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Cycling in Spain and France - Page 2

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Deb re-Cycles	22 Sep 11:29
Joined: 22 Sep 2008 Posts: 2 Bike:	I know this doesn't apply to the UK, but does anyone out there have any advice for my husband who will be cycling from Santander, Spain through France to Cherbourg (but taking in the French Mediterranean coast)? He will be gone a month, camping, from 1 October to 1 November and has never done anything like this before! He's very flexible (within his time constraint) and particularly interested in any good, scenic routes and where to avoid like the plague! Thanks, Deb

Deb re-Cycles

22 Sep 11:29

Joined: 22 Sep 2008

Posts: 2

Bike:

I know this doesn't apply to the UK, but does anyone out there have any advice for my husband who will be cycling from Santander, Spain through France to Cherbourg (but taking in the French Mediterranean coast)? He will be gone a month, camping, from 1 October to 1 November and has never done anything like this before!
He's very flexible (within his time constraint) and particularly interested in any good, scenic routes and where to avoid like the plague!
Thanks,
Deb

Liam_weaver	09 Aug 15:39
Joined: 09 Aug 2010 Posts: 1 Bike:	Hi all, I've just stumbled across this site when considering a HUGE cycle ride from Surrey to Almeria, Spain this September or October. I'm hoping to spend the winter in Almeria at a place called Sunseed - an alternative community that aims to teach organic food production, alternative technology and sustainable living. I've just started scratching the surface of logistics - it's apparently about 1400 miles in total - and that's the fastest route (not necessarily a bike route!). It seems mammoth. One thing I'm concerned about is the Pyrenees. I reckon I'd not get there until October or even November... my fear is snow and ice! Anyone have any advice on possible routes / likely conditions at this time of year, or is there a lower coastal alternative? I'm considering solo, or would be happy for the company for part of the trip if others have similar ideas. I look forward to hearing from you. Kind regards, Liam Thomas. PS I am athletic, but have no long distance cycling experience.

Liam_weaver

09 Aug 15:39

Joined: 09 Aug 2010

Posts: 1

Bike:

Hi all,

I've just stumbled across this site when considering a HUGE cycle ride from Surrey to Almeria, Spain this September or October. I'm hoping to spend the winter in Almeria at a place called Sunseed - an alternative community that aims to teach organic food production, alternative technology and sustainable living.

I've just started scratching the surface of logistics - it's apparently about 1400 miles in total - and that's the fastest route (not necessarily a bike route!). It seems mammoth.
One thing I'm concerned about is the Pyrenees. I reckon I'd not get there until October or even November... my fear is snow and ice! Anyone have any advice on possible routes / likely conditions at this time of year, or is there a lower coastal alternative?

I'm considering solo, or would be happy for the company for part of the trip if others have similar ideas.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards, Liam Thomas.

PS I am athletic, but have no long distance cycling experience.

jonmet	12 Sep 09:44
Joined: 12 Sep 2010 Posts: 1 Bike:	Hey guys, this is concerning the first reply to this post by "spoonsm". That is exactly what me and a friend are planning on doing at the start of next summer, we will both be 18 with only small amounts of experience in long distance cycling. If you get this can you please contact me about the details of your ride and how it was. Or if anyone else has done a similar route then could you please contact me :) thanks

jonmet

12 Sep 09:44

Joined: 12 Sep 2010

Posts: 1

Bike:

Hey guys, this is concerning the first reply to this post by "spoonsm". That is exactly what me and a friend are planning on doing at the start of next summer, we will both be 18 with only small amounts of experience in long distance cycling. If you get this can you please contact me about the details of your ride and how it was.
Or if anyone else has done a similar route then could you please contact me
:) thanks

rockhardridefree	05 Feb 12:51
Joined: 05 Feb 2011 Posts: 1 Bike:	Hi there folks, thank you for informing many questions already! I'm planning on cycling from nantes to porto, how long would it take? i'm a 26 year old lad and plan to do the journey on a dawes vantage or a raleigh royal. I'm also interested if anyone has done calais to santander and how long it would take? thank you1 rock hard, ride free! tom

Nick Bolton	26 Feb 11:13
Joined: 26 Feb 2011 Posts: 1 Bike:	What a lovely fun forum. I'm going to keep my eye on this. In August I'm cycling from Dieppe to Nice and taking s simple bivvy bag and sleeping bag to make it practically free! Just bought a map and planning the route but it's amazing to see this vibrant group of people with shared values and simple determination. I'm taking 3 weeks to take it reasonably slowly and enjoy the journey. Looking forward to checking in on this forum again. Nick B

Nick Bolton

26 Feb 11:13

Joined: 26 Feb 2011

Posts: 1

Bike:

What a lovely fun forum. I'm going to keep my eye on this. In August I'm cycling from Dieppe to Nice and taking s simple bivvy bag and sleeping bag to make it practically free! Just bought a map and planning the route but it's amazing to see this vibrant group of people with shared values and simple determination.

I'm taking 3 weeks to take it reasonably slowly and enjoy the journey.

Looking forward to checking in on this forum again.

Nick B

Philippa	28 Feb 17:25
Joined: 28 Feb 2011 Posts: 1 Bike:	I'm thinking (hoping) to cycle from London to the south of Spain. Thinking of setting off mid August and taking a few weeks to enjoy the journey. I haven't really looked into routes yet but would be interested to know of any tried and tested routes. I like the idea of the bivvy bag and sleeping bag!! Keep me posted on your plans!

Blezard	21 Apr 17:50
Joined: 21 Apr 2011 Posts: 1 Bike:	I'm cycling the Pilgrim route from St jean Pied de Pont to Santiago and have read somewhere that a helmet is obligatory on Spanish roads. Can anyone confirm this please? Many thanks Paul Blezard

Joe le Taxi	26 Jul 07:46
Joined: 25 Apr 2011 Posts: 10 Bike: My Profile	I've been looking over at some of these and so many of you leave me feeling a little sad, that is with the exception of Roy who for me has made the best contribution. Why are so many of you so obsessed with how long it's going to take, how many miles you are going to get in per day? etc etc If what you are interested in, is knocking up as many miles possible in one day as you can, why not just go to Crystal Palace athlectics ground and do laps around the circuit. As Roy rightly points out, it will be much cheaper. I have just done a ride big-group ride; London-Cambridge (some of you may have also done it) and I would say at least 80% of the guys (gals as we all know are far more aware of the beauty of their surroundings than what most of us guys are, which is why I don't include them in my figure) had their eyes firmly fixed on the horizon, pedalling as fast as they could. Man, when I cycle, my eyes are everywhere. YOU ARE MISSING OUT! It's not about getting there asap, it's about the journey itself! Joe le taxi. PS The Cambridge ride was in preperation for a longer ride (Cherbourg-Santander). Go ahead, do 60+ miles a day and see how long you can take it for!

Joe le Taxi

26 Jul 07:46

Joined: 25 Apr 2011

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I've been looking over at some of these and so many of you leave me feeling a little sad, that is with the exception of Roy who for me has made the best contribution.
Why are so many of you so obsessed with how long it's going to take, how many miles you are going to get in per day? etc etc If what you are interested in, is knocking up as many miles possible in one day as you can, why not just go to Crystal Palace athlectics ground and do laps around the circuit. As Roy rightly points out, it will be much cheaper.
I have just done a ride big-group ride; London-Cambridge (some of you may have also done it) and I would say at least 80% of the guys (gals as we all know are far more aware of the beauty of their surroundings than what most of us guys are, which is why I don't include them in my figure) had their eyes firmly fixed on the horizon, pedalling as fast as they could. Man, when I cycle, my eyes are everywhere. YOU ARE MISSING OUT! It's not about getting there asap, it's about the journey itself!
Joe le taxi.
PS The Cambridge ride was in preperation for a longer ride (Cherbourg-Santander). Go ahead, do 60+ miles a day and see how long you can take it for!

dudley	26 Jul 08:23
Joined: 16 Jan 2009 Posts: 498 Bike: My Profile	60 miles a day is a great distance to combine the sights with getting somewhere. In as little as four hours cycling, you can spend many hours gazing at scenery, stopping at odd places along the way etc. Lazy starts and long lunch breaks are all easily feasible with a 60mile day target, and it is a distance you can do day in day out for months on end. time constraints do mean that people have to quantify, though. If you want to get from A to B, and have two weeks, and you book flights or ferries, you need to know what you can achieve. It is a luxury to just head off with little or no plan!
My Latest Route: Nov 2009 Forth Estuary Circular

dudley

26 Jul 08:23

Joined: 16 Jan 2009

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60 miles a day is a great distance to combine the sights with getting somewhere.
In as little as four hours cycling, you can spend many hours gazing at scenery, stopping at odd places along the way etc.
Lazy starts and long lunch breaks are all easily feasible with a 60mile day target, and it is a distance you can do day in day out for months on end.

time constraints do mean that people have to quantify, though.
If you want to get from A to B, and have two weeks, and you book flights or ferries, you need to know what you can achieve. It is a luxury to just head off with little or no plan!

My Latest Route: Nov 2009 Forth Estuary Circular

Joe le Taxi	26 Jul 17:40
Joined: 25 Apr 2011 Posts: 10 Bike: My Profile	Fair point and very well expressed!

harrysmum	24 Aug 07:59
Joined: 24 Aug 2011 Posts: 1 Bike:	I am a mother helping her 16 year old son plan and organise a cycle ride from Santander to Cognac next summer (probably mid July). There will be a mixed group (aged from 15 - 60+) and avoiding the extreme pointy bits would be good. There will be about 10-12 in the group and it will probably be a charity ride. He did the ride from St. Malo to Cognac with his godfather last summer and they had a great time, but this time he has to do the organising and for a larger group. I see that there is a similar post earlier, did anyone come up with a route and does anyone have advice on campsites (particularly whether there is a need to book municipal camp sites) or anything else that he should bear in mind. Thank you very much, Jan

harrysmum

24 Aug 07:59

Joined: 24 Aug 2011

Posts: 1

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I am a mother helping her 16 year old son plan and organise a cycle ride from Santander to Cognac next summer (probably mid July). There will be a mixed group (aged from 15 - 60+) and avoiding the extreme pointy bits would be good. There will be about 10-12 in the group and it will probably be a charity ride. He did the ride from St. Malo to Cognac with his godfather last summer and they had a great time, but this time he has to do the organising and for a larger group.

I see that there is a similar post earlier, did anyone come up with a route and does anyone have advice on campsites (particularly whether there is a need to book municipal camp sites) or anything else that he should bear in mind.

Thank you very much,

Jan

Ladybird20M	16 Sep 10:55
Joined: 23 Jun 2011 Posts: 3 Bike:	Trudge I would be really interested to know your route. I am planing to ride form Santander - Alicante area next summer. I will be raising money for charity while having a holiday so can't be bad! I am trying to arrange a small group to do it together. Any tips on books to read to find routes? I hope everybody else's trips went well.

txbnet	16 Sep 17:23
Joined: 29 Jun 2010 Posts: 149 Bike: My Profile	I've also enjoyed reading this thread very much, as I would like to cycle from the South to the North of France in Spring (Apr, poss May) 2012. Long distance cycling doesn't phase me, I love just toddling along at 12 mph for hours, as joe says above, taking in the views and reading maps while scoffing! I live in NE England and its crap trying to get a ferry anywhere near Spain or France! We've got one to Amsterdam and that's it. So my thinking was to get the train to Plymouth as there is a direct Virgin Cross Country from Newcastle. From Plymouth, I think Brittany Ferries run to Santander, which is a little further into Spain than I really wanted. I guess its about 150 miles to the border at Pau, I've got no idea what the terrain is like but I guess its pretty hilly from what's been posted here. I then plan to follow the west coast of France most of the way passing Bordeaux and La Rochelle, then heading towards Nantes, Rennes and St Malo. I'm not sure whether to pack in there and get the Brittany ferry back to Portsmouth or try to make it up to Cherbourg. As Dudley says above, some people do have a timetable for these things and yes.. I have to report back to work at some reasonable stage, I'm not retired yet! Should I be thinking around 18 days? I did LEJOG in 11 days, not racing, but sustaining a regular seven hours or so in the saddle. I 'd be struggling to take three weeks off work in one slot, although if I take in Easter, then that might be possible to wrap a fortnight around the public holidays. I wouldn't want to carry camping equipment, so probably Auberge or Chambres d'Hote would be my choice of accommodation on the way up. If anyone has any more advice on routes or places to stay, I'd be very grateful.
My Latest Route: Jan 2011 Whitley Bay to Bellingham

txbnet

16 Sep 17:23

Joined: 29 Jun 2010

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I've also enjoyed reading this thread very much, as I would like to cycle from the South to the North of France in Spring (Apr, poss May) 2012. Long distance cycling doesn't phase me, I love just toddling along at 12 mph for hours, as joe says above, taking in the views and reading maps while scoffing!

I live in NE England and its crap trying to get a ferry anywhere near Spain or France! We've got one to Amsterdam and that's it. So my thinking was to get the train to Plymouth as there is a direct Virgin Cross Country from Newcastle. From Plymouth, I think Brittany Ferries run to Santander, which is a little further into Spain than I really wanted. I guess its about 150 miles to the border at Pau, I've got no idea what the terrain is like but I guess its pretty hilly from what's been posted here.

I then plan to follow the west coast of France most of the way passing Bordeaux and La Rochelle, then heading towards Nantes, Rennes and St Malo. I'm not sure whether to pack in there and get the Brittany ferry back to Portsmouth or try to make it up to Cherbourg. As Dudley says above, some people do have a timetable for these things and yes.. I have to report back to work at some reasonable stage, I'm not retired yet!

Should I be thinking around 18 days? I did LEJOG in 11 days, not racing, but sustaining a regular seven hours or so in the saddle. I 'd be struggling to take three weeks off work in one slot, although if I take in Easter, then that might be possible to wrap a fortnight around the public holidays.

I wouldn't want to carry camping equipment, so probably Auberge or Chambres d'Hote would be my choice of accommodation on the way up.

If anyone has any more advice on routes or places to stay, I'd be very grateful.

My Latest Route: Jan 2011 Whitley Bay to Bellingham

susana_oro	29 Nov 10:10
Joined: 16 Nov 2011 Posts: 4 Bike:	I wish to add an abroad event that might interest those planning on cycling Spain and additionally cycling through the pilgrim route "The Camino de Santiago". The Sports Association Tarifa Estaca de Bares is preparing the first cycling Event From south to north of the Iberica Peninsula. This might be a challenge, as we are covering 1235 km in 8 days. You can Visit our web site at: www.tarifaestacadebares.es

susana_oro

29 Nov 10:10

Joined: 16 Nov 2011

Posts: 4

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I wish to add an abroad event that might interest those planning on cycling Spain and additionally cycling through the pilgrim route "The Camino de Santiago".

The Sports Association Tarifa Estaca de Bares is preparing the first cycling Event From south to north of the Iberica Peninsula. This might be a challenge, as we are covering 1235 km in 8 days. You can Visit our web site at: www.tarifaestacadebares.es

skiad1	09 Dec 18:11
Joined: 09 Dec 2011 Posts: 84 Bike: My Profile	txbnet, you'll manage that ride within your timeframe no problem, given your lejog in 11 days. I did a similarly distanced ride this summer, following your proposed route(though north to south) south of Bordeaux before heading inland. It was an easier ride(terrain/weather/road/everything really wise) than jogle and you're travelling light! I did it in under 6 days(I think another poster here did your exact route in a similar time) with no real killer days, just lovely, long, relaxed days on the road....Enjoy!

skiad1

09 Dec 18:11

Joined: 09 Dec 2011

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txbnet, you'll manage that ride within your timeframe no problem, given your lejog in 11 days. I did a similarly distanced ride this summer, following your proposed route(though north to south) south of Bordeaux before heading inland. It was an easier ride(terrain/weather/road/everything really wise) than jogle and you're travelling light! I did it in under 6 days(I think another poster here did your exact route in a similar time) with no real killer days, just lovely, long, relaxed days on the road....Enjoy!

Martin	14 Dec 01:58
Joined: 29 Aug 2009 Posts: 5 Bike:	Hi, I did Santander to Le Havre in July -Aug 2011 with my son and I've just written up our whole route at http://www.helenium.net/trips/index.htm. Harrysmum - it might be of use to you because we went through Cognac and up through Les Landes which is covered with very good cycle tracks. Ladybird20M - I wonder if across central Spain from santander to Alicante in summer might be very hot it reguylarly 30 C plus - maybe you could do early morning cycling? Txbnet - my route might be of interest to you too. Martin

Martin

14 Dec 01:58

Joined: 29 Aug 2009

Posts: 5

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Hi, I did Santander to Le Havre in July -Aug 2011 with my son and I've just written up our whole route at http://www.helenium.net/trips/index.htm. Harrysmum - it might be of use to you because we went through Cognac and up through Les Landes which is covered with very good cycle tracks. Ladybird20M - I wonder if across central Spain from santander to Alicante in summer might be very hot it reguylarly 30 C plus - maybe you could do early morning cycling? Txbnet - my route might be of interest to you too.

Martin

Winklesan	23 Jun 15:17
Joined: 23 Jun 2012 Posts: 9 Bike:	Hi 3 work colleagues and I are planning a charity ride for children in need from Bilbao to Gibraltar in Sepember this year. We will have a support vehicle (we work for a supermarket ) but are struggling with a decent route and as we had numerous detours with our charity ride last year (south east England visiting all the shops we deliver to) obviously we can't afford to do this on this trip. Any help would be appreciated. We are looking to do 680-700 miles.

Winklesan

23 Jun 15:17

Joined: 23 Jun 2012

Posts: 9

Bike:

Hi 3 work colleagues and I are planning a charity ride for children in need from Bilbao to Gibraltar in Sepember this year. We will have a support vehicle (we work for a supermarket ) but are struggling with a decent route and as we had numerous detours with our charity ride last year (south east England visiting all the shops we deliver to) obviously we can't afford to do this on this trip. Any help would be appreciated. We are looking to do 680-700 miles.

AWhitaker	30 May 08:16
Joined: 30 May 2014 Posts: 3 Bike:	Hi everyone, I know this is an old thread but I thought I'd ask anyway. Next month I am planning to cycle from London to Malaga. With the intention of keeping mileage down I was planning on cycling the most direct route. London to Portsmouth, ferry from Portsmouth to St Malo (France), along the west coast of France from St Malo to Biarritz, Biarritz to Madrid (Spain), Madrid to Malaga. I have found quite a bit of information for cycling along the west coast of France but not too much about cycle routes from the north to south of Spain. As I mentioned I am thinking of cycling via Madrid, however I am not determined to do this route if there are arguments against it/ better routes from north to south. Has anybody completed a ride like this/ or parts of it? I am particularly interested in routes from the north of Spain (San Sebastian/ Pamplona etc) to Malaga. Any advice, information, websites, contacts you can offer me I would be really grateful to hear about. Thanks

AWhitaker

30 May 08:16

Joined: 30 May 2014

Posts: 3

Bike:

Hi everyone,

I know this is an old thread but I thought I'd ask anyway.

Next month I am planning to cycle from London to Malaga.

With the intention of keeping mileage down I was planning on cycling the most direct route. London to Portsmouth, ferry from Portsmouth to St Malo (France), along the west coast of France from St Malo to Biarritz, Biarritz to Madrid (Spain), Madrid to Malaga.

I have found quite a bit of information for cycling along the west coast of France but not too much about cycle routes from the north to south of Spain.

As I mentioned I am thinking of cycling via Madrid, however I am not determined to do this route if there are arguments against it/ better routes from north to south.

Has anybody completed a ride like this/ or parts of it? I am particularly interested in routes from the north of Spain (San Sebastian/ Pamplona etc) to Malaga.

Any advice, information, websites, contacts you can offer me I would be really grateful to hear about.

Thanks

BusterG	12 Jun 04:31
Joined: 25 Feb 2010 Posts: 372 Bike: My Profile	bump for A Whitaker
My Latest Route: Oct 2013 Liss

chunksoft	10 Aug 17:36
Joined: 10 Aug 2017 Posts: 1 Bike:	Hi just in planning stages of Calais to Toulon do you have any routes?

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