Cycling
Our beautiful corner of the Charente has something for all cyclists – whether you want to take a 90km ride or simply cycle to the boulangeries at St Severin or Petit Bersac for your daily baguette! The beautiful rolling countryside around Les Cimes des Arbres is a patchwork of fields of bright sunflowers and ripening wheat, dotted with picturesque villages and impressive french architecture - you can see why the french have such a love of cycling. And as the Charente is the second ‘sunniest’ region in France, you will be able to enjoy your ride without having to worry about bad weather. The gite is at the end of a no-though road, so you'll be able to hop onto your bike straight from your door and ride off down the green lanes and quiet back roads without having to get into your car.
Cycle Route Information
There are over 1000 km of marked mountain bike trails in the Charente, varying from 6 km to 50 km in length, from 65m to 850m altitude and through a variety of difficulty levels, making them suitable for everyone from beginners up to the experienced off road cyclist. You can download a map of the 50 different mountain biking routes in the Charente (10 in the local area) here. The Northern Dordogne has many more routes not too far from us, ranging from 40km up to 90km. Maps for these routes are available from the local tourist offices, as well as online here
The area also has hundreds of kilometers of marked cycling routes, providing safe and interesting rides across the region for cyclists of all abilities. These consist of cycle 'loops', each one having three circuits; Family circuit – usually easy going over 4 km to 10 km; Discovery circuit – longer routes over 20 km to 40 km; Exploration circuit – more challenging routes of between 40 km to 70 km. Each loop is well marked out with signs featuring small black bicycles. There are 37 in the Charente, many within easy driving distance of the gite. The closest loops are in Aubeterre sur Dronne, Chalais, Montmoreau Saint Cybard and Villebois Lavalette. Just click on the place names to view and download easy to follow maps for each loop.
There are a further 18 routes in the Northern Dordogne, the closest to the gite being at Riberac, St Aulaye and Verteillac. Other routes in the Dordogne can be found here.
For further information on cycle routes in the area, including other routes and cycle loops a bit further afield, visit www.bikehiredirect.com/cyclingincharente and www.bikehiredirect.com/cyclingindordogne. You can view and download other bike route maps for the Charente at www.lacharente.fr or www.mapmyride.com/fr/riberac has several routes detailed in the area. You can also find other circuits at www.rando.dordogne.fr.
Bike Hire Companies
The following companies hire out all kinds of bikes and prices include free delivery and collection to the gite. You will need to book in advance, so please contact them well before your stay to ensure your bikes are here in time for your arrival.
The Mountain Bike Hire Company
www.themountainbikehirecompany.co.uk
hire@themountainbikehirecompany.co.uk
Tel: +33 (0)553630891
Open 7 days a week 7am-9pm
Bike Hire Direct
www.bikehiredirect.com
charente@bikehiredirect.com
Tel: +33 5 67 07 11 01
Open 365 days of the year
Bikes4Gites
www.bikes4gites.com
Tel: +33 7 82 35 59 36
info@bikes4gites.com
Based locally, they can set up the bikes, suggest routes and provide you with a mobile telephone number to ring if you have any problems, including punctures.
Bike Shops
Riberac (15 mins)
Cycles Oxygene
37 Avenue de Verdun, 24600 Ribérac
Tel: +33 5 53 90 02 41
Brantome (40mins)
Veloland
Les Courrières, Route d'Angoulême, 24310 Brantôme
Tel: +33 5 53 08 02 65
Angouleme (40mins)
Bouticycle
1324 Rue des Platanes, Les Chauvauds, 16430 Champniers
Tel: +33 5 45 68 93 64
Monovelo
132 Rue Boulevard de Bretagne - Parc Commercial, 16000 Angoulême
Tel: +33 5 45 69 29 46
Decathlon
Centre Commercial Chante Merle 2, 16400 La Couronne,
Tel: +33 5 45 67 70 70
Perigueux (50mins)
Decathlon
Zone d'activites du Ponteix, 24750 Boulazac
Tel: +33 5 53 03 39 39
Giant Store
3 Boulevard de l'Horizon, 24430 Marsac-sur-l'Isle
Tel: +33 5 53 53 31 56
Culture Vélo
Zone commerciale Ponteix 2, 10 Avenue Marcel Paul, 24750 Boulazac
Tel: +33 5 53 09 25 15
Reboot Cycles
14 Rue Gambetta, 24000 Périgueux
Tel: +33 5 53 45 91 09
Cycles Verrier
1 Place Yves Guena, 24000 Périgueux
Tel: +33 5 53 53 38 46
