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FRANCE ON TWO WHEELS

“… encouragement to cyclists of all abilities to discover France by bike”  (Sunday Times Book of the Week)

“… a terrific guide to the culture, history, food, B&Bs and other French delights” (www.insidertasting.com)

Take the slow road through rural France with this guide to cycle touring in the homeland of ‘la petite reine’. With frequent pauses for wine tasting, sightseeing and lunch, Adam Ruck describes six long rides through the most beautiful French regions, designed for one-to-two-week touring holidays: Paris to Provence; down the Loire from its source to the sea (two rides); Lake Geneva to Normandy; the pilgrimage route between Burgundy and the Pyrenees; and from the Cevennes to the Atlantic coast via Robert Louis Stevenson’s donkey trail and the Tarn gorges. The guide combines a wealth of cultural/historical background information with practical tips on rail travel and an invaluable selection of the best stopovers along each route – small hotels, chambre d’hôte B&Bs and splendid châteaux.

‘French food has never tasted so good, and after a week on the road you will have lost weight.’

France On Two Wheels was published by Short Books in April 2012 and reprinted (with a few corrections and updates) in March 2014.  This site is designed to be a companion and extension to the guide, with more detailed maps and photography than could be included in the book, four extra rides – Alsace, Brittany, The Western Front and Corsica – a hotel archive, a forum for updates and feedback, and a blog.

“Ooh – look at this! A book about cycling and France and food/wine too. Does it get any better than this?” (www.frenchvillagediaries.com)

“charmingly written” (France Magazine) 

“Brilliantly funny and very useful. I just wish I’d read it before my first trip as I had to learn a lot of lessons the hard way”  (Ashley T)

“A light-hearted romp …. ditch the car and opt for pedal power.  Witty observations make for a string of entertaining anecdotes, often involving a heavy cheese board and expensive wine” (Food and Travel)

A beautifully crafted book  …. after 10 minutes of reading you can feel the warm breeze on your face as you imagine yourself cycling alongside a canal, looking forward to a picnic”  (Andy W, Australia)

“…. a refreshingly laid-back approach to cycling through France, sure to be inspiring to even the most hesitant of cyclists.”  (Julia Stagg, aubergiste and novelist)

“I thought this guy was a snob and a bore …  I read it twice for pure entertainment.”  clycbooks (Amazon reviewer)

“Every evening when I climb into bed Adam is waiting to take me on an adventure ….”  (www.frenchvillagediaries.com again)

“Whatever you take from this book, one thing is certain: it will make you want to ride your bike through France.” (www.freewheelingfrance.com

Follow France on Two Wheels on Twitter: @france2wheels