EggChaser
Registered user
I just got back from a 3 day trip round Normandy that we arranged through
http://www.bikenormandy.com
BikeNormandy is run by a husband and wife team that both ride, on the trip we did, John met us by the Old Harbour (Vieux Bassin) in Honfleur, just over the wonderful Pont de Normandie from Le Havre.
First he did on meeting is explain some of the oddball French road signs (particularly those pertaining to Priorite a Driote) and he also described the 2nd Rider Drop-off method of keeping a group together. Note in his case he indicates to the second rider exactly where to stop which removes the chances of both someone not stopping at an appropriate junction, or stopping in a dangerous/unsighted location.
Safety and riding then covered we finished our breakfasts in the harbourside cafe and headed off to the key D-Day attractions of the Pegasus Bridge, Arromanches (Mulberry Harbour), German Gun Battery at Longues and the American Cemetery at the back of Omaha Beach.
We soon got the hang of the group riding system and very quickly found that even if the group got really spread out it very quickly gave us confidence that we were still on the correct route. Which was good as after the American Cemetery we had a brisk ride across Normandy to their home base where we could chill out and enjoy the scenery.
They have a barn to store the bikes and Jeanette and John provide excellent home cooked food - check this out as the starter we had on the 2nd evening.
There was also home made cider and calvados.
All the Breakfast and evening meal food and drink is included with the cost of the trip
. For lunches and coffee stops you need to carry some Euros - as you will be taken to some nice cafes just off various picturesque town squares.
On the second day we headed inland towards Fresnay-sur-Sarthe
Jeanette was riding (very spiritedly) for the morning and they know some really good roads that would take a while exploring for us visiting types to find. Especially the one section we did twice that contained sweeping high speed bends that did not tighten up and were therefore ridden with gusto on the second attempt.
On the last day it was a shorter ride that also took in the German and British War Cemeteries at St Desir
before heading for lunch at a Creperie and then being returned to LeHavre for our late afternoon ferry.
When I booked the trip I though it was a tad expensive, after the first day I just knew it was good value for money with the quality of the food and the relaxed way that their knowledge of the roads meant that you did not have the usual issues with route planning etc adding tension to your vacation.
They do offer longer tours and off-road green laning, where local experts escort you on allowed lanes. As Jeanette rides they did consider a ladies only trip, but apparently got no interest. Looks like they are trying to see if they can offer an 'Adventure' trip that would also include bungee jumping, white water rafting and the Pamplona Bull run - so finish at Bilboa - if it comes off it will probably be next year and they will run another sight seeing/riding tour back in the other direction for a 2nd group of riders.
Just for completeness the bikes on the trip were
R1200GS (mine)
Suzuki V-Strom (John, BikeNormandy)
Triumph Speed Triple (John, BikeNormandy used on 2nd day)
Suzuki GSX-R750 (Jeanette, BikeNormandy - when John wasn't trying to get her to understand the fun of the naked triple, he failed)
Buell XB12R (guest)
Harley V-Rod (guest)
Aprilia Tuono (guest)
Kawasaki Z750 (guest)
http://www.bikenormandy.com
BikeNormandy is run by a husband and wife team that both ride, on the trip we did, John met us by the Old Harbour (Vieux Bassin) in Honfleur, just over the wonderful Pont de Normandie from Le Havre.
First he did on meeting is explain some of the oddball French road signs (particularly those pertaining to Priorite a Driote) and he also described the 2nd Rider Drop-off method of keeping a group together. Note in his case he indicates to the second rider exactly where to stop which removes the chances of both someone not stopping at an appropriate junction, or stopping in a dangerous/unsighted location.
Safety and riding then covered we finished our breakfasts in the harbourside cafe and headed off to the key D-Day attractions of the Pegasus Bridge, Arromanches (Mulberry Harbour), German Gun Battery at Longues and the American Cemetery at the back of Omaha Beach.
We soon got the hang of the group riding system and very quickly found that even if the group got really spread out it very quickly gave us confidence that we were still on the correct route. Which was good as after the American Cemetery we had a brisk ride across Normandy to their home base where we could chill out and enjoy the scenery.
They have a barn to store the bikes and Jeanette and John provide excellent home cooked food - check this out as the starter we had on the 2nd evening.
There was also home made cider and calvados.
All the Breakfast and evening meal food and drink is included with the cost of the trip
. For lunches and coffee stops you need to carry some Euros - as you will be taken to some nice cafes just off various picturesque town squares.
On the second day we headed inland towards Fresnay-sur-Sarthe
Jeanette was riding (very spiritedly) for the morning and they know some really good roads that would take a while exploring for us visiting types to find. Especially the one section we did twice that contained sweeping high speed bends that did not tighten up and were therefore ridden with gusto on the second attempt.
On the last day it was a shorter ride that also took in the German and British War Cemeteries at St Desir
before heading for lunch at a Creperie and then being returned to LeHavre for our late afternoon ferry.
When I booked the trip I though it was a tad expensive, after the first day I just knew it was good value for money with the quality of the food and the relaxed way that their knowledge of the roads meant that you did not have the usual issues with route planning etc adding tension to your vacation.
They do offer longer tours and off-road green laning, where local experts escort you on allowed lanes. As Jeanette rides they did consider a ladies only trip, but apparently got no interest. Looks like they are trying to see if they can offer an 'Adventure' trip that would also include bungee jumping, white water rafting and the Pamplona Bull run - so finish at Bilboa - if it comes off it will probably be next year and they will run another sight seeing/riding tour back in the other direction for a 2nd group of riders.
Just for completeness the bikes on the trip were
R1200GS (mine)
Suzuki V-Strom (John, BikeNormandy)
Triumph Speed Triple (John, BikeNormandy used on 2nd day)
Suzuki GSX-R750 (Jeanette, BikeNormandy - when John wasn't trying to get her to understand the fun of the naked triple, he failed)
Buell XB12R (guest)
Harley V-Rod (guest)
Aprilia Tuono (guest)
Kawasaki Z750 (guest)
