Touring - Solo and looking to cycle France 2013

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Ranger63
08-18-12, 06:46 AM
Any suggestions on reasonable tour setups that are geared more toward single riders (as opposed to groups ie: me and umpteen of my friends or a club )all riding as a group
I'm not looking for a catered event (hostel is fine)
Sag wagon is preferred (at 70 hauling all your own gear stops being fun)
Insights on bringing ones own bike vs riding a tour provided one
Thanks

ironwood
08-18-12, 08:39 AM
I've toured over a lot of France on my own. You don't need a tour group or a sag wagon. Just pick a region and go.
MichaelW
08-19-12, 06:27 AM
I did a tour with a respected company, frequented by solo travellers. We had sag and mechanic support and although it was camping, they arranged all the catering.
The route , from Bordeaux to Barcelona was clearly way-marked every day and we were given route maps.

Of all my tours, this was the one I remember least. I had no exploration or navigation to do, no decision making, no chance encounters and little contact with people along the way.
I much prefer to do my own solo travel. During off peak (May/June and Sept), you can find accommodation in any small town and most villages. You can travel very lightweight with no more than a pair of small panniers and a barbag. You are never too far from a bike shop or cafe.
You can tour from a fixed base or move along as you like. You can nip on a train to carry you to a different region. Small regional airports serviced by budget airlines get you out into the countryside with no big city worries.

If you want a tour company, a UK-based one may be easier then a US one.