This is a goer, so firm a disorderly queue, please.
Train out EITHER early evening Thursday 01 May OR early doors Friday 02 May, around 07:30
Train back at around 19:00 Monday 05 May
Where to? Really not sure yet but I fancy the Morvan / Dijon. That's a very decent schlep down there and back but doable in a day for sure, as we have done it lots of times. It does though require being reasonably well organised time-wise.
The journey down and back can take in a good mixture of decent (fast) N and D roads, along with some motorway to take a bit of the sting out of it.
What's there when we get there? Some very good, some quite challenging (no off-road or deliberate goat tracks) and nothing that I would not ride on a push bike, a GS or an R1.
I would like to limit it to 6 (max 8) bikes, pillions welcome. That's only because we will need to get a bit of a tramp on, or at least keep an eye on the clock. That being said, it's not going to be 110% all the way there, all the way back and everything inbetween. In short, we will have to do about 350 miles in the day to get there and 350 miles in a day to get back. If we chuck in 100 miles of motorway, it's still a full day's ride at 250 miles.
Suitable for? Anyone who can ride a bike, for sure. I have done it with complete novices who have loved what was to them a decent challenge. To old hands? Well, you know what 350 miles looks like.
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If I can't get us a decent enough hotel, I will switch us to somewhere around Verdun. That's less of a schlep and still some good roads to ride etc. etc. I promise.
I hope to do something very similar for the second May bank holiday, so if it's Dijon the first time out, it will be Verdun (or sort of that way) the second Wander or visa-versa. Out Thursday 22 May / Friday 23 May, returning Monday 26 May, similar times etc. I can't be definite about this one yet, as I have a big job of work on, due for completion 01 June, without fail. With a fair wind, I'll get it done and we can go
I just need to keep an eye on the calendar and a large client's expectations.
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I have promised to reserve a spot for Paula (via another site) and to APW who missed out on something in 2013 due to my rank stupidity
So, three spaces left (or five, if I take it out to eight bikes). Pillions welcome, subject to the usual caveats over room bookings etc etc.
Sorry it's a bit vague at the moment, I just wanted to let bods know what's in the wind. I hope to firm things up with a hotel later in the week either way; though my dad's a bit unwell, so bear with as they say.
Richard
Train out EITHER early evening Thursday 01 May OR early doors Friday 02 May, around 07:30
Train back at around 19:00 Monday 05 May
Where to? Really not sure yet but I fancy the Morvan / Dijon. That's a very decent schlep down there and back but doable in a day for sure, as we have done it lots of times. It does though require being reasonably well organised time-wise.
The journey down and back can take in a good mixture of decent (fast) N and D roads, along with some motorway to take a bit of the sting out of it.
What's there when we get there? Some very good, some quite challenging (no off-road or deliberate goat tracks) and nothing that I would not ride on a push bike, a GS or an R1.
I would like to limit it to 6 (max 8) bikes, pillions welcome. That's only because we will need to get a bit of a tramp on, or at least keep an eye on the clock. That being said, it's not going to be 110% all the way there, all the way back and everything inbetween. In short, we will have to do about 350 miles in the day to get there and 350 miles in a day to get back. If we chuck in 100 miles of motorway, it's still a full day's ride at 250 miles.
Suitable for? Anyone who can ride a bike, for sure. I have done it with complete novices who have loved what was to them a decent challenge. To old hands? Well, you know what 350 miles looks like.
----
If I can't get us a decent enough hotel, I will switch us to somewhere around Verdun. That's less of a schlep and still some good roads to ride etc. etc. I promise.
I hope to do something very similar for the second May bank holiday, so if it's Dijon the first time out, it will be Verdun (or sort of that way) the second Wander or visa-versa. Out Thursday 22 May / Friday 23 May, returning Monday 26 May, similar times etc. I can't be definite about this one yet, as I have a big job of work on, due for completion 01 June, without fail. With a fair wind, I'll get it done and we can go
-----
I have promised to reserve a spot for Paula (via another site) and to APW who missed out on something in 2013 due to my rank stupidity

So, three spaces left (or five, if I take it out to eight bikes). Pillions welcome, subject to the usual caveats over room bookings etc etc.
Sorry it's a bit vague at the moment, I just wanted to let bods know what's in the wind. I hope to firm things up with a hotel later in the week either way; though my dad's a bit unwell, so bear with as they say.
Richard
