Help with route planning in Pyrenees- PLEASE

ONYERBIKE

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Picking up my new X challenge in the next couple of weeks and the excitement is killing me!
As I am already in France (Sarthe 72) I am thinking of taking a quick trip down to the Pyrenees before winter sets in, probably only for 2 days.
Does anyone know of a fairly easy off road ride that I could take, although I have been riding on road for over 20 years this will be my first time off road so nothing too technical, dont fancy breaking me neck first time out!
Also if anyone has any routes for Normandy, Auvergne etc, this would be greatly appreciated as its alot closer to home.
 
Getting a bit cold up there already and it is quite far for you. Surely there are some good rides much nearer. failing that come and have a play in the Cevennes, it is getting cold there also but not as bad as the Pyrenees. Lots of trails!
I just reread your post, 2 days? Stay local!
 
Hey Shenzi, howya doing? Hope that you had a good trip back to the UK the other week, I also just got back to France after spending a week visiting family in sunny Hertfordshire.
I've heard of Cevennes but no idea of where they are or how I would get any mapping for the area, could you advise me of any good trails there? Starting / finishing points etc? I think you are right about staying local for this time of year and the fact that I only have two days or so to spare.
Has anyone any ideas on trails in Auvergne or around the Normandy area?
 
The Cevennes National Park lays roughly between :

Millau to the West and Ales to the East.
Mende to the North and Montpellier to the South (Montpellier is quite a lot further South than the National Park)

Florac is roughly the centre.

The area is awesome and if Shenzi has route in the area I'd bite his hand off....:)

The Park covers areas of the Lozere and Ardeche and I believe the Cruze.
 
The area is awesome and if Shenzi has route in the area I'd bite his hand off....:)

The only route I have at the mo is one that does the Gorge du Ardeche the the Gorge du Tarn and it is a cracker! Now I know the area so well I don't plan routes there but I will be glad to help if you give me some idea what you want.
Some of the trails are very difficult for lardy GSs and I have regretted taking mine on some of them, the problem being is that if you get it wrong it can be a long way down. The roads however are very interesting though quite nadgery in places. The whole area is fantastic and if you go north from the Millau bridge and take a left you are then into the Aubrac which again is incredible.
Renting a gite somewhere central and having a holiday there would be very rewarding, I am still discovering new stuff after the years have been here.
Get in touch if I can help.
 
Just been on a website for the tourist board of Cevennes and read that it is breaking rules to ride a motorbike off road in the Cevennes Park area?!!?:nenau
Found a few articles, helpfully in French, about off road trails around Hameau du Buisson, where KTM are also offering a 3 day tour. Needless to say I am a bit confused, finding alot of conflicting information :blast.

I would bite Shenzi's hand and arm off at this stage:D
 
Clearly there are lots of trails in the Cevennes which are public roads, there are always lots of enduro bkes in there. Many times I have been on cart tracks which show as roads on the GPS. May is usually the best month to be in there but this year it turned out to be bad. Right now it is far too cold for me, not a place to be if cold and wet.
Come in the spring and I will borrow a Honda CRF450 and join you.
 
Sounds good to me Shenzi, I will definately be up for that.
I will be in touch in the near future and hopefully we can arrange something.
Looking forward to it.:beerjug:
 
Hi Shenzi, I was in a rush to get to work this morning when I sent last post, totally slipped my mind to mention that a rally is being organised in Florac, Cevennes for May 24-30 2009.
If you're interested have a look on www.advrider.com and search for 1st french adv rider rally. You probably already know about this, but thought I would point it out just in case you didn't.
Hopefully we will arrange something for before this date anyway.
 
Hi Shenzi, I was in a rush to get to work this morning when I sent last post, totally slipped my mind to mention that a rally is being organised in Florac, Cevennes for May 24-30 2009.
If you're interested have a look on www.advrider.com and search for 1st french adv rider rally. You probably already know about this, but thought I would point it out just in case you didn't.
Hopefully we will arrange something for before this date anyway.

I didn't know about this at all, thanks! Dunno if I will be able to make it as someone is offering me lots of € to bring a 50ft sloop back from Greece about that time. This would give me a chance to go and annoy PiskoGSA who came down here recently.
At some time you should think about subscribing on here then we can PM and swap phone numbers etc.
 
Theres a big bunch of us from LARF going to the Pyrenees then crossing to the Alps during this time, we may well drop in to this on the way over.
 


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