There's no need to do a tour de France to discover the bonheur of biking. Parisian pedal-pushers can take day-long guided tours of the city, rent bikes with friends for an afternoon or venture out into the Ile de France for a weekend getaway. Where to rent a bike in Paris Bicloune, 93, bd Beaumarchais, 3e, metro Chemin-Vert, tel: 01.42.77.58.06. Bike and Roller, 6, rue St Julien-le-Pauvre, 5e, metro St-Michel, tel: 01.44.07.35.89. Gepetto & Vélo, 4, rue Daubenton, 5e, metro Censier-Daubenton, tel: 01.43.37.16.17. La Maison Roue Libre, 95 bis, rue Rambuteau, 1er, metro Châtelet, tel: 01.53.46.43.77 (They also rent bicycles at the entrance to the Bois de Vincennes, Bois de Boulogne, Eiffel Tower, Châtelet and St-Germain-en-Laye.) La Maison du Vélo, 11, rue Fénelon, 10e, metro Poissonière, tel: 01.42.81.24.72. Paris Vélo, 2, rue du Fer-à-Moulin, 5e, metro Censier-Daubenton, tel: 01.43.37.59.22. Paris à Vélo C'est Sympa, 37, av Bourdon, 4e, metro Bastille, tel: 01.48.87.60.01. Paris Bicycle Tours Escapade Nature, tel: 01.53.17.03.18, fax: 01.43.45.57.19, http://www.novomundi.com/escapade-nature/ Leads a wide array of theme tours of Paris's Left and Right banks, "Paris by night," sunrise and "Medieval Paris" tours as well as guided tours of the Bois de Vincennes, Bois de Boulogne, Versailles and other fairy tale destinations. Group expeditions out to countryside castles and museums leave every Sunday morning at 10am. All tours in English. Price: 75F/250F. Maison Roue Libre, 95bis, rue Rambuteau, 1er, metro Châtelet, tel: 01.53.46.43.77. Offers one and a half hour guided tours in English for children and adults leaving every day at 10am and 2pm. Three-hour tours depart at 9:30am and 3pm daily and day-long tours on Sundays start at 9:30am. Tour prices start at 100F. Paris à Vélo C'est Sympa! 37, bd Bourdon, 4e, metro Bastille, tel: 01.48.87.60.01. Runs English-language guided tours of the "Heart of Paris" and "Unusual Paris." "Paris Modern Style" explores the ritzy 16th arrondisement and 'Paris Village" tackles the hills of Montmartre. Prices: 190F/150F/140F (includes the tour, bike and insurance). Chiche! 40, rue de Malte, 11e, metro République, tel: 01.43.38.56.14. Organizes group bike rides the first Saturday of every month at 2pm leaving from Bastille. Castle-hopping on the Ile-de-France Taking the train to the outskirts of Paris to bike around the parks, forests, châteaux and villages is as easy as hopping on the RER. Pick your destination and then rent a bike at the station for a guided group tour or an afternoon outing with friends. It's even possible to rent touring and mountain bikes at one train station and return them to another station. Call the SNCF for more information at 01.53.90.20.20. Versailles Tour the celebrated French gardens designed by Le Nôtre surrounding the palace and wooded passageways along the Grand Canal. Take the RER train from the Gare St-Lazare to Versailles Rive-Droite (36 min) or take the RER-C direct to the château. Rent bikes for 59-129F a day from Decathlon, tel: 01.30.84.11.01. Rambouillet Trek through this heavily forested region filled with streams and wildlife. Take the RER from Gare Montparnasse to Chartres or Rambouillet (30-60 min). Rent bikes for 59-129F a day from Decathlon, tel: 01.30.13.42.05. L'Isle-Adam-Parmain Visit this tiny village once home to painters such as Van Gogh, Jean Gabin and many impressionists. Take the RER from Gare du Nord to Persan-Beaumont-via Valmondois (50 min). Rent bikes from Paris Vélo for 70F/half-day or 90F/day, tel: 06.14.96.54.75 or 06.14.04.78.05. Lizy-sur-Ourcq & Trilport Bike along the tree-lined canal which eventually leads to the Canal St-Martin in Paris. Take the RER from Gare de l'Est to La Ferté-Milon/Lizy (45 min) or to Château-Thierry/Trilport (35 min). Paris Vélo rents bikes at the Trilport strain for 70F/half-day and 90F/day, tel: 06.14.96.54.75 or 06.14.04.78.05. Fontainebleau-Avon & Moret/Veneux-les-Sablons Tackle the rocky forested terrain that inspired so many Barbizon painters. Take the RER from Gare de Lyon to Laroche-Migennes, Montereau or Montargis (40-50 min). Bike rentals from MBK (Mr. Mullot) for 80F/half-day and 120F/day, tel: 01.64.22.36.14. |
