The Avenue Verte is one of the most famous bike touring routes in Europe and connects Paris with London. Inaugurated in 2012, it has since become a must for those who travel by bike, quickly gaining great popularity. Perhaps because it connects two of the most fascinating capitals in the world or because it crosses stunning landscapes, the Avenue Verte is the ideal route for those who love two wheels. There are 375 kilometers to travel, leaving the Ville Lumière and entering dynamic London: along this route, you will encounter flat and hilly landscapes of great beauty, perfect for anyone who loves to take photos while traveling.

Despite its popularity, however, many cyclists still know little about this route, or rather, they are confused about what really lies along the way. That's why today we will tell you about 6 myths to debunk about the Avenue Verte!

1. The Avenue Verte is a long bike path

This is the first myth to debunk: Avenue Verte is not a proper bike path that connects the two European capitals, but rather a route that combines stretches of track with country roads or low-traffic roads. Exactly, on 375 km of the journey, about a third is a bike path, while two-thirds are roads on which motor vehicles also normally travel. Even though it is not a single large track, there are no particular safety problems, but it is enough to pay attention as in any other bike tour.

If you want to know more about the most beautiful bike paths in France, read: Bike paths France: the 8 most beautiful routes, with a map.

2. The Avenue Verte is all asphalted

If you're setting out on a journey through Avenue Verte, it's important to know that the route will not all be paved, in fact, about 20% of the total is dirt. This is crucial because in the preparation phase you will have to plan the things to carry for the journey, but also physical training, as cycling on a dirt stretch requires some additional precautions. For example, braking is different, you need to vary the tire pressure, and you need to pay more attention not to encounter obstacles along the way so as not to damage the bike.

This information is also useful when choosing the set up. If the dirt stretches in France are mostly wide forest roads with a quite regular bottom, suitable for carrying the classic bike bags hooked on the rack, in the English part the dirt stretches are single tracks with a very irregular bottom: in this case traveling with bike-packing bags could be the best choice.

3. The signage is uniform throughout the route

The Avenue Verte was inaugurated in 2012 following an agreement between France and England. Even though it is a single route, the signage varies considerably between the two countries: in France the entire route is signposted uniformly with the appropriate logo that distinguishes it, while in England there is no dedicated signage. Therefore, depending on the area you are in, you have to follow the signs of the National and the Regional Cycle Network British, which only occasionally also present the Avenue Verte stamp.

4. Along the Avenue Verte, it is easy to define the stages

It's true that with the Avenue Verte you also cross less touristy areas, and for this reason, care must be taken, especially in calculating stages and stops for supplies. In the summer period bars, small grocery stores, and restaurants might be closed for vacations. The advice is to schedule all the stops and check the opening of services in advance. As for the accommodations, the problem is less frequent, although there are not many beds available. B&Bs and farmhouse stays do not close in the summer, but it is still important to book in advance because there is a risk of not finding even one free room.

5. The Avenue Verte is all flat

This is one of the main myths to debunk: the Avenue Verte is not all flat, but it has several hilly stretches and others slightly hilly so it is important to prepare before departure and have a good physical training.

6. The weight of the luggage on the bike does not affect the stages

Just because it is not an entirely flat route, and presents sections of medium difficulty, it's important to evaluate the weight of the luggage before departure so as not to find oneself having to make a physical effort that will not allow us to reach the stage in time.

At the moment there are no companies that offer an organized version of this route, so if you plan to undertake this journey on the Avenue Verte, remember that you will have to plan your stages independently (to be carefully defined especially in the French part), by booking accommodations, carrying your luggage on the bike, and preparing to manage the issues that you could encounter along the way. If you are new to bike touring, the advice is to choose simpler routes, with more manageable stages, or turn to professionals who can help you find the most suitable trip for you, taking advantage of our free consulting service. To take advantage of it, just book a 30-minute slot directly from this calendar or by clicking on the link below, and a bike touring expert will be at your disposal to solve doubts and guide you towards the choice that suits you best.