. At night the place is dead. No other way to describe it. As in sidewalks rolled up and locked away. People there must like tv a lot or maybe they sleep a lot. Or get in their cars for some action in Grenoble.
So, in terms of riding, two terrific places. In terms of later, not at all the same. Thus why I say you need to figure out what the rest of your days are going to be filled with. If you’re older, or even old like some of us, nice and quiet might be what you want. In that case the list gets real long in a hurry.
Albertville instantly jumps to mind. A crazy amount of terrific rides out of town. Some famous, some unknown but to locals. You could spend a lot of time there doing a lot of fine rides and never use a car. A nice advantage. True for Grenoble and Chambéry too.
If you’d like some culture, a city like Lyon has it all: excellent riding (but not mountain riding), all the culture you could wish for without going to Paris, fabulous night life and restaurants/bars. Trouble with Lyon is the getting out of town bit. No fun, traffic jams and lots of distance to cover. Grenoble and Chambéry are easy to get out of. Annecy could be a good town. I know nothing of the night life there. Also the riding possibilities in terms of big climbs are limited.
Places like Briançon could be good. I suspect the night life is dead but otherwise terrific place with lots of excellent riding nearby. Vaison la Romaine near Mt Ventoux could be interesting. Lots of good rides plus there’s the Ventoux plus the Lubéron isn’t far away. Could be a bit slow after riding though.
One place that might seem a bit odd for a cycling base but I suspect is terrific for that is Nice. Great climate, good town, lots of action, lots of anglos, and great riding of all sorts, including climbing. Plus Italy is a short ride away. There’s a good reason lots of pro riders base out of there.
Just a few thoughts to maybe get things started. Like I’ve said, the key will be defining what you want when you’re not on a bike. That answer will quickly lead to a place that will work.
Hope this helps a bit.
To answer, first I think you need to decide what you’re looking for when you’re not on the bike. Unless you’re a pro racer or a mentally challenged bike rider, you’re not going to be spending all your time on the bike. Quite possibly/probably vastly more off the bike than on. Thus what do you want to do with that time?
If you’re vastly younger than I (I’m old and currently that’s the only perspective I have, an old one) you might like a bit of life in the evenings/night, like going out, meeting people, enjoying living. If that’s the case, instantly a place like Grenoble, near which I live, leaps to mind because at night the place jumps. Not that I have any personal experience of that because I don’t but I’ve sure as heck seen how once the night falls, the place is jammed with people, mostly young and mid-range. Lots of music, bars, good food, etc.
Not so far away is Chambéry, another good town to base out of for riding alone. At night the place is dead. No other way to describe it. As in sidewalks rolled up and locked away. People there must like tv a lot or maybe they sleep a lot. Or get in their cars for some action in Grenoble.
So, in terms of riding, two terrific places. In terms of later, not at all the same. Thus why I say you need to figure out what the rest of your days are going to be filled with. If you’re older, or even old like some of us, nice and quiet might be what you want. In that case the list gets real long in a hurry.
Albertville instantly jumps to mind. A crazy amount of terrific rides out of town. Some famous, some unknown but to locals. You could spend a lot of time there doing a lot of fine rides and never use a car. A nice advantage. True for Grenoble and Chambéry too.
If you’d like some culture, a city like Lyon has it all: excellent riding (but not mountain riding), all the culture you could wish for without going to Paris, fabulous night life and restaurants/bars. Trouble with Lyon is the getting out of town bit. No fun, traffic jams and lots of distance to cover. Grenoble and Chambéry are easy to get out of. Annecy could be a good town. I know nothing of the night life there. Also the riding possibilities in terms of big climbs are limited.
Places like Briançon could be good. I suspect the night life is dead but otherwise terrific place with lots of excellent riding nearby. Vaison la Romaine near Mt Ventoux could be interesting. Lots of good rides plus there’s the Ventoux plus the Lubéron isn’t far away. Could be a bit slow after riding though.
One place that might seem a bit odd for a cycling base but I suspect is terrific for that is Nice. Great climate, good town, lots of action, lots of anglos, and great riding of all sorts, including climbing. Plus Italy is a short ride away. There’s a good reason lots of pro riders base out of there.
Just a few thoughts to maybe get things started. Like I’ve said, the key will be defining what you want when you’re not on a bike. That answer will quickly lead to a place that will work.
Hope this helps a bit.