What kind of cycle is suitable?
Most of the route is on asphalt cycle tracks or alongside quiet country roads. However, there are some stretches with gravel surfaces and although these are invariably well graded, posing no problems for most kinds of cycle, cycling the Loire is not recommended for narrow-tyred racing cycles. The most suitable type of cycle is either a touring cycle or a hybrid (a lightweight but strong cross between a touring cycle and a mountain bike with at least 21 gears). There is no advantage in using a mountain bike. Front suspension is beneficial as it absorbs much of the vibration. Straight handlebars, with bar-ends enabling you to vary your position regularly, are recommended. Make sure your cycle is serviced and lubricated before you start – particularly the brakes, gears and chain.
As important as the cycle is your choice of tyres. Slick road tyres are not suitable and knobbly mountain bike tyres not necessary. What you need is something in-between with good tread and a slightly wider profile than you would use for everyday cycling at home. To reduce the chance of punctures, choose tyres with puncture-resistant armouring, such as a Kevlar™ band.
Fully equipped cycle and free air for cyclists in Savonnières (Stage 20)
Getting there and back
By rail
The start of the route on the slopes of Gerbier de Jonc is not directly accessible by public transport. There are railway stations east of the start at Livron in the Rhone Valley (82km away with 1331m ascent) and west of the start at Langogne (51km with 825m ascent). In addition there is a narrow gauge line that runs from Tournon in the Rhone Valley to Lamastre, from where it is 51km to the start with 1288m ascent. Although this is nearer to the start than Livron, financial problems in recent years have curtailed most services on this line and it no longer provides a suitable alternative.
All these options require long rides with substantial amounts of ascent. The average cyclist should set aside a day to reach Gerbier de Jonc from any of these points. There is, however, a bus service from Valence bus station in the Rhone Valley that runs up to Le Cheylard more than halfway along the route from Livron. From Le Cheylard it is 31km to the start with 989m ascent. Buses on route 12 that carry cycles run three times daily (mid-morning, early afternoon and late afternoon) Monday to Saturday from 1 April until 30 November, with a journey time of 90 minutes. There is one Sunday journey (early evening). Details can be found at www.lesept.fr; for booking tel +33 4 75 29 11 15. The routes to the source from Le Cheylard and Langogne are described in detail in the Prologue.
Valence Ville station is on the old Rhone Valley main line between Lyon and Marseille and is served by hourly trains from Lyon Part Dieu or every two hours from Marseille St Charles. Note that Valence TGV station is 10km NE of Valence, with a connecting service linking it to Valence Ville. Langogne is served by trains between Clermont-Ferrand and Nîmes, but there are only three services per day on this line.
If travelling from the UK, you can take your cycle on Eurostar from London St Pancras (not Ebbsfleet nor Ashford) to Paris (Gare du Nord). Trains between London and Paris run hourly throughout the day, taking less than two and a half hours. Cycles booked in advance travel in dedicated cycle spaces in the baggage compartment of the same train as you. Bookings, which cost £30 single, can be made through Eurostar baggage (tel 0344 822 5822). Cycles must be checked in at St Pancras Eurostar luggage office (beside the bus drop-off point) at least 40 minutes before departure. There is no requirement to package or dismantle your cycle. More information can be found at www.eurostar.com. Unfortunately the daily direct Eurostar service to Lyon, Valence and Marseille does not carry cycles.
CROSSING PARIS
After arrival in Paris you need to cycle from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon following a series of grands boulevards (wide avenues) on an almost straight 4km route. Go ahead opposite the main entrance to Gare du Nord along semi-pedestrianised Bvd de Denain. At the end turn L (Bvd de Magenta) and follow this to reach Place de la République. Continue round this square and leave on the opposite side by Bvd du Temple, becoming Bvd des Filles du Calvaire then Bvd Beaumarchais, to reach Place de la Bastille. Bear L (passing memorial column to 1830 revolution) and R (passing Opéra Bastille L) into Rue de Lyon, to reach Gare de Lyon station.
TGV Sud-Est high-speed trains run from Paris (Gare de Lyon) to Lyon and on to Marseille. Most trains on this route, particularly those serving Marseille, do not carry cycles; however, there are a few services each day which call at Lyon, Valence and Avignon that have a limited amount of cycle accommodation with mandatory reservation (€10). Details can be found and bookings made at the SNCF (French Railways) website, www.voyages-sncf.com
Provision of cycle space on European trains is steadily increasing, and up-to-date information on travelling by train with a bicycle can be found at a website dedicated to worldwide rail travel, ‘The man in seat 61’: www.seat61.com
By air
Airports at Lyon (three trains daily taking 30 minutes to Valence Ville), and Marseille (hourly service taking 2 hours to Valence Ville or three trains daily taking 4–5 hours to Langogne via Nîmes), both served by a variety of international airlines, can be used to access the Loire source. Airlines have different requirements regarding how cycles are presented and some, but not all, make a charge, which you should pay when booking as it is usually greater at the airport. All require tyres partially deflated, handlebars turned and pedals removed (loosen pedals beforehand to make them easier to remove at the airport). Most will accept your cycle in a transparent polythene bike-bag, although some insist on use of a cardboard bike-box. Excess Baggage Company counters at Heathrow and Gatwick sell cardboard bike boxes (www.left-baggage.co.uk). Away from the airports, boxes can be obtained from cycle shops, sometimes for free. You do however have the problem of how to get the box to the airport.
By road
If you’re lucky enough to have someone prepared to drive you to the start, Gerbier de Jonc is on the D378 close to its junction with D116 and D237 in the Ardèche département of France (44˚50’29”N, 04˚13’08”E; 31T 596317E, 4966063N). With your own vehicle the most convenient place to leave it is Tours, from where trains can be used to reach Valence or Langogne on the outward journey, and which can be reached by train from St Nazaire on the return. Tours is about 525km from Calais.
European Bike Express operates a coach service with dedicated cycle trailer from Northern England, picking up en route across England to the Mediterranean, with a drop-off point at Valence. Details and booking through www.bike-express.co.uk
Intermediate access
There are international airports at St Étienne (Stage 5), Tours (Stage 18) and Nantes (Stage 24). After St Étienne much of the route is closely followed by railway lines; stations en route are listed in the text. From mid June to mid September SNCF run Interloire cycle trains daily between Orléans and Le Croisic (west of St Nazaire). These have enhanced capacity for cycles, at no extra charge, and call at Blois, St Pierre-des-Corps (for Tours), Saumur, Angers, Ancenis, Nantes and St Nazaire. Find details at www.loire-a-velo.fr
Loading cycles on the Interloire cycle train at St Nazaire (Stage 26)
Getting home
The nearest station to St Brevin-les-Pins is in St Nazaire, 9km away on the opposite side of the Loire estuary. Details on how to reach the station are given at the end of Stage 26. TGV Atlantique services, some of which carry cycles, run from St Nazaire to Paris Montparnasse station, sometimes requiring a change in Nantes. It is then necessary to cycle through the middle