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Bonnie Lad |
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Bonnie Lad Nitrous Nuisance
Joined: 24 May 2016 Karma :
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Posted: 20:41 - 04 Feb 2018 Post subject: France experts - give me your suggestions |
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I'm using the winter down time to plan this year's trips, one of which will be 5 days in France over the early may bank holiday
Im looking for some tips/advice from the well travelled on here as to what might be a nice 5 day route around France - obviously want to avoid motorways, max of 300 miles a day, just as interested in nice villages/towns as twisty roads and good views etc
All suggestions gratefully accepted |
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chickenstrip |
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chickenstrip Super Spammer
Joined: 06 Dec 2013 Karma :
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Posted: 21:42 - 04 Feb 2018 Post subject: |
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Route des Cretes through the Vosges mountains is good, and I liked Metz to the north of there. Lots of cafes and restaurants, stunning cathedral etc. It wasn't too bad a day's ride from there to the Chunnel (although I did motorway for that, as it was heading home after my tour was over), and the RdC was easily doable in a day - I rode from Meiringen in Switzerland to Metz in one day taking that route in along the way, although that was a long day. ____________________ Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
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raesewell |
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raesewell Traffic Copper
Joined: 22 Oct 2012 Karma :
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Ericck |
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Ericck Scooby Slapper
Joined: 21 Jul 2011 Karma :
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Posted: 19:16 - 05 Feb 2018 Post subject: France experts - give me your suggestions |
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France is great biking country.
Normandy is flat with many straight roads. Plenty to do and see though if WWII is your thing. Brittany is similar but with a lovely coast.
South West of Paris and the Champagne area to the East are again quite flat and straight. Although as said once you get towards Vosges, Alsace etc you are in the mountains.
France is big compared to the UK and very rural. I spent some time in Jura around the Swiss border and that is nice.
However South from around Clermont Ferrand all the way to the Pyrenees or East into Provence are my favourites.
Can't say much about the South West as never been on the bike, although I did Eurorail that coast in the 80s and it was very nice.
5 days avoiding motorways might not get you too far though. So Vosges or Normandy might be good bets for a first trip. ____________________ Current Bikes: 2006 Suzuki Bandit 1200, 2008 Suzuki SV650N.
Previous Bikes: Yamaha FS1E, Mobylette Moped Thingy, Suzuki GS125, Kawasaki Zephyr 550, Kawasaki Zephyr 750, Kawasaki ER500, Suzuki Bandit 600, Honda CBR600F, Triumph Street Triple 675, Suzuki V Strom 650. |
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chickenstrip |
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chickenstrip Super Spammer
Joined: 06 Dec 2013 Karma :
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Posted: 17:53 - 11 Feb 2018 Post subject: Re: France experts - give me your suggestions |
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Ericck wrote: |
Can't say much about the South West as never been on the bike, although I did Eurorail that coast in the 80s and it was very nice.
5 days avoiding motorways might not get you too far though. So Vosges or Normandy might be good bets for a first trip. |
I rode down through the Parc Naturel Regional des Pyrenees Catalanes*, down in the far south-west corner, on my way to Perpignan, and the scenery and route was good. As you say, bit far for a 5 day trip though.
*
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@42.5509273,2.3880112,8.78z ____________________ Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE! |
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Copycat73 |
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Copycat73 World Chat Champion
Joined: 11 Jan 2013 Karma :
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doggone |
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doggone World Chat Champion
Joined: 20 May 2004 Karma :
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Posted: 19:42 - 11 Feb 2018 Post subject: |
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The south is too far for 5 days, you could manage Chamonix sort of area, but it would still be rushed.
I'd keep it as flexible as possible and see how you feel about a couple of long days depending on weather.
There's no point busting a gut to head for mountains if it's all fogged out and rainy - which it often is the north side of Alps.
If you've been before and aren't at the early wonderment stage you can get to the interesting bits in one long day.
I've ridden from Lake Constance to the channel ports in a day before but didn't mess about. |
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Copycat73 |
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Copycat73 World Chat Champion
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chickenstrip |
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chickenstrip Super Spammer
Joined: 06 Dec 2013 Karma :
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Posted: 20:58 - 11 Feb 2018 Post subject: |
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doggone wrote: | I've ridden from Lake Constance to the channel ports in a day before but didn't mess about. |
Gresy-sur-Aix (near Annecy) to Carlisle, 948 miles, 20 hours including Chunnel, and another time, Ramsau am Dachstein (Austria) to Gravesend (700-and-something miles, similar time) And dumb enough to be proud of it ____________________ Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE! |
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Bonnie Lad |
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Bonnie Lad Nitrous Nuisance
Joined: 24 May 2016 Karma :
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Posted: 22:46 - 13 Feb 2018 Post subject: |
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Cheers for the suggestions fellas
Think I'm gonna head for the Vosges area. Would welcome recommendations for nice towns to stay in along the following rough route:
Day 1: cross eurotunnel and get down to somewhere around Reims and stay the night
Day 2: get to the Vosges area and stay somewhere near the national park
Day 3: ride around the national park, route de cretes etc
Day 4: head back towards Calais, stop somewhere nice halfway
Day 5: head back to eurotunnel
TIA for any quaint french town suggestions |
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c_dug |
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c_dug Super Spammer
Joined: 04 Sep 2007 Karma :
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Posted: 22:56 - 13 Feb 2018 Post subject: |
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Probably not an expert, in fact, definitely not.
But I did my first Euro Tour a few years back, including the Vosges, and some nice mountainous roads around Luxembourg.
My write up may be worth a read to avoid some of our pitfalls! https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=278369 ____________________ I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock. |
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chickenstrip |
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chickenstrip Super Spammer
Joined: 06 Dec 2013 Karma :
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Posted: 23:15 - 13 Feb 2018 Post subject: |
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St. Marie Aux Mines sits on the northern end of the RdC. I went through it, but didn't explore, so couldn't really say what it would be like as a place to stay, but might be worth investigating.
Edit to add: there's a hotel at the top of Le Grand Ballon, which at 1325m, I think is the highest point on the route. Couple of cafes there too. ____________________ Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE! |
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Copycat73 |
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Copycat73 World Chat Champion
Joined: 11 Jan 2013 Karma :
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Posted: 09:31 - 14 Feb 2018 Post subject: |
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Only remote thing of relevance i can suggest is the ubiquitous https://www.pension-williams.de/
this is 405 miles from Calais and is do-able in one go .. but it is the Blackforest area .. B500 and all that ..
https://goo.gl/maps/Fitf9gnyzKn ____________________ Whatever I post I have no citation and no intention of providing one..
caveat emptor |
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chris-red |
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chris-red Have you considered a TDM?
Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :
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Posted: 12:08 - 14 Feb 2018 Post subject: |
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Vimy Ridge ____________________ Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything. |
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MCN |
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MCN Super Spammer
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Posted: 23:10 - 14 Feb 2018 Post subject: |
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This is all in the stickies but in case you decided to ignore the stickies..
Plan your stops to meet your tank range and if you are luggaged-up your Lts/100KM (MPG) will be affected. A decent stop with a sit down meal and a dump (if you can squeez one out.) is welcomed. You will enjoy the ride but fatigue creeps in and can catch you unawares. Simple things like missing a turn or more serious things like not nodding to a fellow Brit.
Usual nonsense with Frog-Law to 'be aware of' Some of it is not enforced by the PoPo there but you never know. A tug for speeding may force their hand.
I think they can do instant fines. ____________________ Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN. |
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Old Thread Alert!
The last post was made 6 years, 112 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful? |
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