"Shouldn't contemplate"? NO. This thread is to help contemplate/view/regard/examine/inspect/observe/survey/study/scrutinize. Do the trip but think about what people are advising. Trying to be helpful and not a nay sayer..
RDGA and Route Napoleon Dash 20th June
- Thread starter Wreford Miles
- Start date
Fcuks me! There's a few people on this thread - determined to convince Wreford that he shouldn't contemplate this!
It's a bike trip - not an attempt at a mission to Mars................
Al
Thank you...
Others with an appetite for this kind of thing are on board, we leave on the morning of the 18th June
david a hall
Registered user
Paul I thank you for your concern but do you really think you can tell me about bike trips?Dave, I think you are being economical when you say a 'day late'. This trip is being massively under planned IMO and you'll know that one pass closed here can mean a 3-4 hr detour or even a trip to Italy. This testosterone fuelled blast suddenly isn't a two day tripIs the need for a carnet needed or are the Swiss motorways being avoided around Geneva i.e. more time ?
two days late who gives a fuck. Here is the planning a credit card, a pair of shorts and a determination to have a beer by the med.Vinegrette is £40 so what.... Italy great..... Testosterone? really?
Dave et al, message is simple, just do you yourselves a favour: add three days planning to your incredibleTWO day trip FROM Calais ( which I assume involves the entire RDGA ) and enjoy lots of coffees and a beer at the end of each day,
You may know what's involved in this endeavour but anyone green joining you will be in for a shock.
You may know what's involved in this endeavour but anyone green joining you will be in for a shock.
Peirre O`Bollox
Registered user
- Joined
- May 6, 2011
- Messages
- 294
- Reaction score
- 2
I wish the OP the best of luck if they intend to do the RDGA in a day, and I look forward to reading the ride report at some point
not likely to be many photos.
As you say you have no experience of the passes.
Do yourself a favour and listen to advice from people that do, RDGA in a day, no chance
Sorry, Bull Shit Pablo1 !
It is a great run to achieve Wreford and we did the route down in a day on a Thursday and stayed with friends at Frejus for four days boating/sailing and then did the return route in a day and went back to finish a job in Germany. I think that was 2007.
Just realised that it's not my GS that needs MOT before end of this month It's my Suzi beast that's still resting at a friends home near Salerno. I can only spare a couple of days so I'll fly down, leave the morning and head to friends who now live near Nice and then run back the next day towards Toulose and then Bordeaux for lunch and then home.
On the way down last year I did Surrey to Como in a day, met up with friends and then we did Como to Salerno the next day.
It's what I've done since the mid 70's when we had no satnav and there was a lack of motorways, service stations and maps were often an issue. All I'll say is if you feel rough one day, stop and kick it to touch for another time!
The Garmin ticks away in front of me and for me it's freedom of choice, one day I'll be old and that'll stop me
Peirre O`Bollox
Registered user
- Joined
- May 6, 2011
- Messages
- 294
- Reaction score
- 2
There maybe, though they might be a little blurred
Couple of interesting sites and maps relating to the RDGA - both really aimed at cycling but useful. An average speed of 30mph would require 15 hours solid riding - that's not including fuel, food and toilet stops. However, it's only just over 5 hrs riding if you can average 85mph 14 passes in total.
It's a good challenge
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1147058
http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=jwggqvuztzveukww
14 passes in total.It's a good challenge
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1147058
http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=jwggqvuztzveukww
I did the RDGA last October solo.
I was very lucky with the weather, no snow or ice and perfect visibility though out the trip.
My thoughts are that although you may be able to do the whole route in a marathon 1 day blast, its spectacular and a shame to rush it
I was very lucky with the weather, no snow or ice and perfect visibility though out the trip.
My thoughts are that although you may be able to do the whole route in a marathon 1 day blast, its spectacular and a shame to rush it
Attachments
How long did it take you ? Did you stop for a drink? Did you stop for lunch? Did you stop for afternoon eats? Did you stop for any bodily functions? Genuine interest here.
Couple of interesting sites and maps relating to the RDGA - both really aimed at cycling but useful. An average speed of 30mph would require 15 hours solid riding - that's not including fuel, food and toilet stops. However, it's only just over 5 hrs riding if you can average 85mph
It's a good challenge
Agree with that and await statistics from Leasouth and any other 'One Day Riders' for the benefit of this ride planning.......please.
david a hall
Registered user
How long did it take you ? Did you stop for a drink? Did you stop for lunch? Did you stop for afternoon eats? Did you stop for any bodily functions? Genuine interest here.
Agree with that and await statistics from Leasouth and any other 'One Day Riders' for the benefit of this ride planning.......please.
I'm not sure why you consider a ride across France to the start of the RDGA would be such an issue for those that are happy to do it - it really is not that big a deal and there are many on this site who have done big mile days.
As for doing the RDGA in a day, of course it's possible and basic maths can tell you that ( an average of 18 MPH would be required)
Would I like it do it in a day? - Yes because that's the kind if challange I like
Will I do it in a day? I don't know till I'm riding it but if its going well and I believe I can do it I'll push on with that being my sole purpose and I'll enjoy it because that's my thing.
What's going well? - I'm currently think that means knowing a 30 MPH avearge can be reached and maintained
What would be helpfull is insight on the route and tips, what's irratating is knowing that you probrabley have some usefull tips and insight but you just seem hell bent on knocking someone's ambition because it's obviosluy not your thing
Id be intrested to hear those with experience of the route and sections they feel allow faster progress than others....
How long did it take you ? Did you stop for a drink? Did you stop for lunch? Did you stop for afternoon eats? Did you stop for any bodily functions? Genuine interest here.
My mate and I have been doing bike trips since 1973 and our Swiss/French friend used to do the run regularly to see his girlfriend who worked in Grasse and Monaco before they married and his mothers family had a business near Digne where he stopped over.
Travelling with our own guide and all being a bit crazy helps
'Planning' is always minimal for us, if we're having a bad day we'll just stop and find a hotel or campsite. Any way, around 5.30 am start on brimmed tanks, we don't 'lunch' when doing A to B runs, fuel stops for eats drinks and bodily functions, we met up with our friends for late evening dinner and got to Frejus around 1am and hit the Cognac
I guess we did around 16 hours of pretty fast plenty of point and squirt riding and a little quicker on the return run. Honda Blackbirds and at least 6 fuel stops and our friend on ZX11 that is still going strong.
We've always been mileage hungry and a little crazy, but not quite as crazy as a sub 8 hour including fuel stops and tolls Bandol to Calais former bike racer friend
Wreford .... We always start at Annecy and that is our first overnight stop from Blighty. (its about 500 miles I think).
You're right - it's just a mindset. We always do two days 'cos it's ..... 'We'. If I didn't have her indoors on the back I could happily ride for four or five hours without stopping. It's coffee, fuel, pee, lunch that eat into your time. Take a flask and a pic nic, and stop at the side of the road when you want a break.
I've done tours before where other riders have pitched up two or three hours later, amazed that we've been at the hotel for that amount of time. When you pick their brains, they're coming off the route, into a town, looking for a lunch venue, parking up and faffing, waiting for food ... back out of town onto the route .... And that's their hour and a half for lunch with 250 miles of A roads still to do ....
Flask and picnic is my top tip ....
You're right - it's just a mindset. We always do two days 'cos it's ..... 'We'. If I didn't have her indoors on the back I could happily ride for four or five hours without stopping. It's coffee, fuel, pee, lunch that eat into your time. Take a flask and a pic nic, and stop at the side of the road when you want a break.
I've done tours before where other riders have pitched up two or three hours later, amazed that we've been at the hotel for that amount of time. When you pick their brains, they're coming off the route, into a town, looking for a lunch venue, parking up and faffing, waiting for food ... back out of town onto the route .... And that's their hour and a half for lunch with 250 miles of A roads still to do ....
Flask and picnic is my top tip ....
Thank you Leesouth for making it clear to the readers . Nuffsaid. I am not a No sayer but hey each to their own.
16 hr riding day? Wreford I hope that it fulfils what you are seeking.
16 hr riding day? Wreford I hope that it fulfils what you are seeking.
Thank you Leesouth for making it clear to the readers . Nuffsaid. I am not a No sayer but hey each to their own.
16 hr riding day? Wreford I hope that it fulfils what you are seeking.
Quite frankly it's none of your business how many hours I or anyone else ride. What suits you and your happy with has fuck all to do with anyone else
No matter what you do someone has an opinion as to why they know better or why you shouldn't do it or on how you should enjoy your riding day. People like Nick Sanders don't have a problem with it, and I ride fast comfortable bikes. Nick and othersgo out to set records we just go and do what we enjoy! But the main thing is to know when to stop, if you're ill, losing focus, hit by tiredness, encounter bad weather or hold ups, JUST STOP. If you continue to set and chase down targets you are looking for trouble.
Similar threads
