The Barn is a classic destination, and I already have two routes that go there: a direct 107 km loop and a longer 100 mile option. I felt a third version was needed. The 100 mile ride is enjoyable, but it is a bit time consuming for a regular weekend outing, especially with a coffee and snack stop. This medium Barn route leaves Paris the same way most Gif rides do. You roll along the quai, climb through Clamart, and eventually drop into the Chevreuse valley. After passing thr

Dreux may not be high on your list of destinations, but it makes for a pleasant 100 km ride with a train back to Paris. The route heads out along the quai and takes the direct climb up through Sèvres. From there, you continue through Buc, descend to Châteaufort, and drop into the Chevreuse valley. The route cuts across the valley on the southern, more scenic road before heading farther south and climbing out toward Rambouillet. You pass right in front of the château, and the

This route is almost a typical Chevreuse ride but with a small twist. You still get the punchy Milon-la-Chapelle climb, but instead of dropping into the Chevreuse city center, you turn back toward Paris. You head out along the quai, skip the tunnel, and climb up through Clamart—pretty standard for rides in this direction. The route continues on familiar roads as you make your way south and eventually descend into the Chevreuse valley. You pass through Gif and then Saint-Rémy-

Another year brings another new Tour de France route through Paris. The 2025 edition introduced a major change with Montmartre being included in the finishing circuit. But, similar to the 2021 route I posted earlier, I cut out the dense city section to turn it into a practical everyday ride. Stage 21 officially started in Mantes-la-Jolie, though I decided to add a bit more distance—beyond just the ride to the start. The route begins like most rides toward Saint-Germain-en-Lay

Rivers and Canals delivers exactly what the name suggests. It’s a great option if you want to stay off main roads and get in around 80 km with minimal climbing. The route leaves Paris much like a Marne loop, but after about 11 km it cuts the loop short and goes across to stay on the Marne heading east. You follow the river until roughly 25 km, where a small climb takes you up to Champs-sur-Marne. From there, you parallel the river for a while before eventually rejoining it an

Maintenon is home to the Château de Maintenon, which has a long and colorful history. Originally built in the 13th century and expanded in the 16th, it’s best known as the residence of Françoise d’Aubigné, Madame de Maintenon, the secret wife of Louis XIV. The château is also one of the stops on 5 historic sites, 1 cycling route . This loop is similar in feel to the Paris–Chartres–Paris ride but a bit shorter and with a few reversed sections to keep things fresh. You head ou

The Southern 100 mile route is a nice way to stack up distance while getting a good mix of landscapes along the way. A quick cut through the 15th gets you out of the city faster, and the ride feels fairly routine through Gif. From there you head south, which breaks things up nicely. The terrain shifts between farmland and forest, with enough climbing to keep the pace changing as you work toward Étréchy and the halfway point. Most of the climbing is behind you by then, and you

(Most) every year, the Tour de France finishes with Stage 21 in Paris. This gives those of us who live here an easy opportunity to ride a stage of the Tour without much hassle. The official routes often start outside of Paris and finish within the city. This route is based on the 2021 Tour stage: you ride out to the start, follow the course, and then switch to a normal route as soon as you enter Paris proper. The Tour’s exact path through the city might be fine when the roads

Coulommiers is a small town located 60 km due east of Paris. Best known for its Brie cheese and as the birthplace of André the Giant, it also makes for a great cycling destination. This route starts out along the quai like a Marne loop, but instead of heading back, you continue east along the river. You cruise on the pancake-flat Marne path until about 38 km in, where you cut south and climb out of the river valley. You pass a great boulangerie if you want a snack and the Châ

“Straight to it” is about getting a workout in, not taking in the scenery. That said, Bois de Vincennes is still a nice escape from the city center to put in some miles. The route heads out like a Marne loop along the quai, but instead of doing the full loop, you cut north and hop straight into the park. This puts you at the infamous Polygon, about 13 km and roughly 30 minutes into your ride, warmed up and ready for a workout. The Polygon is well known to Parisian cyclists. I

Gravelman Mont-Blanc 350 is the most challenging version of the Steven le Hyaric 350km challenges, featuring over 9,000m of climbing—more than the height of Mount Everest. The route is a loop from Chamonix to Chamonix, crossing from France to Italy to Switzerland and finally back to France. It is not for the faint of heart. I tackled this challenge in 2022 and for some reason am just now getting around to sharing my adventure. Better late than never. The Build-Up I had done t

The original GPX file name I shared with a friend said Saint-Germain + Fairytale Reverse , and she read it as German Fairytale , hence the official route name: Brothers Grimm. A true nickname. The route heads out of Paris along the quai, cutting through Trocadéro and into the Bois de Boulogne. There’s a short but spicy climb up and over Nanterre, followed by another ascent to the château in Saint-Germain-en-Laye. After passing the château, there’s a long straight stretch to

Versailles, Buc, Jouy-en-Josas, Bièvres, Meudon There are only so many options for shorter routes, but this one puts a little twist on a...

I’ve covered cycling around the Loire in a previous post , but this one is a bit more adventurous. Riding from the heart of Paris to the...

If you’re looking for an 80 km ride that is not just another Chevreuse loop, this is a great route that blends the Fairytale Route with...

A day of history and fantastic cycling My Chartres-to-Paris route passes so many historic sights that I wanted to create a slight variation that fully captures four of them for a perfect day of exploring and cycling. While each destination would warrant a trip on its own, linking them together makes for a great taste of French history and countryside. The route begins with an easy train ride out to Chartres. If you haven’t taken a train with your bike in France before, I hav

I have covered a to-and-from route before but realized I had not posted the classic Chartres to Paris route. I have done variations of...

If you’re in search of some vert, look no further than Mountainous Meudon. This silly little series of loops racks up 800 m of climbing...

Situated in the middle of the Chantilly forest is a beautiful little château at the end of a series of long ponds. Originally built in...

Aaron and I decided to take a wine-centered bike trip to Chablis in early August this year. A couple years ago, I passed through the...