† 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.
Wild Drome Provencale, Baronnies and Ardeche:
Join us for an exploration of the lesser known but no less spectacular area of Provence at the foothills of the Vercors mountains: the pre-Alpine mountains of the Baronnies. We start in Arles, easy to get to from Marseille’s airport. If you arrive early, you can explore this Roman town (only second to Rome, Italy for Roman remains) and the Camargue and delta of the Rhone river. From there, we head into Provence and tackle, or not, the Giant of Provence: Mont Ventoux. Those of us who will not tackle the beast can still enjoy the spectacular Gorges de la Nesque. We then head to the Baronnies then to Crest where we explore the foothills of Vercors, the land of Clairette. We will cross the Rhone and admire the Gorges de l’Ardeche and then head back to Arles to wrap up our tour. Smith and Claude have been riding tandems for 30 years and have made many tandeming trips to France, where Claude is from and where they currently live. You will start and finish in Arles with 14 days of cycling in five host towns. We will stay 2 nights in Bedoin, 4 nights in Buis les Baronnies, 4 nights Crest, 3 in Vallon Pont d’Arc.
Optional points of Interest: Arles Roman ruins (https://www.arlestourisme.com), Vallon Pont d’Arc spectacular Grotte Chauvet (replica of a painted prehistoric cave https://grottechauvet2ardeche.tickeasy.com/en-GB/home), Pont du Gard Roman aquaduct (https://pontdugard.fr/en/discover/monument).
We will enjoy local wines (the famous Cote du Rhone, reds and rosés), Clairette (local sparkling) and other specialties. We will visit the spectacular Grotte Chauvet replica, Pont du Gard, and start and finish in Arles, with its roman Arena, antique baths and museums. We can provide extra loop rides suggestions to nearby towns and attractions.
Luggage service will be provided to transport one suitcase or duffle bag less than 30 lbs. per rider from point to point.
In case of emergency a vehicle will be available. That said, we expect our tour participants to be self-sufficient.
Health and Safety:
Vaccinations for Covid are recommended, but not required. Participants are expected to come to the tour in good health and ready to ride. Should someone's health become compromised and the group’s health and safety placed in jeopardy, a plan will be developed by the ride leader(s) and communicated to all individuals. The expectation is for the group to work together to mitigate any spread of infection or illness as a means to ensure the tour can continue as planned.
All participants must comply with France’s vaccination requirements for travelers.
RIDE RATING 3C
The rating is based on the 5 required riding days which are averaging 55 miles with 2800 feet. The whole ride average daily distance is around 50 miles with 3,300 feet of climbing per day. Most grades are less than 6%.
Details of the required riding days
You can also decide to tackle the Giant of Provence, Mont Ventoux, which will be 55 miles and 7000 feet of climbing. The last 7km has an average grade of 6.1% with a maximum grade of 14.6%.
The routes are mainly on very quiet roads. There are a few exceptions when entering and leaving towns where there may be busier roads. We personally have ridden over 90% and driven the remaining 10% of these routes.
We strongly recommend having front and rear lights for visibility for all your riding, not just for the short tunnels we will go through. The terrain is mountainous with technical downhills. Check your brakes and bring spare brake pads.
We will provide GPX files (RideWithGPS) that will show the profile for the days. Participants are responsible for printing queue sheets and / or loading their own GPX files.
WEATHER
The weather is typically sunny and warm (average temperatures are from 55 to 85), so plan for sunscreen, but be ready for the occasional rainstorm, and if you decide to climb Mt Ventoux, you will need layers for the descent.
LODGING & MEALS
We will stay in local 3-star hotels. If you need extra nights, please let us know.
All breakfasts and happy hour beverages are included. Lunches and dinners are on your own except for group dinners in Arles (2), Bedoin (2), Buis les Baronnies (2), and Crest (4).
LOGISTICS
Nearest Airport is Marseille (airport code MRS). Airport shuttle buses and trains are available from the Airport to Arles. All tour participants are expected to book their own flights and airport shuttles.
The tour starts on Friday, May 23, 2025 6:00 PM for Happy Hour and introductory meeting. The departure day is Saturday, June 7, 2025. Luggage storage will be available at the host hotel for the duration of the tour.
First riding day is Saturday May 24, 2025 and last riding day is Friday June 6, 2025.
We expect tour participants to arrive no later than Friday May 23 and build their bikes that day. Luggage needs to be ready for transport on Saturday morning at 8:30 AM. Travel cases not needed during the tour will remain at the hotel in Arles.
Luggage service will be provided to transport one suitcase or duffle bag less than 30 lbs per rider from point to point. No sag while on the road, we expect our tour participants to be self-sufficient.
We will provide an inventory list for those who would like a detailed list of what we carry on our tours.
The starting hotel details and bike rental information will be provided in a welcome email once the tour minimum has been met. E-Bikes and tandems are welcome.
ETIAS PRE SCREENING: Effective May 2025 travelers to Europe will be required to complete the new mandatory pre-screening security questionnaire ETIAS. Without ETIAS approval, travelers from the US, Canada, and many other countries will not be able to book travel into Europe. Approvals can be issued quickly and once issued are valid for 3 years. Sign up for ETIAS notifications or to complete the ETIAS application here: https://etias.com/etias-application.
COST & ADMINISTRATION
The cost of the tour is $3,000. This does not include the $100 BAC ride registration fee. Included in the cost are 15 nights lodging, 15 breakfasts, 8 group dinners, luggage transfer, storage of bike cases, 15 light happy hour beverages and snacks. Tour attractions are at the discretion of the riders.
The cost of the trip was calculated on an exchange rate of $1.20 = 1 Euro. Since the costs are in Euros, we may need to adjust the cost of the trip, based on currency fluctuations, in early 2025.
Deposit of $1,500 plus the $100 BAC Ride Registration Fee is due immediately upon acceptance to the ride. Final payment of $1,500 is due – January 15, 2025.
SINGLES & SOLOS POLICY
Singles (riders sharing a room with a room-mate) and Solos (riders occupying a room by themselves) are both welcome. If a single can find their own room-mate, that is preferable but the Ride Leader will assist by attempting to match singles who apply for the ride. After the receipt of the initial deposit, a single without a roommate will be placed on the tour and given 60 days to find a roommate. If they are unable to find a roommate, they will have the option to receive a full refund (minus the BAC fee and credit card processing fees), or pay the $1100 solo supplement and stay on the tour. If a single pays the solo supplement, they may continue to seek a roommate, but must plan to participate without a roommate if necessary. If they find a roommate, the solo supplement will be refunded. Due to lodging limitations, this tour can accept a maximum of 2 solo participants.
Solo supplement payments are due within 60 days of signing up for this tour and may be made in one of two ways:
If you have questions, contact Nancy Bohnett (nbohnett@bicycleadventureclub.org ) or Ernie Coose (erniecoose.bac@gmail.com ).
NOTE: Only solo supplement payments may be paid via Zelle. All other tour payments must be made by credit card through the BAC website.
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.
Insurance Statements:
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.
Bicycle Adventure Club
PO BOX 23998 San Diego, CA 92193
Telephone (858) 715-9510 office@bicycleadventureclub.org