and now Paris (or is it worth assembling my bike for a ride?)

[rec head]

I just added a stop on what is becoming a European adventure. After traveling to Slovakia and Austria I am going to meet my mom and sister in Paris. We are staying in the 2nd Arrondisement. I'll have my S&S bike in the case. What I want to know is if there is any decent way to ride out of the city to do 40 to 50 kilometers. I'm looking for a quick fun ride that won't be in crazy traffic. If it helps I'll be riding on a Saturday and/or Sunday.

Thanks.

[sk_tle]

40 to 50km is a bit short to do a decent ride out of the Paris center arrondissements and I don't think there is a way to do a "quick fun ride not in crazy traffic". Unless you plan riding in circles at Longchamps or Vincennes you are pretty much forced to get out of the city to enjoy the ride. The nicest places to ride near Paris is in the Chevreuse valley / forêt de Rambouillet area. Here are two examples :
Vallee de Chevreuse | Paris | Strava
Crochet de Thoiry par la foret de Marly-le-Roi | Paris | Strava

These were my training roads 20y ago.

[TTX1]

I asked a similar question 2 years ago.

I was told that the ride to Versailles isn't bad... but no promises re: traffic.

I ended up riding a Velib all over the city and finding many side streets I never would have seen any other way, with easy access to water, coffee, etc.

YMMV.

Bon voyage!

[Rhys]

DC Rainmaker writes a lot about riding bikes in Paris.
He probably has some good routes on Strava as well.

[Lionel]

I just added a stop on what is becoming a European adventure. After traveling to Slovakia and Austria I am going to meet my mom and sister in Paris. We are staying in the 2nd Arrondisement. I'll have my S&S bike in the case. What I want to know is if there is any decent way to ride out of the city to do 40 to 50 kilometers. I'm looking for a quick fun ride that won't be in crazy traffic. If it helps I'll be riding on a Saturday and/or Sunday.

Thanks.

The short answer is no.

[happycampyer]

Even though it's not exercise, I would recommend doing a bike tour with your mom and sister. It's a fun way to see the city. For where you're staying, I would recommend Bike About Tours. This spring we did their tour on a Sunday morning and the streets were relatively quiet. The owner is obviously something of a bike nut—he has a cycling-themed café in the Marais where the tour finishes.

I've never done a bike tour to Versailles (you don't ride there, you take the bikes on the train), but colleagues of mine have said that it's also great. TTX1's suggestion of riding around on a Vélib bike is a great one—you can cover much more ground on a bike than on foot. We stayed at a hotel that had bikes that guests can use—that's another option.

Bon voyage!

[vertical_doug]

Bring skates, let your hair down, do the Pari Roller Friday night.

[rec head]

Thanks, I'll check out the links but it is looking like no.

[72gmc]

If you make it to the 9th, you could try La Prairie for baked goods and Creperie Pen-ty for savory crepes and cider. Both got multiple thumbs up (and a fair stack of euros) from my girls.

My wife's friend is not a cyclist and yet she loved the fat tire tour that began in the village of Versailles and included the palace and grounds. My girls tell me the palace is fun but would be better with bikes.

[Chris Chesebro]

I've been living in Paris for a year now, and moved from NYC. NYC is a much better riding city overall.

I agree with everyone here...but I would say it's worth a ride in Lonchamps. Yes, it's a circle, but the groups get big and it's a nice experience to do once or twice.

And the ride from the 2eme can take you past the Arc de Triomphe, which is nice too.

Happy to join you if I'm around that weekend.

[rec head]

Chris I may take you up on it. I really only have 1 possible day. Sunday September 24.