Editing Le Puy-en-Velay (section)

==== By Bike ====
===== From Saint-Etienne =====
(frequently tested! --[[User:Iubito|Iubito]])
* 90km, hills near Saint-Etienne, between Basse-en-Basset and Retournac.
* follow the Loire river via Aurec-sur-Loire, Basse-en-Basset, Retournac, Vorey, Lavoûte-sur-Loire.
* higher traffic between Saint-Etienne and Aurec (commuters), after it's more quiet.

===== From Clermont-Ferrand =====
* First join La Chaise Dieu : 2 ways
** road #1 - 140km, more traffic, one small hill and one big (1500m D+) : Pont-du-Château, Courpière, follow D906 small hill with traffic, Ambert, Arlanc, big hill, La Chaise-Dieu
** road #2 - 120km, quiet, (1600m D+) : Cournon - Le Cendre - Les Martres-de-Veyre - Vic-le-Comte - Sauxillanges - St Genès-la-Tourette - St Germain-l'Herm - St Alyre-d'Arlanc - La Chaise Dieu
* After La Chaise-Dieu, you still climb. You can turn right to Allègre (D13) or follow Bellevue-la-Montagne, you now have 30km of descent!
* After Saint-Paulien, avoid the N102, it's safer and more quiet on D13 via Blanzac, Rochelimagne, Polignac, turn left to Chadrac.

===== From Langogne =====
* '''road #1''': (tested! --[[User:Iubito|Iubito]])
** follow the N88, up hill from Langogne to Pradelles
** at La Sauvetat, go right, quit the N88 and avoid it (too much trucks!)
** continue to Les Souils, Ussel, Le Brignon, Solignac-sur-Loire
** at Solignac you can use the "green way" which on the old railway, take a light and hot clothes because there are tunnels. 20km of beautiful sand way.
** or continue to Cussac (down hill), Taulhac (up hill, La Croix de Valhory), then take the N88 you are in the center of Le Puy.
* '''road #2''' really quiet: (partialy tested --[[User:Iubito|Iubito]])
** D26 along the Naussac lake, then go to Landos via D126, D404, D88.
** D53 Le Boucher-Saint-Nicolas, D31 Cayres, Séneujols, Saint-Christophe-sur-Dolaison, Vals-près-Le-Puy.

===== From Aubenas =====
* avoid N102 and N88! The up hill "Côte de Mayre" is REALLY difficult, and this is the highest traffic road from Le Puy to Rhône Valley!
* Go to the North on D578 road, Vals-les-Bains, Antraigues-sur-Volane.
* Before Mézilhac turn West on D122, then D378 to Les Estables, D36 Laussonne, Lantriac, D15...

===== From Montélimar =====
* via Meysse, Privas, Mézilhac, Les Estables, Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille: a lot of down/up hills

===== From Valence =====
An easy way from Rhône Valley: (tested --[[User:Iubito|Iubito]])
* First avoid camping at Beauchastel (they hate cyclist) and St-Laurent-du-Pape (expensive and you can't pitch your tent!)
* From '''Lavoulte-sur-Rhône''' (south of Valence), along the Eyrieux valley, via Saint-Laurent-du-Pape, Saint-Sauveur-de-Montagut (good restaurant on the right before the bridge). Then 2 choices :
* '''road #1''' : Le Cheylard, Saint-Martin-de-Vallamas (good camping). Before Saint-Julien-Boutières, turn left direction Chambonnet-Haut, Fay-sur-Lignon (here is the hardest up-hill of this way). Then Boussoulet, down-hill to Saint-Julien-Chapteuil, Noustoulet, Brives-Charensac.
* '''road #2''' : follow D102 progressive up-hill on low-traffic road along a little river, Mézilhac, les Estables (avoid Le Béage), Le Monastier.

===== From Annonay =====
(tested --[[User:Iubito|Iubito]])
* joining/crossing Annonay is a nightmare! This town is not bike-friendly. Up-hill after Annonay, after it's really ondulating (down/up hills) via Tence.
* Queyrières is really beautiful but hard up hill, easier via Mazet-Saint-Voy
* Boussoulet, ... then down-hill to Le Puy.

===== From Aurillac (2 days) =====
Quiet, nice and easiest way via Saint-Flour, Langeac, Siauges-Sainte-Marie: (tested august 2014 --Iubito)
* Avoid N122 (D1022) there is a forbidden tunnel for bike under Le Lioran ski resort.
* From Arpajon-sur-Cère, follow the D990, Saint-Martin-sous-Vigouroux, Pierrefort, then D921 near Les Ternes, Saint-Flour. It's all down and up hills but never steep nor long.
* Then follow Langeac on D990 and D950. You have 10km downhill to Langeac.
* Cross the Allier river in Langeac.
* 4km after Langeac turn right follow D590 Siauges-Saintes-Marie "Parcours pittoresque". If you continue straight following Le Puy you'll go to the N120 hard and crowded road!
* Stay on D590, Saint-Jean-de-Nay, Chaspuzac, Espaly-Saint-Marcel.
* Believe me, you'll enjoy the last 20km downhill! :-)


In all cases, avoid Mars (between Saint-Agrève and Boussoulet) and Le Béage (between Mézilhac and Le Monastier), after a beautiful downhill, you'll have to turn and go up again, impossible to build up speed! Go round via respectivly Le Chambon-sur-Lignon then Mazet-Saint-Voy, Les Estables.