Avenue Verte - what's it like

[TheDoctor]

AV is indeed a little dull.
The surface is smooth tarmac IIRC - I certainly had no problems on a Brompton - but I've somehow never felt inspired to go and do it again.

 

[StuartG]

I have done it in the early eerie hours with mist floating across. Great if you accept the over frequent barriers as a chicane challenge which is fine when there's nowt about but lethal distraction of attention at any other time. The barriers fade the further you get from Dieppe. On a sunny afternoon it can get very crowded with families ambling around on or off sit'up'n'begs which requires more concentration if you want to cover distance at a reasonable rate (>10 mph). Though if you wanna relax the refreshment places are frequent too.

I prefer the parallel D roads (see DZ above). Its a culture shock that you don't need to get away from motors in France, they are just so shockingly courteous that you get to enjoy the encounters (Paris is another country though). BTW the start is a bit out of Dieppe and not obvious.

 

[CopperBrompton]

You can see numerous photos of it here: http://www.benlovejoy.com/cycle/tripreports/londontoparis/

My top tip is not to take the overnight ferry.

The route itself is very pleasant indeed.

 

[CopperBrompton]

There is quite a lot of uphill, but it is rewarded with this ... :-D

 

[StuartG]

My top tip is not to take the overnight ferry.

My top tip is the opposite.

This gives you the day to ride down to Newhaven through some of the most glorious countryside and lanes this country can offer. Newhaven is a huge disappointment at the end but kip down on the boat (which you can do for free - follow a truck driver to the top tv lounge and form a mattress from the seat panels).

Then around 3am you can have a wash and brush up in the French terminal and set out in darkness to the slow and magical dawn over Normandy, then the smell of a nearby boulangerie for an early alfresco breakfast. This is what heaven will be like. It gives you the whole day to get to Paris (if you are strong) or somewhere like Beauvais if you are not (see avatar) for a relaxed afternoon tea, cheaper accommodation and the finest stained glass window heaven can put on this planet.

But taking the morning ferry is great too if you do a night ride down but wastes too much of a precious day when you could be riding. YMMV.

 

[CopperBrompton]

My top tip is the opposite.

This gives you the day to ride down to Newhaven through some of the most glorious countryside and lanes this country can offer.

In the dark. And the cold. And the wet. Not seeing any of it, and not finding anywhere open for breakfast until about three hours later. DAMHIK!

 

[StuartG]

Ah weather - the subtle difference between heaven or hell ... moon and mist makes great country even greater.

 

[CopperBrompton]

Ah weather - the subtle difference between heaven or hell ... moon and mist makes great country even greater.

No moon. No mist. Just pissing, freezing rain. :-)

 

[AnneW]

It depends what kind of cycling you want to do.

AV is pleasant, easy cycling. Lots of little places to visit along the way, nice scenery. My friends did it with thin, road tyres and were fine.

Not so good if you want to get your head down and motor along. Too many stops for the barriers and too many people.

 

[cappers]

so roadbike or hybrid ?????? what do people who have done the AV recommend?

 

[AnneW]

OH and I did it on hybrids, our friends who were with us did it on road bikes - all were fine.

When we did it, 2 years ago, the very end of the AV hadn't been finished - but that was just a small section after Forges Les Eaux (apologies if the spelling is wrong!) which was too rough and soggy for the road bikes, but up to that point it's perfect.

 

[Richard Fairhurst]

Worth noting that the AV in France and in Britain are quite different animals. The above descriptions are spot on for the French bit. But although the British bit has some lovely sections, there's also the occasional muddy bridleway, the route due south of Gatwick Airport is grim, and frankly I could do without doing the London suburbs again. Assuming you're confident in moderate traffic, I wouldn't treat the British route as gospel, more as a starting point for your own route.

 

[CopperBrompton]

Oh yeah, we ignored the UK bit altogether.

 

[vernon]

Oh yeah, we ignored the UK bit altogether.

I'm about to ignore the English bit this weekend.

 

[AnneW]

We ignored the English bit too and used other cycle routes to make our way to Newhaven.