Ardeche (ideas and how to steal them....)

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The French run a large series of bicycle races around the very attractive Ardeche region. A quick look at the routes in Google Streetview shows that they are OK.

It would not take too much imagination to adapt some or all of the routes into nice motorcycling jaunts.

http://ardechoise.com/en

Here, just as a sample, is the volcanoes route:

http://ardechoise.com/en/Interactive-map/La-Volcanique

Drop down to post #5 where leedude03 has kindly converted them all into gpx routes.


PS The really enthusiastic can pedal instead
 
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Thanks for this.... off to the Ardeche next September - this will prove useful! :beerjug:
 
Good find Richard. Thanks.

Thanks, Simon

The tip off came from a French girl in the office, who is riding in one of the larger events in the calandar. I was partly sharing it as I thought it might help bods to not limit themselves to just motorcycle sites when looking for routes to ride. Off course it's important to look at where any 'non-biker' sourced routes take the rider, just in case you've tripped onto 'Olympic grade off-road bicycle riders r us' and you are suddenly faced with a near vertical decent through a mile and a half of rocky forest footpath on a fully loaded GSA with a moaning pillion perched on top. If you do, play the bikers' standard and foolproof get out of jail card: "Bloody Garmin, which idiot would go this way!".

On-road cyclists often favour the type of wiggly scenic roads that set bikers' juices flowing. Sports car drivers, too. You'll not find many £220,000 plus Ferrari 488's up a narrow rocky goat track but you may well come across a gaggle of them ripping along some fantastic twisties.... some even putting well ridden GS's to shame. Use their websites and tips to get ideas.
 
Thanks, Simon

The tip off came from a French girl in the office, who is riding in one of the larger events in the calandar. I was partly sharing it as I thought it might help bods to not limit themselves to just motorcycle sites when looking for routes to ride. Off course it's important to look at where any 'non-biker' sourced routes take the rider, just in case you've tripped onto 'Olympic grade off-road bicycle riders r us' and you are suddenly faced with a near vertical decent through a mile and a half of rocky forest footpath on a fully loaded GSA with a moaning pillion perched on top. If you do, play the bikers' standard and foolproof get out of jail card: "Bloody Garmin, which idiot would go this way!".

On-road cyclists often favour the type of wiggly scenic roads that set bikers' juices flowing. Sports car drivers, too. You'll not find many £220,000 plus Ferrari 488's up a narrow rocky goat track but you may well come across a gaggle of them ripping along some fantastic twisties.... some even putting well ridden GS's to shame. Use their websites and tips to get ideas.

well stated
 
On a similar note if you check out the routes of the Tour de France and the Giro Italia, especially the mountain stages you can get some great routes which can be easily adapted.
 


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