LA MAISON

08/08

Nice Trail Running - Èze Seaside

Èze Seaside – Nice The first edition of our trail running routes is a classic, and if you have nothing against a short train ride to get to a route as breath-taking as it is wild, this itinerary is for you. You will find yourself in shorts and running shoes among the passengers of the Regional Express Train (TER). You board at Nice-Ville and some of them will look at you questioningly, others may gaze enviously at you. Leave the wagon at Èze Bord de Mer station (roughly a 20-minute trip). Descending a few metres from the station you will reach a pebble beach with translucent water, a small detour that is worth a look. But to start running the prescribed route, you must go back up onto the road and cross over it. The Nietzsche path, named after the famous philosopher, weaves its way between the stone walls of beautiful Riviera villas. Make a few round trips on the flat to climb as a warm-up, so as not to be surprised by the coast which immediately faces you. In the next 30 minutes you are not going to stop climbing. As you rise above the sea, the landscape becomes even more grandiose, and after just over 250 meters of elevation, you enter the village of Èze. The rock of Èze has been home to local populations since the Iron Age, around 220 BC but your route around it is not the typical tourist trail. The plot takes the road towards Nice for about a kilometre before starting a new ascent up the mountainside. The path is steep, so don’t be tempted to walk here as the spectacle to come is worth the effort. The Col d'Èze soon comes into view. From here the descent is made by the strategic road, with a remarkable curiosity on the northern flank of Mont Leuze where you can see the four paths leading to the col. Then it’s on to the Parc du Vinaigrier and the atmosphere of the route somehow switches as you arrive between olive trees and old stone walls. And then suddenly, we enter Nice. More Trails THE DOG'S HEAD Somewhat technical trail with an incredible view of Monaco at its peak and finishing at La Mala beach. VIEW MORE SAINT JEAN CAP FERRAT A relatively easy route that winds its way to Paloma Beach for impeccable views and a finish by the sea. VIEW MORE MOUNT BORON Beginning at Café du Cycliste, this is the most accessible route if you’re short of time and need to leave your gear somewhere. VIEW MORE NICE TRAIL RUNNING GUIDE For the visiting runner in Nice, you can take any number of routes and find yourself on terrific terrain with stunning scenery that will make you want to stay forever. VIEW MORE

LA MAISON

07/12

Vélos au Café

Top-of-the-range rentals at Café du Cycliste A new fleet of rental bikes now feature on the back walls of the Café du Cycliste store in Nice, ready for your next adventure. “They were long overdue, but it was worth it, these machines are excellently versatile,” exclaims Thierry, Café du Cycliste store manager. On the road-riding side of the service course, the Cervélo Caledonia 5 with Ultegra Di2 is the chosen model. Built with premium carbon fibre and paired with a DT Swiss E1850 wheelset, it’s the ideal bike to take on the Nice hinterland, adaptable to all terrains. We tested it straight out of the box on the local Col d’Eze and it is obvious that the machine has some real soul. A beautiful rig. The choice of routes from the Café is still breath-taking o those who ride here all year round. We can provide you with any number of them to load directly to a Garmin GPS which will be loaned to you with the bike. For helmets, Café du Cycliste relies on Specialized, for the shoes you will benefit from the latest all-new models developed by Café du Cycliste. Pedals-wise it’s French specialists Look and all this equipment is included in the rental package. On the gravel side of the fleet, we trusted the Cervélo Aspero (mark 5) equipped with Campagnolo Ekar. You don't change a winning bike. The last models we had in our stable never disappointed, its reliability, handling and efficiency won us over. These bikes have been put to the sword in every condition, taking on the most committed paths and routes without flinching. This version equipped with the Campagnolo Ekar group is a good update, maintain the handling and speed with optimum comfort. For the gravel-side journeys we have concocted the best routes on the Côte d'Azur. No wonder Nice was chosen by the UCI to hold the Gravel World Championship in 2025, there’s an extraordinary playground of dream-like trails panoramas. You will leave with a fully equipped bike, handlebar bag, GPS computer, cleats, pedals and shoes included. And Thierry adds “We welcome all accomplished cyclists to the shop, knowing they can count on a rental bike that meets their requirements. Most of these cyclists know the settings that suit them, we take the time to adjust the bikes with them.” Book your bike and escape to Nice for some adventures. Further Reading Nice Café Whether you're after a jersey to buy or a bike to rent, a mechanic's expertise, a strong coffee or simply a heads up on the local routes. View more Nice Riding Guide There’s a very good reason why the ville of Nice used #nicecyclingparadise to promote the start of the 2020 Tour de France. View more The Repair Café When Alexia Barrier, world-class sailor and Caravan athlete, suggested the idea of organizing a Repair-Café to us, we jumped at the idea. View more Bike Rentals Rent premium road and gravel bikes and explore the sensational riding around our home town of Nice. New Cervelo bikes for 2020. View more