I am organising the logistics for a large group of British and French cyclists planning to ride from Nantes to Paris next year. There will be about 35 riders, roughly half from the UK, the rest from mainland Europe. I'd like to pick the brains of anyone who has done anything on this scale to see what I've not thought of! Critically, will we need any permits? I've seen some reference in forum posts but I've failed to find info about obtaining these.
I have been on a couple of large group rides with the ctc in spain.
never in france though.
contact the ctc or these, to ask.
http://www.audax-club-parisien.com/EN/
Avoid Mondays - everything's closed
Avoid [s]Mondays [/s] France - [s]everything's closed[/s] everyone's grumpy
Avoid Mondays France - everything's closed everyone's grumpy
only if you walk in a shop/bar/anywhere shouting out what you want in English, i.e 'can I have a cup of white tea and a toasted tcake please monsure'.
My friend Hayley Morton might be able to help - contact through 54321 Cymru which organise a brilliant ride every year through either France, Holland or Belgium.
Try Luc Royer at Chilkoot cdp for the French side of things. Assuming your French is ok.