France - Bordeaux to Sete

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HughS 08 Aug 21:55  

Joined: 08 Aug 2010

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I would like to cycle from Bordeaux to Sete. Does anyone have information (in English) on this trip?

Hugh

NickG 19 Aug 12:33  

Joined: 19 Aug 2010

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Hugh we're thinking of doing this route next year - please pass on any info you recieve to glanvill@btconnect.com

Nick


Sking 29 Aug 07:52  

Joined: 29 Aug 2010

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I would also be really interested in any replies to Hugh....or your experiences Hugh? I am cycling from Carcassonne to Agde mid-September. I have experience of the canal system and the tow path is okay and takes you direct to the coast but would not like to do it on a road/racer bike as the surface can get rough in places. Most of the side roads look okay but I would really appreciate any advice or comments on other best by roads, accomodation etc.

From Agde I plan to head back towards the north west coast to find a ferry back to the UK.

Thanks

Keith


BKF 21 Sep 18:34  

Joined: 21 Sep 2010

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There is a excellent tow path along the canal lateral and the canal du midi - the surface is good all the way - a few areas of tarmac and the rest well compacted drying gravel. The route from Bordeaux to the start of the canal lateral(at Castets en Dorthe) is 'on road'as is the last few miles (15) to Sete from Agde. The whole ride is very pleasent and there are loads of Chambres de Hote on route. The beach between Sete and Agde is a welcome sight!


tomsmith 24 Feb 15:54  

Joined: 24 Feb 2011

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Don't forget that you need a permit from the French Canal Authority to cycle along the Canal du Midi, it is easy with a simple exchange of emails. I did Toulouse - Agde and Agde up to Montpellier in May last year, rough camping most nights. would highly recommend it, but would recommend a MTB or similar as it gets quite rough for extended distances.


ramsden 17 Mar 15:39  

Joined: 17 Mar 2011

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I'm planning on doing Narbonne to Orange on a TANDEM later this year. Accomodation seems to be the main difficulty. I'll be on minor roads and not the cannal towpath. If anyone has any tips/advice I'd be grateful. I'm intending on booking the first three nights hotels and then seeing what I can find.

Richard


Alex the Grate 05 Jun 20:52  

Joined: 05 Jun 2011

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Hi Richard,
I just found this thread about cycling across France.
I cycled (with my wife) from Roscoff to Spain (Irun) in July 2010 with NO preparation, and no booking ahead. 680 miles, mostly on voies vertes, canals, old railway lines. No punctures.
Then, five weeks later I flew to Beziers by myself (with bike) and pedalled back up the Canal du Midi, via Carcassonne, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Royan, La Rochelle, St Nazaire, to Roscoff. No preparation; no booking ahead. Just did it. 860 miles. No punctures.
What a fantastic experience.
I/we camped-rough/blagged our way into campsites.
Met some amazing people (including Vincent Bernard: Google "resilience vincent").
And I'm now about to fly to Bordeaux June/July 11), cycle across to the Med, via the Canal du Midi, and on to Orange, where I've booked a TGV back to Paris and Cherbourg (bit of a cheat...).
Rough cycling in France is fantastic. You just need a load of mental and physical stamina.
The first three days are the worst. You look at the map and think: "Whoa! France is big. I've got a huge distance to do...".
But, after three days, it all changes. You start to think: "I'm on a massive adventure. It's all down to me. Who will I meet today? What will I see? How far will I go?"
You can feed AND accommodate yourself for about €30 per day; or you can just feed yourself (roughing it in a tent beside the canal) for €10 a day. Easy. Hey, I'm in my 50s!
Take a lightweight tent (under £50) and a couple of inflatable Chinese matresses (£5 a piece from Tesco) and a cheap battery pump.
When you finish you'll feel like a hero! Trust me. Done it. Addicted.
Advice: Forget the roads. Stick to the canal. It's brilliant. You'll love it.
Alex, Devon, UK






londonanne 13 Jun 18:24  

Joined: 13 Jun 2011

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Has anyone cycled the section from Agde to Sete? Is this section on a busy road? If so are there any alternative routes?

Thanks


nobutalad 10 Jul 00:36  

Joined: 10 Jul 2011

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In answer to qquery from Londonanne,

My wife and I cycled Toulouse to Sete 5 years ago. After Agde the canal towpath just disintgrates - it literally diappears. We had to pull our bikes up a small embankment, cross some fields and get back on normal roads I don't think there is a feasible alternative to the main road (N112) that goes along the breakwater, dead straight for about 6 miles. Whilst the traffic was quite busy and a bit of a shock after the quiet Canal du Midi, there is along one saide of the road space to park cars so if there are not many cars there you can put a few metres between yourself and the other traffic. On the plus side there is something quite nice about cycling with the beach and the Med. to one side.
Steve