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Bike rental Spain/south of France?

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Gooders666
L Plate Warrior



Joined: 17 Jan 2019
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PostPosted: 12:56 - 17 Jan 2019    Post subject: Bike rental Spain/south of France? Reply with quote
Hi all, new member so go easy on me.
Me and my dad (I'm 38 and he's 63) are looking to do a bit of a short tour in northern Spain, southern France, in May this year.

Ideally, we'd like to fly to Barcelona (or maybe Bilbao?), rent a couple of bikes and go off on a five day tour.

We're not really interested in the 'guided tour' thing. He's a stubborn Yorkshireman who wants to stop where he wants, whenever he wants.

My problem is that there seems to be loads of bike rental companies to choose from, but I'm looking for any personal recommendations, or companies to avoid..? Are there any smaller companies out there with a small fleet of bikes?

Any input gratefully received as neither of us has toured in Europe before.

Thanks
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Freddyfruitba...
World Chat Champion



Joined: 20 May 2016
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PostPosted: 13:15 - 17 Jan 2019    Post subject: Re: Bike rental Spain/south of France? Reply with quote
Gooders666 wrote:
Ideally, we'd like to fly to Barcelona (or maybe Bilbao?), rent a couple of bikes and go off on a five day tour.

INB4 - so presumably you've already discounted the obvious idea of taking your own bikes (eg ferry from Portsmouth to Bilbao)?
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Gooders666
L Plate Warrior



Joined: 17 Jan 2019
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PostPosted: 13:34 - 17 Jan 2019    Post subject: Re: Bike rental Spain/south of France? Reply with quote
Freddyfruitbat wrote:
Gooders666 wrote:
Ideally, we'd like to fly to Barcelona (or maybe Bilbao?), rent a couple of bikes and go off on a five day tour.

INB4 - so presumably you've already discounted the obvious idea of taking your own bikes (eg ferry from Portsmouth to Bilbao)?


Hi, yes, I think so. For a couple of reasons. My old man is up in the wilds of North Yorkshire and the ride to Portsmouth would be a chore. I guess it's about making the most of the time we've got. ta
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A100man
World Chat Champion



Joined: 19 Aug 2013
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PostPosted: 14:44 - 17 Jan 2019    Post subject: Reply with quote
10 second google search took me here..

https://www.imtbike.es/

Appear to have depots i Madrid, Blibao, Bercelona and more. Perhaps allowing you a point to point trip. Highest Google user rating.

FYI Bilbao to Barcelona is about 400+ miles, just sayin'.
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Freddyfruitba...
World Chat Champion



Joined: 20 May 2016
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PostPosted: 15:01 - 17 Jan 2019    Post subject: Reply with quote
Gooders666 wrote:
My problem is that there seems to be loads of bike rental companies to choose from, but I'm looking for any personal recommendations
A100man wrote:
10 second google search took me here

Rolling Eyes
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Grubscrew
Scooby Slapper



Joined: 23 Dec 2018
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PostPosted: 16:57 - 17 Jan 2019    Post subject: Reply with quote
I highly recommend the ferry. The cabins are brilliant, comfortable, decent power shower, a good choice of restaurants/ food. Not only that, it gives you a chance to chill out for 24 hours as the crossing is really very good, unless Biscay is bad.
It’s a top class way to go.
Bikes are fine on board......and when you get there either go East or West.....both ways provide awesome roads.
Your Dad will have wished he’d done it sooner.
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Tankie
Crazy Courier



Joined: 24 Feb 2017
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PostPosted: 17:16 - 17 Jan 2019    Post subject: Reply with quote
Don't forget you may need a "Green Card"
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Ste
Not Work Safe



Joined: 01 Sep 2002
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PostPosted: 18:15 - 17 Jan 2019    Post subject: Reply with quote
Portsmouth to Bilbao ferry takes ages. Laughing

But I've made you a route for when you arrive. Mr. Green

Takes you from Yesa all the way across to Roses on the Eastern coast.

The roads are bendier than they look. Thumbs Up

The rest of Spain is pretty flat and boring and full of oranges.
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Gooders666
L Plate Warrior



Joined: 17 Jan 2019
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PostPosted: 10:05 - 18 Jan 2019    Post subject: Reply with quote
A100man wrote:
10 second google search took me here..

https://www.imtbike.es/

Appear to have depots i Madrid, Blibao, Bercelona and more. Perhaps allowing you a point to point trip. Highest Google user rating.

FYI Bilbao to Barcelona is about 400+ miles, just sayin'.


Yep, thanks for that link. Seen that company mentioned a few times as being pretty good.
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Gooders666
L Plate Warrior



Joined: 17 Jan 2019
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PostPosted: 10:06 - 18 Jan 2019    Post subject: Reply with quote
Ste wrote:
Portsmouth to Bilbao ferry takes ages. Laughing

But I've made you a route for when you arrive. Mr. Green

Takes you from Yesa all the way across to Roses on the Eastern coast.

The roads are bendier than they look. Thumbs Up

The rest of Spain is pretty flat and boring and full of oranges.


That's awesome! Really helpful.
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A100man
World Chat Champion



Joined: 19 Aug 2013
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PostPosted: 10:28 - 18 Jan 2019    Post subject: Reply with quote
Freddyfruitbat wrote:
Gooders666 wrote:
My problem is that there seems to be loads of bike rental companies to choose from, but I'm looking for any personal recommendations
A100man wrote:
10 second google search took me here

Rolling Eyes


In absence of any personal recommendations i figured this would still be useful - Highest Google rating Rolling Eyes Rolling Eyes

PS Can also recommend road to Jaca..

PPS pack your waterproofs at any time of year. Northern 'green Spain' is much like Cornwall - weather wise.
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Gooders666
L Plate Warrior



Joined: 17 Jan 2019
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PostPosted: 13:29 - 18 Jan 2019    Post subject: Reply with quote
Thanks again. It was useful - just to reinforce what others had said about the company. Nice one all.
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spnorm
Crazy Courier



Joined: 18 Aug 2007
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PostPosted: 19:17 - 19 Jan 2019    Post subject: Reply with quote
Grubscrew wrote:
I highly recommend the ferry. The cabins are brilliant, comfortable, decent power shower, a good choice of restaurants/ food. Not only that, it gives you a chance to chill out for 24 hours as the crossing is really very good, unless Biscay is bad.
It’s a top class way to go.
Bikes are fine on board......and when you get there either go East or West.....both ways provide awesome roads.
Your Dad will have wished he’d done it sooner.


It’s the “chilling out” for 24 hours I hated. The Sunday afternoon ferry from Plymouth wasn’t too bad as I arrived in Santander at dinner time (lunchtime to you Suvverners Wink ), but the Bilbao to Portsmouth ferry was awful as it didn’t arrive until late afternoon and I was really crawling up the walls by then Shocked

This year I’m taking the Sunday afternoon ferry again, but meandering back up to Normandy for the D-Day 75th anniversary commerations.

If I was focussed on Spain I’d use Euro Bikes Trans and ship my bike to Barcelona or Porto and avoid the ferry Thumbs Up
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