We meet at the Pont de Garbelle, between Pontevès and Barjols, and ride east or west to a restaurant, a café or just to enjoy the scenery. Cycling, food, drink – Bike and Bite – our fun cycling group.
Local cycling on Eurovelo8
Here in Barjols, we are still waiting for the official opening of our section of Eurovelo8. To the east, the section beyond Salernes to Flayosc was opened in 2017. Although a lot of work has gone into preparing the cycleway east and west of our village, bridges are still missing, and tunnels lack lighting.
Meanwhile we can make great use of the improvements. And with a little guidance, we can encourage others to do the same.Instead of on-road sports cycling, well-designed infrastructure separated from motor traffic offers an alternative approach to cycling. Cyclists can take their time, instead of worrying about slowing others down. We can cycle side-by-side, chatting along the way. We can take in the sights and smells of the landscape instead of watching out for lorries or fast cars.
Esparron
20-km-ride to Bistrot École in Esparron. Lunch there and then back to Pontevès.
Vineyards
A little break near a vineyard – not sure whether we should go in for a tasting.
Pontevès
April 2023 – our first ride through the vineyards to a café in Pontevès.
Barjols
Barjols – When Eurovelo8 is finished we shall be able to cross the road over here and ride over a little bridge. Off the main road.
Sillans-la-Cascade
Discussion about our way back home after a delightful pique-nique in Sillans-la-Cascade.
On the Road
Gathering for our joint ride along the main road to Sillans-la-Cascade. One Kilometer of stress.
Pontevès
Great fun cycling together on the Eurovelo8 – here near Pontevès.
Barjols
Just in front of the tunnel of Barjols- the group gathers to do it together
Near IVE the Printer (Pontevès)
Near wine label printer IVE heading East – a happy group
Former Road
On the old road to Sillans parallel to the main road. No car – no stress!
Setting off
Getting ready to set off on our next adventure.
Missing Bridge
This bridge between Varages and St. Martin de Pallière needs repairing – our group in demo mood for our cycle path
Pontevès
We discuss our trip to Sillans-la-Cascade
Bike + Bite Touring
And so it was that in the spring of 2023, we decided to establish a leisure cycling group. With the creation of Eurovelo8 in our area, many of our friends were already thinking of buying bicycles, and in particular e-bikes. Others were dusting down their old bikes that had been sitting in a shed for years. Since then we have been meeting every few weeks to plan a ride along the cycleway.
We meet at the Pont de Garbelle, between Pontevès and Barjols, and ride east or west to a restaurant, a café or just to enjoy the scenery. In 2023 we made trips to Sillans-la-Cascade three times (picnic, Le Grand Chêne and La Cascade restaurants), cycled through the vineyards of Ponteves, rode to Varages for a drink at Bar de la Foux, and cycled to Esparron for a wonderful lunch at the Bistro École.
Most of our rides take place around lunchtime. But in the heat of summer, we shift to the cooler evening. A highlight in 2023 was one such ride to Grand Chêne in Sillans-la-Cascade for a dinner together. Returning in the darkness, it was such a relief to have a segregated cycleway. This little video documents that lovely evening.
Into 2024, we are growing the group to include friends from villages farther along the cycleway – Varages, Saint Martin, and Villecroze. With restaurants in Rians to the west and Salernes to the east in our sights, it promises to be a great year for Bike and Bite.