Jean-Paul and Nathalie’s cycling trip, with friends
Cycling with friends along La Flow Vélo – listen to their experience!
How did your cycling trip go?
Nathalie: We joined La Flow Vélo in the Périgord Vert area. After the steep valleys of the Dordogne, we then arrived in Charentes. Any worries we had about getting back on our bikes quickly dissipated – La Flow Vélo is an extremely well-signposted cycle route, and it’s flat! We organized to go on electric bikes. It was reassuring for me, as my legs weren’t used to doing that much cycling. So, starting out gently on e-bikes was very much appreciated.
Jean-Paul: I’m quite used to enjoying cycling as a sporting activity. Embarking on a cycling trip offers another way of exploring the country. It’s so convivial!
And how did the trip evolve? What else would you say about La Flow Vélo cycle route?
Nathalie: From the most inexperienced cyclist to the most seasoned one, this is a cycle route that everyone agreed on. The combination of water and limestone, with the Charente River as the guiding thread, makes this a perfect route for exploring the countryside, at your own pace. It’s wonderfully bucolic. We fell for the town of Angoulême, where we stayed one night. Perched on a rocky outcrop, the historic centre is very pretty.
Jean-Paul: This cycle route offers a really lovely cycling trip, and it’s accessible to everyone. It takes you away from it all and makes it so enjoyable, being able to take your time exploring the countryside by bike. There’s no doubting that if we’d followed the route by car, we’d have missed out on many little gems! Through the Dordogne, we were often cycling along converted old railway tracks. That section has steep valleys, with very varied landscapes. Then you’re guided along the Charente River until you reach the Atlantic Ocean. The last is a lovely gift at the end of the cycling trip.
Did you try out some regional foods?
Nathalie: In Angoulême, we did allow ourselves a sweet treat, trying chocolate Marguerites, an Angoulême speciality. They’re delicious, and we couldn’t resist them!
Jean-Paul: In the Dordogne, unsurprisingly, we ate some foie gras. By the sea, reaching Fouras, we ate fish.
How did you choose your accommodation?
Jean-Paul: We didn’t fancy taking tents. So, we opted for a bit of a treat, selecting a hotel for each night, mainly going for Accueil Vélo-accredited accommodation. First, we looked for suitable accommodation on your website… then we simply booked. To make our trip easier, we reserved all our stays before heading out on our cycling trip.
Ready to get cycling again after a good night’s sleep!
Logbook of their favourite accommodation:
- Hotel de France et de Russie in Thiviers
Plus points at this hotel: We were able to store our bikes in a lockable garage specifically equipped with recharging sockets for e-bikes. - Hotel Le Saint Gelais
The feedback: our little luxury, staying in this 4-star hotel. We slept well, having eaten well! - Hotel l’Yeuse in Châteaubernard
Plus points at this hotel: After all that riding along, you deserve to pamper yourself with a spa massage. We treated ourselves here! - Château de Bois Charmant
Feedback: This accommodation is well named, a veritable princess’s castle! Our hosts were so welcoming and charming.
What one piece of advice would you give tourists embarking on this kind of cycling trip for the first time?
Nathalie: We had our luggage transported from one stage to the next to avoid having to carry a lot of weight on our bikes. That’s a real bonus, enabling you to make the very most of the cycle trip. We only took the bare minimum with us: energy bars, fruit, water, locks for our bikes and a first-aid kit. If I had one more piece of advice to give, I’d remind people not to forget their sunglasses; what with the sun, but also insects, they really are indispensable.
Jean-Paul: As I’m usually more used to radiating out from a single town where we’re staying on holiday, it was something totally new for our group of friends to head off on a long cycling trek. That means planning in advance to make the most of your holidays. That’s why I downloaded the GPX tracks before we set off, directly from La Flow Vélo website. It’s reassuring to be able to follow both the signposting and the tracks on your mobile at the same time, just in case. All in all, this was a great experience that we’d recommend to anyone.
