Once he had obtained his cycling instructor’s qualification, Nicolas Duperron decided to set up a mountain biking school in 2007 which would work only with individuals and sports clubs. However, his services were soon in demand by companies looking for a recreational activity that was a bit different to accompany their work sessions. “So in early 2008, in order to respond to the growing demand, I set up the Lyon à Vélo tours to operate alongside my other cycle tours,” recalls this young business director. “Our groups range from about seven people for a cycle tour in the Monts du Lyonnais starting out from Signal de Saint-André la Côte, to 80 people for a cycling itinerary in Lyon”.

Nicolas Duperron offers a comprehensive service, including bike hire (road or mountain bikes, depending on the route) in partnership with Lyon Location, and the services of one escort/instructor per group of 15 in the city. “As far as safety is concerned, we put one instructor at the front of the group and one at the back, each of them wearing a fluorescent jacket and equipped with a walkie-talkie. We also provide helmets and cycle clips for delegates, because sometimes they’ll be in suits. And if we have foreign groups, then we can also find interpreters”.

Orientation Vélo/Lyon à Vélo, which works with Kuoni and La Cour des Loges, offers a range of different packages – usually a half-day tour that fits perfectly within a seminar schedule. For activities outside of the city, it can involve a leisurely mountain bike tour in the hillsides surrounding Lyon from Irigny as well as the trails in the area surrounding Saint-André la Côte with its miles of downhill (getting back up the hill is done by minibus!).

In Lyon the circuits last between three to four hours. The groups involve on average 20 to 30 participants and can go up to 80. “The instructors are ready to deal with any mecanical problems and are trained to lead the group through traffic,” details Nicolas Duperron. “We often use dedicated cycle tracks and we stay in the flatter areas of the city with companies, often small or medium-sized who manage the seminar internally, largely preferring tours of Presqu’île, Vieux Lyon, the Tête d’Or park and the banks of the river Rhône”.

The cyclists either depart from Lyon Location or from their hotel and usually arrive back at a restaurant where they will have dinner. Most of the tours are booked between April and October although Nicolas Duperron is noticing that there seems to be an increase in requests for winter tours! Top of the list of favourite circuits are the Presqu’île, Tête d’Or park, and Vieux Lyon followed by the city’s other parks via the banks of the river Rhône and the famous painted walls. Worth noting for 2010, is the new wine cycle rally for up to a maximum of 35 people. The wine discovery circuit goes from cellar to cellar, ending with a tasting of local produce. It is escorted by wine expert Laurent Turrel.

Rates : from 44 € per person for mountain bike tours of the Monts du Lyonnais based on seven participants; between 32 – 40 € per person for a Lyon circuit depending on the size of group (40 € including interpreter); from 58 € per person for the wine tour.

Practical Information
Orientation Vélo, in Lyon (Rhône)
Tel.: 00 33 (0)6 50 53 88 37 ou 00 33 (0)9 54 35 01 04
nicolas@orientation-velo.com
www.orientation-velo.com/index_366.htm