Episode 1: Nice in fixie, we go straight!

Giu and G4 means that I’m presenting you a series of articles to discover the Côte d’Azur region on my bike and wearing differents G4 cycling and sportswear clothes to test and telling you my impressions and feedbacks. If you want to know more about G4 and me read my first article. For my first ride of my August challenge, I make you discover the beautiful city of Nice with my fixie bike.

For my outfit, I have chosen the turquoise blue polo shirt from G4 new sportswear collection added a lycra sport short, got as a gift from the Nice Métropole Mountain bike club, who is also dressed by G4. This short is available on G4 custom page. On my head for the security i have a Giro Synthe helmet, as it was 30 degrees already at 9 o’clock I put a black and white cycling cap which protected me from the sun and absorb the persipration, I can also play with the visier of the cap put high to complete my fixie style 🙂 or put down the visier against the mediterranean sun. On my feet I have chosen high elegant  black cycling socks to stay stylish but ventilated on the warm asphlat in the city.

At the start of the ride, I am at the Holiday Inn Hotel just next to G4 office in Saint-Laurent du Var, a hotel ideally placed because it is the crossroads of many cycling paths and especially because it  starts the bike path which takes us to Nice.

Let’s go ! Direction Nice on the bike path, we go straight! On the road, once past the Nice airport, you will have the endless sea, you will arrive on the famous Promenade des Anglais  ,it is approximatively a 7k long beach ride, and you are riding with a magnific panorama all long. On the left side, you can admire the magnificent Renaissance palaces as well as the luxurious Negresco hotel. You still have to go 1k and on the left you arrive to the Vieux-Nice (old city). It worth a stop, to eat or drink something, don’t miss the famous cours Saleya for a coffee. (Pain & Cie just in the corner of the cours Saleya, 3 Rue Louis Gassin 06300 Nice).

We continue the road on the bike path, and we arrive at the port located just after the city center. Don’t forget to take pictures in front the statue #ILOVENICE to keep in memory  this beautiful day. At the port take again pictures, not to lose a crumb, nice colorful houses, big boats and small fishing boats, showing you the differents histories. It is from this port that the Corsica ferries take departures in particular to different destinations.

The Place not to  miss when you are in Nice, is the Castle, it will take a little effort to join it, because it is at the top of the castle hill, but do not worry it’s worth it. Take a break to enjoy the panoramic view of the port or on the other side the whole promenade, and the sparkling blue water of Baie des Anges.

If you’re hungry, discover the speciality of Nice, Socca, a traditional dish cooked from chickpea flour, oil and water. You can go back to cours Saleya “Chez Theresa”. Do you know that chickpea is also a good vegetal protein for cyclists ? 😉

Leave the old Nice and join the place Masséna along the sublime “Coulée verte”, a park with fountains and vegetation. On the Place Masséna you will see the fountain, the statues, and especially its floor in chess game.

After the Place Masséna take the bike path direction back to the airport, and then direction the National Museum of Sport, located at the Allianz Riviera Football Stadium. A museum that is well worth the detour, you will discover the history of French sport.

To go back to Saint-Laurent du var we have 5 more kilometres to go , no bike path  but a two lines roads under the hot sun with some head wind.

If you want an overview of the ride , you can take a look on Strava.

So I traveled 40k through Nice, in a beautiful outfit, the polo fabrics are very light, it offers optimal comfort for a discovery ride. Small advice I did not do it myself, but equip yourself with a pair of summer gloves to feel more comfortable, the handles of my fixie bike are hard.