France Guide

Accommodation

We used france velo tourism to find bike friendly accommodation and mixed it up with bike hotels, bed and breakfasts and camp sites.  https://en.francevelotourisme.com/   Our best experiences were bed and breakfasts as the hosts provide local knowledge and immersion.  Campsites are good if you are a family or group, beware they charge for sheets and towels and if you book a safari tent or cabin there can be a minimum stay required (2 night to 7 nights!). The velo listed hotels are all bike-friendly and provide secure storage areas.

Bike Battery

As you are not permitted to fly with bike batteries, we left ours at home and purchased new batteries for the trip in France.  When departing, we left our battery there with a friend for next time.

Battery Charging

In France, office(s) de tourisme (tourist information centres) are happy to charge bike batteries. They typically follow a seasonal schedule so check opening times.  Most close between 12-2pm and you can leave your battery charging there during these hours while you explore the town and have lunch!  We had to get creative when there was no tourist office!

Bikes on French Trains

Taking bikes on French trains is doable,  but requires a bit of planning. On long-distance trains (like TGV and Intercités), you need to reserve a bike space in advance, as they’re limited—often just 4–6 spots per train. For local TER trains, booking isn’t required, but it’s smart to arrive early and speak to the station master to confirm where to board. Many bike spots have wall hooks or straps, but these are often broken, so it’s wise to bring your own strap to secure your bike. You can check train times and book tickets (and bike spots) at the official French rail site: sncf-connect.com.