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 600 miles of cycle paths. Emmanuel Grégoire, the recently elected Mayor has vowed to continue her work. You will experience the many wooded pathways and surprising greenery of central Paris and its parks on a Sunday ride to Versailles. For those wishing to experience the thrills of riding through central Paris, Graeme will lead an optional ride around the main sights of the city.

The next day we will start our scenic ride on the newly inaugurated (2018) Seine à Vélo cycle route out of central Paris to a peaceful evening and fine dinner on the lushly forested banks of the Seine at Poissy.

For the next four riding days we will follow the Seine River downstream 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 Claude Monet's house and gardens in Giverny, 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 parts 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, cider, Calvados apple brandy and fresh seafood, especially shellfish.

Based out of the bustling commercial fishing port of Port-en-Bessin, we’ll spend almost 3 days exploring the five landing beaches (Sword, Juno, Gold , Omaha and Utah) between Caen and Bayeux allowing plenty of time to visit many D-Day memorials and museums.

We then ride on to Bayeux followed by a rest day with an option for those interested to do a day trip (on their own) to Mont- Saint-Michel. A charter bus will then transfer us from Bayeux to our final hotel near Charles de Gualle airport where we'll enjoy one last French dinner together before departing after breakfast the next morning using the hotel’s free shuttle.

We will experience a wide range of sights and emotions on this tour from the exhileration of riding in Paris and pure joy of riding exquisite scenery on near-empty roads, to the sharp contrast between the haunting beauty of vast sandy beaches and jutting rock headlands against the rolling expanse of white military crosses row on row in too many cemeteries. Or the historical contrast of William the Conqueror of Caen launching his world-changing beach assault at Hastings to capture England in 1066 against the vast Allied beach assault in 1944 that landed just 8 miles from William's home in Caen. Or that almost 1,000 years before D- Day, William's Norman army embarked onto ships to cross the English Channel just 10 miles down the coast from Pegasus Bridge, the site of the first major combat action of D-Day.

Two-night stays in Paris, Rouen, Honfleur, Caen, Port-en-Bessin and Bayeaux will give us lots of time to explore those towns. Cultural and historical information will be provided about each day’s ride, and all routes will be well marked with points of interest and food, water, restrooms and pharmacy options en route.

Ride Rating 
The tour is rated 2B with a daily average of 47 miles and 1,898’ over 9 mandatory ride days and 12 days with rides. Most of the riding will be on dedicated cycle paths or on minor agricultural roads, however riders must be comfortable riding in traffic as we spend two days riding the streets of Paris where busy traffic riding skills are essential. On Day 13 the short smooth descent into Arromanches is up to 20% .

The ride leaders have led this tour in 2024 and 2025, so all routes will have been scouted, ridden and adjusted where necessary prior to this tour.

Daily rides. (Bold exceeds 2B rating): 
(D2) 39 mi 2041 ft opt'nl;  (D3) 41 mi 1496ft ;   (D4) 52 mi 1736ft ;  (D5) 64 mi 2024ft ;  (D7) 39 mi 1240ft; (D8) 50 mi  1955ft;   (D10) 45 mi 2828ft;   (D11) 49 mi 2677ft;   (D13) 42 mi 1585ft;   (D15) 48 mi 1991ft       

Logistics
Our tour will begin in Paris  on Saturday September 4th, 2027, at the Holiday Inn Express, Canal de la Villette located in the 19th Arrondissement on the Villette basin Rental bikes will arrive and empty bike boxes will be picked up between 2 and 3 PM. It is recommended all participants arrive by 1 pm . We'll gather for our first Happy Hour meeting at 5:00 PM in the hotel lobby followed by dinner

Taxi fares from CDG Airport to Right Bank hotels are fixed at €56 currently. These flat rates apply 24/7, with no extra charge for luggage or up to four passengers. Taxis have an advantage over Uber, Bolt, etc. as only taxis can drive in the exclusive bus lanes.  Alternatively, the RER B train from the airport into central Paris costs €14 and will require a transfer to Riquet Metro station located on Metro Subway Line 7 and a 5-minute walk from our hotel.

The CDG Express is a planned, direct non-stop rail link between Paris Gare de l'Est and Paris–Charles de Gaulle Airport, scheduled to enter service on March 28, 2027. It will offer a 20-minute journey time, operating every 15 minutes from 5 a.m. to midnight, providing a fast alternative to the existing RER B line.

Rental bikes will arrive and empty bike boxes/cases will be picked up mid afternoon on our tour start day. We'll gather for orientation gathering that day at 5:00 PM in the hotel bar area followed by a canal-side dinner at a nearby bistro.

Our last ride is into Bayeaux on Day 16. Rental bikes will be picked up and bike boxes dropped off that afternoon. We'll have a rest day in Bayeux the next day and the following morning take a bus transfer to our final hotel, the Holiday Inn Paris - CDG airport with an optional stop near downtown Paris for those wishing to spend the afternoon wandering Paris before returning to our airport hotel for social hour, followed by a last French dinner that evening. Our 17-night tour will end the next morning, Tuesday September 21st after breakfast.

Lodging & Meals
This tour includes 17 nights lodging in a mix of  3-4 star modern chain hotels (Holiday Inn, Best Western Plus, Radisson Blu) and smaller family run hotels with 2-night stays in Paris (La Villette), Rouen, Honfleur, Caen, Port-en Bessin and Bayeux. (17 breakfasts, 7 group dinners, and 12 social hours are included.

Lunches are on your own, and we encourage participants to enjoy one of France’s simple pleasures—fresh offerings from local boulangeries. Along the route, you’ll find excellent options such as baguette sandwiches, quiches, and pastries, and these stops will be clearly marked on the provided gps route files.

Most hotels are conveniently situated near a variety of restaurants for evening dining, and we’ll also highlight nearby markets and grocery stores. “Grazing” your way through regional specialties is part of the experience—and in Normandy even a casual picnic can be exceptional.

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 bell. All riders should bring a 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. E-bikes are welcome but must have removeable batteries. Tandem riders allowed on a case by case basis.

If you plan to rent a bike, please notify the Ride Leader as soon as possible at sue@bunten.ca. Tandems may be accepted on a case-by-case basis—please contact the Ride Leader prior to registering to discuss. 

Rental bikes quotes are being gathered from a number of companies offering bike rental delivery and drop off service. Transport / delivery charges for the rental bikes will be shared equally amongst bike renters. Bike box travelers can expect a roughly 30 euro charge per bike box for pickup and delivery.

Cue sheets, maps, GPS files
There will be detailed ride descriptions and audio-cue enabled RidewithGPS routes with annotated Points of Interest, food and water stops, and other route notes as audio and visual cues. Participants will receive an email with a link to the GPS files and that link will also be posted in the Ride Leader docs. 

Participants will need to download (at a minimum) the basic version of the RidewithGPS app to receive audio cues. This is important not only for turn cues, but for the points of interest along the way. Participants wanting cue sheets will need to print their own from the files provided. It is up to each rider to know how to use his or her GPS device before the trip begins.

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, including rain.

Van Support 
A luggage van will transport bags between hotels on each move day. Riders are responsible for loading and unloading their own luggage and assisting the driver whenever possible. To reduce the risk of injury, there is a strict 35 lb. limit on any piece of of luggage— no exceptions. Two smaller, soft-sided bags are strongly recommended, as they are easier to handle and fit more efficiently in the van.

Participants are expected to cycle the full route to Bayeux. The van is reserved for emergencies and will only be used in cases of illness or injury. Riders should be self-sufficient on the road, including the ability to perform basic bike maintenance—at a minimum, changing a flat tire.

In the event of a mechanical issue that cannot be resolved on the road, Ride Leaders will make reasonable efforts to assist with transport to the nearest town or bike shop.

Cost & Administration 
In addition to the non-refundable BAC ride registration fee of $150, the estimated tour cost is $4,150  person double occupancy based on an anticipated exchange rate of $1.28 = 1 € (Euro) and a minimum of 20 participants. The estimated cost includes 17 nights lodging, 17 breakfasts, 12 happy hours with a drink and snacks, 7 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 airport transfers,  Metro subway or train transportation, tours to Mont St. Michel, admission tickets to museums or other attractions, or travel cancellation, interruption and delay insurance (highly recommended).

The $2,000 deposit will be due within 7 days of being accepted onto the ride. The final payment of $2,150 will be due May 1, 2027 and may be adjusted depending upon the USD/Euro currency exchange rate.

Health & Safety
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 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.

Singles & Solos Policy
A ”single” is a member who signs up by himself or herself and wishes to share a room with another participant. A “solo” is a member who signs up by himself or herself and does not wish to share a room.

It is recommended that singles who want a roommate try to find their own. However, after receiving the initial deposit a single rider without a roommate will be placed on the ride and given until March 1, 2027 to find a roommate. The Ride Leader will assist by attempting to match single riders seeking roommates. 

If they are unable to find a roommate, they will have the option to receive a full refund (minus the BAC Ride Registration Fee and Payment Processing Fee) or pay ​a Rooming Solo Supplement charge of $1,800​ to stay on the ride.  ​In the rare case where by choosing the option to stay on as a Solo they  displace a paying rider, a Room plus Fixed Costs Solo Supplement charge of $2,340 would be required to stay on the ride.

Solo Supplement  can be paid by Zelle or check. To pay using Zelle: 
     -In your bank's website add Bicycle Adventure Club as a new recipient, with email
       address Treasurer@bicycleadventureclub.org.  
     -Initiate a payment. 
     -In the Message block enter the name of the tour. 
If you have questions, contact Nancy Bohnett (nbohnett@bicycleadventureclub.org). Checks should be made out to "BAC" with a notation of the tour name included on the check and mailed to Bicycle Adventure Club, PO Box 23998, San Diego, CA 92193

ETIAS
ETIAS is not in effect now but is expected to be in effect for our tour.  Travellers entering Schengen countries will need an ETIAS authorization. The ETIAS process will require travellers to apply online (about a 10-minute process), and then wait up to 96 hours for applications to be approved. The authorization process is supposed to be very speedy for the majority of applicants. It will cost roughly 20 euros and be valid for 3 years. The official site: https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias

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 extended solo supplement fee (lodging plus a share of the fixed costs that would have been paid by the canceling and unreplaced participant ). 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
BAC maintains two insurance policies: a) United States, and b) Foreign (all other countries). Both the U.S. and Foreign policies are considered secondary policies to your personal medical insurance policy. They are subject to a $1000 deductible and may not cover all expenses related to an accident. Copies of the current policies are located under the “Docs” tab on the BAC website.

While touring internationally, i.e., outside of the U.S., BAC maintains foreign accident insurance to assist with expenses related to accidents, medical emergencies (including sudden and unexpected sickness), and repatriation. Insurance will apply door-to-door for treatment and travel for a maximum of 90 days overall. Coverage extends to a limited period spanning the published BAC trip dates, allowing for side trips occurring before and after the BAC ride; the limitation period is 7 days before or after the published BAC trip dates. The policy covers the cost of treatment for Covid and other unexpected illnesses, but not quarantine. 

Before participating in any BAC tour, you should assess whether your medical and travel insurance coverage is sufficient.

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.

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