First biking weekend advice

[montloaf]

Hi All,

I'm new to the whole world of motorcycle touring - and just recently bought an R1150GSA - with Zega touring panniers......

My previous biking experience has been commuting in Dublin on a CBF600, so I'm looking to cut my teeth on a long weekend bike tour - and thats where i need your help.

I'm living in Oxford, and want to meet up with a mate from Dublin, so was thinking we could meeting in Wales somewhere and do a mini tour there? Does anybody have any recommended routes or campsites? Some nice views and good roads, but nothing too scary for a first tour?

Alternatively we could head for the tunnel, and do some French roads. All advice much appreciated, and thanks for the time in advance. Looking forward to your replies!

 

[Wapping]

Head for the Chunnel.

How long away do you have in mind, front door in Oxford, back to front door in Oxford?

I could do you up a great two, three or four (or more) days away to either the Ardennes, central France or Normandy. All of them perfectly rideable for a novice tourist.... Or anyone who has been riding for years.

 

[thauma]

Listen to Wapping , the continental roads are quiet, the people friendly and love bikes……. unlike much of the UK! they will welcome you with open arms, Oh … and it will be much more of an adventure

 

[Buz]

If his mate is coming over from Dublin then for their 1st weekend i'd agree wales is the one to go for. Dublin to the Chunnel is a heck of a journey.

Going from the threads on here, Wapping is da man when it comes to French routes

 

[franco]

Just point and squirt

Most of the times I went to France from London, we crossed at Calais, pointed the bike southwest and see where we ended up. We just bought the local Michelin maps and followed the green (scenic) roads. I think it's great having little idea where you're going
The point is to just get on yer bike and enjoy it...it'll be great wherever you go

 

[Rasher]

Listen to Wapping , the continental roads are quiet, the people friendly and love bikes……. unlike much of the UK! they will welcome you with open arms, Oh … and it will be much more of an adventure

+1

Wales is easy and you can get there from Oxford in a couple of hours, plenty of places to stay I would assume (personally do not camp) and some decent roads / scenery.

I would still go with the advice above and take the opportunity to ride abroad, France is deserted even compared to the less congested parts of Wales.

I personally use B&B's as if you don't mid sharing you can get a good place to stay for under £25 pppn for example Two Wheel Moorings near Verdun, this can be reached in four hours from Calais, has lots of WW1 stuff to see if you like that and a lot of easy trails in the area if you want to try some very basic off-roading.

http://www.twowheelmoorings.co.uk/

I was there last week, we went here on day one, then set off to the Black Forest for two nights (only a few hours further on so got an afternoon + full day in the Black Forest) and returned in the opposite direction.

With 5 days you can easily get to and from the Black Forest or Vosges, any less then stick towards the North of France - Wapping is the man for this.

 

[montloaf]

Head for the Chunnel.

How long away do you have in mind, front door in Oxford, back to front door in Oxford?

I could do you up a great two, three or four (or more) days away to either the Ardennes, central France or Normandy. All of them perfectly rideable for a novice tourist.... Or anyone who has been riding for years.

Wow - really helpful responses already! Super. We haven't really decided for how long yet. If there was a great 4 day door to door I'd go for that. I have to keep in mind that door to door for my buddy Ned is Dublin.

Probably best to say, adventure starting from Oxford Friday early morning, ending in Oxford Sunday afternoon (to give Ned a chance to get home)........

Wales sounds easier for a first trip - France sounds more exciting and more of an adventure.....

 

[Rasher]

If you find somewhere noce to stay Mid-Wales you can get there in half a day taking some nice enough roads leaving time to sort your camping stuff and ride about for a couple of hours, plus a full day on Saturday - enough to get around most of Wales!

Have a few beers Saturday night and pack up and bugger off late Sunday AM - be home in time for afternoon tea.

Somewhere around Rhyader would be my recomendation, but I do not know Wales all that well, even so some good roads here and a decent run to get there.

 

[montloaf]

Rasher.....

What road would you take to Wales then?

Main road and get there quicker, or back roads and make the whole trip an adventure?

 

[Wapping]

Wow - really helpful responses already! Super. We haven't really decided for how long yet. If there was a great 4 day door to door I'd go for that.

Probably best to say, adventure starting from Oxford Friday early morning, ending in Oxford Sunday afternoon (to give Ned a chance to get home)........

OK.

Can you and Ned, make it to Folkestone by Thursday evening, or in time to catch the 08:20 Chunnel train across to France on Friday morning?

If so we can really cook on gas.

If not, never mind.... We can still put something (good) together, I'm sure. In short, how long will it take you and Ned to ride to the Chunnel from your front door, via the most direct, sensible and quickest way? And what time do you and Ned want to be back, sitting on your settee?

PS Maybe forget about the silly idea of camping... It just wastes time, even the most basic hotels come ready prepared. That being said, I can still dream up something that will work and still be good....including the canvas experience.

 

[Wapping]

....answer came there none

How about:

Day one, a loop around from Calais, past St Omer, out to the coast again at Le Touquet. Then a campsite (there must be at least one) somewhere nearby. I would go a bit further north and inland a bit, so as to make the next day's ride better, that's just me.

This is a repeat of a beginners' ride I have conducted with some success, or so punters have been kind enough to say.

Day two, a start at around 09:30. I have no idea if this ties up with camping?

Now you have got the hang of it, off to the eastern end of Normandy, arriving at around 17:30, without busting a gut. Again, there must be campsites somewhere.

Day three: Have a look at some WW2 sites and maybe the Bayeux tapestry. We did this a few weeks ago on a Wander. Back to the same canvas in the evening, which will save you taking your tent down. It will be like a hotel, as they don't take the walls down each morning. But neither do they put them up each evening.

Day four: Now you are on a roll. 09:00 departure, back to the Chunnel. Again, we did it on the Normandy Wander. You should make a decent time train.

Then the sad slog back to Oxford, can't avoid it nor the tearful farewell to Ned.

What you reckon?

 

[Big Bird]

Meet up in Bridgend, head up to Nantymoel and over the Bwlch into Rhondda, ride over the Rhigos into Hirwaun and then up to the Brecon Beacons and Llys Brianne. Your then into Mid Wales so take your pick.

Stunning roads and scenery, loads of cheap B&B's and you should find that everyone is friendly cos your Irish!