France down to Spain ... any advice !

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Gregr

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Hi All
May be barmey , only had my GS for a week and already want to get a trip under my belt before we loose any sunshine in France / Spain [forgeting the Uk], would love to be in Valencia for the final Moto GP but then again not too bothered if get side-tracked ... so big question to all you seasoned tourers IS ,

1. Best route , dont mind a few hours on a ferry but not days,
2. Max miles per day , dont want to do a blast so is 200-250 average ?
3. Anything I should reallllly be aware of ?
4. Anyone else thinking of riding down wanna team up ?

Thanks in advance
Greg

'91 R100GS
 
I have just returned from a trip to northern Spain. I travelled through France on D roads which are in the main, quiet and scenic. 250 miles per day sounds about right, I did 300+ and it was too much; I should have spent more time enjoying the country rather than hurrying through.

If a sign warns of a radar trap, there will be one within a short distance. I appreciate the French authorities will not pursue any prosecution but why hack them off?

Large French supermarkets are your friend for cheaper fuel (a recently acquired UK visa card of mine worked in the card only pumps) and decent lunch stops.

The temperature and roads improve once over the Pyrenees and into Spain where virtually everything is a little bit cheaper than France.
 
This depends on whether travelling down through France is part of the trip and enjoyed or if Spain is the destination and where you want to ride?

So if you want to be in Spain, get the ferry from Plymouth to Santander
If France is part of the trip, then I’d agree 250 miles a day on scenic roads would be my max,

(And 500 miles in a day by motorway is also quite enough for me!)

________________________________
Martin Ebdon, England, R1200RT
Portugal & Spain 2008 trip report
 
250 miles per day is my optimum figure for nice scenic roads. Anything more than that tends to preclude the possibilty of leisurely stops and photo opportunities.

Not sure quite what weather you can expect in Frnace, but I think it won't be too different from here. I think I'd be inclined to hammer down autoroutes for the North of France, then take more time on N-roads in the South.

Personally, I wouldn't discount a longer ferry trip direct to Spain, especially because the weather might mean you miss a day in the rain. French rain is, in my experience, second only to Welsh rain for relentlessness. Cost might be an issue, but it'll save a hotel or two on the way down, plus fuel and a squared off rear tyre. And you'll have longer in Spain where the weather is more likely to be good.

(Riding back up from Spain a couple of weeks ago, I saw far more police speed traps on N roads than ever before. Also went through a few on autoroutes too. And there were loads of police on the roads in Spain - both friends I went with were stopped, and two fines collected.)
 
If you are heading down through France following the coast , head inland south of Bordeaux as the winds blowing through the harvested bits of the Forest of Gascony can get you by suprise on the major route down. Head inland and follow the D's.
 
Gregr,

Our finca is about 200 kilometres north of Valencia, which could make it a good stop off point.

You cold either camp or stay in a village B&B for €25 per night.

I recommend taking a route which goes through the Vielha tunnel. Excellent on bikes. pb
 
Try www.lachainemeteo.fr for a weather update...enter postcode of the town you want to know about and you`re there.

Weather today has been sunny and warm....14c yesterday and even 19c a few days ago. Some mountain passes are still closed due to snow.

Enjoy your trip...


:)
 
Sorry to hijack the thread.........but I am going from LeHavre to The Pyrenees in early July for 12 days...........I do not intend to book campsites ahead.........is this OK or unwise ?

Thanks.

Ian
 
on the ride down through France go down the centre avaid the boring congested and price inflated West Coast take in the Central Massif - good empty biking roads ;) (IMHO)

Some routes and places to think about riding...

http://www.motomassif.info
http://euromototours.blogspot.com/


A good halfway point B&B to stay at just south of Limoges off the A20 or the D940 from Orleans is http://www.ridersrest.net superb routes from here to the Millau, Carcassone etc

:beerjug:
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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