Spain off road - trailer through France or ferry into Spain
Discussion
Was about to book some tickets for the ferry from UK to Spain (Balboa) in order to ride in Northern Spain off road......but wondered if it was quicker (it would be) and cheaper (???) to trailer the bike down through France via the tunnel. The ferry is a 24 hr affair and a good 3 hrs to ride to it in the UK and maybe the same in Spain to get to the hills. With a car/trailer I can drive to the hills and park up at a friendly hotel and leave the car there the week.
No brainier or take the ferry and don't sweat spending 24hrs at sea when I could drive it in under 12??
No brainier or take the ferry and don't sweat spending 24hrs at sea when I could drive it in under 12??
What time of year? The Bay of Biscay can be quite rough at times, luckily it was like a millpond when I went, sat on deck watching dolphins.
Drive through France isn't bad, most the motorways are only 2 lanes so you don't suffer MLM like you do in the UK (anyone who's towed a trailer in the UK will understand this comment), presume you can keep the bikes secure on the trailer overnight.
And I'm jealous.
Drive through France isn't bad, most the motorways are only 2 lanes so you don't suffer MLM like you do in the UK (anyone who's towed a trailer in the UK will understand this comment), presume you can keep the bikes secure on the trailer overnight.
And I'm jealous.
Looking at going late May (so the snow is mostly gone off the peaks)
Bikes are a CRF250l (hers) and a XT660 (me) so not great for road use but very doable.
Can't decide!
Option 1 -
Reading to Portsmouth on bikes 3hrs
Ferry to Balboa 24hrs
Balboa to start of mountain routes 2hrs
Option 2 -
Reading to tunnel in car 3hrs
Calais to start of mountains in car/trailer 10hrs
I only have 7/8 days so want max ride time in the mountains.....trailer for the bikes down through France seems good?
And no - not riding the things through France!!!!!
Bikes are a CRF250l (hers) and a XT660 (me) so not great for road use but very doable.
Can't decide!
Option 1 -
Reading to Portsmouth on bikes 3hrs
Ferry to Balboa 24hrs
Balboa to start of mountain routes 2hrs
Option 2 -
Reading to tunnel in car 3hrs
Calais to start of mountains in car/trailer 10hrs
I only have 7/8 days so want max ride time in the mountains.....trailer for the bikes down through France seems good?
And no - not riding the things through France!!!!!
Did consider that but...
Other half has only had a license since summer and most hire places want more than 12 months.
We like the idea of camping and covering some distance - as opposed to "ride outs" each day from a base.
We like the idea of just us....not in a group. I did 20 days in Namibia solo and even adding her to my group is taking numbers up a little high
Other half has only had a license since summer and most hire places want more than 12 months.
We like the idea of camping and covering some distance - as opposed to "ride outs" each day from a base.
We like the idea of just us....not in a group. I did 20 days in Namibia solo and even adding her to my group is taking numbers up a little high
That 10 hours to get from Calais to Northern Spain towing a trailer is pure fantasy.
15 would be nearer the truth.
I've trailered two bikes Calais to Limoges. That's headed in the Spain direction. It took 9 hours for the 450 miles, which was around 8 hours driving. Where possible I spent as much time doing 100mph as I could.
Take the ferry. Or allow a lot more time.
15 would be nearer the truth.
I've trailered two bikes Calais to Limoges. That's headed in the Spain direction. It took 9 hours for the 450 miles, which was around 8 hours driving. Where possible I spent as much time doing 100mph as I could.
Take the ferry. Or allow a lot more time.
What is your basis for 13 hours though?
Use Google Maps and Andorra takes you straight past Limoges (which took me 8 hours doing 100mph towing a trailer whenever I could). And Limoges is two thirds of the way to Andorra.
I think your 13 hours is plausible if you stop for the toilet only and you go a lot faster than you are likely to. You need 15 and it will be tedious.
The ferry will be way more relaxing.
The times you get from Google Maps are not doable at anywhere near the limit, as the average speed required is impossible.. Their times are either as the crow flies or with no traffic whatsoever.
Use Google Maps and Andorra takes you straight past Limoges (which took me 8 hours doing 100mph towing a trailer whenever I could). And Limoges is two thirds of the way to Andorra.
I think your 13 hours is plausible if you stop for the toilet only and you go a lot faster than you are likely to. You need 15 and it will be tedious.
The ferry will be way more relaxing.
The times you get from Google Maps are not doable at anywhere near the limit, as the average speed required is impossible.. Their times are either as the crow flies or with no traffic whatsoever.
Edited by cmaguire on Monday 30th October 22:45
Out of curiosity why do a bike trailer? Why not just ride through France.
I'm just south of you in Fleet so similar times. Last November two of us did (albeit on slightly bigger bikes, BMW S1000R & RR) Eurotunnel in the evening and stayed north France (think it was Arras), got there for around 1am local time. Wake up at 9am for a full day ride and can plough through France and make to north Spain with a sore bottom. Or take two days and make a trip of it. I always find France has nicer roads and drivers will put their car in a grass verge to let you overtake compared to often ignorant Spanish (massive generalisation but do 1000's of bike miles in Europe each year).
North France is always windy which is the only negative, but if you take the autoroutes for about 200k to get south of the Loire then come off and you can make quick progress on all other roads. Although no worry of Gendarmes in November as people will assume you're not English at that time of year on a moto so will flash you with plenty of notice if their about
Timewise about the same as Ferry after the ride.
Cost was cheaper, £40 Campanile B&B, then fuel and a bit on tolls
Big plus for me was no sea sickness
I'm just south of you in Fleet so similar times. Last November two of us did (albeit on slightly bigger bikes, BMW S1000R & RR) Eurotunnel in the evening and stayed north France (think it was Arras), got there for around 1am local time. Wake up at 9am for a full day ride and can plough through France and make to north Spain with a sore bottom. Or take two days and make a trip of it. I always find France has nicer roads and drivers will put their car in a grass verge to let you overtake compared to often ignorant Spanish (massive generalisation but do 1000's of bike miles in Europe each year).
North France is always windy which is the only negative, but if you take the autoroutes for about 200k to get south of the Loire then come off and you can make quick progress on all other roads. Although no worry of Gendarmes in November as people will assume you're not English at that time of year on a moto so will flash you with plenty of notice if their about
Timewise about the same as Ferry after the ride.
Cost was cheaper, £40 Campanile B&B, then fuel and a bit on tolls
Big plus for me was no sea sickness
Having done the route on a bike, in a car a couple of times, and on the 24hr ferry a couple of times, I would personally take the ferry.
Last car journey took us 9 hours just to get to Morzine, and we didn't have a trailer. We also spanked it at every opportunity.
Ferry = Strap your bike down, have a beer or two, something to eat, play some cards, go to bed, wake up fresh for riding in Spain. Easy.
Last car journey took us 9 hours just to get to Morzine, and we didn't have a trailer. We also spanked it at every opportunity.
Ferry = Strap your bike down, have a beer or two, something to eat, play some cards, go to bed, wake up fresh for riding in Spain. Easy.
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