Getting to Toulouse from Edinburgh - Bikeshuttle or similar?
Discussion
In September, I'm planning on taking a trip to the Pyrenees via my mum's (an hour and a bit north from Toulouse).
At the moment it's looking like I'll have a week and a bit to play with.
I'm happy driving there, we drive down the UK overnight and get there late afternoon the next day though I doubt I'd be happy doing this on the bike (Speed Triple).
I've looked at the Portsmouth to Santander/Bilbao ferry options but Portsmouth looks like a hellish run on the bike and the timetables aren't great.
Now I've been looking at Bikeshuttle which coincidentally drops off at Toulouse. Has anyone any experience with them?
It's not cheap when you add in the transfers/hotel/flight but it'd save 700miles of boringness - I'd still have to ride to the pickup in Northampton.
Are there any other options I should be looking at?
Cheers
At the moment it's looking like I'll have a week and a bit to play with.
I'm happy driving there, we drive down the UK overnight and get there late afternoon the next day though I doubt I'd be happy doing this on the bike (Speed Triple).
I've looked at the Portsmouth to Santander/Bilbao ferry options but Portsmouth looks like a hellish run on the bike and the timetables aren't great.
Now I've been looking at Bikeshuttle which coincidentally drops off at Toulouse. Has anyone any experience with them?
It's not cheap when you add in the transfers/hotel/flight but it'd save 700miles of boringness - I'd still have to ride to the pickup in Northampton.
Are there any other options I should be looking at?
Cheers
I'm in Edinburgh and concluded same as you when when I intended to do the same trip this summer (now cancelled sadly).
I think it's more preference than anything else. It's not the cheapest, but having done the run to France a few times in the car, I agree it is mind numbing, so I think Bikeshuttle is the way to go. Ultimately it's down to how much you consider your time to be worth, and how much you want to take your own bike as opposed to hiring one however.
There's more creative options, like hiring a van, bundling your bike in the back and heading down to Pompey, or even South of France, but that's when it just starts getting a bit silly really.
I think it's more preference than anything else. It's not the cheapest, but having done the run to France a few times in the car, I agree it is mind numbing, so I think Bikeshuttle is the way to go. Ultimately it's down to how much you consider your time to be worth, and how much you want to take your own bike as opposed to hiring one however.
There's more creative options, like hiring a van, bundling your bike in the back and heading down to Pompey, or even South of France, but that's when it just starts getting a bit silly really.
Bike shuttle have either added or are looking at adding a collection from Scotland.
I used them to and from Geneva and will not hesitate to recomend them.
Having just ridden from Bolatana in the Pyrenees towards Toulouse/ Montauban/Limoges/Poitiers and on to Cherbourg. If Bikeshuttle had been an option I would have considered it as the ride was boring.
Use them its ace.
I used them to and from Geneva and will not hesitate to recomend them.
Having just ridden from Bolatana in the Pyrenees towards Toulouse/ Montauban/Limoges/Poitiers and on to Cherbourg. If Bikeshuttle had been an option I would have considered it as the ride was boring.
Use them its ace.
I've just got back from Toulouse last week. We got the ferry from Portsmouth to Bilbao.
Really easy and pleasant trip and saved driving through France. Ferry also goes from Portsmouth to San Sebastien which would mean a 2 hour drive to Toulouse once you dock. Was pretty reasonably priced too and very pleasant.
Really easy and pleasant trip and saved driving through France. Ferry also goes from Portsmouth to San Sebastien which would mean a 2 hour drive to Toulouse once you dock. Was pretty reasonably priced too and very pleasant.
Cheers for the replies.
Re renting, as daft as it sounds, my stepdad has offered me the use of his big Triumph Explorer, nice enough bike and without doubt better at mile munching but I can't help thinking that when I'm on the passes I'll be wishing I had my bike!
The van idea has been thought off too and not ruled out! Although it's a Toyota Alphard JDM thing I've been thinking of, never say never!
It's definitely looking like Bikeshuttle is the way to go at the moment.
I've seen they're doing a pick up in Scotland the weekend before but I'd probably just go down to Northampton early in the morning instead.
Re renting, as daft as it sounds, my stepdad has offered me the use of his big Triumph Explorer, nice enough bike and without doubt better at mile munching but I can't help thinking that when I'm on the passes I'll be wishing I had my bike!
The van idea has been thought off too and not ruled out! Although it's a Toyota Alphard JDM thing I've been thinking of, never say never!
It's definitely looking like Bikeshuttle is the way to go at the moment.
I've seen they're doing a pick up in Scotland the weekend before but I'd probably just go down to Northampton early in the morning instead.
Edited by Lugy on Thursday 6th June 15:22
We're going to Toulouse with bikeshuttle in 3 weeks. We've used them every year since they started, cannot fault them in any way. To cut out the ride to Luton they now collect the bikes from home and we just fly from Liverpool on the day the bikes arrive.
Totally hassle free and pays for itself in less time off work etc.
Totally hassle free and pays for itself in less time off work etc.
shunt said:
We're going to Toulouse with bikeshuttle in 3 weeks. We've used them every year since they started, cannot fault them in any way. To cut out the ride to Luton they now collect the bikes from home and we just fly from Liverpool on the day the bikes arrive.
Totally hassle free and pays for itself in less time off work etc.
Second this - great firm.Totally hassle free and pays for itself in less time off work etc.
We’re just in Toulouse airport now after dropping our bikes off at the hotel for bike shuttle to pick up.
We’ve used them for the last 3 years for Euro trips and they’re brilliant.
On the outward journey there was a couple who rode down from fife (I think) to the depot at Northampton, then got the bikes transported to Toulouse. They did the sums and reckoned the bikeshuttle won over ferry/tolls/tyres etc.
We’ll be using them again next year.
Regards, Doggydog.
We’ve used them for the last 3 years for Euro trips and they’re brilliant.
On the outward journey there was a couple who rode down from fife (I think) to the depot at Northampton, then got the bikes transported to Toulouse. They did the sums and reckoned the bikeshuttle won over ferry/tolls/tyres etc.
We’ll be using them again next year.
Regards, Doggydog.
gareth h said:
One of the ferries to northern Spain is out of action at the moment We’re heading down to San Sebastián on Monday, and couldn’t get a booking it was chocker, so we’re riding down and popping into Wheels and Waves while we’re there.
Yeah, this stung us the other week. We were booked on the Pont Aven from Portsmouth to Santander, then they moved it to Plymouth, then the Ferry broke completely and we managed to get moved onto a ferry to Caen instead.Not sure if they've always done it, but the French motorways do at least seem to give you 50% off the tolls as a motorcycle.
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