The Cyclefrance Diaries
The Cyclefrance websites run from 2003
Click on a title to visit the site
Cyclefrance 2003
The (Very Petit) Tour de France (Nord)

From Calais via Boescheppe to Lille and then on to Arras and Vimy Ridge Canadian memorial from World War 1, returning to Calais via St Omer.

Interactive map, photos and light description plus links to related websites
Cyclefrance 2004
Bikes, Trains, Pains and Gains

From Calais by train to Abbeville, visits to Eu and Treport then cycling back to Calais via Valery-sur-Somme, Rue, Samer and Wierre Effroy

Learn of a myriad unusual things francaise, including:
French checkers, a liqueur called 'redfoot', and what to do with 100 metres of leftover crash barrier.  

Comprehensive journal with interactive map, photos and links
Cyclefrance 2005
Parisolo

Solo from Calais by train to Amiens, cycling to Paris via Montdidier and Apremont, then back to Amiens via Apremont and Froissy, followed by train to Calais

A journey of discovery in which you will encounter the secret life of the potato, the home of 2,000 hooves, and the giant puppets from outer space

Comprehensive journal with interactive map, route info, photos and links
Want more information or have some questions? click here to email me
(Being the annual excursions to northern France of a maturing road cyclist!)
Cyclefrance 2008
Sommemories

A mixture of cycling and train to take us to the Somme area at the time of the 90th anniversary celebrations  of the first day of the battle of the Somme - 1st July 1916

A rendezvous of royalty, politicians and soldiers in World War 1 uniform set in picturesque landscape suffering soaring temperatures
 

Comprehensive journal with interactive map, route info, photos and links
SuperCalaisParisBiketripCycledByFourOldBlokes

Cycling one way from Calais to Paris, for no apparent reason other than just 'to do it' - then being sensible and taking the train back!

4 days of cycling over hills (too many of them!) and down dales, swinging bridges on the way, finally jazzing it up for 2 days and 3 nights amongst the computerised bicycles of Paris!

Comprehensive journal with interactive map, route info, photos and links
Cyclefrance 2006
The Bieg Diepper

Driving from Cobham via Calais to Dieppe to participate in the Seeability 100 mile charity bike ride

A day's cycling starting at Dieppe and covering 100 miles around the French countryside returning to Dieppe late afternoon exhausted but exhilarated

Comprehensive journal with interactive map, route info, photos and links
A great bike touring and tips website can be found here + you can add info/routes
Cyclefrance 2007
Salient Remarks

A combination of bike and train to get from Calais to Lille, and then on to Ypres by bike to visit the WW1 battlefields of Flanders


5 days in which to visit the battlefields and memorials of the Western Front. Also, to discover how to ditch a cyclist, how to get entrenched, what to do with fairy wipers and, most of all, how to get wet!

Comprehensive journal with interactive map, route info, photos and links
The story of adventurous cyclist Paul Atkin's epic ride across France is here
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