Anyone done the Pyrenees?

[garth]

If so, what's it like, and how does it compare to the French Alps?

Thinking of catching a ferry from to Santender and having a week or so there, maybe head on down to the coast?

This will be by step-thru power, so bear that in mind when reccomending things.

[Ericck]

Not so much done them as passed through them, twice this summer. The other side to Santander though. D914/N260 at the eastern end and the C14/N145 back and through Andorra.

Must say the way back was much better as more through the mountains than around them, not a great fan of loads of really tight 2nd gear bends.

One thing to recommend is the motorcycle museum (Museu de la moto) next to a Repsol pertrol station on the C14 a few miles before the Spanish/Andorra border, the weirdest place to find a museum as in the middle of nowhere but had some great exhibits. Might be a bit far east if on a step thru

You could always go the other way from Santander.
The Picos de Europa and into Asturias and Cantabrica, beautiful
roads and scenery, very unspoilt, still have bears and wolves living wild there
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[RideLimousin]

The roads in the Pyrenees are amazing, just as good as the Alps I'd say.

The road from France up to Andorra is cool, especially when you head up through the clouds
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[Deaks]

I'm planning on doing this in late May/June (I think, I'm not organising it!).

Ferry down to Bilbao/Santander, motor across to Andorra, hoon about a bit, possibly catch the Catalunya GP, then ferry back.

Looking forward to it
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[doggone]

I've only been along the French side, but there are some really nice high passes, and it's less commercialised and quieter than The Alps even in August.
A few places you get the windy roads threaded along the sides of gorges - which are great fun to ride.

[instigator]

Swiss Alps - Slower, more technical riding, great hairpins but plenty of dodgy surfaces around, awesome views but always with a fuck load of traffic.

Pyrenees - Fuck all traffic allowing for plenty of knee down stuff shenanigans, great smooth surfaces and better weather too and whats better is, you can end up in the southern coast of france. I had no route mapped out, I just looked for the twistiest roads (on my GPS) from San Sebastian to Perpignan.

[spnorm]

Yep, did a trip in 2007. The roads are generally better than the Alps, especially on the Spanish side - the N260 is one of the best biking roads in Europe

[Jack1975]

Keep in mind that if you are late in the season, it can start snowing and freezing without warning. Yes, been there, done that, almost froze to death.
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[Cockney123]

We rode the Pyrenees a few years back on Honda 90s and all dressed as superheroes for the whole trip.

The rodes were superb, especially the downhill...

The alps tend to have bigger roads and more traffic.

Good luck

Andy

[motobiker]

https://tinyurl.com/cqf8yp6


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[J4mes]

Off road or on road touring?

I did off road touring in my landrover in September and while the scenery is good, there was nothing challenging or technical about it. Much of it was just gravel tracks.

We tried to avoid the normal roads as much as we could, or took direct routes when we moved areas.

Although on our first day we drove from Collioure down to Cerbere and all I remember thinking was "I wish I was on my bike" as the roads and scenery were stunning!

[barrkel]

The video link in my sig is from the Spanish Pyrenees. Empty roads with 20+ miles of curves, with reasonable to excellent surfaces.

Much better than the Alps for my money, though I haven't been on every side of the Alps. Alps has better views though.
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[ullukk]

Interesting thread this for me, planning on doing a fortnight trip around the Pyrenees next july, not decided on which route to take yet or whereabouts to stay but will keep an eye on this thread for advice and suggestions in the forthcoming months.

[Peirre oBollox]

[willis1337]

Good book guides poted by Pierre, I used the "motorcycle journeys through western Europe" one last year to plan a route through Austria. Was very good.

If you're unsure re the surfaces on routes, a good idea is to find out what route the last / next, tour de france took, as if it covers the area you want to ride through I would say follow it - the road surface WILL be perfect.
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[Maruchino]

The Pyrenees are very nice. I didn't do half as many routes as I wanted to, but there are plenty of roads and not much planning needs to be done.

Traffic seems to be very low almost everywhere.

Andorra is a cool place to visit.

Some ace views, one of me from 2010:


https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/36776_585746180028_6412175_n.jpg

[ullukk]

[willis1337]

[Peirre oBollox]

your obviously not looking in ALL the right places.
for some reason amazon Uk must have a supply issue to show such a high price. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Motorcycle-Journeys-Through-Alps-More/dp/1884313701/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1365778075&sr=1-1&keywords=John+Hermann
however if you look at the mapsman site https://www.mapsman.com/store/product.php?id=484&search=Motorcycle you should find what your looking for
The mapsman site stocks many of the up to date maps that you may need for both planning and during your trip
the Toby ballentine book can be bought on ebay for similar money https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_sacat=0&_from=R40&_nkw=Motorcycle+journeys+through&LH_PrefLoc=1
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[willis1337]

Thanks Pierre the book I was after is missing from the ebay link but mapsman had it so I have now ordered I searched multiple book sites and couldn't find anywhere, I obviously need to improve my interwebs skilz.
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