Tips on cycling and bike rides in the Poitou-Charentes

The great Belgian rider Eddy Merckx said: 'Ride as much or as little or as long or as short as you feel...but ride.'

Exactly - especially if you do it when living or staying in the Poitou-Charentes. When we used to come here for our holidays we used to love cycling off to the bakers in the mornings to get our croissants and French bread.

Only a short ride, but with hardly any cars on the roads it was something we could all do as a family and it was great fun.