FIRST TRIP TO FRANCE ON A BIKE

[Lee Frost]

Me and a mate have decided to have a week riding to, around and back from France, probably in June. I don't know France at all, other than Paris and a trip to Provence years ago, so I was wondering if those of you who do could either recommend some good roads worth adding to our route or even suggest a good circular route. I'll be on an 1150 GS, he'll be on a Tiger 800. Not fussed about visiting cities and sightseeing - more interested in riding scenic roads, getting up into the mountains, exploring the countryside. It won't an iron butt event either - 250-300 miles a day will be ample.

Any top tips appreciated.

 

[FERRET]

Have a look at some of WAPPINGS posts he has done loads of good routes in france

 

[Yellow Peril]

Would look more at 200 - 250 days and good info from Ebbo:-

http://www.ebbo.org/

Even has mapsource routes for download

 

[teejay]

4 of us doing a lap of France 1st week June, overnight ferry Portsmouth to Caen
Sat Caen to Angoulemme 315miles
Sun Angoulemme to Milau 225miles
Mon spare day riding Gorge area
Tues Milau to Moustiere St Marie 225 miles
Wed spare day riding Gorge du Verdon
Thurs Moustiere to Annecy area via Route Napolean 255miles
Fri spare day riding Alps area Cols etc
Sat Annecy to Chalon et Champagne 310 miles
Sun Chalon back home via Calais ferry 196 miles to Calais


Above as a suggestion/guide to what can be done, have a look at map for the above.

Happy planning

Teejay

 

[Rasher]

Depending on exactly what you want the options are vast, you mention good scenic roads, the best of these are unfortunately a little ride away.

The Black Forest is about 400 miles from Calais, the Vosges just a shade further, the Alps start about 500 miles from Calais, and the Pyrenees about 600.

Assuming your week involves to and from France I would suggest heading for the Black Forest and or the Vosges, as from your neck of the woods it is gonna use up about 1.5 days in each direction.

I would suggest starting very early on day one and getting a little way into France, my favoured spot is Two Wheel Moorings near Verdun.

From here you are only 3 hours from the Vosges / Black Forest, which means you could get there on day 2, drop off your bags and get some riding in.

This would leave 3 clear days for just riding around if you use one base, it is possible to get in and out of the Vosges and Black Forest from one Hotel and that gives great flexibility with weather, or you could use two Hotels each for two nights and still have the option of switching between the Black Forest and Vosges.

Both areas have a good few days riding in them so you could just do one in more depth, but even combined are a tiny fraction of the size of the Alps which is really a bit much to get into with so little time IMO.

I have no idea of your budgets, but if you want value Pension Williams is about as good as it gets (about £25 pppn if sharing) and is bang in the middle of the Black Forest with the Vosges just over an hour down the Autobahn, or about 1 1/2 - 2 hours if riding through the Black Forest.

The other oprion would be to keep moving with a different Hotel each night, but I personally find this quite irksome as you always seem to be packing / unpacking / checking in / checking out.

Check out tour reviews around here, I have one for the Black Forest:

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=249110

I think wapping loaded the ADAC Black Forest and Vosges routes somewhere on the site as well.

 

[wessie]

If you have a week to get from Alnwick & back then concentrate on one of these: Champagne-Ardennes, Vosges or Massif Central which can all be reached from a Channel port in an easy day's ride. All have great roads to ride and there are plenty of ride reports for each of them if you search the forum and look at the sticky threads at the top of the travel forums.

 

[Deleted account 210609001]

Stay on the eastern border and you won't go far wrong - Ardennes, Vosges, Jura, Alps...

Just decide on the distance you want to do each day, decide when to use motorways (if at all) take good maps. In June you probably won't need to book ahead for hotels (although it can save time looking).

Having said that, the lack of traffic and choice of roads everywhere makes it better than the UK virtually anywhere. Enjoy!

 

[Wapping]

Usual questions to start with:

(1) You have a week. I guess that is seven days? Does the seven days include or exclude your two days' return journey from Alnwick to the channel and back to Alnwick.

In other words, do you have five clear days in France?

(2) Where and how would you like to cross to France? To the east to Calais or west to Normandy?

(3) 250 to 300 miles a day. OK. Will you go a bit further if there is a chunk of motorway in it..... if it gets you to where you want to go.

(4) What sort of rider are you and your chum? Up at 08:30, leisurely breakfast, wheels rolling at ten, stop at 11:30 for coffee, back on it at 12:15. Stop at 13:00 for lunch, back on it at 14:30 before tea at 15:15 and into the hotel by 16:45?.... And let's not forget picture stops, fag breaks and the odd bit of wild flower pressing..... Seriously, what sort of riding do you enjoy in the UK? 100 miles a long way without a break? It's your holiday, so we don't want to make it an endurance test.

(5) Which 'mountains' do you want to get to and for how long out of your five (or however long) days?

(6) Are the 'mountains' a real must-do? Or will you settle for some 'great roads'?

(7) Hotels or camping? Don't really care which but camping is slower as you have to build and take down the walls and bed.... Hotels supply them ready built. What sort of hotel do you want? Ibis type chain? Formula 1?

(8) You are not fussed about towns.... but do you want to stay in one at night?

(9) Do you have a vaguely decent map and a Gramin gps device?

(10) Does it have to be France? Would Belgium-come-Germany-come-France do? I am leaning towards the Vosges or the Massif Central for you, my boy........ but a clue on the number of days available would be very helpful.

Give us a bit more to go on and we'll sort your holiday out

 

[Giles]

Any top tips appreciated....

Don't overplan!

Of course you should pick the brains of folk on here, and Wappings questions like 'are you camping or are you B&B'ing?' are very relevant.
But the one thing that will give you a great holiday and a sense of adventure, is 'where am I going today?' 'where will I stay tonight?' 'Oooooo, where does that road go?' 'Oooooo, I like Mirepoix, I might stay here another day .....'

Have a rough idea, but don't be prescriptive on where you're going each day or staying each night. You will have a better mini adventure for it.

Buy a Logis guide.Their hotels are quirky with a great family feel to them.

 

[STUBBS]

when you get to the port tie a small bright piece of cloth to your left hand mirror arm and on your way back to the right one just as a reminder for the centre of the road

 

[Beangreen]

Go East! Then you can jump over onto the b500 in Germany...which is simply fantastic!!!

 

[Ash]

Don't overplan!

Of course you should pick the brains of folk on here, and Wappings questions like 'are you camping or are you B&B'ing?' are very relevant.
But the one thing that will give you a great holiday and a sense of adventure, is 'where am I going today?' 'where will I stay tonight?' 'Oooooo, where does that road go?' 'Oooooo, I like Mirepoix, I might stay here another day .....'

Have a rough idea, but don't be prescriptive on where you're going each day or staying each night. You will have a better mini adventure for it.

Buy a Logis guide.Their hotels are quirky with a great family feel to them.

I am with Giles on this.
Plan yes,but allow for things to change,sometime not knowing where you will end up,can be great fun and most rewarding.....

Nice little trip report,well worth a read............
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=202762

 

[The smudger]

I think you'll need a bit more of a plan. France is a huge place, and every single bit i've ridden/driven to is superb (except the big cities!).

A plan as in 'where do i want to go/what do i want to see' sort of plan.

Maison Laudiere is a must if you're going to St Malo/Caen. Nige (Tank) and Carole (Mrs Tank) are superb hosts, and there are some great rides around their place in Orne, Lower Normandy.

Stick to the speed limits and if you come up to a junction that says STOP, then you MUST STOP, even if there is nothing coming. It's the law....

Look around on here, there are plenty of people/stories to gain tips and advice from.

Germany is good as well. You can be in Nurburg in 5 hours from Dunkirk, Stay with Renate at Lindenhoff Guest house, Eat either there or Am TierGarten (Piston Klausse).

Best advice though, Enjoy!

 

[Lee Frost]

Wow, thanks for all this info chaps. Probably 5/6 days riding in France. Done Iceland and Morocco in 2011 so don't mind long days/rough roads. Will answer those questions tomorrow. Cheers.

 

[turnipbmw]

sounds like karl Pilkington has competition

 

[Rusty]

Shaun ... just been looking at your 'ebbo' link ... great pics and write ups .. loved The Orkney journal ..thanks ! When I have the time I shall get up there myself !

 

[The Other PaulG]

Riders Rest

If you have an open agenda, I'd strongly recommend that you drop into Riders Rest just north of Brive.

Tony and Wendy (Brits) offer a fantastic welcome, and there's a great biker atmosphere there too. The roads in this region are absolutely amazing. You could either spend a night here en route, or a better idea might be to stop here for a day or two, unload your luggage and just enjoy riding around the area.

http://ridersrest.eu/default.aspx

Paul G

 

[Comfy Old Boots]

Me and a mate have decided to have a week riding to, around and back from France, probably in June. I don't know France at all, other than Paris and a trip to Provence years ago, so I was wondering if those of you who do could either recommend some good roads worth adding to our route or even suggest a good circular route. I'll be on an 1150 GS, he'll be on a Tiger 800. Not fussed about visiting cities and sightseeing - more interested in riding scenic roads, getting up into the mountains, exploring the countryside. It won't an iron butt event either - 250-300 miles a day will be ample.

Any top tips appreciated.

France is always a saddle sore to get to the mountains in a hurry


...

 

[Our Gee]

Lots of good advice already offered but I'll add my two pence worth with perhaps a different slant. This is what I would do, in fact what I have done on past occasions. Your two stumbling blocks are your location in the UK and the seven day time limit.Covering any distance in France without using Motorways is hard as what used to be the N roads are frequently clogged with Trucks. So taking these factors into consideration, it would help a great deal if you could stretch to adding an extra night at the start and finish. Weather in June should not be a problem although it does, as always, help to get as far south as possible. So then, first day an easy 160 mile ride down to Hull taking the overnight ferry to Zeebrugge (I'm not a big fan of this particular ferry but with your location and time constraints it could be your best option). First day proper hit the Motorway system and get down to around Dijon which is about 365 miles. Next day stay on the Motorway and head for Nyons which is about 30 miles east of the Jnc 18 on the A7. That's around 245 miles and you should get there mid afternoon. 15 minutes out of Nyons is Pam and Davids place "La Traversiere" offering simple clean accomodation and excellent food.
See www.bedandbreakfast-in-provence.com
The area to the east is the start of the foothills of the Alps and has some great biking roads. The D94 / D994 from Nyons to Serres is a blinder. Three or maybe four nights here then reverse your route back to Zeebrugge with an overnight around Reims.(Although I have done it in one go but it's hard) You will have time for a beer in Brugge and watch the world go by before heading up to the ferry for the overnight to Hull.
This would not be a "cheap" way to get a taste of France but could be worth consideration.

 

[Our Gee]

Doohh,
just checked with La Traversiere and the good folk there have now retired from the B and B business. Shame, it was a very pleasant place to stay.