2025 Seine à Vélo and Hidden Normandy

† Explanation of BAC Ride Fee – This fee is not included in the Estimated Cost and is non-refundable once submitted. The Ride Fee for US and Canada is $85 and $100 for all other countries, both are per participant.

Ride Description

Beautiful Paris, City of Light,  has undergone a cycling revolution since 2015 under Mayor Ann Hidalgo and has rapidly become a world class cycling city with almost 200 miles of cycling lanes and with an additional 250 million euros recently dedicated to  expanding cycling infrastructure for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Over three days of Paris area riding will let us show you many iconic Paris sites....by bike. In addition to a grand sightseeing Paris tour and Versailles tour we’ll also show you the many wooded pathways and surprising greenery of Paris and its parks.

We’ll then discover the pastoral beauty of Normandy as we follow the newly inaugurated (2018) Seine à Vélo cycle route alongside the Seine River downstream out of Paris towards the atmospheric fishing port of Honfleur on a variety of paths and quiet roads closely following the loops of the river. En route we'll  visit historic Rouen home of early Impressionist painters and smaller villages such as Jumiėges all with fascinating history and charm. From Honfleur we will venture inland to the lesser-known  area of Normandy, riding on narrow backroads and bike paths through forest and farmland. We visit some of the most beautiful villages of France on this section as we try our best to educate you about the local landscape and long history.  This is a land of cream, local cheeses (Camembert, Pont L'Évêque, Neufchâtel and Livarot), ciders and Calvados brandy, and seafood, especially shellfish. Our cycling concludes in Bayeux with  one or two days of riding along the Normandy beaches past D-Day landing sites and many D-Day monuments, memorials and museums and with an option for those interested to do a day trip (on their own) to Mont St. Michel. Finally, we will have an optional half day and evening after leaving Bayeux to explore central Paris on your own en route back to our airport hotel before tour’s end the next morning. 

Ride Rating 

The tour is rated 2B with an average daily distance of 47 miles and average elevation gain of 1,898’ over nine  mandatory move days.  Four days exceed the 2B rating: the longest day is Day 6 with 64 miles and 2,041’ and the most climbing occurs on Day 11 with 45 miles and 2,828‘ of climbing. As well we have optional rides on 4 out of 5 rest days.  On Day 14 the descent into Arromanches has grades as high as 20%. 

Most of the riding will be on dedicated cycle paths or on minor agricultural roads. Some sections of the Seine à Vélo are unpaved hard packed dirt/gravel and some short sections require riding on main roads. Riders must be comfortable riding in traffic as we spend two move days and one optional day riding the streets of Paris where riding skills are essential.

This tour will be run for the first time in September 2024 so all routes will have been scouted, ridden and adjusted where necessary prior to this tour.

Logistics

Tour arrival date is Sunday Sept.14, 2025 at the Holiday Inn Paris–Charles de Gaulle (CDG) Airport hotel, 61 Rue Houdart, Roissy-en-France, located 3 miles from CDG Terminal 2 via a free shuttle. On the arrival date, Sunday,we will assemble our bikes upon arrival, load bike boxes into the tour van at 3 pm and  meet for our Introductory meeting at 6 pm at the hotel bar. 

Riders wishing to arrive early (recommended) or stay late will be provided with contact information so that they can make their own reservations at our group rate. Optional transportation into the city involves a hotel shuttle (or bus) back to CDG Terminal 2 then the RER B train (40 minutes).

The tour includes seventeen nights with nine “move” days and six rest days, with optional rides on four of those six rest days.

On the afternoon of Day 16 in Bayeux, we’ll pack bikes into bike boxes and load the van and then enjoy a final dinner together. The next morning, we’ll load  luggage and participants will be picked up by a charter bus at 9 am for return to our CDG airport starting hotel, with an optional stop near downtown Paris for those wishing  to spend the afternoon and evening wandering Paris before making their way back to our airport hotel on the RER B train on their own time.  The tour will end the next morning after breakfast on Wednesday, October 1st.

Lodging & Meals

Seventeen nights lodging includes two nights each in Paris (La Villette), Rouen, Honfleur, Caen, and at our starting/ending airport hotel at CDG.  We spend three nights in Bayeux and one night in Poissy, Vernon, Jumiėges  and Lisieux. Daily breakfasts will be provided and there will be six group dinners. Lunches and the remaining dinners will be on your own. As well we will have twelve social hours with route review before our ride days.

Our hotels will be a mix of  modern chain hotels (Holiday Inn, Best Western Plus, Radisson Blu) and smaller inns.  Some hotels have pools and/or saunas or hammams. Hotels are centrally located so you will have ample time to explore the local villages.

Weather

Average temperatures are around 65°F/20°C high and 55°F/12°C low with rainfall expected about 8 days in the month. September is beautiful in Paris and Normandy but riders should be prepared for all types of weather.

Van Support 

The luggage van will transport the luggage each move day. Each rider is expected to load and unload their own luggage each day and to help the driver whenever possible.

Participants are expected to cycle the entire route to Bayeux and will be transported only in the case of injury or illness. Participants should be able to handle their own bike repairs and at a minimum know how to change a tire. If you have a major equipment failure, we will assist in transporting you to the nearest town with a bike shop.

Luggage

Due to limited space and handling requirements, we limit everyone to two pieces of luggage: one small backpack type and  one larger piece which must not exceed 35 lbs.

Bikes and Bike Rentals

Bikes: We recommend a minimum 28 mm tire size and portable fenders for the wet days. All bikes in France must have front and rear lights and a warning device (bell). All riders must bring a lock (if possible, a combination lock) for their bikes. We recommend outside the ear bone conduction headphones or similar as hearing audio cues will be essential to locating and learning about the many interesting sites we pass as we ride. In-ear devices are prohibited in France.

Tandems are welcome. If you are planning on renting a bike, please contact the ride leader as we have a limited number of spaces on the tour van to transport rental bikes back to our starting hotel. E-bikes must have removeable batteries and heavier “Dutch” type e-bikes are not acceptable.

Bike Boxes will be delivered to Bayeux where we will pack up the bikes before returning to Paris and our last hotel at the CDG Airport.

Bike Rentals are the responsibility of the participant.  Several bike rental suppliers are being used on the 2024 version of this tour and we will be able to report on how those worked out by November. The Ride Leader does not get involved with bike rentals and it is up to the Participants to find and make their own rental arrangements.

Cue sheets, maps, GPS files

Participants will receive an email containing a link to the EVENT file. Participants will need to have downloaded (at the minimum) the Basic version of the RidewithGPS app to receive audio cues which will be an important  element of our tour as we use audio cues to alert you to many historical and other points of interest along each day’s route.  Participants wanting cue sheets will need to print their own from the files provided. Note: It is up to the rider to know how to use his or her GPS device before the trip begins.

Cost & Administration 

The cost estimate based on an exchange rate of €1 = $1.17 is $3,580 per person double occupancy for 17 hotel nights, 17 breakfasts, 12 happy hours with a drink and snacks, 6 group dinners, daily route review, luggage transfer, scouted routes, GPS files, sightseeing information and coach transfer back to our final CDG hotel. 
Not included are any costs related to Paris area subway or train transportation, tours to Mont St. Michel or museum admissions or tour charges

The $ 1,200 deposit  will be due within 7 days of being accepted onto the ride.  The second payment of $1,500 will be due April 1, 2025, and the third payment of $880  will be due August 1, 2025. The third payment may be adjusted depending upon the USD/Euro currency exchange rate .

Health and Safety Requirements

Participants must be vaccinated for Covid and will be asked to provide verification. Participants will also be required to have updated vaccinations in accordance with CDC's recommendations as found on the CDC website  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html and to provide verification of their updated vaccination status 30 days or less prior to tour start.

Participants are expected to come to the tour in good health and ready to ride. Prior to the final payment for the tour, an infectious disease plan will be developed and communicated during a group Zoom call.  The plan will identify possible actions for dealing with persons with an infectious disease on the tour that could affect their ability to ride or the health of others in the group. The plan will include items such as isolation protocols, testing, masking, distancing, and leaving the tour.      

As a general guideline, we would anticipate the following to keep the group safe: 

-  Participants would be requested to bring at least two covid antigen tests and two N95 or KN95 masks.  If masking is required cloth or surgical masks would be unacceptable;

-  Participants would  be required to report cold-like or symptoms or feeling unwell to the ride leader and if requested by the ride leader would be expected to mask around other participants until symptoms disappear or may be asked to take a monitored covid antigen test at a certain time after symptoms first appeared; and

- Participants with a suspected infectious disease or testing positive for Covid would be allowed to stay on tour, but would have to mask at all times when outside their room and isolate from the group and not attend meals or social hours while the group is at same. They would not be allowed in the group tour van or any group shuttles and would have to arrange their own transport if unable to ride . They must also be prepared to take a separate room if requested by their roommate. CDC protocols would determine when they could rejoin group activities and in what manner.

Singles & Solos Policy

Due to limited hotel capacity, this tour is not able to accept solo riders. Singles are most welcome but should try find their own roommate prior to signing up.  If unable they should still apply to join the tour and after payment of the deposit will have until February 1st, 2025, to find a roommate with the help of the Ride Leader.  If by then no roommate has been found they will be placed back on the Waitlist and will receive a full refund (minus the BAC fee and payment processing fee). 

ETIAS Travel Authorization

ETIAS stands for the European Travel Information and Authorisation System. It is a visa waiver for short-term stays in Europe and has been in the works for almost a decade. ETIAS is not a visa but it will be required for some travelers to the EU, including Americans and Canadians. The roll-out date has again been delayed and MAY begin in mid-2025. If it does indeed roll out before May 2025, the tour leadership team will be in contact with participants; it is likely this tour would occur during the expected “trial period” when the system will be optional. More information can be found here:  https://etias.com.

Cancellation Policy 

The BAC Ride Registration Fee and Payment Processing Fees are not refundable unless the entire tour is canceled because the number of participants registered is less than the minimum established for the tour. Refunds of tour payments will depend upon whether a replacement rider signs up, and on costs that can be recouped. The amount refunded will be based on the principle that the tour’s remaining participants will not incur any additional cost as a result of cancellations. If the canceling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time. If the canceling participant can't be replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride and final expense report are completed. If a single participant cancels and another roommate cannot be found, in addition to other costs that cannot be recouped the canceling roommate may also be liable for the solo supplement fee of the roommate remaining on the tour. BAC encourages members to purchase trip cancellation insurance.

Ride Participant Responsibility:

Please remember that BAC Ride Leaders are volunteers, and that successful tours depend on participants providing much of their own support. Participants are expected to come to the ride well trained, in good health and ready to accomplish the required daily riding using well-maintained bicycles. All participants should accept responsibility for a safe and enjoyable tour. We encourage you to read the ride description carefully and respond to requests from the Ride Leader. While on the ride, support your Ride Leader with offers to help with various tasks such as happy hour preparation and cleanup. Please do not interfere with the ride by inviting non-participants onto any portion of the ride or tour. Please keep the Ride Leader informed of any special request you might have and respect the Ride Leader’s decisions.

Before participating in any BAC tour, you should assess whether your medical and travel insurance coverage is sufficient. BAC maintains insurance that covers expenses related to accidents, medical emergencies such as sudden and unexpected sickness, and repatriation. This coverage applies when touring outside the US and your home country, regardless of your nationality. It will cover you door-to-door for a maximum of 90 days but will expire if you make a side trip not related to the BAC tour for more than 7 days before or after. There is limited coverage for a family member to join a covered person in an emergency. The policy covers the cost of treatment for Covid and other unexpected illnesses, but not quarantine. You should ensure that your vaccinations are up to date. Coverage is subject to a $1000 deductible.

Sign-up

To register for this ride, use the sign-up links just above the Ride Description. After preliminary acceptance, you will be moved to the pending list and receive an email requesting you to go back to the BAC site to digitally accept the terms of the Release of Liability (ROL), and pay the Tour Deposit and the non-refundable BAC Ride Registration Fee by credit card.. As soon as your deposit has been processed, your name(s) will be added to the Participant List. BAC members with questions may contact the Ride Director by "clicking" the name at the top of this Ride Description.