Canal du Midi

[Ergates]

We have, somewhat randomly, decided that we'd like to cycle to the Canal du Midi this summer, we've got a book and everything.

This will be our first touring/cycling holiday. We figure it's a good choice for that as it'll be pretty flat and probably quite hard to get lost (right?).

Magic book aside, a few things we'd like some personal insight into:

Firstly - is it insane to be planning this for early July. We appreciate it'll get quite warm, but is it likely to be too hot to cycle?

Secondly - what type of bikes? The Book suggests hybrids, or something with front suspension. Is this really necessary? as it'd preclude any "standard" touring bike. Would a standard tourer/commuting bike be OK?

Also, any suggestions for a touring bike for a short-arsed female (step-over 28"ish)?

 

[Dayvo]

That looks and sounds a great trip!

It will be pretty hot in July, but you should have a fair amount of shade, and you can always divide your day into two halves: early start with a long lunch/siesta (08.00-14.00) and a relaxed afternoon/evening.

There should be plenty of evening sunlight so pace yourselves accordingly: it's not a race, it's a gourmand's paradise!

Front suspension bikes probably won't be necessary, but make sure you have good-quality, pu*cture-proof tyres. So a hybrid, sensibly loaded, should be more than adequate.

Good luck!

 

[psmiffy]

Ive been up and down the Canal a few times - It will be hot in July but not impossibly hot being next to the Canal in the shade for a lot of the time

I have cycled along the Gironne/Midi from the Altlantic to the med or vice versa on a number of occasions the last being in 2009. See http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/psmiffyontour2009 for my account - almost totally impossible to get lost - I do not know what book you have but it would be prudent to have a proper map - apart from a few places near Toulose the canal is a bit lacking in hostelries etc and you might want to toddle off to find things

The path is excellent going east from Castets en Dorthe where it starts on the Girrone - a bit south east of Bordeax - need to use local roads to that point or there is a curcuituitous railway path out of Bordeaux to the north and east that joins the canal a little later - but I have not used it.

The path is very good until it gets to the Atlantic/Med divide at Le Segula where it deteriorates and is more trouble than its worth. I would use local roads from there to Castelnaudry/Carcossone and south - if you are camping do not follow the signs to the campsite in Carcossone - takes you around the houses - easier to go into the town and start from there.

Few odd sections further on where the path gets better and I have followed it from Portigues to Adge without too much trouble- apart from the very last little bit - where it would be prudent to get on the road

You do not say where you are going to finish - Ive sort of assumed that you are going east and south - from Adge to Sete they are building a new cycle path to Sete along the Corniche - very antiseptic but! - and its quite fun to follow the canal across the lagoons to near Montepelier - Montepelier area not so fun but thats life

any further questions - Post or PM

Any old bike will do as long as you avoid the piece east of Le Segular

 

[rich p]

smiffy has said it all really.

We did a few small sections last year in July and it was fine temperature wise.

The short bit we did from Trebes to Carcassonne was okay on a tourer but a little rougher than I expected but, and I realise that it's horses for courses, I found it stultifyingly dull after a day of canal-side riding.

Using some parallel roads that smiffy suggests will break it up a little and alow you to see some village life.

 

[psmiffy]

Smiffy said it all - apart from

I found it stultifyingly dull after a day of canal-side riding.

Well Rich went and said it - I was not going to verbalise that - trouble is it is true - I generally only use the Midi as a quickish way to get between the Atlantic and the Med or vice versa - However, for a first tour it is a good starter - need to make the most of the towns villages on the way and try not to bypass too many on the Canal

 

[Ergates]

Thanks for the replies.

We're thinking of starting at Toulouse and ending up in... well, we've not decided that bit yet!

So far our route consists of:
Toulouse - Villefranche de Lauragais
Villefranche de Lauragais - Castelnaudray
Castelnaudray - Carcassonne
Carcassonne - Lastours - Carcassonne (round trip)
Carcassonne - Homps
Homps - Cesseras - Minerve - Aigne


With various detours to places along the way.

I appreciate these aren't very long stages, but we figure we'll be taking our time and stopping off in towns/villages along the way. Plus we're new to this

After Aignes, we're going to avoid the canal path and rag it down to Beziers on the D11 (are D roads OK to cycle on?).

That's as far as we've got really. We're not very good at holidays!

 

[Falwheeler]

Slightly OT but I and a mate who lives in France are cycling the Nantes Brest Canal in June. Like you we will be making a few detours on the way. Strangely it doesn't start at Nantes or end at Brest

 

[hubbike]

I cycled most of it in winter and thought it was a beautiful and a very enjoyable cycle. toulouse and bordeaux are both quite interesting cities too. plenty of interesting little villages along the way like Serignac...I remember thinking that almost anyone could cycle this, on just about any bike and have a nice time.

here's some photos to whet your appetite

tree lined canal

sunset reflections

boat

house

trees in a line