Our tips for riding gravel in Paris
Would you believe us if we were to tell you that you can be in a forest, deep in the heart of nature, and just a few kms from Paris?
Adventure is never far away, even if you call Paris home! You just need a good route and the right kit to get out there and make the most of the fresh air just outside the city.
Taking your bike on the train opens up lots of possibilities - Rambouillet, Chantilly, Fontainebleau, Compiègne or Dreux where endless trails await.
Here’s our tips for getting out there exploring on a gravel bike.
Give gravel a go on a group ride
Our first piece of advice is to start with a group ride. It’s a great way to meet other like minded cyclists and also to explore new trails, all with the back up of the group.
Roughly once a month we organise a social group ride that’s open to everyone, and free. It’s not a race at all, we’re there for the chat and coffee too!
On the 10th of June we ran the first #CC Gravel with Classics Challenge. 50 riders gathered at the starting point for a 70km gravel route to Chantilly, before returning home on the train. Origine gravel bikes were available to hire, so it was a perfect chance to try out gravel for some, and to test a new gravel bike for others.
Our favorite gravel routes from Paris
Following the gravel rides we’ve run in conjunction with Steel Cyclewear and Coffeeshop and Classics Challenge, we’re pleased to share our favorite route with you.
It’s been tried and tested, not only by our team, but more importantly all the riders who took part in the social rides. Adventure awaits inside the Peripherique, so don’t delay, get on yer bike!
If you are passing through Paris, don’t hesitate to get off the beaten track and explore around the French capital, from the Chevreuse Valley to the Chantilly Forest. You’ll soon realise that Paris and Gravel are not that far apart!
We recommend 40mm width tyres as a minimum for this ride:
1. Paris-Versailles-Meudon (#6)
2. Paris-Chantilly : 59,4 km - 650m D+
3. Between Seine & Marne : 76,3 km - 310m D+
Organise your own private group ride
Would you like to organise a ride locally or to some of the forests and countryside nearby? Get in touch with us with your ideas and contact us. Whether it’s for a seminar or get together, with friends and/or colleagues, we’d love to chat cycling with you !
We also have Origine gravel bikes available to rent, both traditional muscle power and electric versions.
Journal
Gravel et météo : comment se préparer à toutes les conditions ?
Le vélo gravel est une aventure unique qui vous plonge au cœur de la nature, mais il exige une préparation adaptée aux caprices de la météo. Que vous rouliez sous la pluie, dans le froid hivernal ou par temps chaud, chaque condition demande un équipement spécifique pour garantir votre confort et votre sécurité. Dans cet article, nous partageons nos conseils pratiques pour affronter toutes les situations climatiques !
Cycling in Iceland - find out what's not to be missed!
Under the shifting light of a sky that never sleeps, Iceland reveals itself as a land shaped by towering mountains, the fiery breath of volcanoes, and the shimmering silver of glaciers. Cycling through this island of raw, untamed beauty means moving to the rhythm of nature’s whims, feeling the northern wind whistle past your ears, and letting the solitude and vastness of the landscape engulf you.
