South of France with bike - by Train?

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kitchenpete

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I'm going to visit the South of France in August this year and, although I'd like to ride all the way, I don't think I'll have the time to do it in comfort
- no joy in riding motorways for 12 hours
- quotes on ferries to Caen/St. Malo are >£250
- Calais would mean even more riding against the clock!

Annoying - I'd like to ride it all the way but will have to wait on that for a more opportune time.

Is there a way in which I can put my bike on a train for some of the journey, get some sleep on the way and still have my beautiful GS to ride between Monaco and St. Tropez?

Otherwise, has anyone got experience of renting bikes down there? If I can rent a decent bike, it might mean flying and renting is a better option.
 
Travel to the south of France.

Pity you're not going on the motorway, we could have waved to you as we'll be leaving the South of France for August :-))
There's a rail service which takes bikes from Calais or Lille I believe, then drops you at Nice the next morning. Not sure of prices or more details, but if you search on motorail or similar, there's enough informaton in this forum.
As far as bike rental goes, you could try these...
http://www.holiday-bikes.com They don't do GSs, but they do do smaller bikes, which may be more practical if you're intent on riding from Monaco to St Tropez in August...Given the traffic in August, a GS would be getting stuck in traffic all day. Not much fun in August when the temperature is over 32C already...
If you're after heat and sunshine, you won't be disappointed. I'll see what I can dig up regarding the motorail thing, but I've never used it and know there are some people here who have.

Bon voyage.../Rob
 
And usually you don't ride in the same train as your bike. You nede to drop it off and then pick it up at a freight station.

During summer, the SNCF offer motorbike transport to most destinations.

But I'd prefer to ride the country roads down south, taking a few days.

You can even try that new viaduct....
 
Thanks, all.

I'll consider my options...first quote on motorail for 1 person plus 1 bike was an astonishing... £878 !!!!!:eek:

Don't think I'll be doing that. Rental prices are high but I could just rent for those days I need a bike.

It's going to be an expensive trip, anyway, given the price of drinks down there!

KP
 
I used Motorail for the car last year (Belgium to Bologna - service has since closed). I quite enjoyed it but the rest of the family didn't find it very relaxing - sleep was patchy. There was a lot of faffing around and it was expensive. There were a few bikes using it - mainly HDs.

Quite honestly, it is nearly as quick, a lot less hassle and money riding down. If you keep off the Autoroutes, its a lot more fun and no tolls. 2 days should do it or take some more and play in the Alps.

Paul
 
Pete

Was that quote for a return? Looks like it...
How about just one way? We did that two years ago and it worked out VERY well. Got the Motorail to Avignon rather than Nice as it's the first stop and means you're straight off and don't have to hang around. Slightly cheaper than Nice too.
We then rode back north through France over 5 days - through Massif Central (brilliant!), up to Loire Valley, then blasted across (boring) northern France to Dieppe and back to Newhaven.
Taking the train down was ideal 'cos it's overnight and you START the trip fresh and ready to go. Didn't save any money (!!) but definitely made best use of the time available.
Oh yes! The Adventure only JUST fitted onto the train. There's a height restriction (check the site) and I had to paddle the beast along an open-sided railcar whilst lying prone on the tank.
Have fun!
 
I'll certainly bear the train in mind for future occasions but I'm limited on holiday time (want to save a week for later in the year) and the bike isn't really the POINT of this this, just a useful extra for trips to the beach, inland etc.

I think flying and hiring is the way to go - maybe a R1150R if the GS isn't available - familiar but not as big as the RT through traffic.

Thanks for all your input.

KP
 
i'm doing this on Friday from Calais to Avignon, Cost £254 with the 25% discount if you book with motorail within 4 weeks of departure. Will report back!
 
kitchenpete said:
I'm going to visit the South of France in August this year and, although I'd like to ride all the way, I don't think I'll have the time to do it in comfort
- no joy in riding motorways for 12 hours
- quotes on ferries to Caen/St. Malo are >£250
- Calais would mean even more riding against the clock!

Annoying - I'd like to ride it all the way but will have to wait on that for a more opportune time.

Is there a way in which I can put my bike on a train for some of the journey, get some sleep on the way and still have my beautiful GS to ride between Monaco and St. Tropez?

Otherwise, has anyone got experience of renting bikes down there? If I can rent a decent bike, it might mean flying and renting is a better option.
Click to expand...

My experiences of French Motorail has been quite successful in the past. Have done Calais-Narbone once, Paris-Narbonne a few times plus Paris-Avignon, Paris-Madrid (defunct now), and Paris-Toulouse. To my shame I even did Koln-Salzburg..... rough tough biker on a train....

I only know the this as I was in Rail-Europe 179 Piccadilly last evening to book myself back on the Nice to Paris train on August 21st 2004 and it was £78 per person inc. couchette plus £113.50 for the GS. This includes brekkie. More expensive than riding but not a bad way to travel.

If you choose Calais-Nice you can go overnight. It's around £340 each way in August. Calais is quite a bit more because it's further (of course), and because bikes pay the same rate as cars.... whereas on the Paris routes they don't.

Depending on your insertion point to Frnce, Paris may be easier to get to than Calais.

You can get a variery of discounts for booking at less than 30 days to departure and less than 8 days.... but on popular routes with the Brits it's hit or miss if there is space. And the benefit is you don't have to share with any foreigners in your couchette compartment unlike the Paris routes that are chocked to the gills with Frogs.......... (Little England joke!)
 
As for drinks Pete, go to a supermarket and get a nice bottle of plonk... Should not set you back more than 5 euros for a half decent bottle.

By the way for hiring if you don't know its "location" for hire and "moto" for bike, try it in google. If you did know, I'll get me coat. Happy holidays.
 
richie said:
As for drinks Pete, go to a supermarket and get a nice bottle of plonk... Should not set you back more than 5 euros for a half decent bottle.

By the way for hiring if you don't know its "location" for hire and "moto" for bike, try it in google. If you did know, I'll get me coat. Happy holidays.
Click to expand...

Merci, richie

Je sais assez bien les mots pour "moto", "location", "louer" et c'est dommage que les vins francais coutent beaucoup plus chers en angleterre que EUR 5 par bouteille.

A bientot,

Pierre de la Cuisine!
 
Invicta

Happy to share with Frogs if it means paying for one not 2 or 4 and if it doesn't mean paying the same as a bike.

I'm going to have to check out the options and spreadsheet them, at this rate - fly & rent v. ferry/eurostar & train & own bike, under various scenarios...could get complicated.

Thanks to all for advice and input. Great to have a place to turn for it - from people with similar ideas.

KP
 
du vin

buy a nice plastic bottle 1.5L or 2L of "Villages" and have change from a 2 euro coin, after the first mothful it slides down and then you'll sleep through any racket.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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