Most of RDGA and a bit more

leedude03

leedude03

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off to do the rdga june 26th, traveling from derbyshire to paris where i will stuff the bike on train to avignon and get the tgv as foot passengers to same place,and then pick the bike up next day, the reason i chose the train is that it will give us more time to do what we want, we will be staying in avignon for 2 nights then moving on to castellane for 3 nights then down to the coast and on to the rdga where the first stop will be top of the col de turini for 2 nights. From there its on to guillestre for 2 nights or maybe 3 not sure as yet. then its on to albertville 2 or 3 nights depending on how long we stop at guillestre. from there we move into switzerland stopping at thun for 1 night as i wanted to go up the jungfrau railway the next day and then move on to colmar from there, will be staying at colmar 3 nights and hopefully do the route de crstes and maybe nip into the black forest. from colmar its then onto verdun to see a couple of WW1 sites we missed last year when we were there, from colmar to arras for the night and next day back home. if anyone can suggest any must see places on or around my route or even alternative routes that maybe better, or would just like to meet up if you are in the area at any time give me a nod.

My route so far https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msi...&ll=45.135555,6.580811&spn=4.657508,10.755615
 
Not sure what time of day you will be travelling along the coast from Menton, but those roads are chocka with traffic...........

It will be frustrating and hot as hell, I think.

I'd suggest jumping the autoroute or heading back into the hills a bit before going west.

Al :thumb2
 
Route looks pretty decent, the main thing is what you can take in during your 2-3 night stops, we did quite alot with less time in 2011

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=279972

There is less at the south end of your trip, Col di Turini is OK and it is very scenic at the top, but there are more passes a bit further up around Guiilestre and Albertville.

Grab a copy of the Alpine Passes Garmin file from this site, it makes it easy to plan routes like this by joining the passes.

The "Motorcycle Journey's" book has a lot of routes around RDGA you can easily do 4 full days of riding around Guillestre, and maybe find another 3 days riding around Albertville.

La Bonnette

Try to ride La Bonnette if you can, you skirt around it over the Col de Allos (I think) I would re-route East a bit and ride La Bonnette instead. After St-Martin-Vesubie turn up north towards Isola 2000, then St Etienne de Tinee - you are now at the foot of La Bonnette following this re-joins your route at Jausiers, you really canno tmiss the highest pass in the Alps - the other option is to come back and ride it on one of your spare days, but it may be easier to ride this on your way up and loop back around Allos on a spare day.

Last Day in Alps

From Albertville your route is pretty dull, if you can spare the time head East to Bourg St Maurice over Col du Pre, Cormet De Roseland, then you can take the PSB, Col San Carlo and GSB back to Martigny to rejoin your route - 4 great passes instead of two lesser ones (Montets and Forclaz). This is about 5 hours in the saddle, so if the weather is good a very pleasant full days riding with plenty of time to take in the views. You need to zoom out on this map:-

<iframe width="850" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=albertville&daddr=45.6946194,6.6566976+to:Bourg-Saint-Maurice,+France+to:SS26+to:45.7454783,7.0031966+to:Unknown+road+to:45.8650721,7.1539583+to:Route+de+Champex+to:46.5345098,7.3510525+to:thun&geocode=FQ_0uAIdlothAClvfPUTCcOLRzFXgQ5hUBWNEg%3BFZs-uQIduZJlAClpuq2Wi2CJRzFPXJS7ZgHcjA%3BFaYVuAIdjEtnACk5diWCNGaJRzGwtrrkKqsIBA%3BFV6NuQIdOuZpAA%3BFUYFugIdPNxqACn_Da1AFT-JRzFr8iKCIf0OXA%3BFYJIugId-ppvAA%3BFXDYuwIdJiltACmJQdswTjCJRzFj_7rNEM40gA%3BFff_vgIddfFrAA%3BFW0PxgIdDCtwAClFHQS7Z_eORzF-Uq13TCFy5Q%3BFQxTyQIdO150ACkDt6xIjrKPRzGcVyNlY3vqgA&aq=&sll=46.464349,7.462463&sspn=1.154038,3.356323&hl=en&doflg=ptm&mra=dpe&mrsp=8&sz=9&via=1,4,6,8&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=46.464349,7.462463&spn=1.154038,3.356323&output=embed"></iframe><br /><small><a href="https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=embed&saddr=albertville&daddr=45.6946194,6.6566976+to:Bourg-Saint-Maurice,+France+to:SS26+to:45.7454783,7.0031966+to:Unknown+road+to:45.8650721,7.1539583+to:Route+de+Champex+to:46.5345098,7.3510525+to:thun&geocode=FQ_0uAIdlothAClvfPUTCcOLRzFXgQ5hUBWNEg%3BFZs-uQIduZJlAClpuq2Wi2CJRzFPXJS7ZgHcjA%3BFaYVuAIdjEtnACk5diWCNGaJRzGwtrrkKqsIBA%3BFV6NuQIdOuZpAA%3BFUYFugIdPNxqACn_Da1AFT-JRzFr8iKCIf0OXA%3BFYJIugId-ppvAA%3BFXDYuwIdJiltACmJQdswTjCJRzFj_7rNEM40gA%3BFff_vgIddfFrAA%3BFW0PxgIdDCtwAClFHQS7Z_eORzF-Uq13TCFy5Q%3BFQxTyQIdO150ACkDt6xIjrKPRzGcVyNlY3vqgA&aq=&sll=46.464349,7.462463&sspn=1.154038,3.356323&hl=en&doflg=ptm&mra=dpe&mrsp=8&sz=9&via=1,4,6,8&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=46.464349,7.462463&spn=1.154038,3.356323" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small>


Try to work as many of these into your hit list as possible, some will be on your route others may run parallel so you will need to do a run out on one of your spare days to work them in, I have starred some of my favourites, but the're all good and you will ride a few other "lesser" passes whilst running around them as well.

**Col d'Izoard, **Col du Galibier, Col Agnel, *Col di Sampeyre, Col de Lombarde, Col de Larche (Maddelena), *Col de la Cayolle, ***La Bonnete, Col Valberg, **Col de L'iseran, Petite St Bernard, *Grand St Bernard, *Cormet De Roseland

It is very easy to do a lot of miles on a trip like this and miss so many opportunities, the Garmin file with all the passes is great for showing what is nearby, compared to blindly using google to link towns you can easily double the passes ridden just riding A-B and with the odd spare day at strategic towns for circular rideouts can maybe quadruple what you get to see / ride on your Journey - although I know others prefer to just make it up as they go along, I try not to have a rigid plan, but know what can be done if I have the time / weather and inclination.
 
You mustn’t miss out the Route des Cretes on your way back, it runs West of your route back btwn Mulhouse and Colmar

Riquewihr is a nice if touristy French medieval town, worth a visit
N48 09.942 E7 17.986

Hotel Kleiber is a nice biker hotel with good food and beer
N48 46.171 E7 21.643
http://www.kleiber-fr.com/

Routes below in Garmin and Google format
 

Attachments

Blackal good point about the crowds and traffic, my lady wanted to see Monaco so will prob just do that bit, i think also you may have misunderstood my route as this is the route north from avignon, thanks for the heads up on traffic.
ebbo i was planning to do the route de cretes and thanks for the map source file
and the link to the digs, will come in handy i am sure. thanks.

Rasher thanks for the alternative route from albertville, having only been to that area once and that was a long time ago i was unsure of the way to go so just chose at random, and was going to do a more in depth route later,I take your point about the La Bonnette and will route that way and do the others as a day or two out, will now go back and re do routes. Many thanks.
 
Looks like a good ride and a cunning plan to take te train.

I guess you have put the towns into Google maps, just to show us where they are and give us a broad approximation of the direction traveled? If so:

(A) Well done and thank you. Many bods don't bother, leaving those who have been asked to help them map them out, sometimes being asked to find quite obscure vilages.... And find a hotel, too.

(B) Google maps has obviously displayed the route as going down all the main roads and motorways. But, there are lots of alternative good roads to ride down. For instance, you can do Verdun to Calais in one hit, using some reasonably scenic roads, then picking up the motorway at say Cambrai or Peronne, for the final run up to the coast.

Things to see?

In Mulhouse, there is the famous Bugatti museum.

http://citedelautomobile.com/en/home

Near Colmar, there is a litte visited WW1 museum and trench system. As it was deep in the French sector throughout the war (so miles from the Somme and the British sector in Flanders) few Brits ever visit it. The museum will run the explanatory film in English, too.

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=312818

Both are worth a detour.

If you do the Verdun to the coast run in a day instead of two, you will gain a full day to see something extra, too.

Roads to ride from A to B to C to D. Well, you've plumped on the RDGA, which is is great. The rest you can do yourself, for sure. Your Goole route has shown you the broad directions to take. Arm yourself with the maps in the sticky and all will be well.
 
wapping i did the ride from calais to verdun last year in one hit, looking at my tracks from last year i got off at lens and went to le quesnoy and onto fourmies and then to sedan and if i remember from there it wasnt long before i hit the river that i followed into verdun from there we stayed at strasbourg and had a long ride into landeck in austria going via a route similar to one i have seen posted on hear to imst via the fernpass, that was a long day as i recall, with reguards to the one hit back from verdun to calais thats a good plan gives me more time in verdun to see the things i missed last time, The whole point of me asking for a little advice for places in and around my route was for the type of suggestions i have gotten.
I am not new to traveling on bike but have never been down to south of france before and as holiday time is precious i thought its better to ask and get a few good ideas from people who have been there and done it so to speak even with a lot of research you still end up missing something that was right under your nose.
with ref to taking the train i was gobsmacked at how cheap it was compared to the zugg train to alessandria i know its longer from den bosch but the price was disproprtionate, i believe the quote from den bosch to alessandria was the best part of £330 one way and from paris to avignon its £89 for the bike overnight and £60 for 2 on the tgv one way and add a 1 night stop in avignon while waiting for the bike at £58 works out a fair bit cheaper, and also gives me more time down south.
Thanks lee
 
When you are on the D900 (former N100) on your first day you will go within a mile or so of my parent's house.

I mention this only because you might enjoy a small detour to the village of Roussillon, famous for its red soil and rocks from which they mined ochre dye.

http://www.provenceweb.fr/e/vaucluse/roussill/roussill.htm

As to other things to see and do? Arm yourself with a copy of the Michelin Green Guide(s) and / or a half decent guide book, like the Rough Guide to France. For instance, if you had gone a bit further north on your route to Castellane, you could have taken in Mt. Ventoux. But that would add a day (or at least a long morning) to your ride. As it is you will do the Verdon gorge, which is good.

In that last paragraph you maybe see the problem over asking for suggestions over your planned route of nearly 800 miles.... There are perhaps a 100 things to see or do, roads to ride, 'Not to be missed, under your nose' which you just won't have time to do. Get your own guide books and look out for yourself what might interest you most. You alone know how far you can ride in a day (your update that you did ride to Verdun in a day, tells us that now) and what you might find interesting. You mentioned WW1, so I lobbed in the idea of the site near Colmar. That will take a morning. Similarly, the Bugatti museum in Mulhouse will take a morning (or all day)..... Do you have time for either or both? I have no idea. I suggested them only as they were towns you stopped in or passed close by, so didn't take you miles off your route. Get busy with the guide books :beerjug:
 
wapping thanks for all the help and input, you see things like mount ventoux and your other link to vaucluse this is what i meant by missing whats under your nose, i will be in avignon for 2 nights, was going to go to les baux de provance early doors and then up to orange later in the day but either of the 2 places would be a good alternative or aswell as, may even pull a part day from the 3 nights in castellane. choices choices:
 
Colmar - places to see

WWII rather than WWI - and you may already have visited - but Natzweiler-Struthof Camp made an interesting, if starkly sobering hour or two when I was in that area a few years back. It's about an hour / hour and a half's ride out of Colmar.
 
+1 for Pont du Gard, also unique mediaeval citadel & fortified town at Entreveux, with a cracking motorcycle museum.

Linky

Avoid the Hotel Vauban though, it's crap. La Maison de Julie nearby gets good write-ups, but I've not been.

Enjoy!
 
It's worth a look, for sure.

Though since it became a world heritage site, it's become much more 'touristy' than it used to be apparently.

It's a few years since I last went, when you used to be able to get right onto the top level and walk along it.... With no guard rail :eek:

If you have time, swim in the river :thumb2

-------

If you are passing through Remoulins, there used to be quite a friendly cafe, Bar des Voyageurs, or something like that. The owners used to arrange motorbike tours for local Frog motards. I dropped in once or twice to have a beer and still have one of their T-shirts, probably 15 or mote years old now, given to me for free. Would be nice to think the owners are still there.
 
Interested to know the deal with getting the bike on the train, sounds like a great idea:thumb. I see the fares for TGV on the website but no mention of being able to put the bike on train. Great route you have planned I have done most of it 3 times and the only bit I don't like is getting down there. Avoid the south coast around Menton as its always mental busy and hot hot hot!:beerjug:
 
Kintessak Gsr.I booked the train for the bike passage from the french website as it was cheaper than booking at rail europe no booking fee no cost for postage of tickets and no commission to pay, about a saving of £25-£30 real easy as long as you can google translate french to english or you know a little french. cost for the bike was £89 one way. link to french booking site below, the only real problem that may occur is if your bike is taller than 1.55 meters, i will have to drop my screen a couple of inches. with reference to the tgv, the station for that is about 1km away from where you drop the bike at paris bercey auto rail departure, so easy walk, you can drop the bike off anytime between 10.00am and 5.00pm, but give yourself an hour or so to book in.
I will be dropping bike off at 12.00 midday and catching the tgv at 2.30, you can pick the bike up at destination next day between the same hours as departure, hope this helps. ticket cost for 2 passengers on tgv was 42 euro.

http://autotrain.voyages-sncf.com/dynamic/autotrain-webapp/homeControl.action
 
Last edited:
@ Leedude, do include the Col d'Izoard in your route, it's between Briançon and Guillestre.

Other point of interest might be to include the Colle San Carlo in your route when riding up the Col die P'tit St. Bernard, you'll need to turn left in Morgex instead of going straight 'till Pre St. Didier. It's unknown but a great road. If you've got the time when reaching the top, park the bike and walk (about 10min) to the north, great view on the Mont Blanc.

Also, when riding the Gorge de Verdon, try to include the D23 detour, it's gonna offer the best views on the Gorge you'll ever see ;)

Grtz, Philip!
 
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