It’s that time of the year again when I pack a bag, throw my bike over my shoulder and head to France for some cycling fun. This year – Nice, Cote d’Azur on the South East Coast of France.
The french Riviera is famously regarded as the holidaying location of the elite and has been so for many, many years. Although there is certainly still a strong presence of this, as evidence by the high price of food and accommodation, the sheer amount of designer shops (Louis Vuitton is beneath my apartment building…) and the common sightings of Ferraris, Porsches and supercars, it appears that the area has in more recent times, also become a holiday destination for theĀ common person. Amid the Gucci, Versace and Karl Lagerfeld onslaught, there are plenty of tourists and locals trailing around the boardwalk, armed to the gills with inflatable rings, picnic baskets and Lays crisps. It’s a real mixed bag, clearly thriving and asbolutely bustling with people and activity. A happening place, you might say.
I’ve wanted to visit this region of France for a long time, having seen so many pictures and movies based here but it always put me off that it was that bit more expensive to visit. I decided to stay at a small flat which I found through Airbnb and while it is small, it’s very cute. More importantly, it’s clean, quiet and has a wonderful air con system! Accommodation and food etc, is generally more expensive than other parts of France I have visited but I would still 100% recommend visiting Nice and the general area.
Three reasons to visit – It is absolutely stunning, the food is great and it is a cracking cycling spot. My first day here, I took a spin along the seafront from Nice heading eastwards towards the Italian border. The road takes you all along the seafront, going up and down with a few testy climbs, through villages and towns and each corner you turn reveals another stunning vista of the bay. There aren’t enough words to accurately describe just how beautiful the views are – you just need to see them.
I’ve taken a few different routes so far – including a long spin through Monaco, Menton and on across the Italian border to Ventimiglia. That was fun, just to be able to say I did two countries in one day and pass back and forth across the border. Another day, I headed up a climb to a town called La Turbie, and yesterday I took a different approach to La Turbie and continued climbing northwards past this town toward the historical town of La Peile.
Another day I headed westwards from Nice along the coast and visited Antibes and Cannes. Antibes is beautiful and there was a huge market there on Sunday when I passed through it. It seemed like a lovely spot to visit and it’s definitely worth a visit. Cannes was very disappointing – very commercialised and forgettable. If you are thinking of visiting the area, I’d skip Cannes and visit Antibes instead. The Cap d’Antibes in particular is absolutely beautiful.
As ever, the bike has been so great at allowing me to visit so many villages and towns that I otherwise would never have experienced. I also definitely got some incredible views of Nice and the Bay of Angels from the heights of the mountains that I just wouldn’t have ever seen if I didn’t have the bike. What can I say?? The bike it just the best way to get around and explore a new place. I can’t recommend it enough.
On the cycling side of things, the roads in the area are generally good and there are some serious climbs to challenge yourself on. Even if you don’t go looking for it, the road along the seafront is itself characterised by a number of significant ascents/descents so if you’re considering trying out cycling in the area, keep in mind that this is not an easy or flat cycling territory. Although it is quite flat towards Cannes – the road has an insane amount of traffic lights every 50m or so for the first while and it’s all main road so it’s not particularly nice and to be frank, it completely put me off ever going back in that direction. I also had a headwind on the way back, which made it even more painful… Not my bag TBH.
I’ve a few other rides in mind for the rest of my time here in Nice. First up, is the famous Col de la Madone, which has featured in the Tour de France on many occasions. It looks long and brutal so I may not make it all the way but as it’s in the area, I think it would be a waste not to at least give it a go and have the experience. I’m also thinking of doing a one way spin to San Remo and coming back via the train. As another well known cycling destination, it would be cool to see it and also… one could grab an Italian coffee and gelato while in the neighbourhood!
A tour a l’heure!