5 days next year

[Richard J]

Some mates and I want a longer trip next year and I do 5 days, the others maybe a bit more.
I thought of maybe Colmar which would need a long day on the motorway.
Has anyone an idea of how much the autoroutes will cost to get that far and tips for making the best progress on them.

Thanks

 

[Wapping]

ViaMichelin website will give you the exact prices, to the penny.

Making best progress on the autoroutes? Going faster, probably.

In fact that is not quite as true as it might appear. Hack down a motorway, stop for fuel and / or at the payage barriers and chances are you will see the lorries you overtook grind their way past you at a steady 55 mph.

Get yourself organised. Pay for the payage by credit card, which will save faffing about for coins. Get in the right lanes, avoiding those that have a sign saying, 'No motorcycles'.

Get a simple peg to clip your ticket to the screen, while you clear the barrier. Then, pull over just after the barrier, to put the ticket and credit card away together, somewhere easy to get your hands on them when you will next need them.

Don't dawdle about chatting to your chums on fuel stops. Six bikes filling up can take up to twenty minutes. When you are stopped for twenty minutes you are not moving forwards, explaining why the heavy articulated truck (who has not stopped) passes you again.

Time your fuel stops to match up with lunch / morning tea / afternoon coffee stops. You will waste less time.

Colmar is in reasonable range of a day's ride from Calais, without all motorway at all. Be a bit more adventurous with your planning.

PM me if you want a route down to Dijon which you could adapt without too much difficulty.

 

[ChasMill]

ViaMichelin website will give you the exact prices, to the penny.

Making best progress on the autoroutes? Going faster, probably.

In fact that is not quite as true as it might appear. Hack down a motorway, stop for fuel and / or at the payage barriers and chances are you will see the lorries you overtook grind their way past you at a steady 55 mph.

Get yourself organised. Pay for the payage by credit card, which will save faffing about for coins. Get in the right lanes, avoiding those that have a sign saying, 'No motorcycles'.

Get a simple peg to clip your ticket to the screen, while you clear the barrier. Then, pull over just after the barrier, to put the ticket and credit card away together, somewhere easy to get your hands on them when you will next need them.

Don't dawdle about chatting to your chums on fuel stops. Six bikes filling up can take up to twenty minutes. When you are stopped for twenty minutes you are not moving forwards, explaining why the heavy articulated truck (who has not stopped) passes you again.

Time your fuel stops to match up with lunch / morning tea / afternoon coffee stops. You will waste less time.

Colmar is in reasonable range of a day's ride from Calais, without all motorway at all. Be a bit more adventurous with your planning.

PM me if you want a route down to Dijon which you could adapt without too much difficulty.

Very impressive post considering what you were up last night .....

 

[Wapping]

Very impressive post considering what you were up last night .....

I even surprise myself sometimes

 

[Richard J]

Thanks for the info.
We have a planning meeting tonight so I can put it to the guys

 

[Riders Rest]

out of pure idle curiosity why Colmar specifically ?

 

[Richard J]

It seemed like a good idea at the time

 

[Riders Rest]

you should have a good crack

 

[stolzy]

An all autoroute trip to Colmar will be very tedious. At the very least, shortcut Metz and arrive over the Vosges - some great routes and a dramatic finish to a fine days riding

 

[Richard J]

Thanks for all the advice.

Much to my suprise the guys decided a 5 day(plus a little bit) trip would do fine and they fancy heading South to explore a bit of the Massif Central

Over night Portsmouth to Le Harve (the little extra) then NON motorway roads to give one full day in the hills

Richard