Any Paris experts here?

[Turkle]

Hello, all. I'm planning on spending a month in Paris next spring. Wondering where I should stay to have access to great cycling. Quel arrondissement? Merci / thanks.

Route suggestions happily accepted!

[Veloo]

I didn't get to ride there besides a short Vélib rental but after your ride, refuel at Chez Flottes (mmm..steak tartare) and Le Soufflé.

[echelon_john]

Look at the 16th. More suburban feel than much of the city and easier to ride out from.

That said, if riding is a priority I would choose many other places in France. Lyon, Annecy, Toulouse, Bordeaux depending on the time of year.

[mass_biker]

of Paris if you can…out past St. Germain towards Versailles etc. Superb bike riding out there. Paris-Nice always uses those roads, and the Olympic RR looped out there before coming in to do the city loops for the finale. Whenever I’m there in that area, I see tons of riders out and about.

[Tychom]

What kind of riding and what kind of distances are you thinking? I can provide some ideas, routes.

There's a lot of easily accessible good road riding south-west of Paris into Yvelines and the Chevreuse - this area you'll find groups of cyclists all week and loads at the weekend. Valleys, forests, lots of connecting roads. All good stuff.

You don't need to stay in the SW of Paris though to get out there though - Paris is only something like 7km across & there's a good cycling network, particularly following the river east to west. The SW of Paris isn't so lively IMO.. better places to stay.

There's lots of other places to ride too though - the Vexin, NW is great. North towards Chantilly, Compiegne, and you can easily cycle east to the start of the Champagne region - good climbs and views there.

Or plenty of easy train rides out - 1h gets you to some great places.

[Turkle]

Thanks for the suggestions so far.

Tychom, I am a roadie, generally riding 30-60 miles is what I'm after.

[weisan]

Tychom pal is your local Paris expert including showing you where the best chinese food is.
Follow his advice.

[saab2000]

There’s a fast paced ride to Roubaix every April if that’s your cup of tea.

[ojingoh]

Originally Posted by saab2000

There’s a fast paced ride to Roubaix every April if that’s your cup of tea.

I heard it's a drop ride.

[saab2000]

Originally Posted by ojingoh

I heard it's a drop ride.

It is. Rider beware.

[bigbill]

I lived in Paris, Texas, for six years and for hotels, the LaQuinta and Hampton Inn are nice, but not convenient to the Northeast Texas Trail, a 130 mile rail trail. Wheezy's in Blossom, Texas is a block from the trail has a great cheeseburger and chicken fried steak. Pro tip, get the small chicken fried steak, the large version will feed a family.

[Tychom]

Here's a few routes ideas, meant to show some good ways out of town, good ways back in again, and largely give an idea about the area and some of the roads you'd want to be cycling - basically heading towards and around the towns of Chevreuse, Cernay, Danpierre.

They're all nice out towns with good roads around them. There's plenty of restaurants, cafes & boulangeries if needed along the way too.

30 miles SW: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/48434470
35 miles SW: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/48434581
50 miles SW: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/48434628
60 miles SW: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/48434548

[Tychom]

And just throwing out some route ideas to some other nice places that require a train back,

Chantilly - nice road and forests along the way, even nicer chateau - https://ridewithgps.com/routes/48434709

Chateau Thierry (Champagne region) - a bit longer but worth it, great views of the vinyards - https://ridewithgps.com/routes/48434725

^^ that area is well worth a visit with a train both ways, doing the vinyard hill climbs all day

Fontainebleau - a little different, a lot of time by the river, some bike-paths , and into the forest, Fontainebleau forest is amazing. https://ridewithgps.com/routes/48434815

[Tychom]

And for a bit of completeness, what you may end up doing if you go out east,

45miles https://ridewithgps.com/routes/48434918
48miles https://ridewithgps.com/routes/48434878
64miles (can be shortened) https://ridewithgps.com/routes/48434971

[Tychom]

ok last ones, I feel bad leaving out the N/NW. It's not the first place people will go if they're on a short trip to Paris - the SW sees you getting out quick through upmarket neighbourhoods & surrounded by lots of local cyclists and teams.

That's not quite the case for the NW, the commuter-belt is a little bigger, a little rougher in parts, and kind of rules out shorter rides..

But it's great up there, and once you're out it's largely open all the way to Rouen or the coast.

Montmorency 60miles - https://ridewithgps.com/routes/48436084
+ Carnelle @ 72miles https://ridewithgps.com/routes/48436055
Vexin 70miles - https://ridewithgps.com/routes/48435960