Multiple bike transport to France / Spain

[imtaylor]

Our club went to Germany last year (ferry from North Shields to Ijumden). Great holiday but down some pretty dire weather and as we were staying in 4 different places over the 10 days, we got pretty soaked a few times. So this year we went to southern Belgium, same ferry crossing as last year but again, not great weather etc.

Next year, we are thinking about either South of France, Northern Spain or possibly Southern Spain.

The problem for us is the mix of riders and ability and budgets. Some like me, would ride down to Dover and to the Channel crossing and then bike down to wherever we were going however, there are others who just don't want to do the mileage in this country, they'd rather do it on the continent.

So, we are currently trying to look into getting a few bikes transported over to either South of France (somewhere near Nice for instance), or to Northern SPain (Bilbao) or going the whole hog and going right down to Malaga.

There are transport auction sites like Shiply and UShip and I've got a couple more to try and hear back from but I just wondered if there was anyone who had done this and could recommend a transport company who are good, cheap and reliable - and also, if anyone has any idea of cost? Its likely to be between 6 and 12 bikes to transport I'd guess - but obviously we are some time away from when we'd plan to go which is May 2014, or early June.

thanks,

[Aff]

Get a Ferry from Portsmouth to Bilbao or Santander. Think its about £300 return.
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[P.]

I'm riding from near Dover to Plymouth (yeah.. you read it right) to get a ferry straight to Santander in Spain.

Could go from Portsmouth, but meh... 6 hours longer on the ferry, plus I have new tyres i can screw up on the way to Plymouth

Mileage in this country is no issue for most people, although 4.5 hours minimum on the road doesn't set my world on fire.

[imtaylor]

Sorry, I wasn't clear with my original post. There are some members who simply do not want to do the 350 mile ride in the UK down to Portsmouth, so we are looking at options to transport their bikes down to either Portsmouth / Plymouth or directly on to destination and they will catch a flight to meet us there.

[P.]

Hmm.. man up springs to mind

Could just get a van and a minibus.

[willis1337]

[John933]

If you have six to 12 bike's. I would look at a local transport company. Walk in and ask if they have any lorry's going to Spain. You never know, could have room on-board for your bike. If the man say's he has non going that way. He could know a company who travel's in to Spain. If it's a cash job. The price should be right. All you have to do is fly down and wait for the lorry to arrive. It's the coming back that's going to be the problem.

As for the weather. I was smiling when reading your post. I was caught in the rain as well going down to Spain and coming back. France seams to be the place for rain.

Any way I wish you well.
John933
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[fraser2312]

How about getting the ferry from Newcastle to Ijumden then ride from Ijumden to Düsseldorf. From here you could jump on the AutoZug to the south of France or North Italy.

https://www.dbautozug.de/autozug-en/destinations/

[shotgun]

Still can't believe what I'm reading. You want an epic bike trip without the epic bike trip. Hmmm.....won't be any cheaper if you ask me so come on, man up as has already been said.

[imtaylor]

Thanks for your advices. The problem is that we are a GROUP. I'll say it again, I would prefer to ride the whole way, its others who like a sunday afternoon bimble or have "slower" bikes that are the issue.

Have come up with a couple options anyway. cheers.

[Marmalade]

12 bikes will need a truck, the cost of getting a truck over to euro is mighty expensive plus a driver for 4/5? days plus fuel etc. cheap isn't something that is going to happen unless you get dodgy McNasty to sling them on the back tied down with rope on his way out to pick up some furniture to come back.

I wouldn't trust my pit bike to the people who do these things on the cheap.
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[RidersRest]

try these people might be a tad expensive though https://www.wmblogistics.co.uk/


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[sabian92]

[Lyam]

I can see where there coming from, i love europe but im 450 miles from dover:( the drive down is the worst thing known to man i hate long boring motorway journeys, ill be buying an estate car soon fitting a towbar and taking my bike down south on it.

[gorillaonabik...]

[shotgun]

[Matt B]

[G]

6 sports/normal bikes in a long wheel base sprinter/lt/iveco fine. Had more for dirt bikes.

Reckon you should get 8 in a box/luton fine - however, then you're pushing the weight limit. The bigger the van, the smaller the weight limit as far as 3.5t vans go.

A 1t tail lift will be adding a lot of weight - certainly don't need a 1t tail lift, .5t is fine, but better without and extra carrying capacity.

However, I expect that 8 bikes, with associated kit and other gubbins is going to be pushing it a bit, especially with driver and possibly two passengers.

[gorillaonabik...]

[G]

Including ferry, a fair bit more than that I suspect.

It's actually cheaper to get my large 7.5t lorry over (or under) the sea than it is my vito, which is similar to a large people carrier - the lorry is a motorhome, so can easily be half the price or less, despite taking up a lot more room!

[Vincent]

I always find the trip home worse than going so would be ringing up removal companies to see if they're moving anyone to Spain and could bring the bikes back while you jet it. They'd be very happy for the business and it should easily pay their fuel home.
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