Cycling holidays in the Haute Vienne, France

Cycle-touring, Expeditions, Adventures, Major cycle routes NOT LeJoG (see other special board)
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Tom Wyman
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Joined: 8 Aug 2022, 7:23am

Cycling holidays in the Haute Vienne, France

Post by Tom Wyman »

We run a small 6 pitch campsite in rural France.
The site is in a beautiful setting with large pitches very well spaced apart.
Early in July we were visited by a great friend and his partner who had cycled from the UK.
One evening, over a bottle of good wine – as you do, we got to discussing how the campsite and surrounding countryside would lend itself ideally to offering holidays to cyclists who would enjoy discovering the quiet lanes, villages, and sites of the Haute Vienne with helpful support and good (French) catering.
We have therefore been working on a proposal to offer a five night package (presumably arriving Sunday afternoon and departing Friday morning) for up to six parties, starting late spring / summer 2023. This will be on the basis of camping on the site (tent, caravan, or camping car) and bringing your own bikes, although we are researching the possibility of hire. This package will include:
• Arrivals apero party.
• Breakfast every day.
• 4 planned day excursions (with support van). Each around 64km (40 miles) round trip with places of interest to visit and see along the way. Go at your own pace.
• Buffet picnic lunch each day at a resting point during the excursion.
• Two catered evening events (e.g. soiree moules frites or French BBQ).
• Option to enjoy an evening meal (a supplementary charge will apply) on the evenings when a catered event is not taking place. You can of course otherwise either cook on site or go out to one of the excellent restaurants in the area.
We have of course been looking over the websites of companies specialising in cycling holidays in France and other parts of Europe. Excellent as many of these are I am sure, we are trying to put together something which will feel much more friendly, personal, connected to the local area, and of high quality. We are also determined to set it at a price which makes people feel they have had great value for money!
The purpose of my post on your forum is to ask a couple of questions:
• Is this something that would interest people? (Obviously the price is very important but in principle would people be interested in such a thing?)
• Is 64km (40 miles) round trip about right for the day excursions?
• What would you really be looking for in such a holiday? What would be really important for us not to miss? What would make it extra special?
• What should we avoid? What are the biggest bugbears for customers on such holidays?
Any feedback and any ideas would be really welcome. I thank you for your time in reading this and I wish everyone all the best.
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MrsHJ
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Joined: 19 Aug 2010, 1:03pm
Location: Dartmouth, Devon.

Re: Cycling holidays in the Haute Vienne, France

Post by MrsHJ »

Sounds lovely Tom. I’m definitely more of a tourer wanting to lay my head somewhere new every night so it wouldn’t suit me so much.

I wonder if it would appeal to mixed groups where there are some cyclists and some non cyclists?
Jdsk
Posts: 24639
Joined: 5 Mar 2019, 5:42pm

Re: Cycling holidays in the Haute Vienne, France

Post by Jdsk »

We've been on a lot of organised walking holidays, and a lot of walking on our own but with accommodation booked and luggage transferred. But all of our cycling tours have been DIY.

You've got a lot of great ideas there. I'd add more flexibility on how much you provide and how much the punters provide, but with most of those options agreed before they arrive.

Smart walking guides calibrate our abilities on the first day. That's how I'd approach the range and severity of the rides.

+ ebIke charging + battery pack charging.

+ a space with a stand and a good pump. IIRC there's a thread about this, but it might have been on another forum.

+ advice and support on how to get there... pick up from airports and stations and lots of hints.

Bugbears: unexpected charges, hosts not listening.

I hope it goes well.

Jonathan
bohrsatom
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Joined: 20 May 2013, 4:36pm

Re: Cycling holidays in the Haute Vienne, France

Post by bohrsatom »

You’ve a well thought out plan but I reckon your target audience probably isn’t those who frequent cycle touring forums, which contain more than the average number of people who enjoy the organisational side of things, so tend to shy away from trips planned by others.

I’ve always done point to point tours, so a max of one or two nights in one spot, but a fixed based tour does appeal.

For me your proposal comes across a bit too regimented. What if I want to ride 70 miles? Or spend the day pootling around the sights only covering 25? Or maybe I don’t want to ride at all and would prefer a hike in the countryside instead. Or wine tasting….

I think a mix and match approach would allow everyone to get what they want from their trip and reduce your involvement too. Instead of the support van following riders around you could offer to pick people up should they have a mechanical, and a list of recommended markets/restaurants would remove the need to cater a picnic.

Just a few thoughts, but as I said I may not be your target audience!
Jdsk
Posts: 24639
Joined: 5 Mar 2019, 5:42pm

Re: Cycling holidays in the Haute Vienne, France

Post by Jdsk »

Jdsk wrote: 10 Aug 2022, 9:54pm+ a space with a stand and a good pump. IIRC there's a thread about this, but it might have been on another forum.
"What to provide for cycle tourists?":
viewtopic.php?t=149548

Jonathan
francovendee
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Joined: 5 May 2009, 6:32am

Re: Cycling holidays in the Haute Vienne, France

Post by francovendee »

As I'm sure you know there are others in different parts of France offering some of what you're thinking of doing. One, who is a member on here, runs Breton Bikes and has been doing this for years. I know two families who stayed with him and both had a great holiday.
Maybe you are aiming at a different section of the market and there are people who enjoy being looked after and catered for.
I think Geoff goes that extra mile to help and this is why the business has lasted and grown.

I don't know the Haute Vienne but you'd need to find some routes that the less strong cyclists can do without feeling they're exhausted so look for some shorter routes if it's hilly.

I wish you every success if you go for it.
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mjr
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Location: Norfolk or Somerset, mostly
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Re: Cycling holidays in the Haute Vienne, France

Post by mjr »

bohrsatom wrote: 10 Aug 2022, 10:14pm You’ve a well thought out plan but I reckon your target audience probably isn’t those who frequent cycle touring forums, which contain more than the average number of people who enjoy the organisational side of things, so tend to shy away from trips planned by others.
I'm not so sure. I'm probably not the only person on here who has been persuaded to help plan tours for groups of friends and the nature of such things is that most of the work is done by the few who are more able to do it and confident enough to suggest to others "how about booking this ...?" or even be one of the people to book ferries, cabins, chalets or flats for 4 or 6 of them. But now with the twin complications of B***** and C****, I'm more reluctant to take on that responsibility. We escaped in 2020 with being about €20 out of pocket and I wonder if we'll get that lucky again.

So I'd be all up for suggesting a centre-based group tour. If people in the group can book directly but still be near/with us, so much the better. We're also a pretty open group, so probably wouldn't mind others joining us, but I guess someone would have to keep basic safeguarding in mind, like not leaving someone alone with a person they don't trust.
I think a mix and match approach would allow everyone to get what they want from their trip and reduce your involvement too. Instead of the support van following riders around you could offer to pick people up should they have a mechanical, and a list of recommended markets/restaurants would remove the need to cater a picnic.
Yes, I'd be happy to mix-and-match (if there's like a main suggestion, that's fine), I don't mind carrying my own picnic from either base or a market, and I would prefer knowing a rescue wagon is available if needed to having a broom wagon stalking me: presumably bikes could take shortcuts and routes that the broom wagon couldn't.

It would also be great to know the options for getting there with a bike, especially trains from the ferry ports, or if there's anything useful like a bike taxi from the station, as well as any cycle route.
MJR, mostly pedalling 3-speed roadsters. KL+West Norfolk BUG incl social easy rides http://www.klwnbug.co.uk
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