Road bike France

Discover the secrets of the Savoy Alps on this centre-based road bike tripRef CR44

Comfortably installed in our charming bed and breakfast at the foot of the mountains, we set off each day to discover the back roads, picturesque villages and hills that shape the landscape around Savoie's capital. The Bauges, Chartreuse and Belledonne mountain ranges, which we'll be cycling through, will be our companions for the weekend. The lakes of Le Bourget, Aiguebelette, La Thuile and St André will also enhance our cycling trip, creating a striking contrast in this Alpine landscape. Over the course of a long weekend, we climbed a series of small, more or less demanding passes that local cyclists are so fond of climbing. And what a pleasure it is to meet up every evening at our charming accommodation, where you can rest and relax over a good meal!

Tour without assistance vehicle: from 510€ - Details Duration : 6 days | Level : Customer satisfaction :
- 1 reviews
+33 458 140 435 A dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 to 12:30 AM and 13:30 to 6 PM (French time) on the phone, or by email.
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Highlights

  • Little use of small mountain roads
  • The little secret passes
  • A delightful mix of alpine and pre-alpine landscapes
  • Very comfortable accommodation with swimming pool and spa!

Description

Comments

  • This circuit is available in 3 variants: V1=1 wheel / V2=2 wheels / V3=3 wheels

Programme

Our centre-based road bike tour in Savoie

6 days / 5 nights / 4 cycling days

Some regions in France, with their rural idyll and excellent accommodation, invite you to stay for a few days or even a whole week. Centre-based trips offer you the opportunity to explore different facets of an area every day from a base camp with our tour suggestions. 

  • Simply take a day off.
  • Avoid the stress of packing your luggage for transport every morning.
Your accommodation

A trip right on our doorstep. You'll stay near the spa town of Allevard in the foothills of the Belledonne massif, at the foot of the Col du Grand Cucheron and about a 20-minute drive from Chambéry. Our carefully selected accommodation is a charming guest house with a large park, pool and spa. The hosts offer a multi-course dinner in the evening and a rich, typical breakfast in the morning. Massages can also be arranged on request. 

Day by day routes

We suggest four different tours (loops), each with three levels of difficulty.

  • Level 1: 50 to 80 kilometres per day
  • Level 2: 80 to 110 kilometres per day
  • Level 3: 100 to 150 kilometres per day
Road bike tour #1: Between Belledonne and Maurienne

This morning, we start pedaling up the Vallée des Huiles to climb the Col du Grand Cucheron (1182 m). It's a small side valley of the Belledonne mountains and the Grand Cucheron connects the Isère Valley to the Maurienne Valley. On levels 2 and 3, we first warm up on the ramps of the Col de Champ Laurent (1116 m), a tricky climb with an average gradient of 8%! After a short interlude in the Maurienne, we return to our accommodation via the lonely roads of the Val Gelon. Level 3 takes us to the sun-drenched southern slopes of the Massif des Bauges, which are covered with vineyards and overlooked by the impressive fortress of Miolans. Ambitious cyclists can also tackle the Col du Frêne (950 m) (out and back). Great views of the south faces of the Dent d'Arclusaz.

Distance and elevation gain:

  • Level 1: 75 km & 1,600 metres of elevation gain
  • Level 2: 95 km & 2,300 metres of elevation gain
  • Level 3: 120 km & 3,000 metres of elevation gain
Road bike tour #2: Bauges Geopark and the Savoy vineyards

On this loop, we head north towards the Massif des Bauges Nature and Geopark. The first challenge of the day is the lonely and beautiful climb to the Col du Marocaz (958 m). On the descent, we pass Lac de la Thuile, a small mountain lake in a picturesque location at 900 m above sea level. The level 3 route then takes us over the Col des Prés (1135 m). After returning to the plain, the level 1 route winds its way through the vineyards on small roads. We have the opportunity to make a short stop at Lac St André. On the level 2 and 3 routes, the end of the stage is tougher: we climb the Col du Granier (1133 m) via the village of Montagnole (climb of the 1989 Road Cycling World Championships).

Distance and elevation gain:

  • Level 1: 85 km & 1,600 metres of elevation gain
  • Level 2: 100 km & 2,300 metres of elevation gain
  • Level 3: 140 km & 3,300 metres of elevation gain
Road bike tour #3: The Savoy Lakes Tour

Our loop starts after a short transfer (not included, call us if you do not have a car) in La Motte Servolex near Chambéry. On our tour, we discover two of France's largest natural lakes, the picturesque Lac d'Aiguebelette and the huge Lac du Bourget. After the first climb up to the Col de l'Épine (987 m), the Level 1 route tackles the Col du Chat (638 m), while Levels 2 and 3 take us through the vineyards and slopes of the Savoy foothills towards the northern shore of Lac du Bourget. Level 2 leads back along the shores of Lac du Bourget, while level 3 offers a challenging series of small passes (Sapenay 898 m, Chambotte 644 m and Saint Saturnin 409 m).

Distance and elevation gain:

  • Level 1: 80 km & 1,150 metres of elevation gain
  • Level 2: 115 km & 1,700 metres of elevation gain
  • Level 3: 145 km & 2,800 metres of elevation gain
Road bike tour #4: The balconies of Chartreuse and Belledonne

This day is all about the Isère Valley and its natural balconies! Towered over by impressive rock faces, our route takes us along the balcony road of the eastern precipices of the Chartreuse Massif. From the narrow, winding mountain road, we enjoy magnificent views of the Belledonnes. The Col de Marcieu (1,066 m) marks the end of the difficulties in the Chartreuse. On the level 1 and 2 routes, we then enjoy a beautiful descent back into the Isère valley. On level 3, we continue towards the Dent de Crolles, one of the emblematic peaks of the Chartreuse (2062 m), before descending into the valley. At the end of the day, level 1 riders face one last small climb up to the spa town of Allevard before returning to their accommodation. Levels 2 and 3 riders can look forward to another fantastic balcony road (the Chartreuse was only half the battle!) along the Balcons de Belledonne, which rise up on the left bank of the Isère. With a series of small passes (Col des Mouilles 1021 m, Col des Ayes 944 m and Col du Barioz 1042 m), we need to have plenty of energy left, especially on level 3... Levels 2 and 3 are certainly the most alpine stages of this trip, perfect for passionate climbers looking to challenge themselves.

Distance and elevation gain:

  • Level 1: 80 km & 1,700 metres of elevation gain
  • Level 2: 90 km & 2,300 metres of elevation gain
  • Level 3: 125 km & 3,100 metres of elevation gain

Distances and altitude gain are an indication only and may vary.

See photos and videos of this trip

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Costs and services

Price per person for a group of

Single-room supplement will be automatically charged in the case of odd-numbered groups.

The price includes:
  • 5 nights in a charming guest house in double rooms with en-suite facilities
  • 5 hearty breakfasts
  • Carefully designed daily itineraries on 3 levels
  • Our navigation app for smartphones, a detailed road book including maps (digital format) and GPS tracks
What is not included:
  • International flights
  • Your transfer to the meeting place (see useful information tab)
  • Bike rental
  • Lunch meals and dinners
  • All services mentioned in extensions
  • Travel insurance
  • Drinks at the accommodation
  • Visits to museums, monuments and sites not covered by the programme
  • Additional travel related to change in the programme due to bad weather
  • All personal expenses
  • Everything not mentioned under  “the price includes".

Available extra services

Single room supplement (5 nights) 390 € / 

Half-board accommodation: 5 multi-course dinners 165 € / 

Vélorizons cycling jersey
(shipping not included)
75 € / 

Bike rental: see below

Transfers from Chambéry: upon request

Road bike rental

Please collect the bikes directly from our office during our opening hours, Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 18:00. Our offices are located near Chambéry (town of Barby, F-73230). We can also offer delivery to the accommodation upon request.

Rental road bike models:

Standard road bike (4 days)
Carbon frame and fork, disc brakes, Shimano Tiagra groupset, 10 speeds, 50/34 - 11/32, aluminium wheelset, model Scott Addict 50 or equivalent, roughly 9 kg
225 € / 

Premium road bike (4 days)
Carbon frame and fork, disc brakes, Shimano 105 groupset, 12 Di2 speeds, 50/34 - 11/32, aluminium wheelset, model Scott Addict 40 or equivalent, roughly 8,9 kg
265 € / 

Ultimate road bike (4 days)
Carbon frame and fork, rim brakes, Shimano 105 groupset, 12 Di2 speeds, 50/34 - 11/34, carbon Mavic or Syncros wheelset, model Scott Addict 30 or equivalent, roughly 8,4 kg
350 € / 

E-road bike (4 days)
Carbon frame and fork, aluminium wheelset, Shimano 105 groupset, 11 speeds, 50/34 - 11/32 supplied with 1 x 248Wh battery (+ 1 extra battery 210Wh), model Orbea Gain M30 or equivalent, roughly 13 kg
465 € / 

Rental bike equipment (for all models):

  • Repair kit included: 2 CO2 cartridges, patches, multi-tool, 1 inner tube, tyre levers
  • 2 bottle holders (except size 47 bicycles on which only one can be placed)
  • Helmets and water bottles: not included
  • Pedals: Our rental bikes come without pedals. You can either bring your own pedals or specify your needs; we can install 3 types of pedals at no extra charge: Look KEO easy, Shimano SPD-SL or Shimano SPD.

Please indicate your choice of model and pedals as well as your height (if possible also frame size and inseam) when filling out your booking form.

Bike “consumables" (tyres, tubes, brake pads, cables) are included in the rental price. Only parts and components that are broken due to a crash and/or misuse will be charged. In the event of bike loss or theft, a fixed fee will be charged (2200 € for the Standard model, 3590 € for the Premium and Electric models and 5700 € for the Super light model).

Vélorizons cycling jersey

A cycling jersey to our taste.

A timeless road cycling jersey produced in France, inspired by our team and our road cycling trips. High quality, made in France by a Savoy company and with a feel-good character for long days in the saddle. Offered at a great price.

Features

- High-quality SIRTECH + LYCRA textiles
- 3 pockets, one with a central zip + 1 side pocket
- Full front zip
- Half-high cycling collar
- Short raglan sleeves in Lycra with seamless ends
- Gripper at the hem

Available sizes (EU sizing): XXS bis XL
Cut:
Slim fit, unisex
Price: see above

Order and further information by e-Mail or ask our leaders while on tour.

Private groups / Custom tours

You are a group of friends, a family, a company or a cycling club and you would like to organise a private cycling tour on the dates of your choice. This option is available for guided and self-guided tours.

  • If you are interested in one of the tours presented on our website, we can provide you with a detailed quote based on the number of persons in your group.
  • If you are interested in a custom version of one of our tours, with specific requirements (tour duration, accommodation type, vehicle assistance, airport transfers, bike rental, etc.), we can provide you with a detailed quote based on the number of persons in the group and the group's specific requirements.

For more information or to receive a quote, please contact us by phone at +33 458 140 435  or by email at info@france-bike-trips.com.

Booking procedure / Cancellation

How to book

In order to make a booking please fill in the online booking form on the "booking" page of your chosen tour. At the end of the booking process you will be transferred to our bank's secure payment page in order to pay a 30 % deposit.

Last minute booking

All self-guided bookings made within 21 days of tour departure will incur a surcharge of 15 € per person.

Expert advice
  • Unsure which tour to book?
  • Interested in a custom version of one of our tours?
  • Not sure if a particular tour is suitable for your riding style?

A dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 am to 6 pm (French time) by phone - +33 458 140 435 or by mail - info@france-bike-trips.com.

Tour confirmation

In order to confirm our guided tours, we need to reach a minimum number of participants (usually 5 persons are necessary). Therefore booking a guided tour does not necessarily mean the tour is confirmed. In the unlikely event that we are unable to confirm your chosen tour, we will offer you the opportunity (no less than 21 days before departure) of switching to another (confirmed) tour, or receiving a full refund.

Self-guided or custom tours: We confirm bookings of self-guided tours and custom tours directly after booking.

In both cases, please await our final booking confirmation before making any travel arrangements.

Balance payment

Tour balance payment must be made no less than 30 days before tour departure. Your travel documents will be sent to you once we have received your balance payment. Road books and maps will be sent to you 3 weeks before departure.

Cancellation

In the event that you are obliged to cancel your tour France Bike Trips will reimburse the entire sum paid for the tour, minus the following cancellation charges:

  • More than 60 days before departure: 5 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Between 60 and 31 days before departure: 15 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Between 30 and 21 days: 30 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Between 20 and 14 days: 50 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Between 13 and 7 days: 70 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Less than 7 days before departure: 100 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium

Full details of our sales conditions are available here

Travel insurance

It is important to be correctly insured when embarking on a cycling holiday. We recommend checking the details of your travel insurance (if you have one) and, if necessary, subscribing to our contract below. Please note that France Bike Trips is simply an intermediary between you and the insurance company.

You can choose between these travel insurance contracts while completing your booking form:

  • I subscribe to the "comprehensive multi-risk" insurance cover (4.5%), minimum premium of 15 €:
    This contract covers assistance, repatriation, lost or stolen luggage, holiday interruption and cancellation. To see the full contract, click here.
  • I purchase the "cancellation only" insurance cover (2.5%), minimum premium of 10 €:
    This policy covers cancellation only. To see the full contract, click here.
  • I purchase the "repatriation & assistance" insurance cover (1.6%), minimum premium of 10 €:
    This policy covers assistance, repatriation, lost or stolen luggage and holiday interruption. To see the full contract, click here.

Recommendation:
If you choose to take out a travel insurance policy with another insurance company, please check that the search and rescue coverage is suitable: area covered, expenses included, risks covered (as an indication, a minimum cover of 15 000 € is recommended). Please note that credit card insurance rarely offers this type of coverage.

How to get to the meeting point

By plane:

Geneva airport

Lyon airport

Airport transfers are available on request. Contact us for a quote.

By train:

SNCF: www.sncf-connect.com

By car:

Route planner: en.mappy.com

Accommodation

We favour comfortable accommodation with warm hospitality.

Our standard price is based comfortable guesthouses with double rooms and en-suite facilities.

Food

"L'art de la table"

This trip is also an opportunity to discover the famous French gastronomy. 

We pay very careful attention to the quality and the variety of your meals.  Fresh and local products will be served wherever possible.

Depending on the meals included in your chosen tour:

  • Continental breakfasts taken at the accommodation  
  • Cereal bars and dried fruit during the day
  • Hearty dinners (3 to 4 courses, with local dishes)
  • For lunch, we offer 3 options based on your preferences: 
    • A picnic to carry along in a small backpack. It contains an individual salad (carbohydrate and vegetable based salad), cold meats, cheese and fruit. This picnic can be carried in a small backpack or a handlebar bag. 
    • "Racing food" for those "allergic" to backpacks: energy bars, dried fruit.
    • No lunch organised by France Bike Trips, leaving you free to stop and eat when and where you choose (restaurant, bakery, grocery store...).

Please check the "Dates & Prices" section for meal plan details.

Car sharing

If you sign up for a guided tour, we offer you the opportunity to see if you can carpool with other participants to get to the point of departure. To do this, go to "Car sharing" in our website. By entering the complete reference and the date of departure of the tour (available on the registration confirmation that we have sent you), you have access to route details and emails of other participants who wish to carpool.

Baggage

During the day you carry only a daypack for additional clothing, water, food, camera, etc. The rest of your baggage is transferred each day to the following nights accommodation.

Health

We strongly recommend having a medical check-up before your holiday. 

Our / Your state of mind

- A "group" tour: If you join a guided tour, you will be part of a group for several days. This is a superb opportunity to meet new people and share some magical moments. However, a group tour requires that each person show friendliness, openness and mutual respect for their fellow travellers.

- An "adventure" tour: despite the most careful preparation, adventure tours can present unforeseen events. Accepting these risks will help you enjoy your trip to the full, in the knowledge that your guide, our local partners and the entire France Bike Trips team will offer you the most suitable solutions to any given situation.

Bike and plane / train

If you decide to bring your own bike, be aware that transporting a bike by plane or train is no longer an issue. However a few simple guidelines help to optimise the transport and avoid potential damages that could occur.
Your bike must be transported in a designated bike bag (standard size 120x90cm). This maximal size allows you to travel with your bike as "hand luggage" in any TGV and SNCF trains.
It is very important that you protect your bike in the bag. After having deflated the tires, removed the wheels (by removing the quick release mechanisms), pedals and rear derailleur (which is left hanging on the chain), we recommend you wrap your bike inside the bag in a sheet of dense foam (thickness of 3 to 5 cm). A piece of cardboard or rigid plastic positioned between the foam and the inside of the cover can be beneficial to provide more rigidity.

Once folded up the bike bag will take up very little space and will be transported by the assistance vehicle during your tour.

Bike bags are available directly from France Bike Trips at a cost of 70 euros, plus postage.

Your equipment

Personal equipment to bring:
Luggage

All your luggage must be distributed in two bags: a backpack and a travel bag:

1/ Backpack (or saddlebag)

This is the bag or saddlebag (saddle or handelbar) you use every day while cycling, if you choose to take a picnic lunch (see paragraph "Food"). This bag should not be too large (up to 20 litres).

It will contain: a picnic for lunch, snack food, camera, waterproof and extra clothing and sunglasses, ...

2/ Travel bag

This is the bag that will be transported from one accommodation to the next by vehicle. It will contain all the belongings you will not use during the day. You will find it at the accommodation in the evening (or sometimes for lunch).

List of equipment to pack:
For your head
  • A cap or other head protection against the sun
  • A hat or sweat band
  • A bike helmet.
For your upper body
  • Two cycling jerseys or technical t-shirts  (made of synthetic or natural breathable fabrics)
  • A warm shirt or sweatshirt
  • A fleece
  • A waterproof jacket
For your legs
  • Two good quality cycling shorts with chamois (avoid triathlon shorts)
  • A pair of warm cycling tights or leg warmers
  • Trousers
  • Casual short
  • A swimsuit.
For your feet
  • A pair of biking shoes
  • A pair of shoes suitable for the evening
  • Sandals (not compulsory, but nice for warm evenings...)
  • Sport socks.
For your bike
  • Gearing adapted to riding in the mountains: if in doubt ask your local cycle dealer
  • 2 spare tubes
  • Puncture repair kit
  • Spare brake pads (except if you start with new pads)
  • A rear derailleur cable
  • Chain lube
  • A pump
  • A multitool
Other
  • A pair of bike specific gloves
  • A bike lock
  • A headlamp with batteries
  • A pair of spare laces
  • A toiletry kit and towel
  • 2 bike bottles 75 cl (or camelbak)
  • A pocket knife
  • A few plastic bags to protect your belonging
  • A needle and thread
  • A small individual pharmacy: sunscreen (face and lips); band aids + double skin (Compeed); Immodium; pain killers, earplugs, other personal medication.

Self-guided tour "user guide"

Active autonomy: what you need to know for our self-guided tours

In order to achieve the planned tour programme, you must:

  • Guide yourself with the highlighted maps and road book;
  • Choose suitable start times adapted to the lengths of the daily stages as well as your own riding pace, and leave an adequate safety margin of time;
  • Obtain daily weather forecasts from your hosts, and take into account the weather conditions when planning journey times;
  • Arrive at the booked guest houses and hotels listed in the programme on the given dates; 
  • Bring the necessary personal equipment to carry out the tour. France Bike Trips equipment list constitutes the necessary minimum;
  • Carry insurance policies and emergency telephone numbers with you at all times;
  • Be familiar with basic first-aid steps;
  • In the event of any problems during your trip, contact France Bike Trips (contact information in your travel documents). Possession of a mobile phone that works in France is strongly recommended.

Self-guided tours are undertaken without a guide and at your own risk. France Bike Trips cannot be held liable for any route error, misconduct, personal imprudence, inadequate planning or inappropriate reactions in the event of incidents.

Any programme change of your own initiative is under your responsibility and at your expense. 

Having said this, with our advice and good preparation, you should be able to look forward to a wonderful, trouble free holiday. Enjoy your trip!

Route navigation

You will receive an email 2 weeks before departure, containing all the information necessary for your upcoming tour, including the following navigation tools:

Our dedicated smartphone app

Follow your route with comfort and ease! Thanks to the Velorizons navigation app, download the full trip itinerary to your smartphone, view route maps and profiles, access the list of booked accommodation, services and useful contacts, and use the integrated route guidance (visual and vocal) for navigation.

See the mobile app presentation video

To benefit fully from the app navigation system, we strongly recommend attaching your smartphone to the bicycle handlebar using a dedicated mount. An example can be viewed here.

Velorizons app compatibility
Operating systemAndroidAppleWindows PhoneBlackberry
CompatibilityVersion 8.0 minimumiOS 8.0 minimum. iPhone compatible, iPad compatible if GPS equippedNon compatibleNon compatible
A detailed Road Book

Your tour road book will be available to download in your My France Bike Trips customer area. The road book contains:

  • Full colour maps with highlighted routes,
  • Step-by-step route description,
  • Route profiles
GPS tracks

Tour GPS tracks will be available to download in your My France Bike Trips customer area. The tracks are in .gpx format, compatible with all GPS devices/apps.

Average tour rating:

5/5 - 1 Reviews
Marine G. | Participant rating:
"We had an amazing experience with the agency and trip! We would recommend and book again with you. Thanks a lot!"
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A dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 to 12:30 AM and 13:30 to 6 PM (French time) on the phone, or by email.


Phone number: +33 458 140 435

Contact us

A dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 to 12:30 AM and 13:30 to 6 PM (French time) on the phone, or by email.

Please type in your email address in order to access tour details and description

Your email will not be communicated to any third party or company outside France Bike Trips / Velorizons. You may receive occasional emails from France Bike Trips, with the possibility to unsubscribe at any time. CNIL (French National Commission for Data Protection and Liberties)