pyrenees and up through france

[rocky burns]

Like many questions.....

It depends on where you plan to start from, what time you intend to start at, what roads you wish to take between the two points (and maybe back again), what speed you intend to average (how fast you ride, adjusted for stops) and not least what time you would like to arrive.

My advice..... Stop listening to every 'Must do-must see' tip, you will never do them all.

(a) Assume that a comfortable daily mileage is 200 to 250 mile distance on non-motorway roads, on a mixture of the equivalent of our A and B roads. Increase this to say 350 if you want to lob in some motorway or decent stretches of fast National roads. If you insist on taking every small track, leafy lane and by-way and / or stop to press wild flowers at every opportunity, reduce the 200/250 mile figure accordingly and maybe significantly.

If you have a day off, remember that you have not gone anywhere and have lost a day's distance. Remember also that if you leave at 09;00 and not 10:30, you may well arrive up to an hour and a half earlier at your final destination.

(b) Agree that if you think 100 miles is a long way in the UK it is definitely no shorter abroad.

(c) Get yourself the Michelin map book of France 1:200000 scale is perfect.

Work out where places are, how far they are apart and what type of roads are available.

Another very good map is Michelin's basic route planner 726

This strips out all the small detail, smaller towns and villages, but leaves in all the decent roads (by which I mean it excludes all the minor roads) and includes the so called 'Bis tourist routes'. It is perfect for plotting the longish journey you intend to make.

Maps are cheap, so maybe add this map which fits somewhere between the two:

(d) Apply the above to your plans, sitting in the comfort of your sitting room. Adjust as necessary when you are there and as circumstances permit. Things do change and do (sometimes) go wrong.... Be flexible and do not curse the Gods of Misfortune, they really do not care.

Its hard to buy maps for the pyraneese, Think i have 4 and it still dosn't cover all of it

 

[Oliwoof]

For a good maps of the Pyrenees Michelin cover the whole area with three.
I found them in a service station on the autoroute French side but you might be able to pick them up from a UK supplier.

They are 144 Pyrenees Occidentales, 145 Pyrenees Centrales and 146 Pyrenees Orientales, Andorre.

The series is called ZOOM Espagne and is green. They are 1/150 000 and have a good scale to enable you to find some off road stuff if that is what you are looking for.

If you have limited time in the area you could zig zag your way across and take in the highlights but in my opinion wherever you go in these mountains you'll not be disappointed. Traffic will be light as holiday season will have ended and normally the weather will be a bit cooler.

Cheers Phil

http://www.pyreneesmotorcycletours.com

Ride the best roads

 

[sdk72]

Its hard to buy maps for the pyraneese, Think i have 4 and it still dosn't cover all of it

reckon i will probably do some google map print outs with mini journeys on each page, should fit nicely into the tank bag too. back up map and mate with sat nav should do us nicely.
anyone take an ipad or small laptop with them at all, if so , just curious about 3g usage and any tips you may have. cheers all

 

[GSAMark]

Hi Mark

is this the Millau near montpellier, if so seems a days ride from the pyrenees or am i being a right plonker ?

Steve

It is a fair old stretch but has sights worth seeing and a nice few twisty's down into the valley and back out the other side, if you don't take the E11 over the viaduct, If you are going south to north it's an alternative route with great scenery.

 

[sdk72]

It is a fair old stretch but has sights worth seeing and a nice few twisty's down into the valley and back out the other side, if you don't take the E11 over the viaduct, If you are going south to north it's an alternative route with great scenery.

will bear this in mind for the route north ,was going to go the coastal route but with people talking about Millau and Blois i think those plans have changed, thanks all

 

[Rasher]

If you must have comms talk to Sam at Chainspeed, he knows his comms stuff and is normally pretty good on price.

N260 Sort - Adrall gets my vote, and C28 Vielha to Sort as well.

Andorra is not much to look at, handy for cheap fuel though, and a country that is easy to tick of your list as your passing.

 

[sdk72]

might do a night in andorra then and just keep it central for fuel stops, apparently its ridiculously cheap fuel or the price fuel should be depending on your perspective. cant bloody wait to be honest