About
About VeloNomads
There’s something magical about being in France (or anywhere sunny and warm with your bike actually) and riding your bike.
I can’t quite put my finger on it; it’s just….magical.
Life seems so carefree once you finally get to your first destination, get the hire car or campervan and start driving. French signs, beautiful French towns.
Unpack your bike, get kitted up, swing your leg over and hear that satisfying “SNAP” as your cleats click into your pedals, you’re transformed.
Hey, you’re Cycling in France!
Everything seems better.
…It’s warm (you’ve maybe come from wintery Australia, brrrrrr!).
…The air smells good.
…Cars and trucks give you space, give a friendly toot and wave.
…Riding through the villages brings a smile to your face.
…And the villagers (especially the kids!) smile and wave, and a lot of the time clap encouragement.
…You ride along small country roads, through magical little villages. Each little house has its own story.
…If you’re like me, you are marvelling at old stone buildings, wondering who lives in there, what they do, and think to yourself “boy they are lucky to live here”.
…Your first big Col, and it is STEEEEEP. And long. But oh so fun. Don’t go too fast, there are lots more!
…Quintessential French cafes and restaurants.
…The smell of REAL, BUTTERY croissants (not the rubbish that passes for croissants here in Australia). Kerrrrunch and your teeth sink in through the outside, then hit the buttery, soft centre. Kind of wrecks it for croissants forever (Bakers Delight, no thanks!)
…Real French People, doing Real French Things (yes, this seems to consist of croissants, cafes, cheese and aperitifs).
…French cafes – AMAZING croissants. TERRIBLE coffee.
…Lunchtime picnics with INCREDIBLE baguettes (so soft, so rustic), creamy cheese.
…Endless other cyclists, all doing the same thing. All living the dream.
That’s what VeloNomad is about.
I am dedicated to helping YOU live this dream too. Not just for France, but for Spain, Italy, other places in Europe as well as Australia (perhaps you always wanted to see a kangaroo – they’re pretty fun, I promise – and visit the Tour Down Under).
You’ll learn all things you need to know, in order to plan your own dream cycling trip, by checking out the VeloNomad ebooks and articles.
VeloNomad, the Business
VeloNomad is a business that helps people plan their dream cycling trip, whether it be watching the Tour de France, doing Etape, or just cycling around the world.
Fundamentally based on hundreds of free “how-to” articles, VeloNomad also sells ebooks and other accessories.
Of course, there are other features planned for the site; some will be free, some won’t.
About Me
VeloNomad is run by me, Tim Marsh. I live in the Ballina-Byron hinterland on 10 acres with my girlfriend and our burgeoning collection of animals (2 cows, 2 goats and 5 chooks).
In addition to VeloNomad, I also run a coffee/cafe review website and iPhone app called Wherespresso that helps people find the most awesome coffee, wherever in the world they are. Please note, this is particularly useful when you’re abroad riding around.
Attached to Wherespresso is Mayday Coffee, a coffee of the month subscription service.
I also have a business consultancy, helping people get their ideas shipped; be it mobile app, web app, online business (implementation, strategy) and all other kinds of stuff. I absolutely love helping people with their ideas.
Contacting Me
Here are my contact details. I can’t guarantee I’ll get back to you on specific trip questions – I’ll try. If you have questions specific to your trip, your best bet is to book me for half an hour – check out the Trip Planning Concierge.
Advertising
VeloNomad is open for advertising via:
- Direct banners
- Ebook sponsorship – where for a fixed fee, an ebook is made free of charge for a period of time and co-brand them with your name.
- Mailing list sponsorship
- Web and mailing list advertorial
Read more about advertising on VeloNomad.
If you need some stats, drop me a line.
The Website
The VeloNomad website is not perfect but it’s getting better and better. It was designed originally by Lauren at CreativeCurio and was then optimised for SEO and conversion by Ben Hunt of Web Design From Scratch. If you’re wanting to Learn Web Design, Ben is the man.
Planning a Cycling Trip or Holiday in France?
Awesome! I am so excited for you! I still remember my first trip; it was SO EXCITING.
Although based in Australia, I have visited France on three occasions and ridden the Tour course (Etape du Tour) with groups three times. We’ve had some amazing experiences – and some we’d prefer to forget!
On each of my journeys, I have logged the best places we found to stay, to eat, to buy stuff, to call home, to get our bikes fixed…and for the past 3 years I’ve continued to research and build the notes into the most comprehensive book and series of articles you can get on how to plan a cycling trip in France.
The thing for an English-speaking person visiting France (like many countries), is simply not having local knowledge. The difference between the same meal, the same bed, or the same phone call, from one place to the next can be massive!
Readers tell me that the money and stress-saving tips in this book ALONE are worth the cost of the book (many times over)!
The TDF Tips ebooks and website are designed to be valuable for casual cycling holidays, as well as for the serious rider.
Trip Planning Concierge
For those completely overwhelmed by planning their cycling trip, I offer a concierge service. Check out the VeloNomad Cycling Trip Planning Concierge service if you need help planning any aspect of your trip.
Resource Page
The Resource Page is a great place to start in planning your trip. Chock full of useful articles and tools, it will help you get started.
Recommended Products and Product Reviews
I think the VeloNomad product reviews are pretty damned good – independent and very, very thorough. Anything that I haven’t discussed in relation to bike bags isn’t worth knowing! Check it out for all your cycling travel related products.
Did I Answer Your Question?
Questions or concerns about organising a cycling trip in France? Ask me here.
