Packing for France -- any tips?

[CommuterChick]

OK, we're in last minute packing mode for week long ride through the Dordogne http://www.experienceplus.com/tours/itinerary.html?tid=939, they provide the hybrid and the helmet. We leave Sept 15. I'm taking my shoes, but going with flat pedals, so far just have my one pr of my favorite REI shorts 'cause all the other shorts out there have waaaay too much padding. We're spending another wk in Paris. Would you take those liners that turn any pants into bike shorts? What would you take? We try to travel carry-on so it would be good if bike duds can do double duty as street clothes in Paris. What would I regret not bringing?

Your collective wisdom is so appreciated! We've only taken one bike tour before, and that was in Denmark where the bike did not fit at all but we had an incredible time anyway.

[blueskies]

Oh, that looks gorgeous!

I looked at your itinerary, and it looks like you'll mainly be staying in two different towns over the tour, which would make it easy to hand wash your clothes & leave them in the room to dry. I'd take two pair of good bike shorts and a small bottle of woolite. This is handy for hand washing your street clothes, as well as bike clothes in Europe.

Do the Experience Plus folks provide a recommended packing list?

[Triskeliongirl]

Check the temps before you pack. If mornings and/or evenings are cool you may want the options of adding arm and leg warmers, and a wind vest, all very light layers to have available. A light jacket could also work on or off bike. I would also bring 2 shorts that you really like, and a bag to hang off the back of your bike in case they they aren't dry by morning from the night before you are. Terry wrapper skorts are great for off bike time, and take up almost no room in luggage. Likewise, a soap you can use on both your shorts and body saves room. Jerseys that would go with bike shorts for on bike use and also a skort for off bike use are also a thought. Why don't you want clip in pedals, it will make a big difference in effeciency. I think you should bring your own saddle, pedals, shoes and helmet. It will help make the rental bike feel more like yours. If it were me though, I'd bring my bike too!

[SouthernBelle]

FYI, I picked up a wraparound skirt at REI this weekend for next to nothing. Labor Day clearance.

[kelownagirl]

I biked in France for a 9 days in July so the weather was very warm. We left out suitcases at the hotel and carried minimal stuff in ziplock bags panniers. I took two pairs of bike shorts, my sugoi tank, and a regular jersey which I never did wear. I was glad to have two pairs of shorts so I could wear one and hand wash and dry one. I didn't want to carry bike shoes with us so we wore regular sneakers with the flat pedals for the first two days, then I wore my comfortable slip on sandals for the rest of the time because it was so hot. I never had any problems with wearing loose sandals which surprised me. I took two pairs of light weight capri pants and a lair of shorts, a couple of light weight tops, and a t shirt and a light weight hoodie. I wore the same things almost every day though. Oh, and I got sick off the white strip down my back from my tank so I wore my halter style swim suit top (tankini) quite a bit when I rode as well. We took our own helmets and gloves. I was glad to have my well-padded shorts because the saddles were not a great fit although the bikes were great overall.

I think I took 3 pairs of sox and undies although have lived with only 2 and washed them in the sink at night. I tried a few different kinds at home to see what dried the fastest. I used the hand soap or shampoo as detergent. OH, sunglasses and a light weight ball cap. I also had my light weight wind breaker cycling jacket that I only ended up wearing in Paris when it rained.

What I wish I'd had? A france telecarte for using on pay phones. Didn't find out about that until the last two days. You can get them at any Tabac store.

PS My avatar shows me in france, a typical day. My pics are here if you're interested. http://travel.webshots.com/album/560000767tCjDZN?vhost=travel

[Thorn]

We were all set to do that trip a couple of years ago...but, alas, they didn't have enough people and they cancelled on us after we bought airline tickes :( We managed to pick up a semi-self catered in the Dordogne instead and had a great time--big heavy tanks, but we were on vacation so it didn't matter--more time for the scenery (and oh what scenery)

Anyway....packing-wise, Triskeliongirl has just about everything I could think of. The wrapper was nice for not standing out like a cyclist. Our weather (same time of the year) started with fog and cool in the AM (jackets and long sleeves) and by afternoon, you could be dripping in sweat. So, arm warmers and a packable jacket are a must.

Lightweight pants for strolling Paris and maybe a skirt for evening wear. I'm happy with a bright skirt, simple coolmax T and my "dress Tevas", but I'm rather casual even when dressed up.

If you haven't booked a hotel in Paris and you want me to I can look ours up for you. Simple, basic (two twin bed, maybe a little room to turn around; bathroom and shower stall). Nothing fancy, but clean, friendly, and located across from the Sorbonne (and a great little cafe around the corner for breakfast and people watching).

Great choice in vacation (our take....http://www.cassandrathorn.com/PhotoRoot/2005/2005France/)

Oh, and if the weather gets hot, stop in a cafe and try a Mint Diabolo (?sp?)--awesomely refreshing.

Enjoy

[michelem]

DH & I did a bike tour in Italy this summer. We did the "one bag" thing and it worked out just fine (one carry-on bag each). PM me if you want a copy of our packing lists - I can e-mail them to you.

[CommuterChick]

This group is the best!

The Experience Plus list is too general to be that useful, I'm going by Rick Steves and turning to your collective wisdom for bike-specific.

Thorn, how wonderful you rode in the same area! Shame they cancelled you -- was it the same time of yr? I always take Paris hotel recommendations, so by all means send it! We were able to book http://www.hotelprinceparis.com/ just off the Rue Cler -- nothing fancy, we kinda set the bar at clean 2-star Rick Steves level.

Kelownagirl, you do look fine in your photo -- I think summer weather might be easier, it's the inbetween stuff that's forcing all this thought. I've got 3 pr undies, that Ex Officio stuff, 3 pr quick dry sox and that's all I need, they're great.

Hmm, Triskeliongirl, you're all recommending skorts, I'll revisit that. I do have my trusty reversible skirt for city/country, happy/conservative wear. But a skort could be good, I've been riding a lot, maybe could pull it off ;-) And I've got the soap, so I'm good there. Plus we always pack a small container of goop -- perfect for those chocolate gelato stains.


I had planned on taking a helmet, but it was a matter of shlepping it around for a week in Paris. Since they can provide it, why not? And since I don't use clip-ins now (it's a goal of mine), I figured the French countryside was not the place to learn.


Michelem, tnks for the packing list offer, I'll PM you.

Any favorite thin pad shorts?

thanks!

[kelownagirl]

We stayed here for 3 days in Paris. Smallish rooms but spotless and nicely decorated. Best part was that we could walk to the Eiffel Tower and the Arch de triomphe.

http://www.hotel-ambassade-paris.federal-hotel.com/page_en_1.html

I might have a picture of our room if you're interested...

[Christopher]

Sounds a great trip. On top of what's already been recommended, I'd say to take a Buff or something you'd use as a 'cool rag', as the limestone plateaux can be very hot indeed. The light can also be very strong as it reflects off the limestone, so pack best sunglasses and good sunblock.
Oh and the Gouffre de Pardirac is a steady 60 degrees F or so, so perhaps a light fleece would be good. I think the trip lasts about an hour, long enough to get quite cold without a jacket, especially if it's been hot on the surface.

[Thorn]

We stayed at http://www.hotel-cluny.fr/home.php. We did walk from there to the Eifel Tower, but it was quite a hike. However, it was quite convenient for the medieval art museum and Notre Dame (where we huddled inside with 1000 other people hiding from the rain until we realized that the gargoyles would be fun to see in a downpour). Well, and it is also close to the Luxemburg gardens because anyone who tries to learn French using the PBS series French in Action must visit the Luxembourg Gardens :rolleyes: I think we got the hotel from Rick Steves, too--a great way to find a 2-star that doesn't break the bank and you know has seen a cleaning staff.

But, yep, we were set to do an October-ish Dordogne trip in 2005. The entire travel industry was depressed and they couldn't fill the trip. They expressed almost as much disappointment as us as, apparently, it is one of the favorite trips of the owner. Odd, though, I have a travel motto--"it isn't what you didn't do, it is what you did that counts" and, our backup plan turned out to be more fun that I could have imagined. We had planned on self-catering in a couple of years (after I had some French), but the cancelling forced us to push the envelope. By the end of the trip, my French was still miserable, but I wasn't at all embarassed to get into a Frenglish conversation.

Ahh...it was a good trip...hope yours is just as good (or even bettter, if possible!)

[Tuckervill]

If you're going carry-on, don't forget you can't take anything liquid over 3 ounces. So the Woolite needs to be less than 3 ounces.

I lost a $25 bottle of Aveda hairspray that way. :( Not that I care about Aveda--I just bought it because it was DIL selling it. But I did like the way it smells.

Karen