What is cycle touring ?
Cycle touring is simply cycling around an area and getting the best of both worlds: moving freely without constraint while visiting the emblematic places of your chosen destination. The competition aspect is not part of this discipline but conviviality and curiosity are essential elements to make the most of the excursions.
A range of excursions
Long or short, these excursions are varied and can take different forms. For fans of day trips, outings can be focused on a key viewpoint or if preferred, a tour of an historical site, like the fortress of Châtel-sur-Moselle, accessible from the banks of the Canal des Vosges. Perhaps you would prefer to take a break and discover the charming Musée de la Broderie (Museum of Embroidery) in Fontenoy-le-Château. You can also stop, for just a moment, by a field or a beautiful farmhouse - which may have been converted into a bed and breakfast - to observe a beautiful hilly landscape.
No one will be disappointed because everyone can do what they want. If you are seeking the pleasure of delicacies, we didn't forget you: the farm has snacks! It takes a lot of fuel to cycle so a long-awaited snack is always highly appreciated.
For regular cyclists, audacity is allowed but it must be accompagnied by rules which must be respected for your comfort and safety. Do not underestimate the efforts needed to cover the distance to your destination. Do not forget to bring adequate clothing to face the vagaries of the weather. Taking camping and repair equipment allows you to cover many kilometres and face all types of breakdowns, in all circumstances. Do not neglect food, as cycling is an activity that requires physical effort even when done at your own pace. Fuel is therefore essential to the engine, namely the cyclist and his legs.
A popular activity
The practice of cycle touring is attracting more and more people since it is a invitation to return to our origins. The proximity to nature is complete since the cyclists live in the environment they are travelling through. The commercialized equipment encourages the development of this discipline, which is becoming more and more popular. The accessories offered to interested tourists give the families the opportunity to go on an adventure on bike.
Épinal offers the cyclists numerous suggestions, which meet the expectations of this demanding public. Épinal is a key destination when it comes to cycle touring: numerous tourist sites, a balance between urban and rural surroundings, the specificity of its mountainous geography without forgetting the vast fir forests. A lot of marking, signposting and accessibility actions have been put in place to meet the needs of cycling tourism. The offers for tourists are adapted, thought through and considered in order to encourage visitors to come to the Vosges. Dutch cyclists are particularly loyal and devoted to Épinal.
For all these reasons, we have the privilege to host the Federal Cycling Week in 2018 and to become the favourite recreational ground for fans of this two-wheeled sport.
