France Trip Notes & Travel Tips

- Medium sized day bag/backpack for easy access
- Light rain/windbreaker jacket
- Sunhat and sunglasses
- Medications, balms, and lotions
- Gel or spor  sunscreen & lip balm
- French round-prong electrical outlet adapters (not always necessary*)
- Mobile adapter and spare charger
- Swimsuit
- Cycling shorts, jerseys, cap, gloves, walking and cycling shoes.
-bandana or scarf (to cover neck)
- small Dr. Bronners travel soap
- small tissues pack for biking
- French to English/English to French menu booklet or guide

*Most French dual outlets also accept American-style flat prong plugs

French Climate

In May, early June, late Sept. and Oct. mornings can be cool and a light to medium wind breaker and sweater are recommended. Weather is pleasant during the days, often reaching 80s and mile in the evenings.

Baggage

Standard weight limit for checked baggage on international carriers is typically 2 bags totaling 23kg (about 50 lbs.) in economy plus.

BUENOS DIAS Our Baja trips began only recently, with past clients from our Asia trips and a few friends, arranged with a clear message there should be few expectations. We’d been many times before for races and fun rides, but never south of Ensenada and our impressions of Baja “sur” – the south - were mostly of touristy Cabo resorts, margaritaville cantinas, whale watching and any cycling was of the “bikepacking” variety – off road in tents to avoid awful road conditions and rundown hotels. Instead, we were surprised to thrill as we had in early trips to far-flung places like Vietnam and Myanmar -- places not known for cycling, but that had quietly become amazing places to ride. Baja has recently become into one of these places, offering hundreds of miles of newly-paved roads, upscale hotels, sublime landscapes, with little traffic, offering tranquility on the road less traveled. Come join us in Baja to ride new pavement on empty roads through expansive landscapes rivaling Joshua Tree, Moab, Big Sur, and fire-red mesas of Idaho. Ride past towering cactus spread across valleys as far as the eye can see, meandering along bucolic coast under warm, bright blue skies. Indeed, what is most striking about Baja is tranquility and wide-open space making it the ultimate Covid-era escape: almost 3/4 of Baja’s 3.3 million residents live near the border cities of Tijuana and Ensenada. The rest of the 55,366-square-mile peninsula—remote, an increasing amount of which has and is becoming preserved as federal and private nature and marine reserves. Why Baja? Three main things make a great bike trip: scenic rides, friendly locals, and good grub. Baja delivers on all of these, in spades - with a bonus of warm sunny weather and clear skies. With travel restrictions and uncertainty to popular places in Europe and Asia, come enjoy equally fabulous and kind people, legendary cuisine, and pleasant riding. Over the last 25 years we’ve experienced how fleeting these off-the-radar places are, often disappearing within a few short years. Baja too is changing quickly with new hotels, roads and expanding towns, but for now come ride easy peaceful miles on the road less traveled, enjoying the peninsula’s desolate and sublime rugged beauty. Ride it now before you miss out on another place when it was special.   Why us? After crisscrossing the peninsula and other places in Mexico over the last few years, no one knows these roads better. Our journey travels the length of Baja, riding through the bourgeoning Guadalupe wine region, through nature preserves of towering-cactus, palm-fringed oases, small rustic towns, historic missions, high-desert mesas, jagged coastal cliffs, marine national parks and islands. Note: Built-in distancing: for travel with the uncertainty of Cornavirus, Baja is a close destination with easy and frequent connections home, and a place populated with few people – ideal for a close and safe getaway with a familiar culture. —VeloPura The road is the life —Jack Kerouac

Mobile Phones in France

Most mobile providers will automatically switch to roam upon arrival in France. The days of exhorbitant roaming fees are mostly gone, but check your carrier rates before departure.

Cycling

Obviously, the better shape you're in, the more you will enjoy this trip. However, this is a casual cycling trip and any all cycling is per your individual preference. Our support van is always nearby for a short lift, or to wrap up for the day.

Paris Transportation

Navigation around Paris can be challenging by taxi, depending on traffic and location. The Metro can be more of an effort, stairs and winding corridors by is reliable and seldom delayed. In Paris Uber is the best bet over local taxis.Also re-confirm the morning of your ride with the dispatch office (noting the reservation number), then confirm with your driver exactly where you are going, and when you need to be there.

Cultural Considerations

Relax, and don't pay much attantion to travel advice that claims things like "you must speak the local language" or other ways you will offend locals. It's far overblown. Parisians, for example, host tens of millions of travelers each year and the odds are you will not be extraordinary for bumbling your bakery order or a forgotten greeting. In fact, you may find it is locals being brusk with you as any visitor to New York City experiences.

Crimes and Scams

Car break-ins are common, pick pocketing as well. If anyone approaches you, it is likely a scam, do not stand within reach or best, do like the locals do and do not even engage.

Books on France

Reads hear are mostly related to our two favorite subject on France—cycling and cuisine (yes, you will really enjoy Julia Child’s book). There’s something here for everyone: fiction, history, biking, high-brow, irreverence, and even a memoir with little to do with, but just enough about France (Jim Harrison). —Patrick Morris

French Animation

The French enjoy a prodigious animation industry producing amazong books, video and film. A brief glance of the shelves in a children’s bookstore will surprise you about the depth and breadth of animated books. Yugoslav immigrant Enki Balal's work was made into the remarkabe Immortele and Triplets of Belleville, a dark comedic tale surrounding the Tour de France, which finished 2nd to Nemo for an Academy Award, .

Paris Museums

Rare are cities that curate and exhibit as Paris does each season. Consider secondary places you not hear of, whic may be more impressive than the popular venues, including the Palais de Tokyo, Arts & Metiers, Musée du quai Branly, whose annual exhibitions can be impressive and less touristy than the Louvre.

Dining in Paris

The 10 & 11th quarters are worth exploring featuring nouvelle cuisine and opportunities for simply good eating without the pretense, fuss, or expense. If you've not yet seen Anthony Bourdain's piece on Paris,(The Layover) he covers some of this district as well (click for YouTube Video). For example, at Philou, a busy bistro near the Canal Saint-Martin you'll find super friendly service, in English if need be, and a local feel with reasonable prices for its great wine list and delicious cuisine.

 Philou
12 Avenue Richerand (10th)
Tél: 01 42 38 00 13
Métro: République, Goncourt, or Jacques Bonsergent
View larger map

Tacos? El Guacamoleis what you have never expect in Paris—artisanal tacos prepared by Spanish cooks. Before you think "I don’t miss tacos that much," understand these are delightful, with a variety of taco choices and unique and tasty ingredients. Bonus: located only about 50 meters away is a wonderful bakery.

 El Gaucamole
37, rue Yves Toudic
Tél: 01 42 41 09 09
Métro: République, Goncourt, or Jacques Bonsergent
With two sister restaurants in the 5th & 6th quarters.

 Du Pain et des Idées
34 rue Yves Toudic
75010 Paris
01 42 40 44 52
http://dupainetdesidees.com/
Further afield from the 10th:

Braisenville

36, rue Condorcet
MÉTRO : Anvers, Poissonnière & Barbès - Rochechouart
TÉL : +33 9 50 91 21 74
open monday through saturday from 7.30pm to 11.30pm closed sunday

With the kids?
Many a Parisian recalls dinners as a child at Pizza Pino on the Champs, where afterwards you can visit the Formula 1 and Adidas shops.

Pizza Pino

31 -33 Champs-Élysées
Tel: +33 1 40 74 01 12
Metro : Franklin D. Roosevelt
Bus : 73
http://www.pizzapino.fr/