Route des Grandes Alpes.(I hope)
Just realised my schoolboy error, but thanx. And the irony is I've even ridden part of it.
Is Milau worth visiting? Route back to Calais from Bolgona
- Thread starter GS TRV
- Start date
Just realised my schoolboy error, but thanx. And the irony is I've even ridden part of it.
Piaf
Registered user
And the irony is I've even ridden part of it.
So you knew all along.
too far off route IMO.
spend more time in the alps
+1
I wouldn't bother
Look at it on Youtube or some Google pics instead
Seen it once and I wouldn't give a toss if I never saw it again
The Prospector
Registered user
+2!!!
Did Milau last year while heading back up to Le havre from Sete, Its great if your into bridges, design etc, but not worth going along way out of your way IMO. Saying that I'm hoping to be there in a few weeks as we have a few extra days after the Le mans 24 hours and hoping to do the Gorge du tarn.
Sometimes it's like drawing teeth....
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3465802&postcount=11
No, I am not going to write the roads, towns and cities out.... It's easy from a map.... and I'm busy
Seriously, put Alps into the search function of UKGSer, the routes down and back have been done to death... You and your mates will crack it
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3465802&postcount=11
No, I am not going to write the roads, towns and cities out.... It's easy from a map.... and I'm busy
Seriously, put Alps into the search function of UKGSer, the routes down and back have been done to death... You and your mates will crack it
We're going to Geneva on the Monday, then to Laon on the Tuesday, home on the Wednesday morning.
Same days as you, staying in Ibis', cheap, clean standard fare.
Motorways all the way probably but having ridden on motorways in the French Alps before I can assure you that the scenery is just as spectacular and with your cruise control on you really can drink it in.
It'll also give you the taster to bring you back when you have more time to enjoy the smaller roads in the area.
Once you're north of the Alps on your way home the motorways will enable you to gobble up the miles.
Mebbe's see you somewhere along the way. You'll know us as we're 2 old farts, 1 on an RT, the other on a Deauville.
Have a great trip.
Forza Vale!
riding motorways in the alps?
really???
really???
riding motorways in the alps?
really???
Indeed
Some people are beyond help
They'd be better taking the car - with better fuel economy and in more comfort to boot
...or a nice coach tour 
Limited time, many passes still closed, got to get from A to B.
Still, each to their own.
There is nothing wrong with motorways (or any main road) if taking them gets you to where you want to be in good time to enjoy what is the main purpose of your journey.
For instance, if you have just two days to go 840 miles between point A and point B in order to catch a ferry or to watch the once in a lifetime display of fan dancing performed by the midget troupe of Feng Shu, then the superslab may well be your salvation. Buggering around down every goat track between A and B may well mean you'll miss them.
This thread highlights the difficulty in recommending anything to anyone. The OP started with a bizarre (but not impossible plan) to take in the Millau bridge, probably because it appears as a 'Must do' on every list. He's now given up that cunning plan but still needs to go 850 miles from A to B to catch his ferry.
We have no idea what time his ferry departs. If it's midnight he has two very full days available to cover the eight hundred miles, assuming he can struggle from his pit before 10 AM. If it's an 18:30 sailing we have a full quarter of a day less.
We have no idea what time he wants to leave A on day one, nor really what time he wants to arrive at his intermediate overnight stop. Needless to say we have no idea what time he wants to start out on day two, either.
Could he do a lot of it on 'great roads, mate'? Yes, he could.... but maybe not if he bimbles along.
Does he think 400 plus miles on 'great roads' in a day is even possible? We have no idea. All that we know is that he is capable of riding the outward leg of his journey to Bologna, if only because he has not apparently asked for guidance on that segment.
So what to do?
The simplest bit of advice is to start by dividing the two day journey into two equal segments. Conveniently that comes to 400 and a bit a day. Where between point A and B does that bring you to? Is it a sensible place to stop? If yes, find a hotel. If no, consider other options.
Ask yourself….
(A) Is 400 miles a reasonable distance for any for a competent motorcyclist (and his competent mate) to manage in reasonable weather? Yes. If no (and as it’s impossible to shrink the earth or fiddle with 24 hours in day) cut your cloth accordingly, probably by finding some more time to make the journey.
(B) Is 400 miles a reasonable distance for a competent motorcyclist (and his competent mate) to complete by mixing in a bit of motorway, alongside ‘great roads’? Yes. If no, it’s time for the tailor’s scissors again.
(C) Is 400 miles a reasonable distance for a competent motorcyclist (and his competent mate) to complete avoiding motorways completely? A guarded yes. If it’s definitely no, then you need to be making a swift visit to Savile Row, pronto.
If I was not on my own and if I had to guess I would go for option (B) if I had enough time for me and my mate to make the journey.
If I were on my own, I might well go for option (C). Why? Because 600 miles is the distance to run-in a new bike, preferably avoiding too much single gear motorway grind…. And I have done 600 miles in a day, avoiding motorways, several times….. so I know I can do 400. Others may well be different.
Which way might I go….. I would look at a map and sort myself out, safe in the knowledge that I wouldn’t be the first to have made a run from Bolgna to Calais and hopefully would not be the last….. and / or I’d look at the assorted remarkably similar threads on UKGSer…..
For instance, if you have just two days to go 840 miles between point A and point B in order to catch a ferry or to watch the once in a lifetime display of fan dancing performed by the midget troupe of Feng Shu, then the superslab may well be your salvation. Buggering around down every goat track between A and B may well mean you'll miss them.
This thread highlights the difficulty in recommending anything to anyone. The OP started with a bizarre (but not impossible plan) to take in the Millau bridge, probably because it appears as a 'Must do' on every list. He's now given up that cunning plan but still needs to go 850 miles from A to B to catch his ferry.
We have no idea what time his ferry departs. If it's midnight he has two very full days available to cover the eight hundred miles, assuming he can struggle from his pit before 10 AM. If it's an 18:30 sailing we have a full quarter of a day less.
We have no idea what time he wants to leave A on day one, nor really what time he wants to arrive at his intermediate overnight stop. Needless to say we have no idea what time he wants to start out on day two, either.
Could he do a lot of it on 'great roads, mate'? Yes, he could.... but maybe not if he bimbles along.
Does he think 400 plus miles on 'great roads' in a day is even possible? We have no idea. All that we know is that he is capable of riding the outward leg of his journey to Bologna, if only because he has not apparently asked for guidance on that segment.
So what to do?
The simplest bit of advice is to start by dividing the two day journey into two equal segments. Conveniently that comes to 400 and a bit a day. Where between point A and B does that bring you to? Is it a sensible place to stop? If yes, find a hotel. If no, consider other options.
Ask yourself….
(A) Is 400 miles a reasonable distance for any for a competent motorcyclist (and his competent mate) to manage in reasonable weather? Yes. If no (and as it’s impossible to shrink the earth or fiddle with 24 hours in day) cut your cloth accordingly, probably by finding some more time to make the journey.
(B) Is 400 miles a reasonable distance for a competent motorcyclist (and his competent mate) to complete by mixing in a bit of motorway, alongside ‘great roads’? Yes. If no, it’s time for the tailor’s scissors again.
(C) Is 400 miles a reasonable distance for a competent motorcyclist (and his competent mate) to complete avoiding motorways completely? A guarded yes. If it’s definitely no, then you need to be making a swift visit to Savile Row, pronto.
If I was not on my own and if I had to guess I would go for option (B) if I had enough time for me and my mate to make the journey.
If I were on my own, I might well go for option (C). Why? Because 600 miles is the distance to run-in a new bike, preferably avoiding too much single gear motorway grind…. And I have done 600 miles in a day, avoiding motorways, several times….. so I know I can do 400. Others may well be different.
Which way might I go….. I would look at a map and sort myself out, safe in the knowledge that I wouldn’t be the first to have made a run from Bolgna to Calais and hopefully would not be the last….. and / or I’d look at the assorted remarkably similar threads on UKGSer…..
IMO the further North you get the less you gain by staying off the Motorway, I would rather do 200 miles of Mountain Passes on one day and 600 miles of motorway the next than just split 400 / 400 on average roads over both days...
Of course each to their own, and I do understand how some folk loathe the motorway, I can happily trade two dull(ish) non motorway days for a day of motorway and a day of mountains.
Of course the weather could have other ideas so always best to have a few plans to swap between.
Of course each to their own, and I do understand how some folk loathe the motorway, I can happily trade two dull(ish) non motorway days for a day of motorway and a day of mountains.
Of course the weather could have other ideas so always best to have a few plans to swap between.
Rasher makes a point, but is probably distorting things a tad.
Yup, as I said, if your aim is to get to the Alps (or anywhere else, for that matter) and nothing in between is more important to you than your arrival in Obersalzemburgle, then of course the motorway is the way to go.
Northern France is not the dull place everyone imagines though. There are some quite demanding roads out there and several that can catch the unwary motorcyclist out.... You just have to know where to find them. Similarly, really good progress can be made if you get off at decent time and crack on, less so if you dawdle.... But that's the same anywhere.
The really great thing is that the country really is so different. From the Mediterranean coast, to the high mountains, through the rolling vinyards, the forests and extinct volcanoes, the wheat fields with now their acres of windmills, gorges, rivers, hamlets, lakes and big cities, the Atlantic and the grey Channel (with its views of England, on a good day). It's got the lot.
Yup, as I said, if your aim is to get to the Alps (or anywhere else, for that matter) and nothing in between is more important to you than your arrival in Obersalzemburgle, then of course the motorway is the way to go.
Northern France is not the dull place everyone imagines though. There are some quite demanding roads out there and several that can catch the unwary motorcyclist out.... You just have to know where to find them. Similarly, really good progress can be made if you get off at decent time and crack on, less so if you dawdle.... But that's the same anywhere.
The really great thing is that the country really is so different. From the Mediterranean coast, to the high mountains, through the rolling vinyards, the forests and extinct volcanoes, the wheat fields with now their acres of windmills, gorges, rivers, hamlets, lakes and big cities, the Atlantic and the grey Channel (with its views of England, on a good day). It's got the lot.
I'd agree with that. I hate the motorways and have used the n10 to death. Going cross cou try takes longer, but I have done 2 trips taking the back roads through northern france and it's a far more pleasant place than many think.
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