Fresnes is a working suburb on the southern edge of Paris, between Antony, Wissous and the sprawl of Rungis. It is not a place anyone visits for its scenery, but as a start and finish it does the job well. The A6 and A86 are close, the N118 heads west towards the Chevreuse valley, and the Vexin and Seine cliffs are within reach after a short motorway dash.
The name carries weight in French history. The prison of Fresnes, one of the largest in France, was used by the Gestapo during the occupation to hold members of the Resistance and Allied agents, many of whom were tortured or deported from there. The prison is still in use, and the walls remain an imposing presence on the town's edge.
Next door, Rungis houses the vast wholesale food market that replaced the old Les Halles in central Paris in 1969. It is the largest fresh-food market in the world, and the trucks moving in and out at night give you an idea of how much the city eats. If you start early, you will see the traffic around it.
Riding out from here, the first part is all about getting clear of the city. Expect heavy traffic on the A86 and N118 at peak hours, plenty of lane changes and speed cameras. Once you are past Saclay and into the Chevreuse valley, the roads open up and the countryside begins.
Fuel stations sit on every arterial road and the bakeries open early, so there is no excuse for leaving hungry or on reserve. On the way back, aim to arrive outside rush hour if you can, or plan to filter through traffic with patience.