I am looking for a trip to the Pyrenees at end June/early July. Anyone know of one or interested in making up a small group? My thaughts are to cross from Portsmouth,ride through France then back either by riding back or ferry from Spain.
Pyrenees - Form a group or join one?
- Thread starter Jake8294
- Start date
I think you’ll need to flesh out your proposal a bit.
As to organised groups? There are several companies and individuals offering ready made jaunts.
As to organised groups? There are several companies and individuals offering ready made jaunts.
Wotcha planning to ride?
The roads south across France, then along the Pyrenees. The return is less clear.
Nooooo, I meant what bike 
I have a regular touring group but we don't go away together so often now. Some are older, some have (great) grandchildren or are caring for elderly relatives. 5 of us went to Austria this year, we used to get 9 or more.
If I want to go away and none of the regulars are available, I go solo. I really enjoy this, especially now my joints and bladder mean stopping more frequently. I take days off the bike and enjoy a day wandering around a historic city. I'm off to Spain solo in May.
I think my days of joining a random group of strangers, only known from their online name and posting style are over. Fussy eaters, smokers, gropers, itemised bill types, sexist/racist comments to staff types and those who can't keep their politics to themselves can all fúck off!
Rant over. Good luck finding your people but don't rule out a solo tour.
If I want to go away and none of the regulars are available, I go solo. I really enjoy this, especially now my joints and bladder mean stopping more frequently. I take days off the bike and enjoy a day wandering around a historic city. I'm off to Spain solo in May.
I think my days of joining a random group of strangers, only known from their online name and posting style are over. Fussy eaters, smokers, gropers, itemised bill types, sexist/racist comments to staff types and those who can't keep their politics to themselves can all fúck off!
Rant over. Good luck finding your people but don't rule out a solo tour.
That's what I've been doing for a few years. And hopefully can do it in 2025
Similar thoughts to you.
We have at least one group ride each year. Quite often Scotland, this year it was Ireland. We are going to Scotland again this next summer. There’s quite a number of us, around 10 or 12 some years. My other trips are usually just me and one or two others. We tend to go a little further as in French Alps, Italy, Sardinia, Norway etc.
I enjoy both types of trips. I haven’t managed a full solo trip yet as each time I mention going somewhere someone wants to come. I’ve had a day or two solo at the start, end of longer trips but never a full solo one.
I’m sure that whichever way you decide to go you’ll have a great time.
It would be nice to see a few pictures as I’ve not ridden in the Pyrenees yet.
I enjoy both types of trips. I haven’t managed a full solo trip yet as each time I mention going somewhere someone wants to come. I’ve had a day or two solo at the start, end of longer trips but never a full solo one.
I’m sure that whichever way you decide to go you’ll have a great time.
It would be nice to see a few pictures as I’ve not ridden in the Pyrenees yet.
OP
Get your idea set out, to sell the idea here.
Dates, having in mind you might well have to coincide with a ferry’s departure from Spain back to England. They don’t run like clockwork.
How many days to cross France? One? Two? Three? More?
Roads to cross France on? Motorways? N roads? D roads? Goat tracks? In part at least, this dictates the time taken.
The Pyrenees is a big area. Where do you plan to hit them? The Mediterranean end? The middle? The west end?
Hotels? If so, pre-booked and, if so, by whom? Or are you winging it? Shared rooms?
Ferry? Again, who books what for the outward crossing and the possible return leg?
PS It probably makes zip difference what make or model of bike you / they ride.
Get your idea set out, to sell the idea here.
Dates, having in mind you might well have to coincide with a ferry’s departure from Spain back to England. They don’t run like clockwork.
How many days to cross France? One? Two? Three? More?
Roads to cross France on? Motorways? N roads? D roads? Goat tracks? In part at least, this dictates the time taken.
The Pyrenees is a big area. Where do you plan to hit them? The Mediterranean end? The middle? The west end?
Hotels? If so, pre-booked and, if so, by whom? Or are you winging it? Shared rooms?
Ferry? Again, who books what for the outward crossing and the possible return leg?
PS It probably makes zip difference what make or model of bike you / they ride.
Last edited:
OP, you asked about organised tours, if you don’t want to DIY. Here’s just three samples:
magellanmotorcycletours.co.uk
With a bit of imagination, you could pick the bones out of these tours and build your own. Or just pay to go and have them do it all for you.
Alternatively, contact Simon Weir, the former RiDE magazine journalist. He’ll create something bespoke for you. Yes, it’ll cost money but it requires effort * on Weir’s part and he does it for a living.
Alternatively, Weir has some off-the-shelf jaunts. Scroll down inside:
www.simonweir.co.uk
To find what suits you. Again, Weir charges for them but hey-ho, the fellow has to make a living.
Don’t want to pay?
OK, dig around in RiDE magazine’s extensive free library. Here’s a sample:
www.ride.co.uk
www.ride.co.uk
Tap around, you can’t break it and they can’t touch you for it.
* Something that some bods on this forum forget, when they say “Me and my six mates, we need routes…..” Some of them also forget to say please and thank you.
Guided Spain & France: Pyrenees Explorer, Epic Roads and Classic Cities
Ride some of the best roads in the Pyrenees as voted by local bikers, and visit the classical cities of Pamplona and Andorra.
magellanmotorcycletours.co.uk
2026 SelfGuided Motorcycle Touring in the Pyrenees riding a motorbike on tour through France
Self Guided Motorcycle touring in Pyrenees France choose the dates that suit you in 2026 and stay in really motorbike friendly accommodation. Your hotel, meals as specified and your motorcycling ferry ticket are included as well as overnight stops en rout
www.mcitours.com
2025 Ride with MCi Tours to the Picos & Pyrenees motorbike touring France and motorcycle tours in Spain, European motorcycle tours and escorted tours to the Picos de Europa and French Pyrenees on a motorcycle
MCi tours 2025 escorted motorbike touring holiday in france and spain riding a motorcycle in Pyrenees, Picos de Europa and Navarra regions of France and Spain
www.mcitours.com
With a bit of imagination, you could pick the bones out of these tours and build your own. Or just pay to go and have them do it all for you.
Alternatively, contact Simon Weir, the former RiDE magazine journalist. He’ll create something bespoke for you. Yes, it’ll cost money but it requires effort * on Weir’s part and he does it for a living.
Alternatively, Weir has some off-the-shelf jaunts. Scroll down inside:
TOURS | Simon Weir
Self-guided motorcycle tours in France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Switzerland, Germany and Austria – brilliant motorcycle holidays with tried-and-tested routes.
www.simonweir.co.uk
To find what suits you. Again, Weir charges for them but hey-ho, the fellow has to make a living.
Don’t want to pay?
OK, dig around in RiDE magazine’s extensive free library. Here’s a sample:
RiDE-RiDE Guide to Spain & Portugal
The RiDE Guide to Italy features 23 one-day motorcycle tours, three three-day tours and two two-week tours in Italy with route descriptions, google maps and downloadable sat-nav files. Create your perfect Italian motorcycling trip by following our 12-day routes, or make up your own by linking tog
www.ride.co.uk
RiDE -RiDE Guide to Europe – Third edition
All the routes and GPX files for the RiDE Guide to Europe, volume three.
www.ride.co.uk
Tap around, you can’t break it and they can’t touch you for it.
* Something that some bods on this forum forget, when they say “Me and my six mates, we need routes…..” Some of them also forget to say please and thank you.
It may be a rant, but it’s right. I took a chap with us down to Croatia, all he did for 2 weeks was moan about the fact he could NOT get his normal food.
=======
Edited, to insert the word not.
Richard
Last edited by a moderator:
Plan a route then post an open invite on here .
That’s what I did in 2023.
Two of us were going and ended up with six . Three newbies are now good mates . Only one rotten apple unfortunately.
We got on so well (-1) that we went again this year ( to Germany and Austria ) and all booked for Spain/Portugal next year .
Some great lads on here . Plus a few tossers !
I went to the Pyrenees this year with just one riding buddy. Trip was later than anticipated due to his work commitments but it afforded us a different aspect to the trip, views and riding conditions changed with the season.
We discussed the possibility of finding a larger group for a future trip and came to the conclusion that the single most important thing was to find riders with similar aspirations wrt speed, distance per day, road types etc.
Reading some of the comments above shines a light on some of the 'off-bike' aspects of the venture.
I think it easy to be polite towards less agreable personalities for a short time but it would quickly wear thin and having to suffer compromises in riding and social activities would have me plotting alternative routes pretty quickly.
Wessie hit the nail with his dislikes though I prpbably fall within his 'fuck-off' group as I do enjoy a smoke and I do enjoy good food!
I have in the distant past enjoyed solo rides to South of France and would not hesitate to do so again, so this modus opernadi should not be discounted.
I'm regularly surprised when after having a conversation with bikers we meet around the UK, how few seem to have even contemplated foreign trips! They are brilliant and pretty much the highlight of the year for me.
Whichever way works for you, sole, self-planned pairs/groups, following Ride Routes, paid for routes or organised tours, just do it, make memories....while you can
We discussed the possibility of finding a larger group for a future trip and came to the conclusion that the single most important thing was to find riders with similar aspirations wrt speed, distance per day, road types etc.
Reading some of the comments above shines a light on some of the 'off-bike' aspects of the venture.
I think it easy to be polite towards less agreable personalities for a short time but it would quickly wear thin and having to suffer compromises in riding and social activities would have me plotting alternative routes pretty quickly.
Wessie hit the nail with his dislikes though I prpbably fall within his 'fuck-off' group as I do enjoy a smoke and I do enjoy good food!
I have in the distant past enjoyed solo rides to South of France and would not hesitate to do so again, so this modus opernadi should not be discounted.
I'm regularly surprised when after having a conversation with bikers we meet around the UK, how few seem to have even contemplated foreign trips! They are brilliant and pretty much the highlight of the year for me.
Whichever way works for you, sole, self-planned pairs/groups, following Ride Routes, paid for routes or organised tours, just do it, make memories....while you can
Why would he moan because he CAN get his usual food? I’m pretty sure he could have eaten local food if he could be bothered looking.
Sorry, that should have been couldn’t,not could.
Somebody should set up www.eggNchips.com and map out where all the needy can get their daily dose of crap .
Obviously with BMSBIFP
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2004
- Messages
- 2,370
- Reaction score
- 123
From June 18 - July 31, I will be in Spain (Santander), west to Portugal and head south to the Algarve, back to Espana; over the Pyrenees to Carcassonne then make my way north to the Cherbourg ferry.
Mostly camping and riding on my own. I am not in too much of a hurry.
It is pot luck meeting other bikers on campsites to have a chat with.
Sent from my MI 9 using Tapatalk
Mostly camping and riding on my own. I am not in too much of a hurry.
It is pot luck meeting other bikers on campsites to have a chat with.
Sent from my MI 9 using Tapatalk
You laugh, but his biggest moan was 2 fold. No English brekky, and apparently ‘shite’ fish and chips.Somebody should set up www.eggNchips.com and map out where all the needy can get their daily dose of crap .
Obviously with BMSBIFP
View attachment 367230
This was at a hotel on the shores of the Adriatic which had the most fabulous selection of sea food.
I had red snapper with saffron rice and roast veg. Absolutely wonderful.
Not surprised. I’ve been away with mates in the past that hunt out a McDs for lunch then eat pizza every night . These were the days in France when you could get a fabulous three course set menu for under €20.
Somebody would make a killing if this was a nationwide chain in France
Last edited:
Similar threads
