Getting to Madrid
Discussion
Hugo Stiglitz said:
Dieppe to Madrid states 14 hours. So two overnight stops. I'm not mad enough to go 2xgoes.
I've done it. Overnight ferry to Caen, then a ~7am start and hit the autoroutes to Bordeaux. It was a lot of riding, but we had set up camp before 5pm and had a relaxing evening in a nearby restaurant. Similar ride the next day, and we were on the outskirts of Madrid for night two.The key is the very early start off the ferry, and using fast roads. By 10am you've already done about 200 miles, and it's still only mid-morning so you can take a proper lunch stop, pause for a leg stretch and/or fuel every 90 minutes or so. It's really not so bad if your primary goal is to crush the distance.
We're going to northern Spain in a few weeks, one of the guys baulked at spending 32 hours on a ferry, I figured I'd rather be on my bike on the autoroute than twiddling my thumbs on a ferry, so St Malo to San Sebastian it is. In the car I wouldn't think twice, on the bike we're going to be done in as we're coming from Central Scotland the day before, so extra night at San Sebastian to recover.
https://youtu.be/LOmbmTH1Fbc?si=8C8QjZlR4voWF5Kn
Comparison of Ferry Vs Tunnel here. Was a few years ago so ferry costs have definitely gone up, but they reckoned it was a bit cheaper than riding. I'm doing ferry & back (Portsmouth to Santander) in Sept & it was almost £1k for 2 of us with 1 bike & outside cabin both ways. But leaving home Friday early evening to arrive fresh in Santander Sun morning is worth it to me. If the weather is good it's a great way to travel...
Comparison of Ferry Vs Tunnel here. Was a few years ago so ferry costs have definitely gone up, but they reckoned it was a bit cheaper than riding. I'm doing ferry & back (Portsmouth to Santander) in Sept & it was almost £1k for 2 of us with 1 bike & outside cabin both ways. But leaving home Friday early evening to arrive fresh in Santander Sun morning is worth it to me. If the weather is good it's a great way to travel...
baxb said:
https://youtu.be/LOmbmTH1Fbc?si=8C8QjZlR4voWF5Kn
Comparison of Ferry Vs Tunnel here. Was a few years ago so ferry costs have definitely gone up, but they reckoned it was a bit cheaper than riding.
Not sure how they got to £913.20 after taking out accomodation costs and halfing the fuel, at 50MPG it's about £110 for fuel from Coquelles to Santander. So you need to buy the magazine to find out their working.... Anyway, they spent three days riding their bike, not on motorways, versus spending 33 hours on a ferry.Comparison of Ferry Vs Tunnel here. Was a few years ago so ferry costs have definitely gone up, but they reckoned it was a bit cheaper than riding.
As said above, we're doing St Malo to San Sebastian in a day, ferry there was £128.50 a head, tolls and fuel are about £100, and we get to spend the second night in San Sebastian rather than paying about 25% extra to have two nights on a ferry. Factor in tyre wear, servicing costs etc.there's nothing in it.
hiccy18 said:
baxb said:
https://youtu.be/LOmbmTH1Fbc?si=8C8QjZlR4voWF5Kn
Comparison of Ferry Vs Tunnel here. Was a few years ago so ferry costs have definitely gone up, but they reckoned it was a bit cheaper than riding.
Not sure how they got to £913.20 after taking out accomodation costs and halfing the fuel, at 50MPG it's about £110 for fuel from Coquelles to Santander. So you need to buy the magazine to find out their working.... Anyway, they spent three days riding their bike, not on motorways, versus spending 33 hours on a ferry.Comparison of Ferry Vs Tunnel here. Was a few years ago so ferry costs have definitely gone up, but they reckoned it was a bit cheaper than riding.
As said above, we're doing St Malo to San Sebastian in a day, ferry there was £128.50 a head, tolls and fuel are about £100, and we get to spend the second night in San Sebastian rather than paying about 25% extra to have two nights on a ferry. Factor in tyre wear, servicing costs etc.there's nothing in it.
Double the above to get the return cost so £945 - pretty much exactly the cost of the ferry!
Aside from the cost. the above assumes 7 hours riding per day. For many people, that is not an attractive proposition and will get them to Spain knackered rather than ready to ride, especially if the weather is miserable.
ETA Ferry cabin picture.
Edited by black-k1 on Wednesday 10th April 10:55
All of the Portsmouth ferries are 2 nights. I think they used to stop & do crew change but not anymore to my knowledge. They just time it so you arrive 8am. The timing works for me as I can leave home in Suffolk after work & get to Portsmouth with time to stop for dinner en route.
Plymouth is 22/24hours but from East Anglia it doesn't work for me. Being 2up, 150-200 miles is plenty in a day.
Plymouth is 22/24hours but from East Anglia it doesn't work for me. Being 2up, 150-200 miles is plenty in a day.
baxb said:
All of the Portsmouth ferries are 2 nights. I think they used to stop & do crew change but not anymore to my knowledge. They just time it so you arrive 8am. The timing works for me as I can leave home in Suffolk after work & get to Portsmouth with time to stop for dinner en route.
Plymouth is 22/24hours but from East Anglia it doesn't work for me. Being 2up, 150-200 miles is plenty in a day.
Plymouth is 22/24hours but from East Anglia it doesn't work for me. Being 2up, 150-200 miles is plenty in a day.
That's reasonable..different strokes for different folks. I do Plymouth from Yorkshire and find that a reasonable and pretty convenient trip. Whilst I do like the overnight ferry 2 nights would be too much for me. I suppose that's what the OP was after, different perspectives.
SteveKTMer said:
Riding through France, enjoying the sun, the food and beautiful countryside is infinitely preferable to being stuck on a ferry ! Plus you get to ride over the Pyrenees and down through northern Spain and those beautiful fast roads.
I'd ride every time
Same I'd ride every time
I did Winchester to Madrid about six years ago with two overnight stops (near Le Mans and near Biarritz), solo on a CBR600RR. Both just booked on the day. Loved it, then took about a week to snake back through France, the unplanned randomness can create some great memories.
Calais to Madrid is 971 miles so find another 50 miles to make sure you are well over 1k and smash out an Ironbutt. You'll be suprised how easy it is to do 1000 miles in less than 24 hours especially on the autoroute.
Do what you need to do in Madrid and spend 3 days coming back or get a one way ticket on the ferry?
Ive got a Bunburner 1500 planned for November between Calais and Gibraltar and plan to get down south in 24 if not 30 hrs, spend a week getting to and enjoying the picos before getting the ferry back.
Do what you need to do in Madrid and spend 3 days coming back or get a one way ticket on the ferry?
Ive got a Bunburner 1500 planned for November between Calais and Gibraltar and plan to get down south in 24 if not 30 hrs, spend a week getting to and enjoying the picos before getting the ferry back.
HairyMaclary said:
Calais to Madrid is 971 miles so find another 50 miles to make sure you are well over 1k and smash out an Ironbutt. You'll be suprised how easy it is to do 1000 miles in less than 24 hours especially on the autoroute.
Do what you need to do in Madrid and spend 3 days coming back or get a one way ticket on the ferry?
Ive got a Bunburner 1500 planned for November between Calais and Gibraltar and plan to get down south in 24 if not 30 hrs, spend a week getting to and enjoying the picos before getting the ferry back.
You're nuts. I'm more nuts for looking at the maps and thinking about it! Do what you need to do in Madrid and spend 3 days coming back or get a one way ticket on the ferry?
Ive got a Bunburner 1500 planned for November between Calais and Gibraltar and plan to get down south in 24 if not 30 hrs, spend a week getting to and enjoying the picos before getting the ferry back.
I’ve done some very long days in the past and am a great believer in using fast (boring) roads to get to your destination. This years Old Gits trip has a couple of almost 500-mile autoroute days included.
While I have no issue with long runs on motorways in Europe, they can never be described as fun, even when they involve a group of mates and intercom banter. For me, they are done purely to get you through the places I don’t want to be as quickly and efficiently as possible. If my trip is to ride in Spain then it’s Spain I want to ride in, not France. This is often important as my trips tend to be time limited due to work and/or family commitments. The fact that the ferry can get you to and from Northern Spain in about the same time, but without squared off tyres, without eyes out on stalks, without need for an AirHawk, without the need to look at adjusting the chain, etc. etc. etc., and all while not costing any more, sells the ferry option for me.
I will, in the future, do an overland ride from Suffolk to the Algarve, without the long ferry ride, but that’ll only be when I have the time to make the whole run interesting.
While I have no issue with long runs on motorways in Europe, they can never be described as fun, even when they involve a group of mates and intercom banter. For me, they are done purely to get you through the places I don’t want to be as quickly and efficiently as possible. If my trip is to ride in Spain then it’s Spain I want to ride in, not France. This is often important as my trips tend to be time limited due to work and/or family commitments. The fact that the ferry can get you to and from Northern Spain in about the same time, but without squared off tyres, without eyes out on stalks, without need for an AirHawk, without the need to look at adjusting the chain, etc. etc. etc., and all while not costing any more, sells the ferry option for me.
I will, in the future, do an overland ride from Suffolk to the Algarve, without the long ferry ride, but that’ll only be when I have the time to make the whole run interesting.
black-k1 said:
I’ve done some very long days in the past and am a great believer in using fast (boring) roads to get to your destination. This years Old Gits trip has a couple of almost 500-mile autoroute days included.
While I have no issue with long runs on motorways in Europe, they can never be described as fun, even when they involve a group of mates and intercom banter. For me, they are done purely to get you through the places I don’t want to be as quickly and efficiently as possible. If my trip is to ride in Spain then it’s Spain I want to ride in, not France. This is often important as my trips tend to be time limited due to work and/or family commitments. The fact that the ferry can get you to and from Northern Spain in about the same time, but without squared off tyres, without eyes out on stalks, without need for an AirHawk, without the need to look at adjusting the chain, etc. etc. etc., and all while not costing any more, sells the ferry option for me.
I will, in the future, do an overland ride from Suffolk to the Algarve, without the long ferry ride, but that’ll only be when I have the time to make the whole run interesting.
crumbs what a fun spongeWhile I have no issue with long runs on motorways in Europe, they can never be described as fun, even when they involve a group of mates and intercom banter. For me, they are done purely to get you through the places I don’t want to be as quickly and efficiently as possible. If my trip is to ride in Spain then it’s Spain I want to ride in, not France. This is often important as my trips tend to be time limited due to work and/or family commitments. The fact that the ferry can get you to and from Northern Spain in about the same time, but without squared off tyres, without eyes out on stalks, without need for an AirHawk, without the need to look at adjusting the chain, etc. etc. etc., and all while not costing any more, sells the ferry option for me.
I will, in the future, do an overland ride from Suffolk to the Algarve, without the long ferry ride, but that’ll only be when I have the time to make the whole run interesting.
you're on the wrong bike really - you know it but just won't admit it
the suggestion above of meandering about is the best, N and D roads make for perfect travel memories
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