Why ride across the Pyrenees? 3 words: Adventure. Accomplishment. Awe !
The infamous Col du Tourmalet. The mountain pass tops out at 6900 feet, hence the spectacular view down the west side.
A trip through the Pyrenees is a fairy tale for anybody. But for fit, devoted cyclists it’s the journey of a lifetime. A thousand miles. A hundred thousand feet of climbing. Twelve days of riding, from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean (and back). Few cyclists can lay claim to having met such a challenge.
Welcome to "France From Inside" Pyrenees road bike cycling tour. You are invited to come and ride an ultimate road bike challenge, a 14 day round trip cycling vacation across the French Pyrenees mountains, coast to coast - Atlantic to the Mediterranean - and back ! Your very own Tour of France biking adventure - priceless! If you consider yourself an experienced and committed cyclist then you need to do this ...think of the challenge, the cycling history, and most of all the pure fun of it.
The numbers/stats alone of this tour are impressive. Yet the real allure of the Pyrenees is less quantifiable: the enchanting countryside, the dizzying peaks, and – more than anything – the powerful history. When the Tour de France first included these mountains, the organizers were called “assassins.” Back then the routes were unpaved, but now, for the sake of cyclists, road signs reveal average grades and distances to the top of climbs. On your third or fourth major ascent of the day, a 9 percent grade with 7 kilometers left to the top might give you pause, but it will also give you pride – as well as an admiration for the legendary racers who’ve left their legacies on these roads.
Did I mention the scenery? If you’ve seen the Pyrenees in the Tour, mere TV pictures don’t do them justice. From valley to valley, from pass to pass, the lush green Basque country in the west, the dry brown “Pyrenees Oriental” in the east – a rough but beautifully balanced blend of arid Spain and humid France – this range is a multifaceted gem. The slopes of the high mountains – most of them protected as national parks – are dotted with sheep, horses, and cows (you might have to dodge a few now and then), while the immaculately paved roads snake through the peaks, past ancient villages and picturesque farms, providing a ceaseless succession of grueling climbs and exhilarating descents. Suffice to say that few places on earth are as charming, challenging, or downright dreamlike for riding a bike.
A Pyrenees bike tour vacation doesn't get much better than this! For all the details take a moment and "cycle" through the website - use the links at the left and top of the pages. Space is limited to 8 clients; a small group so that you get awesome ride support, and so we don't have the hassles of a large group!
The Basque region of the Pyrenees has climbs that are often very steep and challenging.
"I have been riding and racing bikes for 35 years , and riding across the Pyrenees with Allan is the most fun that I have ever had on the seat of a bike." Kurt Buchwald (completed the trip in 2010, 2013).
"This trip was a life changer ... I can't put into words the emotions and exuberance this trip brought about!" Brian Davis (completed the trip in 2013)
"Any one of the stages in this tour would have been memorable , but to put them all together in a single tour was epic." Carol Bult (completed the trip in 2013)
Not to be believed ! When this trip was first planned I thought to myself, are you crazy? 12 days of riding, 7000-8000-12,000 feet per day of climbing? The more I thought about it the more I wanted to do it, and so I did. What an amazing trip. As I have said to everyone, it was everything I expected and much, much more." Jeff Dux (completed the trip in 2006 and 2010).
