The bike scene in Bordeaux: Ride, fix and drink it!

Whether you are into cycling or not, it is plain to see from the sheer number of cycling citizens that Bordeaux is a bike friendly city. Well actually, it’s a fact! Bordeaux is ranked the 6th most bicycle friendly city in the world by Copehagenize. So, whether you are already a cyclist or keen to give it a go Bordeaux is the place to be.

Bordeaux offers so many bicycle related activities, tours and places: dedicated bike paths that go through vineyards to the beach, English speaking bike tour companies and the Musette bicycle café where you can get your bike repaired or just have a delicious coffee, there’s something for everyone.

Today, our guest author Christopher, the owner of Musette bicycle café  and a cycling addict, gives us his take on the cycling scene in Bordeaux.

Bicycles and Coffee

Musette is a coffee shop and bicycle shop rolled into one, combining the best bits of both. Opened in 2017 by two Anglophone expats, it is the first bicycle café in Bordeaux. You can simply stop in to have some great coffee and home-made cake even if you don’t have a bike. They also do light lunches, beer and wine and they even have a cute little garden terrace. If you have a bike and need to get a quick repair, they do almost everything for you, from flat tire repairs to full revisions. If you don’t already have a bike and are looking to buy a gravel bike in Bordeaux then you should stop in and check out their stylish Genesis bikes that they display on the walls.

You’ll find Musette bicycle & coffee at 72 Cours de la Somme 33800 Bordeaux. 200 meters from the Victoire with the nearest tram-stop being Saint-Nicolas on the B line.

More information can be found on their website.

Bike Tours and Wine

If you are new in town and looking to discover the city one of the best ways to do it is by bike. Rustic Vines is an English speaking guided bike tour operator. Their Bordeaux by bike tour combines some of the best sights in Bordeaux brought to life with the stories behind them and of course a little drop of wine. If you would like to take it one-step further they also operate electric bike tours in Saint-Emilion, where they take you through the vineyards to explore different wine châteaux and provide a picnic lunch.

They can be found in person at 26 Rue de la Devise 33000 Bordeaux in the historic center or you can book directly on their website. 

Cycle Paths

If you have your own bicycle and want to enjoy a day in the open air, there are a few great options heading out of town. First, there is a dedicated cycle path that runs all the way to the beach at Lacanau. The path is all flat and mostly straight running through the pine forests. It will take you about 60km to get to the lake and Lacanau town and then another 10km to get to the actual beach but it makes for a great little adventure. To make a round trip there and back in one day requires a fairly high level of fitness, so it’s recommended to go back by bus ( if there’s a space for your bike in the boot of the bus of course).

Another bike path that is definitely worth riding is the Roger Lapebie Voie Verte. It runs from Bordeaux all the way to Sauveterre-de-Guyenne but a recommended day trip would be to the little Medieval village of Creon and back. You’ll see vineyards, forests and little lakes all the while being almost completely out of the way of motor traffic.

So now you can hop on your ‘bicyclette’ and ride, fix and drink in the biking scene in Bordeaux!

The author, Christopher GJ Cooley, is one of the owners of Mussette bycicle café in Bordeaux.