E-bikes Now Available

E-bikes in Loire, Provence and Languedoc!

An innovative French touring company, Discover France, is taking the pain out of the gain when cycling up inclines. Guests now may partake of a new adventure travel trend, using hybrid electric bicycles with easy-to-charge battery motors.

“E-bike technology is finally both good enough and affordable for us to invest in this equipment,” said Loren Siekman, Discover France director.  “Couples often aren’t compatible endurance-wise when combining bikes and hills. E-bikes help level the cycling field by giving a boost to a cyclist concerned about not keeping up or slowing others down.”

To date e-bikes in small, medium and large models are available for both guided and self-guide tours of the Loire, Provence and Languedoc regions. The rental rate is slightly more than for regular hybrid bike rentals. The e-bike in use is the new Scott e-Venture 30, a model easily charged while sipping a glass of wine during a rest stop somewhere along the route in France. http://www.discoverfrance.com/rental_bike04.php

“It’s important to remember,” underscored Siekman, “that the E-bike is a boost and not a motor. People still ride, pedal and apply energy but with a little boost at times when it can be helpful to the rider. You have to pedal while using it and let the battery and motor give added and welcomed assistance to your efforts.”

Press Release – Easy Cycling TDF Tour

New, Easy Cycling Tour from Discover France

Maximizes Opportunities to Soak Up

The French Countryside and Tour de France

SCOTTSDALE, AZ – Dec. 6, 2011 – Discover France http://www.discoverfrance.com, a French company, announces that for the first time it will offer in 2012 a new and easy cycling tour for people seeking access to Tour de France (TDF).

Formerly, race enthusiasts only had hard-core tour options of cycling the TDF or following along on a non-cycling route.

“Now even entry level cyclists can experience the close-up excitement and controlled chaos of the Tour de France,” promised Loren Siekman, Discover France director.

The new guided itinerary includes visiting UNESCO World Heritage site of Carcassonne, tasting a region’s best wines, enjoying luxurious hotels plus privileged VIP Access to the race on several stages of Le Tour.

The per person rate is 1730 Euros for a four night July 12-16 Pyrenees VIP Easy Cycling Tour.  See: http://tour-de-france-tours.com/tours/pyrenees-vip-easy.php

Race highlights include the finish in an Izoard bus at Cap d’Agde on July 14 (Bastille Day), plus D-Day in Foix on July 15 where guests ride on the final kilometers of the Tour stage and cross the finish line in Foix. Here they go under the finish banner and onto the podium for pictures and Tour music just like the pros.

Discover France Adventures has been organizing bicycle tours and hiking tours in France since 1994 and has offices in both the USA and in France. Discover France is a pioneer in bringing self guided cycling and hiking and now multisport adventures to a broader market outside of Europe. Pure Adventures is an outgrowth of the success of Discover France Adventures, now in its 17th year in 2011.

Self-guided bicycle tours were a growth area for the cycling industry last year and it continues to be this year, according to Pure Adventures (http://pure-adventures.com/), sister company to Discover France Adventures that specializes in self guided and custom guided cycling and multisport tours in France.

Discover France Adventures award winning tours are made up of their unique self guided tours and very competitively priced guided tours. They are proud to be a continued supporter of Sustainable Travel International.

Visit http://www.discoverfrance.com for all details or contact them by phone at 800.960.2221 or by email at contact@discoverfrance.com.

September Newsletter

 

Discover France Adventures

September 2011 Newsletter

IN THIS ISSUE:

This Month’s Tour

Custom Guided Group Tour

 

 

Enjoy wine tasting, cooking, multisport, gardens, and more on our custom group tours. Guided tours allow for even more activities and uniqueness.

This Month’s Phrase

Comme tous les grands voyageurs, j’ai vu plus que ce que je me souviens, et je me souviens de plus que ce que je n’ai vu.

 

Meaning: Like all great travelers, I have seen more than I remember, and remember more than I have seen.

- Benjamin Disraeli

 

KEEP IN TOUCH:

Phone: (800) 960-2221

 

Bonjour!

Book Your Custom Guided Tour!

Have you and your cycling buddies been talking about taking a trip for years? Now is your chance! For 6 or more travelers, we will organize a unique custom tour centered around your wants and needs. Want to visit the Loire chateaux while stopping at vineyards in between for a wine tasting? Not a problem. Interested in mixing up the activities, for example canoeing, hiking, cooking classes and biking? We can make that happen. On our custom guided tours, it is all about what you want! Tell us what you’re looking for and we will make it happen. On our guided tours, groups can be split some days if more experienced cyclists want a long ride while others want a day off to enjoy something else, like shopping. Our custom tour options are endless, but you must book early. Inquire now before it’s too late!!

Fall Wine Harvest

It is the time of year where people raise their glass and toast Mother Earth. Why? To celebrate the blessings of a promising grape harvest of course. Lasting from late August to sometimes the end of October, France’s vineyards spend their days picking the ripe red and golden bunches of grapes which spread across miles.

Vendanges, as the harvest season is known in France, is by far one of the biggest annual festivals in the country. Many towns have their own celebratory customs. Some have beach parties with a barbecue; in others locals line the streets as the parade goes by. No matter how the towns celebrate the grape harvest, every festival has one thing in common – an abundance of wine to enjoy!

 

Read more

Welcome Europeds!

This just in!! Europeds has just joined the Discover France family of brands! We will be announcing much more about this new acquisition, but suffice it here to say that one of the oldest brands in bicycle touring is now part of our organization! We are thrilled to add this level of expertise to our offers. It is a perfect compliment to our leading position in self guided travel to now have a leading brand in guided cycling tours. Travelers who aren’t yet ready for self guided can stay with one brand and experience all the extras that go into a guided cycling tour. See www.europeds.com for more information on those guided cycling tours!

We Honor 2011 Prices

We are already working on our 2012 tours. There will be additions to our tour line-up, modifications to current tours, and price changes. Book now and we will honor our 2011 prices and tours until new prices are listed on our website. As an extra bonus, we will also give early bookers a 25 Euros discount. Don’t delay, you won’t want to miss these special deals!

 

July 2011 Newsletter

 

Discover France Adventures

July 2011 Newsletter

IN THIS ISSUE:

This Month’s Tour

TDF VIP Bike Tours

 

 

Enjoy the TDF in a way very few ever will. Our challenging and moderate bike tours start the middle of July. Follow their experiences on Facebook!

This Month’s Phrase

Si vous vous inquietiez de tomber du velo, vous ne monteriez jamais dessus.

 

Meaning: If you worried about falling off the bike, you would never get on.

- Lance Armstrong

KEEP IN TOUCH:

Phone: (800) 960-2221

 

Bonjour!

5 Reasons to Cycle the Alpes

Throughout France you can find regions that have gorgeous scenery, delightful towns, and unique architecture and the Rhone-Alpes is no different. The great bike path around Lake Annecy allows novice riders to enjoy the scenery and the water activities taking place. More advanced cyclist can test their power while battling the infamous cols of the Tour de France including the Alpe d’Huez. There are nearly limitless other outdoor activities to participate in, grand structures to see, and meals to try while visiting this region. Here are a few for example:

 

Lake Annecy Lyon

 

Chaminox Mont Blanc Drome – Provence

 

Tour de France Climbs

Be Prepared for Summer

Soaring summer temperatures and long hours of daylight means we’re right in the middle of peak travel season in France. More people travel to France in the months of July and August than the rest of the year. If you are one of these travelers, rest assured you are in for a treat, and here are a couple tips to make your vacation that much more enjoyable.

 

Avoid weekend travel:

Midweek tends to be a better time for traveling then the weekends. Another good general tip is to visit the places on your list either earlier or later in the day.

 

Escape to Cooler Weather:

For a reprieve from the heat, head to the northern regions of France. Brittany and Normandy are excellent examples of regions with a more temperate climate due to the breeze of the coast.

 

Don’t miss the celebration:

Bastille Day is an exciting time to be in France, with enthusiastic celebration taking place nationwide. In Paris, the people line the Champs-Elysées for a massive military parade, and enjoy the fireworks display at the Eiffel tower.

Reserve Your 2012 Spot Now!

The 2011 Tour de France begins this weekend, but booking for 2012’s Tour has already begun. With a fully refundable deposit, you’ll not only be ensured a spot at cycling’s biggest event, but will also receive first choice of our tours after the stage details are announced. Discover France is also your source for custom TDF tours. Build a tour with the routes, destinations, and events you want in your own private group. With both options, space is limited as always and the popular stages will go quick. We are in the process of building a new website exclusively for these special tours, but until then, visit us at our website and secure your place at the 2012 Tour de France.

 

 

DF June Newsletter

 

Discover France Adventures

June 2011 Newsletter

IN THIS ISSUE:

This Month’s Tour

Coastal Normandy Landing Beaches Tour

 

 

Pass through old walled towns, see abbeys, and visit medieval castles during this unforgettable cycling tour!

This Month’s Phrase

Une route sans fin est comme un signe, un endroit etrange ou l’homme peut se perdre.

 

Meaning: The open road is a beckoning, a strangeness, a place where a man can lose himself.

- William Least Heat-Moon

KEEP IN TOUCH:

Phone: (800) 960-2221

 

Bonjour!

With Spring Comes Lavender

The food, the wine, the atmosphere – there’s so much to love about this beautiful French region.  Spring is a lovely season to spend in Provence, enjoying the abundant sun without the sting of the summer heat.  One of the best reasons to visit Provence in the spring is that it’s when the brilliant fields of lavender are in full bloom. Although the lavender season stretches from June to August, the best time to enjoy the magnificent 2 feet tall, purple lavender in full bloom is mid-June to mid-July. Watching the rolling fields of brilliant lavender sway in the warm, pleasant spring breezes is an incredible sight everyone should experience.

 

5 Reasons to Cycle Normandy

Normandy is most widely known for the role it had in shaping the world’s future during the Second World War. From the beaches troops first arrived on to the buildings that were destroyed during battle, every sight is moving and significant. Normandy not only offers an abundance of history, but it also contains stunning castles and museums in quaint towns throughout the department, including Mont St. Michel. Around every corner is something new to boast about. Read more about why no one should pass up the opportunity to cycle through Normandy.

 

The World’s Biggest Cycling Event

With summer right around the corner, France is gearing up for their most famous sporting event, the Tour de France. You all know it, love it and dream of watching it in person someday. Why not now?

 

We have a few open spots left on some of our tours:

 

Prologue + Opening Days VIP Tour – Be the first to see the 2011 TDF peloton ride by as they set the bar for the remaining Tour. Share the excitement of the beginning tour days with former pros, media, and tour officials.

 

Provence + Alpes VIP Tours – On these tours you don’t just watch the riders, you get to be one. Feel the thrill of riding the course and taking your place on the race podium for pictures. Double the excitement on this tour with Mont Ventoux and Alpe d’Huez being the main features.

 

Grenoble + Paris Non Cycling VIP Tour - Watch the only individual time trial of the tour, which has decided the tour winner in past years. Then, enjoy your finish line seats as the pros sprint to victory on the famous Champs Elysees. Finish line VIP seats only are also available.

 

This is an experience second to none, but don’t take our word for it. Book a tour and live the excitement every cyclist dreams of enjoying.