Nice Cycle Tours - a new way to discover Nice, August 2008

Nice Cycle Tours - a new tour for 2008

I tried this new bike tour this morning and thoroughly recommend it. You cover a vast area of Nice effortlessly, generating a pleasant breeze en route and get to places inaccessible to the Open Top Tour Bus or Tourist train.


Starting off on the Prom by the sea in front of the Albert 1er Gardens

In the shade of a few trees, pausing for a coffee break on

the Chateau Hill, Dave and his partner Jimin from Nice Cycle Tours.

Nice Cycle Tours is brand new for 2008 run by David, a Brit who has lived in Nice for the last few years and has great knowledge and enthusiasm about Nice. His three hour tours cover about 10 km of Nice.

When I arranged to do the tour I had some trepidation; although I am reasonably fit, my cycling experience is limited to a leisurely family bike ride about three times a year. We do have our own bikes in Nice which had been languishing in the bike store the last three years so I even prepared for the tour by dusting them and going for an experimental peddle along the Prom. It's true once learned, never forgotten, thank goodness. My nerves were unnecessary though, the cycling tour was easy as the roads are so flat and smooth. I was worried about the Chateau Hill climb and this proved to be the only testing part of the whole tour however it was a short distance and the bike's gears were fabulous and I was able to make short work of the hill and it was over very quickly. The free-wheeling experience back down the Chateau Hill after a break was worth the effort, it was the best fun.

The statue of Nikea in the Albert 1er Gardens, overlooking the start of the cycle tour.


The tour started on the Promenade des Anglais by the Albert 1st Gardens, in common with the Open Top bus tour and the little tourist train tour so it is very easy to find. Look out for David in his orange top - a few bikes hanging around is a bit of a clue too.


David meets and greets, sorts out a cycle helmet and adjusts the bike to fit. A filled water bottle is provided or you can bring your own. There are several places en route passing water pumps for re-fills if necessary. There was no need for me to bring anything other than the keys to get back home and a camera - my camera neck strap proved useful and I was already sun-creamed and wearing sunglasses. If you are likely to burn, then a long-sleeved top perhaps, tied around your waist would be an idea.

Then it's on the bikes and off we go along the Promenade des Anglais' dedicated cycle lane. The breeze generated under your own effort is wonderful and David makes frequent stops to point out places of interest and a chance to sip some water, take a photo.

Dave's knowledge of Nice and about Nice is excellent and he will gear the tour to suit your tastes. A general tour of Nice will give you information about the history, architecture and culture of Nice plus great local knowledge about the best places to eat, great bars and clubs etc Whatever your interest, the tour can be modified.

Place Massena - with the latest installation 'Conversation Piece' and the new tram gliding through.

He guided me, with stops to show examples, through all the different types of architecture, from mediaeval and Baroque to Italianate, Belle Époque and Art Deco and he can tell you as much Niçoise history as you wish about each era from the Greek origins through the turbulent Savoy years right up to the German invasion in the second world war. He is also up to date with current information for Nice and future plans under the new Mayor of Nice, M. Estrosy.

A 16 century turkish cannon ball embedded in a building in Old Nice.


Nice is also full of art, sculpture, fountains and installations and the cycle tour will take you past some of Nice's finest - work by Venet, Sosno, Arman, Janniot, Spinnelli and even Gustav Eiffel to name a few - my head is reeling from all the information. The tour has certainly inspired me to re-read the history of Nice and I am viewing Nice with fresh eyes again, I think I had become complacent about the beauty of Nice over the last few years.


One of Sosno's many sculptures throughout Nice. This one is about life-size. There is a similar one on a huge scale - building-sized at the four-points Sheraton Hotel in Nice.


Back to the tour. In a nut shell, the tour turns off the Prom after the Negresco and using roads and cycle lanes, leads back towards Place Massena and from here across the Albert 1st Gardens and into Old Nice wending the way through the Old Town to Place Garibaldi before heading out past the Acropolis. Then it's back and up the Chateau Hill, a break for a coffee (free, all part of the tour) before exploring the Port area then finally back along the Prom to the complete the circular tour.

It's a well-thought out route, completely flat apart from one steep but thankfully brief climb up the far side of the Chateau Hill with no repetition of route and always something interesting around the next corner.


Monument to Niçoise heroine, Catherine Ségaurane.

The current cost for 2008 is 30 euros and this includes the use of a fully geared comfortable lightweight mountain bike, helmet, water bottle (or you can bring your own) even a cup of coffee plus all the information and tips you could wish. The tours are available Friday 9:00am and 4:00pm, Saturday 9:00am and Sunday 9:00am and 4:00pm










One of several views from the top of the Chateau Hill.















Lots more details on their website www.nicecycletours.com or by calling Dave directly on 06 19 99 95 22 (international: 00 33 (0)6 19 99 95 22)

You can book directly with David or I understand that in the near future cycle tours can be reserved and booked in person at the Nice Tourist Office on the Prom, by the Train Station and at the Airport branch of the Tourist Office.

One of the nicest parts about this tour was the large area covered so effortlessly and also the cool factor is high - as much as I rather like the Open Bus tours and even the cheesy little tourist train, they are a bit naff and everyone stares at the tourists. The cycle tour is very much under the tourist radar and a stylish way to get to know Nice. The groups are small, no more than five plus David on each tour.

If you can ride a bike and have reasonable fitness then you might like this tour whatever your age however it occurred to me that this would also be an ideal tour for older teens looking to lose their parents for a couple of hour; it's great fun and a chance suss out the best bars and clubs for later.