FRANCE SPAIN PORTUGAL ???? HELP

[pooh]

Gooday

I've got 10-12 days booked off work in mid October and have persuaded a mate to come with me on a bike trip.

We're thinking of driving round all the coast roads of France & Spain & Portugal.

Probably ride down the East side of France to Spain, then follow the coastline down to the bottom of Spain then all along the bottom towards Portugal then all the way up to Northern Spain (via Portugal), along the top to France again, then follow the coast roads on the W side of France back to the ferry in Dunkirke.

I dont own a GPS so good old fashioned map reading.

At this stage I dont know the distance but am reckoning about 4000 miles to do in 10 days.

Is this a very ambitious route for my first & short notice bike trip abroad? I guess about 400 miles a day. (I have a modified seat on my @ )

I'm sure many here have done a similar trip so would be interested in knowing the timescale you allowed and if the mileage was feasable. Any route suggestions ANYWHERE would infact be very welcome as dont neccessarily need to go into Spain. Just thought it might be warmer there!

Infact ... Any advice or best ways to spend 10 days on the road in chilly October away from the UK would be considered

[xrv_jim]

You go for it mate but I'll stake Chad's reputation (my rep's worth nothing and I like to be a high roller ) that the route you've planned is way, way, way more than 4k miles. Probably double that at a guess.

Obviously it's good to have a plan but be prepared to amend it and don't force yourself into packing in the miles just for the sake of it - 400 miles in a day is more than possible, but again the next day? And the day after that, and that, and that?

My perspective is it's your holiday, take your time and enjoy, but at the end of the day that is just my view. Given 10 day's in October I'd head for the Pyrenees - if the weather's good in the mountains enjoy tooling around there. If the weather's cr*p, just head south into Spain.

Have a great time and don't forget to bring back some pictures for us!

[pooh]

Nice one Jim Thanks mate. 8000 miles though I might need a re-think on that one!

[xrv_jim]

Nice one Jim Thanks mate. 8000 miles though I might need a re-think on that one!

Possibly.

Fewtrees and I went down the east of France to the Stella in N. Italy. Then across to the eastern Pyrenees. Andorra. Then up the west side (respekt!). OK we weren't taking direct routes but we still covered 3.5k miles.

You'll have a great time in France though - a bikers paradise in most respects.

[pooh]

Yeah .. lovely roads in France.

I used to work on the westside (boyakasha!) near La Rochelle and the Missus is French (from Marseille) so been through france many times by car. And through Spain aswell to Africa on several occasions.

Always wanted to ride a bike around France camping en route, but feel I might be a bit late in the season to do it comfortably! Warmer than the UK though I'm sue of that.

I might stick to France as it is a big enough country!

[Robster]

400 miles per day is a pretty tough slog. Not undoable by any means, but not great fun either. Dont forget, it's a holiday after all. 400 miles of paeage is fine to get you where you want to go in a day and then spend the rest of the time cruising those fantastic roads.

Did as much of the Med coast as was politically possible last year (see the link at the bottom) in 60 days, just shy of 11,000 miles. Reckon you're not too far off the mark with your estimate of 4,000.

We planned on roughly 200 miles per day and it served us very well, with the ocassional 500+ mile day thrown in here and there.

Plenty of fantastic routes I'd recommend anyone to seek out the Route Napoleon (North from Nice) and the Col d'Iseran (Val d'Isere). The Med coast is not bad, but doesn't have that many inspiring roads and must say we found our route through Spain pretty dull. Lots of nice riding in Portugal, great campsite at Sagrez. Northern Spain is beautiful too, very green and mountainous. Andorra is fantastic too if you can work it in. Superb riding. Biarritz is deffo worth a visit too.

Oh and if you go through Batz Sur Mer in NW France please firebomb the Bistro La Plage...I owe them a fight in there! It's on the list of things to take care of

[Whealie]

You have way underestimated the mileage. I'm with Jim that it is closer to double that. Kings Cross to the Stella (Italian Alps, not as far south as Spanish border, dead straight along motorways) was about 750 miles. You are talking at least 1000 miles to Spain, another 1000 down to the corner, 1000 past Gibralter, 1000 up past Portugal.... you get my drift? And that's if you drive motorways all the way, if they exist.

[africajim]

I agree with the guys here, 400 miles per day is severe, can be done, but a long hard slog. It's a holiday, enjoy, I usually plan on 200 to 300 mile days, that way plenty of time to enjoy the views.

Maps are fine, I've toured Europe a couple of times with only maps, no problem,,,,, well, ,,,, if you don't count the times I've got lost!



I now use a GPS, Etrex hand held mounted on the bars, tells me where I am and also where to go! Used along with a map brilliant for touring.

Any way, enjoy mate, great fun!

[Simon]

I agree with the guys here, 400 miles per day is severe, can be done, but a long hard slog. It's a holiday, enjoy, I usually plan on 200 to 300 mile days, that way plenty of time to enjoy the views.

Maps are fine, I've toured Europe a couple of times with only maps, no problem,,,,, well, ,,,, if you don't count the times I've got lost!



I now use a GPS, Etrex hand held mounted on the bars, tells me where I am and also where to go! Used along with a map brilliant for touring.

Any way, enjoy mate, great fun!

does that GPS show roads etc on it. I like the idea of it as its not so expensive.

[samwise]

A quick guesstimate using Via Michelin, going Coquelles, Grenoble, Juan Les Pins, Monpellier, Barcelona, Valencia, Cartagena, Marbella, Gib, Huelva, Lisbon, Villa Nova de Gaia, A Coruna, Biarritz, La Rochelle, Quimper, St Brieuc, Coquelles comes out at 4087 miles, of which I'd guess well over 80% was on motorways.

I'll have a look later on MS Autoroute to see if I can get a better estimate.