|
| Info |
Message |
Billy Whizz
East Anglia,
United Kingdom
Posts: 18
Premier Member
Sprint ST (05->)
26 Aug 2008 19:50 |
I am planning a Spring run on the route Napolean maybe April or May next year. Has anyone done the trip? if so I would be grateful for any tips/warnings. Should I tent it or are there some good B&Bs anyone knows? I will need to hire a bike at one end and return it at the other end so any suggestions about hire places would be gratefully received. Also I would love to meet up with any members 'en route' or even share the ride with any other bikers like minded
|
 |
| Advertisement |
|
|
 Barney
SouthWestThePoshBit,
United Kingdom
Posts: 4,685
Premier Member
Sprint ST (05->)
26 Aug 2008 20:18 |
[edited]:
Enjoy brill bit of road it's got every thing.
Don't bother with bit from Cannes to Grasse take the motorway and join RdeN at Grasse.
Photo Album ImagePhoto Album Image
Photo Album ImagePhoto Album Image
Watch the weather it can change quickly and don't try riding it at night in thick fog and pouring rain its not fun but as you can see the morning was another story.
|
|
Billy Whizz
East Anglia,
United Kingdom
Posts: 18
Premier Member
Sprint ST (05->)
26 Aug 2008 20:30 |
Thanks Barney
You have obviously done the route - did you take your own bike or hire locally?
|
|
Barney
SouthWestThePoshBit,
United Kingdom
Posts: 4,685
Premier Member
Sprint ST (05->)
26 Aug 2008 20:39 |
[edited]:
Took my bike got the fast cat out of Portsmouth rode down to Bugbears then Milliau then Cannes RdeN to Grenoble then over the the Alps via Switzerland to the Stelvio and home via Austria France it was a busy week.
Mine's the ST my mate binned his Daytona on the way to the Stelvio so he pillioned with me for the rest of the trip.
Photo Album Image
There are lots of camp sites on RdeN but we stay in Ibis hotels lots of them all over Europe
I like them they aren't that dear not bad food and rooms plus bar if you get in late and can't be assed to look for somewhere to eat.They also have secure gated parking for the bikes.
If you click on the photo it will link you to the rest of the photos of the trip.
|
|
Billy Whizz
East Anglia,
United Kingdom
Posts: 18
Premier Member
Sprint ST (05->)
26 Aug 2008 20:49 |
That was some trip! Stelvio and RdeN - fantastic. Thanks mate I appreciate your post. Would love to take my Sprint but seems a long way down before the adventure begins. I like the sound of Ibis - I'm all for keeping it simple.
|
|
Barney
SouthWestThePoshBit,
United Kingdom
Posts: 4,685
Premier Member
Sprint ST (05->)
26 Aug 2008 21:03 |
This is what I'm doing in a weeks time if you want to come.
On our arrival in France at 2.30pm we will ride down to or first nights stop at Chalon-en-Champagne. 200 miles
Hotel Ibis Chalons en Champagne D977 Route de Suippes Complexe agricole - 51000 - CHALONS SUR MARNE - FRANCE
Tel : (+33)3/26651665 Fax : (+33)3/26683188
On our second day Saturday 6th we shall head south to Switzerland and the town of Zug. 300 miles
Hotel Ibis Baar Zug Bahnhofstrasse 15 - 6340 - BAAR - SWITZERLAND
Tel : (+41)41/7667600 Fax : (+41)41/7667676
On our third day Sunday 7th we shall be heading east to Italy and the heart of the Dolomites where our main hotel is located, we will be spending 3 nights Half Board Sunday 7th, Monday 8th and Tuesday 9th here, day tripping around the local passes or just chilling in their Spa or by the pool even shopping the choice is yours. 220 miles
Hotel Gran Paradis ***s Fam.Colcuc, Streda Dolomites, 2, ITALY-38031 Campitello di Fassa ++39 0462/750135 http://www.granparadis.com
On our sixth day Wednesday 10th we will be heading north to Salzburg and then west to Innsbruck for our next stop 250 miles
Hotel Ibis Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof Sterzinger Strasse 1 - 6020 - INNSBRUCK - AUSTRIA
Tel : (+43)512/5703000 Fax : (+43)512/570300555
On our seventh day Thursday 11th we continue northwest to Strasbourg and our final night. 250 miles
Hotel Ibis Strasbourg Sud La Vigie 13 Rue Ferdinand Braun - 67540 - OSTWALD - FRANCE
Tel : (+33)3/88555300 Fax : (+33)3/88555309.
Our eighth day Friday 12th will be spent traveling north to Calais where we will catch the 17.20 Chunnel back to Folkestone 370 miles then 240 miles home.
The motto of these trips is “Strangers That Come Home As Friends”
You will need to book all the hotels and Chunnel yourself the cost of the Chunnel and all hotels is around £500 to this you will have to add petrol, some meals and spending money say another £250 to £300.
If you require I Tony Parsons will lead or you can make your own way to the hotels above each night, but I not a tour rep, you personally will be responsible for looking after yourselves and your bikes.
Please note there is no back up so you will need European recovery as repatriating yourselves and a bike can be very expensive, I strongly suggest maps or a GPS as well.
If you choose to join me on this adventure you do so entirely at your own risk if you are not prepared to accept this please don’t come.
|
|
Barney
SouthWestThePoshBit,
United Kingdom
Posts: 4,685
Premier Member
Sprint ST (05->)
26 Aug 2008 21:05 |
[edited]:
The secret to getting down is simple either get a mid day chunnel then head for Reims and overnight means you're 200 miles into Europe and you can reach most places next day Austria/Italy/Switzerland and only the morning is boaring.
The other way is get the 7am chunnel and have a big day you can reach Colmar or Toulouse if you get your head down and discipline your stops petrol and water/coffee every 100-150 miles with a short lunch stop 600 miles plus is possible to get you down to somewhere interesting in a day
These are the hotels and Chunnel times if anyone is interested I'm all booked along with a couple of mates if you want to tag along feel free
|
|
Billy Whizz
East Anglia,
United Kingdom
Posts: 18
Premier Member
Sprint ST (05->)
26 Aug 2008 21:16 |
Would LOVE to be there but alas it's the wife's (significant) birthday on the 10th. If I said I was heading to France on the bike it would be fried gonads for breakfast and I have a nut allergy! I note your itinerary though and it will be useful when I do my trip. Thanks again mate - ride safe.
|
|
Barney
SouthWestThePoshBit,
United Kingdom
Posts: 4,685
Premier Member
Sprint ST (05->)
26 Aug 2008 21:26 |
[edited]:
This near enough was last years route some of the days were to long, in the Alps 200 miles is more than enough still you lives and learns
DayOne
7.30 Fast Cat Poole or Portsmouth
320 miles
Cherbourg
Granville
Fourgers
Laval
Angers
Saumur
Loudun
Poiters
Vivonne B&B
Day Two
280 miles
Limoges
Tulle
Aurillac
Millau Bridge
Millau Ibis
Day Three
280 miles or 350miles
Gorge of Tarn
Nimes
Tarascon
Cavallion
Rians
Aups
Draguignan or Canyon of Verdon
Grasse
Cannes Ibis
Day Four
241 miles
Route De Napoleon
N85
Grenoble
D526 to St Jean B&B
Day Five
246 miles
Moutiers
N90
Aosta
Col De St Bernard
Martigny
Sion
Brig Glis
Munster
Ulrichen B&B
Day Six
318 miles
Chur
Davos
Stelvio Pass
Merano
Cortina B&B
Day Seven
400 miles
Lienz
Grobglockner Pass
Neukirchen
Garmisch
Kempten
Regensburg
Offenburg Bad Peterstal-Griesbach B&B
Day Eight
418 miles
Auto Routes to Chunnel
|
|
Billy Whizz
East Anglia,
United Kingdom
Posts: 18
Premier Member
Sprint ST (05->)
26 Aug 2008 21:30 |
Excellent - I am in your debt sir.
|
|
Fret.
South.,
United Kingdom
Posts: 38,531
Premier Member
Tiger 1050 (07->)
26 Aug 2008 21:34 |
Done it 5 times now, 3 times on a bike, twice in the car.
It's very hard work, and over rated as a road.
When you get to GAP, head towards BOLLENE on the N994, now THAT is a road worth riding.
|
|
Billy Whizz
East Anglia,
United Kingdom
Posts: 18
Premier Member
Sprint ST (05->)
26 Aug 2008 21:38 |
Cheers Fret - my round in the Hinckley Arms
|
|
Fret.
South.,
United Kingdom
Posts: 38,531
Premier Member
Tiger 1050 (07->)
26 Aug 2008 21:46 |
Your average speed drops right down too around those twists & turns. Downhill is very hard work.
Be warned that you may warp the discs on the Tiger. Mine were knackered by the time we got to Gap.
|
|
The Rt Hon Captain Trumpy
07 Fartblid sussex,
United Kingdom
Posts: 3,264
Premier Member
Enthusiast
27 Aug 2008 09:46 |
[edited]:
Seems silly to hire a bike. There is so much great riding to be had on the way down. You can ride direct to Briancon from Sussex in a long days ride on the motorways but better to head east a bit and go down through Switzerland and take 2 days. With a little planning you should be able to enjoy all the ride, there's no need to stretch things and motorways are boring now you can't speed on them like we used to.
Stelvio is ok for scenery but not that good for a ride. Try the D900 from Gap to Cuneo, thats a corker. There's so much good riding in the Alps, and the tap water is the best you'll get anywhere.
With a few exceptions I have always winged it for accomodation. There have been times when its difficult to get somewhere but then we use 'the force', and it always comes good. If you ask a local in your best French they are very helpful but down south don't assume they speak much english.
Try this one for twisties.
Col du Galibier.
Photo Album Image
|
|
Billy Whizz
East Anglia,
United Kingdom
Posts: 18
Premier Member
Sprint ST (05->)
27 Aug 2008 10:32 |
Cheers Trumpy. That road looks amazing - it is now in my route planner. Thanks for your help I am so looking forward to the trip and you guys have been brilliant to come back so quickly with your thoughts - thanks again
|
|
Barney
SouthWestThePoshBit,
United Kingdom
Posts: 4,685
Premier Member
Sprint ST (05->)
27 Aug 2008 21:36 |
[edited]:
My old yellow DSSA Daytona followed by Paul Burbridge on the S3 and Disco Steve on the ST Phil on the Daytona Ratpackleader2 on the tiger and out of shot is his wife Carol on a tiger photo by the one and only Mr Simon Carter it was a RAT trip to Italy  some very good times were had by all
Trumpy is right Photo Album ImagePhoto Album ImageD900 one of the best roads I've ever ridden along with the Col de Vars and Col dizorard to Briancon the views are out of this world.
Col de Galibier focuses the mind as well some big drops with no alnco best not have a skin full the night before.
RdeN is not to bad compared to the Stelvio which is a complete waste of time unless you are riding a Supermoto or off road bike the hairpins on the noth side are to tight and not much wider than single track on a big big they are hard work.
Stelvio is the most over rated pass by a mile but you have to do it tick it off the biking things to do.
Most of the people who rave about it have never ridden it.
|
|
Berlin84
Dresden, Sachsen,
Germany
Posts: 15,748
Premier Member
Sprint RS (02-05)
28 Aug 2008 13:10 |
Talking of Paul, has anybody heard from him of late?
Re the horrible "C" word.
|
|
Earl
Hiding in the valley,
United Kingdom
Posts: 5,284
Premier Member
Daytona T595 (97-98)
28 Aug 2008 13:16 |
id like to do the route down to see the milau bridge over a lonf w/e might have to start planning for nxt year,
|
|
Berlin84
Dresden, Sachsen,
Germany
Posts: 15,748
Premier Member
Sprint RS (02-05)
28 Aug 2008 13:46 |
'kin hell Earl, that's a long way to go even for a long weekend! 
|
|
Blizzard
Coventry,
United Kingdom
Posts: 24,528
Premier Member
Daytona 955i (04->)
28 Aug 2008 14:03 |
tis only a 2000 mile round trip. easy peasy 
|
|
Barney
SouthWestThePoshBit,
United Kingdom
Posts: 4,685
Premier Member
Sprint ST (05->)
28 Aug 2008 17:30 |
Milau in a day and a half is easy stay at Bugbears over night next day Milau all D roads we even went and visited Orleon The Village of The Marters on the way there for a couple of hours.
|
|
Barney
SouthWestThePoshBit,
United Kingdom
Posts: 4,685
Premier Member
Sprint ST (05->)
28 Aug 2008 19:16 |
[edited]:
I'm in contact with Paul regularly he's ok, the man's got some guts and fight.
He did a charity ride this year of England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland doing a race track in each country triumph lent him a 675
Respect to the man .
I've got a link somewhere if I find it I'll post it.
|
|
Bud
Hunts,
United Kingdom
Posts: 1,518
Premier Member
Sprint RS (02-05)
28 Aug 2008 22:48 |
Barney - This is from our local rag
http://www.towncriertoday.....heir.4110838.jp
Not met Paul but seen the bike very nice it is too.
Bud
|
|
The Rt Hon Captain Trumpy
07 Fartblid sussex,
United Kingdom
Posts: 3,264
Premier Member
Enthusiast
28 Aug 2008 22:51 |
[edited]:
Quote:
id like to do the route down to see the milau bridge over a long w/e might have to start planning for nxt year, |
Did a trip to Millau a few years back just after they built it. 3 days in total and 1760 miles.
Day 1, blast down the motorway then peel off to head west through Auxerre and down to about 30 miles north of the bridge.
Day 2, down the fantastic dual carriageway with awesome sweepers, over the bridge, photos etc.
Then after coffee a blast up through the Tarn valley. Try to pick up on the N106 from Mende to Ales. Its like a steaming great rollercoaster ride with excellent tarmac, although it can sometimes be closed for cycle racing.
Stay overnight somewhere then blast back to Blighty and back in the UK in time for tea. I have the advantage that I only live 40 minutes from the Chunnel, but the French part is doable in 3 days. On the return trip we only used the motorway from just below Reims.
In the Alps, as Barney says, head for Vars, Barcelonette, then perhaps down to Castellaine and ride the "Corniche Sublime" around the Gorge du Verdun. Roads a bit bumpy in places but you can fill the camera up with loads of pics of your bike in front of a great backdrop.
|
|
