Contents of article "Mountain and Road Biking "
Road and mountain biking
les véloroutes
les pistes vertes
Types of terrain
Competition cycling in the PO
Recognising the signs
Road and mountain biking
The spectacular scenery of the Pyrenees Orientales, combining exciting and challenging mountain tracks with long, flat leisurely beach front rides, really does offer something for everyone. One of the great advantages of the region is that it is so orientated towards the cyclist. The roads around the beach areas nearly all have designated cycle paths and you can cycle for miles on or off-road - perfect for the family or the dog!! For the seasoned ‘roadies’ why not try the section of the famous Tour de France which passes through the region in July and is an excellent test for those of you who are up for a bit of a challenge!! Alternatively, put your bike on the back of the car and go and watch from one of the many café terraces on the route.
The General Council of the Pyrenées Orientales is working towards a maximum of pistes cyclables (designated cycle paths) in the region and separates this initiative into two categories:
les véloroutes
These are medium or long cycle itineraries which are safe and well-indicated, and aim to link up the regions of the PO. They avoid excessive hill climbs and use, wherever able, quiet and peaceful routes and designated cycle paths. They are designed to be split into short rides if required and therefore pass through areas with accomodation, restaurants/cafes and information points en route. The ultimate goal for this project is to create a cycling route which will cross the PO region from North to South.
les pistes vertes
These are roads/tracks reserved only for non-motorised transport, (bikes, roller skates, walking etc) and many more are planned over the next few years, mainly around the towns. To locate the tracks already in existence, and those in progress along with a map of cycle routes in the region and some suggested cycle itineraries, visit: http://www.cg66.fr/routes_transports/velo/index.html
Types of terrain
At the gate to Spain, between sea and mountain, bathed in the generous sun of the Midi lie the Pyrénées-Orientales. A bikers’s playground with an amazing variety of ’spots’, this region will leave you in no doubt of its ideal situation for every type of biking. From the highest point in the département (le Carlit - 2921m) and the peak of the Canigou (2785m), the lower mountains of the Vallespir, the Fenouillèdes, Aspres and Albères, the hills and vines dominating the coastline and the rocky coast plunging down down into the Mediterranean...... This is a land where you can ride all year round, terrain that is rugged, uneven, easy, technical, woodland and scrubland on slide-rock, granite, rocky limestone and sand, wide open paths and narrow, fun single track....
It is this diversity that enables cyclists to choose their ride according to their taste and level; family rides, cultural and historical, cross-country, free-ride, trial, 2 and 3 day ’raids’ and much more. Experienced, registered guides are available to accompany you on all your trips, organise your itinerary and advise you on all aspects of mountain biking in the Pyrénées-Orientales.
Competition cycling in the PO
If you are interested in taking part in competitions, why not sign up for the Challenge x country organised by the Comité Départemental de l’UFOLEP (multi-sport federation) which is based around a series of local trials. There are also several large regional competitions, organised by the FFC (cycling federation) such as le Trophée du Roc de Majorque in Thuir or a x-country in Quillan. For more details of these bike competitions, contact Alain
Recognising the signs
Reserved for fire engines
As in any country, there are rules and restrictions on cycling.
- The ’sentiers des douaniers’ along the coast are strictly pedestrian.
- Certain areas of the Réserves Naturelles (nature reserves) are also for pedestrians only. One example of this is la Réserve Naturelle de Prats-de-Mollo. If you are intending to cycle in a Réserve Naturelle, check out the restrictions first with the local tourist office or contact Alain
- Private roads and track bearing the sign ’Proprieté privé’ ’défense d’entrer’ should only be used with the permission of the owner. -DFCI tracks (Défense contre l’incendie) are situated at regular intervals in most forest areas. These are for the fire engines in case of emergency and are strictly forbidden for unauthorised motororised vehicles. Bikers and horses may use these tracks unless there is a fire warning, high winds etc.
- There are a number of walks and rides in the region that have already been marked out with different coloured paint strokes to represent varying difficulty..
Walking
- Yellow paint stroke - short walk (petite randonnée)
- Red and yellow paint stroke - Cross country (Tour de Pays)
- Red and white paint stroke - long walks (grande randonnée)
Horse-riding
- orange circle
Mountain biking - Two yellow circles and a triangle to indicate direction.
For your security, do check with the local town hall or ACCA (hunting association) where the designated boar hunting areas are during the hunting season. This takes place from mid-August to the end of January, on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.
