France (and somewhere else in Europe) Tour 2025

[Steve_M]

48 minutes ago, Gerontious said:

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.

Good point about the time of year. We tour in September - it’s usually quiet and the passes are usually open and not too many cyclists in our experience. 
 

The passes on that route aren’t that difficult. I’ve been along most of it several times now  - it’s hardly the Furka, Grimsel or Stelvio .  As I said, it was our first tour as a couple  - I’d only toured solo previously, and not much outside of the U.K. by that point. 

[wastedyears1981]

3 hours ago, Steve_M said:

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 cars.

 

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

 

Absolutely fab advice.... and that Old Gits Checklist is perfect. Does that mean I'm an old git now? 

[wastedyears1981]

57 minutes ago, husoi said:

One of the advantages of living in Scotland

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

Never thought of taking the ferry over to Rotterdam, then coming back through France then to the UK via Tunnel. That's one to ponder 

[husoi]

13 minutes ago, wastedyears1981 said:

Never thought of taking the ferry over to Rotterdam, then coming back through France then to the UK via Tunnel. That's one to ponder 

For me works a treat. Saves me 6hrs riding to Dover and then ferry without sleep and spend the night either side.

Hull - Rotterdam you will sleep while the ferry reaches the continent 

[wastedyears1981]

Just now, husoi said:

For me works a treat. Saves me 6hrs riding to Dover and then ferry without sleep and spend the night either side.

Hull - Rotterdam you will sleep while the ferry reaches the continent 

Just checked the ferry prices for next year ....for that price I hope they let you have a go at steering the ship. One way is more than return tickets to Calais via tunnel.

However that said, what we save in fuel/time to Hull (we're in South Yorkshire) may make it worth it.

[husoi]

In the price you have included the cabin and you're allowed in the ship

The biggest advantage is definitely you're traveling while you sleep.

Nice and fresh arrival at 9am the next day.

They usually have live entertainment if you want to stay up a bit longer and listen to someone pretending to be singing while you have a nice pint.

Can't do that while riding can you?

[Steve_M]

11 minutes ago, husoi said:

In the price you have included the cabin and you're allowed in the ship

The biggest advantage is definitely you're traveling while you sleep.

Nice and fresh arrival at 9am the next day.

They usually have live entertainment if you want to stay up a bit longer and listen to someone pretending to be singing while you have a nice pint.

Can't do that while riding can you?

We also use the ferry - we used to use Harwich to Hook when we lived in Norfolk, Hull to Rotterdam now we’re in Cumbria. For us  the advantage over the Chunnel is the fact that you’re on the road at 9am, fresh, a full day ahead to get near to the target touring area and, arguably, saved the cost of a night in a hotel which balances the cost a little. 
 

A down side is the fact that we might accidentally hear the entertainment killing songs we previously enjoyed. 

[Steve_M]

57 minutes ago, wastedyears1981 said:

Absolutely fab advice.... and that Old Gits Checklist is perfect. Does that mean I'm an old git now? 

Honorary Old-Git?

[wastedyears1981]

1 hour ago, husoi said:

In the price you have included the cabin and you're allowed in the ship

The biggest advantage is definitely you're traveling while you sleep.

Nice and fresh arrival at 9am the next day.

They usually have live entertainment if you want to stay up a bit longer and listen to someone pretending to be singing while you have a nice pint.

Can't do that while riding can you?

I can kick out some right belters when I'm chugging along on the Tiger. Luckily its a live performance for one....and no-one else can get in my helmet 

[Larry]

Hi WastedDays81,

I was following this blog with interest! I’m English and I live just outside Paris - for my sins God is punishing me and keeping me in France for a few more years yet ‘till my wife retires, originally from Altrincham in Cheshire! 
I have never done a bike tour - a complete novice… picked up a lot of tips reading these replies to you: anyway, Iwas planning to do a solo trip around Cornwall in June 2025, but I’d much rather be in company for security and societal reasons, so I thought I’d drop you a line to see if I could join you on your french tour, and maybe in the future you could join me on the Cornwall tour. 
If you want to keep your tour private, I understand, maybe someone else reading this may wish to join me. 
I’m retired, wasting my years in France and waiting to be freed from drudgery: retired university lecturer, writing a book! Oh, speak fluent French! Would love to do a future trip in the Schwarzwald - Germany into Tyrol-time’s flying so want to make the most of my bike! Love to hear from you! Cheers

 

[Fender1515]

On 26/01/2025 at 12:30, Larry said:

Hi WastedDays81,

I was following this blog with interest! I’m English and I live just outside Paris - for my sins God is punishing me and keeping me in France for a few more years yet ‘till my wife retires, originally from Altrincham in Cheshire! 
I have never done a bike tour - a complete novice… picked up a lot of tips reading these replies to you: anyway, Iwas planning to do a solo trip around Cornwall in June 2025, but I’d much rather be in company for security and societal reasons, so I thought I’d drop you a line to see if I could join you on your french tour, and maybe in the future you could join me on the Cornwall tour. 
If you want to keep your tour private, I understand, maybe someone else reading this may wish to join me. 
I’m retired, wasting my years in France and waiting to be freed from drudgery: retired university lecturer, writing a book! Oh, speak fluent French! Would love to do a future trip in the Schwarzwald - Germany into Tyrol-time’s flying so want to make the most of my bike! Love to hear from you! Cheers

 

Hi Larry, I like you , am at the other side of the Corporate work world, although I still do work, but for our selves.  I have been falling of two wheel things since I was 11 YO. I have been fortunate to have ridden around most EU countries, and some how always seem to get back!  I am planning a trip in 2025, which might well be my European swan song. Very much in the planning stage but I am thinking of arriving in France, traveling down to Northern Spain and riding through the Picos range, Northern Italy, Tuscany, Over the Alps back into France, fill up with fuel, and head on homewards. I have ridden most of this route on different trips, apart from Picos bit. 

I need to get a few things lined up before I can make this happen, but wanted to share the thinking with you.

I am a reasonably progressive rider, however, some of the learnings from 20 years in the IAM seems to have worked.

Have fun