CYCLING WITH US

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'Ride lots'. - EDDY MERCKX, 'The Cannibal'

Our passion is cycling and we consider ourselves to be very fortunate to be living in an extremely cycle friendly and beautiful area.

We  both have qualified and hold a certified French Fédéral Moniteur and a Fédéral Initiateur diplomas. We are  licenced members with the FFVélo (Fédération Française de Cyclotourisme and both hold PSC1 (Premier Secours Civiques de Niveau 1) certificates, which allow us to guide.

If you are a road cyclist, the Gers is one of the least populated departments in France, so roads here are very quiet with little traffic and we are able to show you some stunning local circuits. If you fancy tackling one of the mythical Cols, these are just over an hours drive and we are always happy to keep you company.

'The secret to mountain biking is pretty simple. The slower you go the more likely it is you'll crash'. - JULIANA FURTADO

If you are a mountain biker, the local tracks and trails that start from our door will leave you wanting more! There is an MTB base located at Simorre (4 km), with which we work in conjunction along with other club members.

Established in 2013, the MTB base consists of eight colour coded circuits which are permanently indicated: GREEN (very easy), BLUE (easy), RED (difficult), BLACK (very difficult). We can guide you in the right direction or accompany you and, if you fancy riding in the Pyrénées we can act as your guide. We simply love to ride, so take any opportunity to get out on two wheels.

We cater for all ages and any level of experience and are able to provide secure bike storage and bike washing facilities along with a fully equipped workshop that carries most spares and the necessary tools to sort you out.

Our recently completed project "Vélo Volt" offers or clients secure storage and e-bike charging.

'Any day I’m out on a bike is a good one'.

- MARTYN ASHTON

Recent local additions that will help improve your bike handling skills and fitness whilst having fun, are pump tracks located at Saint-Blancard, (14 km), Samatan, (21 km) and Auch, (36 km).

If you don't have a bike we can sort that out too!

'I rode to school every day. I always took a detour through the woods. You know, drifting through the woods in the mud'.

- TOM PIDCOCK

'It never gets easier, you just go faster'.

- GREG LEMOND, 'L'Americain'

We have been members of the local cycling club at Simorre (4 km),  'Le Guidon Simorrain', since it was founded in 2004. This year, 2024 is our 20th anniversary as a club. The club is a mix of road cyclists and mountain bike riders of all ages and levels, and includes a few women.

'When the spirits are low, when the day appears dark, when work  becomes monotonous, when hope hardly seems worth having, just mount a  bicycle and go out for a spin down the road, without thought on anything  but the ride you are taking'. - ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE

In May 2023 the Maxi-Verte, (a four day  annual  mountain bike event labelled by the FFVélo Federation for their quality of organization and animation), was held for the first time  in S W France. One of the days was held at Simorre offering the mountain biker four circuits of 27 km, 33k m, 43 km and 68 km.

During the months of July and August there is always the  opportunity to cycle with a group of locals and ride technical sections opened by the club on private land; a unique opportunity, as these are not part of the MTB circuits.

For children, (minimum age of 8 years) as well as adults who want to start riding MTB, there is a morning outing available duringthe months of July and August. This involves games centered around balance and correct manipulation of gears and brakes, evolving to riding some easy circuits. All levels are catered for and helmets are obligatory.

Weekly Sunday cycle events, (randonnées), are held across the Gers and other departments. These are open to all; any age, ability and experience, both to licenced and non-licenced cyclists. All are organised with food and drink stops, usually ending with apéritifs, prize giving and a grilled sandwich or optional lunch.

'Le Guidon Simorrain' hosts two randonnées every year. The first is held the third Sunday of April and the second is held in September.

If you don't have a bike we can sort that out too!

'If you do something right the first time then it's not hard enough'. - DANNY MACASKILL

A list of 2024 cycle events will be available to download soon.

'Life is like riding a bicycle. In order to keep your balance, you must keep moving'.

- ALBERT EINSTEIN

'YELLOW wakes me up in the morning.

YELLOW gets me on the bike every day.

YELLOW has taught me the true meaning of sacrifice. YELLOW makes me suffer.

YELLOW is the reason I'm here'. - LANCE ARMSTRONG, 'Mellow Johnny' 

The Tour de France passed through our village of Villefranche d'Astarac on Friday July 16th 2004. Every year the Tour de France passes near to us or you can watch a thrilling mountain stage!

The mythical mountain passes on the Tour de France route are linked to each other by a road called the ‘four passes stretch’, claimed to be the place where the Tour is lost or won. Col d’Aspin: altitude 4,960 feet (1,489 metres); Col de l’Aubisque: altitude 5,696 feet (1,754 metres); Col du Tourmalet: altitude 7,050 feet (2,115 metres); Col de Peyresourde: altitude 5,230 feet (1,569 metres); all are within easy reach.

'Motivation is the key to success in whatever you're doing in life. It comes a lot easier when you're doing something you love and have passion for. My goal is to have a good time and a hot run. And I'm not afraid of disappointment, it only makes me work harder'.

- MISSY GIOVE, 'The Missile' 

The UCI Downhill World Cup started in 1993.

2017 was the third consecutive year that Lourdes had the honour of hosting the start of the UCI MTB World Cup season and 2022 was the last year that would see Lourdes host this event.

Both the 2025 UCI Downhill World Cup and the UCI Enduro World Cup will be held at Loudenvielle - Peyragudes (93 km),

Friday 30 May to Sunday 01 June 2025.

This is the main village in the Louron Valley with more than 500 km of trails, several downhill tracks, pump tracks and skills areas for children.

Both these events are exciting and impressive to watch as a spectator; a must to see if you are in the area . . .  entrance is free!

You can ride the Pic du Jer and Loudenvielle anytime during the season.

'I think there is an exciting future for girls in our sport at the moment: let’s keep that momentum building . . .' - TRACY MOSELEY

'MOMENTUM IS YOUR FRIEND'