Ruth Jessop
Hi
I've read a few queries about the cycling conditions in winter across Europe on the forum and apologies for not being computer literate enough to be able to reply to the approriate postings. I live in the Alpes Maritimes in the S.E of France. The weather conditions here in winter tend to be very cold at night, -20 degrees centigrade but sunny with bright blue skies during the day. We have 300 sunny days per year so you don't get the damp grey days of Britain too often. The days are of course much longer than in Britain too, which is good for out door sports, but by about 4.30 it is getting cold. The cold nights make icy patches on the north facing slopes problematic for cyclists. The difference between north facing slopes and south facing slopes here is much more marked than in Britain, anything that is a north facing slope will remain cold and shady during the day. So watch out for ice.
The website www.pottyplace.com gives suggested cycle routes for the Alpes Maritimes, S.E of France and further comment on winter cycling along with a lot of useful links for anyone interested in visiting the area.
Best wishes for lots of cycling in 2006.
Ruth Jessop
I've read a few queries about the cycling conditions in winter across Europe on the forum and apologies for not being computer literate enough to be able to reply to the approriate postings. I live in the Alpes Maritimes in the S.E of France. The weather conditions here in winter tend to be very cold at night, -20 degrees centigrade but sunny with bright blue skies during the day. We have 300 sunny days per year so you don't get the damp grey days of Britain too often. The days are of course much longer than in Britain too, which is good for out door sports, but by about 4.30 it is getting cold. The cold nights make icy patches on the north facing slopes problematic for cyclists. The difference between north facing slopes and south facing slopes here is much more marked than in Britain, anything that is a north facing slope will remain cold and shady during the day. So watch out for ice.
The website www.pottyplace.com gives suggested cycle routes for the Alpes Maritimes, S.E of France and further comment on winter cycling along with a lot of useful links for anyone interested in visiting the area.
Best wishes for lots of cycling in 2006.
Ruth Jessop