How many miles per day is realistic in the Picos and Pyrenees?

[Hamslay]

Hey chaps.

I'm getting the ferry to Santander in July and riding a couple of loops around the Picos before heading east to Pamplona and then following the N-260 all the way to the Mediterranean. The route I've stuck in google maps comes out as 1080 miles, which google shows as being 27 hours. That gives an average speed of 40mph. Is that realistic? Normally I'd do around 250 miles per day on tours, but I thought I ought to limit it to about 150 miles per day on this trip. What's a realistic miles per day? I have 6 days for the trip. Should I set less daily miles for the Pyrenees than the Picos, or keep it the same? I don't want to get to the next hotel every day at 2pm!

Thanks!

 

[JJH]

Why restrict yourself to any schedule at all. Just wing it. Go when you feel like it and if you stop some whare nice stay a bit longer. JJH

 

[Steptoe]

Be hard going if you're riding a Tomos.

 

[sven]

The N260 is quite a fast road in my experience (riding like a tw*t on my K1200S) and the Google maps estimate sounds somewhere near right, taking into account lunch and photo stops. I know the 235 miles from Bagenres du Luchon to Carcassonne via Andorra took about 6 hours compared to 6 hrs 50 mins estimated by Google.

 

[mcinlb]

A good rule of thumb I've found is 30mph in the mountains and 50mph elsewhere, so plan your days accordingly.

 

[Wicker]

You're on holiday with scenic views to be admired. Why rush.....

N260 can be quite open and fast now they have straightened out a lot of the more interesting bits hence why I seek out the green snaky roads on Michelin maps. The more spaghetti turns the better. and the lower your average speed. You do need a break every hour or so just to keep up the concentration and re-hydrate. 35-40 mph per hour average is about right in tarmac mountain roads with decent spaghetti turns unless you are powering up some of the big passes (Alpine) which have been designed with ski bus traffic in mind.

 

[Tusky]

150 - 200 miles max on the twisties.....

 

[Hamslay]

Why restrict yourself to any schedule at all. Just wing it. Go when you feel like it and if you stop some whare nice stay a bit longer. JJH

Thanks guys.

The reason for wanting a fairly well-planned trip is two-fold. Firstly, my mate has to rendezvous with his family flying in on the last day, so we have to keep heading in the right direction. Secondly, accommodation seems well priced and readily available now. I don't want to roll up at hotels in July and find them fully booked, or charging €100 for a room that can be booked now for €50.

I think the 150 miles per day seems reasonable then. I can also get to the hotels late afternoon, dump luggage and do an extra hour or two on local roads.

 

[Tusky]

Thanks guys.

The reason for wanting a fairly well-planned trip is two-fold. Firstly, my mate has to rendezvous with his family flying in on the last day, so we have to keep heading in the right direction. Secondly, accommodation seems well priced and readily available now. I don't want to roll up at hotels in July and find them fully booked, or charging €100 for a room that can be booked now for €50.

I think the 150 miles per day seems reasonable then. I can also get to the hotels late afternoon, dump luggage and do an extra hour or two on local roads.

Exactly the way I like to plan a tour those that can plan..... Those that can't wing it

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Exactly the way I like to plan a tour those that can plan..... Those that can't wing it

Winging it can often be the best way unless you really need a plan or can't bear the thought of taking a risk. The plan is, there ain't one

I plan trips all the time on my US jaunts because I need to for everyone coming but for my own rides, I rarely bother with anything more than a rough outline.

 

[Giles]

Exactly the way I like to plan a tour those that can plan..... Those that can't wing it

I don't completely agree

Yes, trawling the net for wonderful Paradores in Spain, amazing roads, quirky Logis hotels in the Tarn .... it all has its place and provides you with the reassurance and comfort that you know where you're going tonight and it'll be good.

But if you wing it, it becomes an adventure! You find an amazing town and the market is in full swing? Maybe a music festival is going on? Feck it - the hotel over the road has a room, it's only 1300hrs, but that's me for the day - I'm booked in parked up and mixing it with the locals.

Maybe it's pissing with rain and bugger .... my hotel is still 120 miles away on A and b roads? Maybe it's the most glorius warm afternoon, I've arrived at 1500hrs, and Damn .... I've really got the bit between my teeth and I'd happily go until seven tonight ...

 

[Toddy]

Can I suggest you take the time to enjoy this wee trip.
http://www.picoseuropa.net/liebana/fuentede.php
Magic!

 

[Flipfly]

It all depends on how long you want to be sat in the saddle. I've done 1000 miles in one day (last 300 or so on dual carriageway) and managed 50mph average , but 20 hours in the saddle ain't everyone's cup of tea. I've had days where 300 miles was 10 hours of pretty much none stop riding.
Having spent quite a bit of time in Spain and done various routes including mucho minor road, generally a good days ride will get you half way up or down, so two days to go top to bottom. If you go diagonally, 2 1/2 days

 

[Hamslay]

Can I suggest you take the time to enjoy this wee trip.
http://www.picoseuropa.net/liebana/fuentede.php
Magic!

Looks amazing, but I hate heights. Last year the family went up in the cable car to the Heights of Abraham in Derbyshire. I was terrified, clinging to the seat. I had to walk back down. I would love to be at the top of the Picos, but I can't see it happening. I'm touring Ireland next month, and I'll be chuffed to bits if I dare step onto the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge!!

 

[STUBBS]

just set low end of day targets

 

[The smudger]

Just done Picos, definitely agree with 1 post, 30 mph as an average, stopping every few miles to take photos will slow you down as well, stunning place...

 

[CliveS]

Its not so much about how fast you ride it is about how much you want to see.
Riding fast you only see the road in front of you and busy calculating the next corner.
Riding slow you get to see the scenery and have time to appreciate it along with the beautiful smells.
My advice, ride slow with no time limits or miles set for each day.