Any good roads in the Pyrenees ?

[harley-metisse]

Hi guys,

Just booked the 'Jolly Boys european vacation', out from Roscoff on the 24/8 and back from Santander on the 2/9. Heading down to the Pyrenees.

Anyone able to give me a few good 'road numbers', and if it's not being too cheeky, possibly any addresses of good places to kip while me and my 3 comrades are down there ?

Any help greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[John Armstrong]

1. Buy the Michelin map for the area.

2. Look for roads with green snakes next to them.

3. Look for the N260 on the Spanish side.

3a. Have a look here: http://85.255.193.172/Tourism/OnlineUEMmaps/MR15frontside/tabid/631/Default.aspx for the Pyrenees maps.

4. Job done

 

[bladerunner]

any good roads in the Pyrenees?........ one or two


You will soon realise where your taxes have been going - as you ride a beautiful, completely empty billiard table smooth highway in the middle of nowhere!

A few points from me:

Alistair Sawday's "special places to stay" Spain has never disappointed - he does flag up some lovely surprises which would be difficult to find on your own.


If it's raining and you are in France, pop across South to Spain and the rain will stop!!

If it's too hot and you are in Spain, pop across North to France to cool down!


Avoid Andorra

Sometimes on the top of the hills roadworks will send you for a few km on tricky gravel temporary roads - one of the reasons I bought a GSA years back. No trouble for a GSER!

Some of the tunnels are VERY long rather mesmerising and often very hot.


The thunderstorms can be mighty impressive.



You may gather that I like the Pyrenees - been 4 times now and love it - perfect holiday biking country - enjoy!

You can travel far and fast on big roads or stay local and make slow progress depending on your itinerary.

 

[Deleted account 210609001]

Every road in the Pyrenees is better than any road here.

N260 is a classis, but there are equally good roads on both sides. The passes are quite high and even in summer can be wet and covered in clouds. So see where the clouds are and go another way.

Last time I went, there was a fair representation of traffic police on the Spanish side, looking for speeders through villages mainly, along with failure to stop at a Stop sign. They don't seem to do haggling and explanations...

 

[ricardo]

Look up any of the cols used in the Tour de France. Awesome.

 

[F104]

indeed awesome, most roads are better than some tracks . You start to think they were built by bikers for bikers. As anywhere Michelin green roads are the place to be

 

[Baz]

D918 & D618

 

[ricardo]

This year the Tour went over;

Port de Pailheres
Cote de Carla-Bayle
Col de Portet-d’Aspet
Col des Ares
Port de Bales
Col de Peyresourde
Col d’Aspin
COL DU TOURMALET (you've got to do this one!)
Col’dAubisque
Cote de Renoir
Col de Marie-Blanque
Col du Soulor

 

[John Armstrong]

Look up any of the cols used in the Tour de France. Awesome.

Only problem is the grass is nice and green on the French side and brown on the Spanish for a very good reason

But the restaurants open 5 odd hours earlier on the greener side

Not decrying the French roads, just need to watch the weather.

 

[fuddy]

If you get any spare time, the Picos is only 60 mile from santander.
There are some great mountain roads in that area. As for the pyrenees
i agree with the others the N260 D918/D618

 

[hodge1150]

C1311

hell of a road.

 

[bsogri]

Pyrenees

We had a trip to the pyrenees in June and what a place to ride,great deserted roads,we stayed in two places Viehla which had loads of hotels and bars,cafes etc, and was handy for the passes etc,
Col Du Tourmalet on B918 follows tour de France route and is canny road
We also stayed over in Broto right in the centre of the high Pyrenees
Ride one of the best gorges in the world,with a road, Valle De Pineta on Hu-261 Escalona to Fanjo, it is my favourite ride in the last ten years,make sure you stop and look at the offshot gorges which are spectacular, video your ride then you can have a look when you get home, cos if you look while riding your'e deed,
Also the N260 Ainsa to Vilfer either way follows gorge and moutain tops alternatively and has every type of surface to keep you awake and did i say deserted again, well it is,
enjoy yourself