France (and somewhere else in Europe) Tour 2025

[wastedyears1981]

Hello all,

 

Will be doing my first tour next yeah into mainland Europe, starting at France (seems the obvious starting point). We're keeping open-minded about where we go in the couple of weeks we will be over (routes will be dependant on where we can stop/camp). 

 

My question would be - What are your top 5 tips for the first time overseas tourer?

[husoi]

You really want to try Spanish roads. They are minted.

All depends where in France you're going. If south near Alpes then that's the obvious choice. You really want to go there.

Also depends how long your tour will last.

Less is always more. Don't try to visit too many places because you will end up on the road all the time and little sightseeing.

Make sure you have the ecritair (check the spelling) for major cities in France.

And have a great time

[Nick the wanderer]

Yeah unless you have a somewhere you really want to visit, don't go too far or it just becomes a chore. Depends on whether you like sitting in the saddle all day really. 

 

[wastedyears1981]

1 hour ago, husoi said:

You really want to try Spanish roads. They are minted.

All depends where in France you're going. If south near Alpes then that's the obvious choice. You really want to go there.

Also depends how long your tour will last.

Less is always more. Don't try to visit too many places because you will end up on the road all the time and little sightseeing.

Make sure you have the ecritair (check the spelling) for major cities in France.

And have a great time

Absolutely did not know about the Crit Air stickers .... Could quite have easily been caught out of we head into a major city.

[husoi]

When I went tp Paris (god's know why or what for) I got the sticker.

I'm sure nobody even look at it.

But for the sake of 5 euros isn't worth the risk

 

Play attention that similar charges are spreading around Europe like wildfire.

Spain is ludicrous, you need one but the Spanish system back in 2019) couldn't accept foreign plates

Edited November 12, 2024 by husoi

[wastedyears1981]

20 minutes ago, Nick the wanderer said:

Yeah unless you have a somewhere you really want to visit, don't go too far or it just becomes a chore. Depends on whether you like sitting in the saddle all day really. 

 

Were possibly going for a couple of weeks, but won't be staying in France. Just not decided whether we turn left or turn right out of France yet

[husoi]

Just now, wastedyears1981 said:

Were possibly going for a couple of weeks, but won't be staying in France. Just not decided whether we turn left or turn right out of France yet

I would definitely do the north coast until San Sebastian and Bilbao. Spend a couple days there then up the Pyrenees back to France via Pamplona and Toulouse maybe the A20 to Limoges then up north again 

[bonio]

Like @husoi says, less is more: don't try to go too far to pack too much in. As a rough guide 150-200 miles a day is enough.

Here are some other tips:

I'd say know what the top thing is that you want to get out of it: is it to see great landscapes? Schlep around cool towns? Visit local markets? Or ride the hairpins? Each one requires a different plan.

Avoid large towns and cities completely - unless of course it's your plan to visit them. There's not much fun to be had riding through Aachen or Marseilles or wherever.

Consider using motorways at the start and end of the tour to get you quickly to where you want to spend your time. But don't bother with them otherwise; the fun is to be found on smaller roads.

[wastedyears1981]

40 minutes ago, bonio said:

Like @husoi says, less is more: don't try to go too far to pack too much in. As a rough guide 150-200 miles a day is enough.

Here are some other tips:

I'd say know what the top thing is that you want to get out of it: is it to see great landscapes? Schlep around cool towns? Visit local markets? Or ride the hairpins? Each one requires a different plan.

Avoid large towns and cities completely - unless of course it's your plan to visit them. There's not much fun to be had riding through Aachen or Marseilles or wherever.

Consider using motorways at the start and end of the tour to get you quickly to where you want to spend your time. But don't bother with them otherwise; the fun is to be found on smaller roads.

Yeah.... we don't fancy visiting any of the big cities. We would much prefer exploring the quiet villages and finding random places to eat and the local markets. Spend most my time commuting on the bike through Sheffield.... so the idea of sat in traffic inhaling the backend of a Vauxhall Corsa or a Bus for hours, doesn't float my boat as an holiday. 

What sort of equipment do you take (other than the bike, clothes, and the odd spare pair of underwear )?

Edited November 12, 2024 by wastedyears1981

[husoi]

I always take trainers for the longer walks

Sunscreen that you can buy there, sunglasses obviously

V05 is a must and the green card from your insurance 

France law demands anyone who have correction glasses to have a spare pair.

Hiviz vest is a hit and miss, one day is mandatory the next isn't

Replacement bulbs kit and breathalyser kit 

All that available in Amazon for reasonable price

 

Don't forget the UK sticker or whatever is the designation nowadays.

[wastedyears1981]

12 minutes ago, husoi said:

I always take trainers for the longer walks

Sunscreen that you can buy there, sunglasses obviously

V05 is a must and the green card from your insurance 

France law demands anyone who have correction glasses to have a spare pair.

Hiviz vest is a hit and miss, one day is mandatory the next isn't

Replacement bulbs kit and breathalyser kit 

All that available in Amazon for reasonable price

 

Don't forget the UK sticker or whatever is the designation nowadays.

Breathalyser??? Is that a legal requirement as I don't drink at all. 

[husoi]

Yep.

You can get a disposable kit with 2 of them for a couple quid.

Quality is questionable but you won't be using it anyway.

One of those idiotic EU laws...

[husoi]

Almost forgot something really important.

 

A eye wash bottle.

You don't want to ride your bike if a wee bug got into your eyes

[wastedyears1981]

2 minutes ago, husoi said:

Almost forgot something really important.

 

A eye wash bottle.

You don't want to ride your bike if a wee bug got into your eyes

Never knew about the breathalyser being a legal requirement.... Something else that would've caught us out.

 

Luckily I used to go to the Download Festival quite a lot... So have oodles of travel first aid supplies, camping stoves, light weight travel/camping equipment I can tap into. 

 

Think I might go up to Scotland for a week beforehand (get quite a lot of the summer off work), get some practice in before we cause mayhem in mainland Europe

[Fiddlesticks]

11 minutes ago, wastedyears1981 said:

Never knew about the breathalyser being a legal requirement....

I don't think it is anymore.

[KiwiBob]

25 minutes ago, wastedyears1981 said:

Breathalyser??? Is that a legal requirement as I don't drink at all. 

 

26 minutes ago, wastedyears1981 said:

 

No longer required! Repealed in 2020.

 

 

[bonio]

@wastedyears1981 

Puncture repair kit, tyre inflator.

Bottle of engine oil if your bike is thirsty (a mate's is, and he's found it was hard to buy oil in rural Germany).

Small blob of blue tack for the tunnel.

WD40, duct tape and cable ties (my bike is Italian). A couple of allen keys.

Tail bag (especially useful for days out without luggage).

 

 

[Bungleaio]

If you wear glasses then take a spare pair. I believe it's a legal requirement in Belgium to have a pair with you but it's probably a good idea to have a pair with you just in case anyway.

[Gerontious]

8 hours ago, wastedyears1981 said:

Hello all,

 

Will be doing my first tour next yeah into mainland Europe, starting at France (seems the obvious starting point). We're keeping open-minded about where we go in the couple of weeks we will be over (routes will be dependant on where we can stop/camp). 

 

My question would be - What are your top 5 tips for the first time overseas tourer?

1. Only use motorways if you absolutely must.

2. Stay at Municipal campsites.

3. Have a euro friendly credit card for 24/24 petrol stations. Do not use debit cards.

4. Skirt around Paris and avoid larger Cities.

5. Take your time. It’s Holiday, not an endurance test.

 

and because I’m cheeky.

 

6. have the middle Sunday as a rest day. And take advantage of the campsite laundry. That way you only need take clothes for 1 week. Which will cut down on your luggage significantly.

[wastedyears1981]

13 hours ago, Gerontious said:

1. Only use motorways if you absolutely must.

2. Stay at Municipal campsites.

3. Have a euro friendly credit card for 24/24 petrol stations. Do not use debit cards.

4. Skirt around Paris and avoid larger Cities.

5. Take your time. It’s Holiday, not an endurance test.

 

and because I’m cheeky.

 

6. have the middle Sunday as a rest day. And take advantage of the campsite laundry. That way you only need take clothes for 1 week. Which will cut down on your luggage significantly.

Yeah we'll be planning a day of non-riding rest. I usually pack as light as possible clothing wise anyway. We wont be doing any of the cities, most likely be staying well clear of them. Great advise on using the Credit Cards.

15 hours ago, bonio said:

@wastedyears1981 

Puncture repair kit, tyre inflator.

Bottle of engine oil if your bike is thirsty (a mate's is, and he's found it was hard to buy oil in rural Germany).

Small blob of blue tack for the tunnel.

WD40, duct tape and cable ties (my bike is Italian). A couple of allen keys.

Tail bag (especially useful for days out without luggage).

 

 

@bonio What's the BlueTac for?

Luckily I've got and carry most of that list on my bike anyway except for the engine oil. 

[Steve_M]

21 hours ago, wastedyears1981 said:

Yeah.... we don't fancy visiting any of the big cities. We would much prefer exploring the quiet villages and finding random places to eat and the local markets. Spend most my time commuting on the bike through Sheffield.... so the idea of sat in traffic inhaling the backend of a Vauxhall Corsa or a Bus for hours, doesn't float my boat as an holiday. 

What sort of equipment do you take (other than the bike, clothes, and the odd spare pair of underwear )?

Not interested in big cities? Good decision

 

Our first trip as a couple was to take in the Route Des Grande Alps, and I would recommend that as a starter. It’s an easy to navigate route, fabulous roads and scenery and avoids large cities. With the experience I have now I would probably head for Castellane and the Gorge du Verdon after the Cime de la Bonnette (the highest paved through road in Europe, I understand) returning northward up the west side of the Alps).

Edit: I’ve put a link to the route information. The official route doesn’t take in the Col de la Bonnette. I now recall changing our plans at a B&B in Jausiers when a German rider suggested we ride the Cime rather than the official route. I stand by that choice!

 

You can break up the journey down there by detouring to the Vosges as an amuse bouche to the Alps. 

 

 

 

Here are a couple of links that might be of help.

Driving in France  RAC site, and though it says driving, much is applicable to bikes.

 

Old-Gits checklist not definitive but a good start point on which to base what you’re taking. I went to Andorra with this group in 2010: I worked with a couple of the guys for a while, and found the checklist handy. I’ve since refined it on my own spreadsheet. 
 

Route Des Grande Alpes

 

Edited November 13, 2024 by Steve_M
Additional information

[bonio]

Good tips there, thank you @Steve_M.

@wastedyears1981  When you check in they give you a hangar (a piece of paper showing your departure letter) and tell you to hang it on your rear view mirror. The blue tac is to stick it to the inside of the screen.

[Gerontious]

1 hour ago, Steve_M said:

Our first trip as a couple was to take in the Route Des Grande Alps, and I would recommend that as a starter.

 

I wouldn’t.  At least not without ascertaining when in the year this proposed tour is due to take place. Ignoring the possibility of closures due to snow - there are also times it’s best avoided due to crowds. And the gaggles of cyclists that seem bent on torturing themselves as well as anyone who happens to get stuck behind them.

 

also… isn’t it a little like suggesting someone climb Everest when all they’ve ever done is stroll up Snowdon. Not everyone can deal with high passes - I know several people who definitely cannot.

 

im never quick to suggest high alpine passes for a first trip. Not when there are so many fantastic routes that are much easier and  don’t involve such a huge dog leg if the aim is to get down to Spain.

 

in fact I would suggest the Pyrenees rather than the French Alps I’ve got a really nice 10 day route that takes in all of the sights between the Atlantic and Med coasts and on both sides of the border. Sometimes it’s just lovely winding your way through the mountains instead of going over the top of them.

[Simon Davey]

3 hours ago, Gerontious said:

also… isn’t it a little like suggesting someone climb Everest when all they’ve ever done is stroll up Snowdon. Not everyone can deal with high passes - I know several people who definitely cannot.

 

 

I'm still recovering from the Dartford crossing, and that was on the way there.......

Edited November 13, 2024 by Simon Davey

[husoi]

One of the advantages of living in Scotland

Always take the ferry in Hull and travel overnight to Rotterdam.