Cycle Europe Map: Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg (Cycle Europe Maps) by Richard Peace  (6)  £3.75

Cycle Touring in France (Cicerone Guide) by Stephen Fox £13.99

Cycling the River Loire: The Way of St. Martin (Cicerone Cycling) by John Higginson £9.49

The Long Distance Cyclists' Handbook by Simon Doughty  (6)  £11.89

Downhill All the Way: Cycling Through France from La Manche to the Mediterranean by Edward Enfield  (5)  £5.99

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Amazon.co.uk Review
The French have a nickname for the bicycle--la petite reine, or little queen. With the country's fondness for the queen of the road, its vast network of quiet backroads, magnificent scenery, and scrumptious eateries, it's the perfect choice for discovering the world on two wheels. In Lonely Planet: Cycling France, Lonely Planet has created an excellent guide, chock-full of itineraries, maps, and information and advice for those who want to get off the bus and set their own pace. They've mapped out the best rides in the country for neophytes, veterans and off-roaders, with itineraries ranging from a few hours to two months. Here's a sampling: in Paris you can take the bike paths along the Seine or all the way to Monet's gardens in Giverny. The Loire Valley offers intimate excursions by sandstone villages, magnificent chateaux and scenic waterways. Take the tiny, winding roads of Provence to see perched villages and spectacular panoramas of the Cote d'Azur, or dip into Champagne for the terraced vineyards of Dom Perignon. For those up to the challenge, there's the dramatic volcanic landscape of the Massif Central, with its steep climbs and sweeping descents. The Guide includes a chapter on the island of Corsica with its rugged coastal scenery and prehistoric sites. Travelling by bike calls for a plethora of information not found in the typical tourist guidebook. Lonely Planet has it all. "Facts for Cyclists" provides practical information on when to ride, based on the weather and wind patterns, a checklist of what to bring, information on buying or renting locally, a list of cycling events, and Internet resources. There are tips for senior, disabled, or gay and lesbian cyclers, and those riding with children, and lists of which airlines and which types of trains are bicycle-friendly, and how to pack and transport your bike. The "Health and Safety" chapter explains the French rules of the road (including the confusing "Priority to the Right"), and gives tips for getting and staying fit, and treatments for common ailments on the road. Of course, there's the usual info on where to stay, what to eat, and what to see for a wide range of tastes, from camping to a night in a chateaux. There's also a history of cycling in France and a chapter on the Tour de France and its nuances. With the inclusion of the requisite chapter on bicycle maintenance and repair, you're ready to ride.--Lesley Reed

Synopsis
The guides in this new Cycling series have everything for the traveller who likes to ride. Each one describes and maps the best cycle tours, long and short, in a prime cycling destination. They answer the big questions: how to get rider and bike there in one piece, and keep both in good shape on the road.

First Sentence
The Bicycle is Born While France, Eng and Germany argue over who invented the bicycle, it can't be denied that French ingenuity played an instrumental role in the development of the bicycle: le velo. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover

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