Route Suggestions Please

[nervous]

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.

[nervous]

Thanks dude. I'll have a look there now. Hopefully it's fun roads, rather than just main roads to get to places with fine dining or culture. Culture is wasted on me, even when my yeast infection is acting up.

[nervous]

PIGINAWIG said:

Wanna borrow some of my canestan?

That sounds right up my alley, thank you.

[nervous]

Both of those sound cool. Thank you.

Please keep them coming, folks. Appreciate your thoughts.

Well, on this, anyway. As ever, my hair is NOT up for discussion.

[nervous]

Thanks Andy- going to look at all of these as soon as I have a bigger screen and some planning snacks. Really appreciate your help, all.

[nervous]

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 tts 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.

[nervous]

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.

[nervous]

fridgedoctor said:

Glad you're trip was good.
That bike with the flouro bits is just incredible looking!!!

Thank you. The noise it makes is bonkers too.

That said, it has also boiled my bks dry so it's not all brilliance.

[nervous]

Andybow said:

Glad you had a good trip, Great area to ride around, And a pair of beauty's to do it in, Next time try cevennes national park!

Thanks Andy, appreciate that. I'll make a note of where you suggest as we'll definitely be going again.

[nervous]

Biker's Nemesis said:

Aww, come....on Nervy, don't give me the cold shoulder.

What's that fella? Not sure what you mean.

[nervous]

Biker's Nemesis said:

Awww, you're back. I was sooo looking forward to missing your views on this comming weekends commentary of the Mugello Moto GP.

Anyway, pleased you had a good trip although I am a bit disjointed at the lack of content in your report.

Lack of content is my department.

Apologies, have only just seen this.

It was a brilliant trip, utterly ace, I'm dead lucky. I kept the write up brief as I assumed no one would be interested. Certainly, my wife isn't, so it seemed like a good bench mark for dribbling on about it to me.

[nervous]

crofty1984 said:

Still, if you're going to use contraception, riding round the continent on Italian bikes beats a surgeon poking around in your bits.

A micro-surgeon in my case, but yeah.