Preparing for trail-exploring in French region of Nord-Pas-de-Calais, here are my personal research notes. Most trails are rated easy and very easy, but from the little riding I’ve done here in 2005 and 2006, the impression I had was that it was pleasant and enjoyable riding. And I am a relatively technical a rider. Maybe it was the sunshine? Dry, dusty trails are my favourite .. Curious to go back!
Tags:Nord·Pas-de-Calais
Ah, finally .. finishing off the page for Bas-Rhin!
Typing out my research notes on trails in Châtenois and Scherwiller, just on the other side of the E25 highway from the trail in Sélestat, I came across the first couple of stunning pictures of the area.
Pays du Mont Sainte Odile further up north also seems fantastic with its Pagan Wall. Perhaps, dare I say it, for a combination of biking and hiking?
The trails of Haute Bruche with starting point in Schirmeck, on the other hand, tick me off: They give information on only two trails, but on the overview it is indicated that a lot more is available! For THAT info, even the basic one to raise your interest … you seem to have to pay up for the map. I think that is pretty counterproductive! BAH!
I hope to visit Bas-Rhin later this upcoming summer. Needless to say Haute-Bruche might not be my first priority?
Tags:Châtenois·Grendelbruch·Haute Bruche·Pays du Mont Sainte Odile·Rosheim·Scherwiller·Schirmeck
Information on Pays de Barr et du Bernstein (villages of Andlau and Le Hohwald) and Val de Villé (village of Thanvillé and Villé) has been added to the page of Bas-Rhin. The former location seems uninspiring, and the latter .. a maybe.
Much more inspiring was today’s visit to National Geographic Institute. Ah .. maps in abundance!
And it’s spring!
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Last one for this trail system! Five trails in village of Saint-Astier, and each and every one of them is my favourite!
Now looking at photos and try-out videos from some trail-exploring in Holland last weekend ..
Tags:Grignols·Saint-Aquilin·Saint-Astier·Saint-Germain-du-Salembre
Information on mountain bike trails in Ribérac has been added to the page of my notes on France.
My favourite? It is a touch and go between trails number 10 and 7! Too bad there are no elevation profiles available (nag, nag!), as trail number 7 might be just a tad too much climbing for me .. but it depends on the profile.
Tags:Grand Etang de la Jemay·Saint-Martin-de-Ribérac·Saint-Pardoux-de-Drône·Saint-Sulpice-de-Roumagnac·Siorac-de-Ribérac·Vanxains
Looking at two more trails of the Dordogne mountain bike system:
The village of Paussac-et-Saint-Vivien offers two trails. Personally, I would not do these trails, as I am technically more of a red (or even black) level girl rather than a blue or green one. Trails number 6 (red) and 19 (black) of Montagrier both loop through Paussac, and I’d be interested in hooking up with those instead. Trail number 14 can be used as a shortcut, if needed.
Village of Mensignac has one sole trail on offer. Would I ride here? At a first glance I thought “why not”. Although a sole trail, it is rated red after all, and there are several combinations available thanks to the interconnecting trails. In fact, it seems pretty great for anyone uncertain about their fitness level: You can cut your ride short in two places. However, for me personally, seeing that trails 22 and 23 of Montagrier, covering the northern part of this trail, have been graded blue and green, this might not be my cup of tea. Instead, I might do a combination of the southern part of this trail, and hook up with part of trail number 31 (black) of Saint-Astier.
Tags:Dordogne·Mensignac·Montagrier·Paussac-et-Saint-Vivien·Saint-Astier
Ah, what a pleasant surprise! While stuck at home playing assistant Dog Listener, I received snail mail in the form of a mountain bike map on trails in the French department of Dordogne!
In total 27 trails spread over the five villages of Montagrier, Paussac-et-Saint-Vivien, Ribérac, Mensignac and Saint-Astier.
The – all plastified, thank you! – map turned out to be a small package consisting of a very good overview and then more detailed descriptions of the trails per starting point. There is an appreciated close-up of the starting point of Montagrier, which has the most trails on offer.
The maps are small scale, in fact I cannot even find a scale indication! If trails are impeccably signposted, fantastic; If not, welcome to getting lost! Official trails of Swiss Normandy come to mind! Will the risk stop me from visiting? Not at all!
The thing I am missing the most, the thing that would make both the site of the Montagrier mountain bike centre as well as their map package close to perfect, is elevation profiles. I personally prefer a mix of climbing and descending as 1) my legs are not particularly strong and 2) I am easily bored. Hence, I like to check out the elevation profiles: I normally avoid the trails that have all of their climbing in the first half of the ride.
I am a born optimist (right!), and I will try to squeeze in some riding here on my way down to the Basque Country. The web site of the Montagrier mountain bike centre is, by the way, pretty great compared to so many other web sites out there. That goes for the map as well! I am trying hard to not sound too ungrateful about the two points above!
My personal notes on trails in Montagrier, to start out with, have been uploaded here.
An acceptable elevation profile
Tags:Aquitaine·Basque Country·Dordogne·Mensignac·Montagrier·Paussac-et-Saint-Vivien·Ribérac·Saint-Astier·Swiss Normandy·Vosges
My page on Bas-Rhin continues to be under construction. I am eager to finalise my summarizing as I’ve noticed I might be able to pop into the area for a premier visit in August.
My notes on the eight trails of Suisse d’Alsace have been added to the page of France. Highest point of riding is at 937 metres above sea level. Interconnecting trail systems are the ones of Marmoutier and Saverne. My favourites? Trail number 4, and if I wanted to add some more distance: trail number 2 after that.
Tags:Cosswiller·Engenthal·Heiligenberg·Niederhaslach·Oberhaslach·Obersteigen·Wangenbourg·Windsburg
Shite! My favourite link for Corsica just got stabbed in the back! I missed out on the tiny requirement detail of a minimum of two riders for each tour. This company does not accept solo riders, for safety reasons.
Good for them! Less good for me!
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