Route Suggestions Please
Discussion
A mate and I are planning a little road trip to France with the bikes. We've got 4 days to get there and back.
The plan is to put both bikes in the van and cover off the dull miles (just getting to the ferry/ train crossing is 6 hours for me), then leave the van at the first nights hotel (wherever that is) and enjoy a couple of days riding about.
We both will be riding sports bikes, so we're not looking to do huge miles, and having done millions of road trips in cars before where getting greedy with our ambitions turned something fun into a slog, I'm not keen to stress myself out trying to achieve distance just to get to famous places, only to be too tired to do anything, then head all the way back again. Also, I'm 43, have a broken back, and get grumpy when I'm hungry, so realistically spending 12 hours in the saddle is not a possibility or a pleasure. Most especially if I've spent 16 hours in a van just to get there, and knowing I've got to do the same to get back. What we want is fun for a few hours- lunch- more fun for a few hours- tea- maybe a bit more fun, or possibly just massive sandwiches and sleep.
So, where could we go? It doesn't need to be 'destination' driven, as we're both more interested in nice roads than going to a certain place. I've done the Stelvio & Gotthard Pass before (both of which I think are probably too far this time), and whilst I'd love to do the Route Napolean again, I fear it'll eat up too much time and energy getting there before we even start the fun.
I'd really appreciate any thoughts or suggestions you have on where to van to, then where to bike from from there. We'd be more than happy to bike out on day one of the riding days, and stay wherever we go for that night too, assuming the first nights hotel doesn't mind us leaving the van there until we get back.
Thanks in advance, you lot. Appreciate your time.
The plan is to put both bikes in the van and cover off the dull miles (just getting to the ferry/ train crossing is 6 hours for me), then leave the van at the first nights hotel (wherever that is) and enjoy a couple of days riding about.
We both will be riding sports bikes, so we're not looking to do huge miles, and having done millions of road trips in cars before where getting greedy with our ambitions turned something fun into a slog, I'm not keen to stress myself out trying to achieve distance just to get to famous places, only to be too tired to do anything, then head all the way back again. Also, I'm 43, have a broken back, and get grumpy when I'm hungry, so realistically spending 12 hours in the saddle is not a possibility or a pleasure. Most especially if I've spent 16 hours in a van just to get there, and knowing I've got to do the same to get back. What we want is fun for a few hours- lunch- more fun for a few hours- tea- maybe a bit more fun, or possibly just massive sandwiches and sleep.
So, where could we go? It doesn't need to be 'destination' driven, as we're both more interested in nice roads than going to a certain place. I've done the Stelvio & Gotthard Pass before (both of which I think are probably too far this time), and whilst I'd love to do the Route Napolean again, I fear it'll eat up too much time and energy getting there before we even start the fun.
I'd really appreciate any thoughts or suggestions you have on where to van to, then where to bike from from there. We'd be more than happy to bike out on day one of the riding days, and stay wherever we go for that night too, assuming the first nights hotel doesn't mind us leaving the van there until we get back.
Thanks in advance, you lot. Appreciate your time.
Sorry to necropost this thread (will I ever tire of that word? No, no I won't.) but I just wanted to say a huge thank you to all of you for all your help and advice on our little trip as I'm just back from three days blasting around the mountains in and around Colmar, and- despite genuinely getting heat blisters on my ball bag from the heat soak on one of the bikes- I have had the time of my life. Every single corner, piece of tarmac, view, cafe and person we encountered was significantly better than all my favourite ones at home, and I really couldn't recommend it more highly. How something as lovely as this exists that isn't over run with t
ts exactly like me is a total mystery to me. Needless to say, I'm glad it does. Even if my poor freshly-roasted testes and boil-in-the-bag future progeny disagree.
|https://thumbsnap.com/6PlwDyQR[/url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/1KvIdlTY[/url]
My apologies that two of the pictures are on their side. I've done everything I can to fix it, but can't so have now resorted to apologizing whilst swearing. It's basically my thing.
ts exactly like me is a total mystery to me. Needless to say, I'm glad it does. Even if my poor freshly-roasted testes and boil-in-the-bag future progeny disagree.|https://thumbsnap.com/6PlwDyQR[/url]|https://thumbsnap.com/1KvIdlTY[/url]My apologies that two of the pictures are on their side. I've done everything I can to fix it, but can't so have now resorted to apologizing whilst swearing. It's basically my thing.
podman said:
Sounds like I need to try that destination for myself, glad you had a great time, fab pics..
It was brilliant, properly ace. We literally never found anywhere that wasn't utterly beautiful or perfect to ride. So much so that those are the only pics we stop and took as we we're too busy having the nicest time ever. Reckon you'd love it.
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