Judy

We're renting a house in Le Bugue later this month. The rental agency, Simply Perigord, offers to assist with bicycle rental and we're trying to decide whether to get a couple of bikes for the week.
We're concerned, however, that the roads may not be "bike friendly" and we may just be wasting our money. We are more familiar with Tuscany and Provence and would not be comfortable biking many of those roads.
It may be worthwhile, though, just biking around Le Bugue...going to pick up bread, wine and cheese. The cost per day per bike is really not too much.
Anyone familiar with the roads in the area?

StCirq

Yes, I'm intimately familiar with the roads around Le Bugue, and unless you are experienced, I wouldn't do it, at least not on the roads. Teeny, twisty, fairly hilly roads, and plenty of fast drivers are the norm.
There's a nice bike path over in Groléjac you might want to try, though. And you can easily rent bikes and helmets for a lot less than Simply Périgord will charge you. If you decide to do this I can give you a list of places near Le Bugue or Groléjac.

Judy

Mellen, that's exactly what we needed to know! I just didn't want to bother you with an e-mail. Thanks.
At home in Virginia Beach, I usually try to bike 30-45 minutes a day just for exercise and thought I may need to work off the fois gras and wine...but won't want to do so risking life and limb.

laverendrye

In preparation, You might also want to read Christopher Buckley's amusing "How Foie Gras Was My Valley"
at http://www.forbes.com/fyi/2002/0304/029.html

Judy

Laverendrye, what a great article! Thank you. I think we'll be driving to those sites...the bike was more for cellulite contrl while consumimg all those calories!

bigtyke

Get a Michelin 1:200,000 scale map of the area. The white roads are excellent for cycling. They may or may not be where you will be wanting to cycle.

cigalechanta

Laverendrye, thanks, a wonderful article.

StCirq

That was a hilarious article1

Judy:

You can rent bicycles at La Rivière campground just outside Les Ezies. From Le Bugue, head out of town toward Campagne and Les Eyzies. Turn left before the RR tracks where the sign for St-Cirq is. Follow that road, and when you start to go around some small, curvy hills look on the right for the sign for La Rivière - beautiful 4*** campground with pool, etc. Might be a good idea to go a day or two before to reserve bikes.

In St-Pompon there is HB Vélos, residing at Les Biscayres. Cell phone no. is 06-64-21-56-64. English-speaking, at least when I've called him.

And two website you can check out:

http://www.southwestfrance.worldweb....tals/Bicycles/

http://bicycleoutfitter.com/site/page.cfm?PageID=32

I'm quite sure the tourist office in Le Bugue - or the ones in Les Eyzies and Sarlat - can also arrange bicycles for you.

Have fun, and be careful.

Judy

Thanks to all who replied. We've decided to wait until we arrive and actually see the roads to decide whether we want bikes or not. Initially, since the house rental agency offered delivery, we thought we'd order them ahead of time and not have to waste precious vacation time obtaining them. We'll check out the campground and the websites.