Calais ~ Paris ~ Dieppe - any general advice/tips ?

[Rymo]

Hi there, I'm new to this forum and also to touring, just looking for some advice on my first trip really..

Bought myself a 'Revolution Country Traveller' from the Edinburgh bicycle company along with some rear panniers..got a sleeping bag/tent/stove/ mate to cycle with AND a rough plan of where we want to go!

Planning on leaving Easter Monday and maybe back on Sat or Sunday..

It goes a bit like this;

Brighton to Dover (82 mile)
Calais to Paris (180 mile)
Paris to Dieppe (100 mile)

I have just used Google Maps to find these distances, so seeing as 'A roads' are not ideal for bikes is there any way to find out distances of the 'B road' equivalents for the journeys I have mentioned?

About a week ago I cycled 47 mile one afternoon over non-flat roads, took me around 4.5 hours ..how far per day most people try to manage?

For instance, the Brighton to Dover coast route seems a very long distance to do in one day, and then get on a ferry to Calais..how would you break up this trip? Would you camp 20 mile from Dover or do it all in one day then camp in France?

Any information you can give me for this trip would be appreciated!

Cheers, Ryan

 

[rollinstok]

Hi, a couple of points
I would get to Dover and camp there to get the ferry the next day. If you can do 47 miles in an afternoon you should be ok doing this. There is a camp site atop a small climb about a mile or two from the port ( sorry its a while since I was down there ).
Your mileage will increase somewhat as you will be zig zagging here and there on minor roads through France. I have an ancient distance measuring tool with a roller tip and a scale, these are cheap from any decent outdoor shop. They are not deadly accurate and you need to work out to the scale of your map but they give a decent estimate of mileage.
Have you got a sleeping mat ? its a must have.

 

[Rymo]

Thank you for the sleeping mat tip, I will invest in one soon
I think I will just allow 3 days 2 nights for the Calais - Paris section..I'm not in any real rush anyhow

 

[Fandango]

Don't forget that you will be loaded up with gear which will make the miles seem longer than usual, especially the hilly miles. As it is your first trip you are probably best taking it fairly easy if you can, enjoy the trip, and enjoy your new bike. Have fun!

 

[fraefreuchie]

Hi Think tortoise rather than hare and you'll enjoy it more. 100 kms a day is a realistic touring target for most people.
Viamichelin http://www.viamichelin.co.uk/ is great for planning bike friendly routes, often offering two or even three alternatives. Have fun.Enjoy!

 

[Rymo]

That viamichelin website is brilliant! Cheers!

 

[Rymo]

Are there any particular villages, towns, nice lakes etc. along the way down from Calais to Paris that can be recommended?

I will be heading a fairly straight route planned on ViaMichelin.com to Paris but do not no the area at all, and although most of the time will be spent simply cycling some nice afternoon stop offs would be great.

I leave on Monday

 

[Ticktockmy]

If you live in Brighton, I think I would just stick the bike on the Brighton Ashford train, and ride to Dover from Ashford,

 

[mmmmartin]

Trains are good when touring, the road to Dover is a long way, the train takes the strain. And if you must ride, then at least take the train from Folkestone to Dover, unless you want to lug a heavily laden bike from sea level, over the highest cliffs in southern England and back down a very poor gravel narrow track with barbed wire on both sides.
Avoid going into Paris unless you especially want to go to the Champs Elysees Eiffel Tower thing. There is a super campsite at Montreuil which is a bit of a longish day from Calais but doable. It involves cycling along a pretty valley. Get something to hold the map on the handlebars so you can read the map as you ride. Carry at least one
meal spare at all times as French shop opening times are erratic. Meths or gas are equally good for cooking on.
Why not cross from Newhaven and take the voi verte inland, and take a loop back to Newhaven? Calais is not a pretty place nor is northern France. The area near Dieppe is much nicer. And you'll not flog yourself to death trying to reach an arbitrary point to make an arbitrary distance. Good luck. Touring is about enjoyment, unlike audax, but that is a different story.

 

[Rymo]

I will have to do the Brighton - Dover by bike, we will leave at first light and take it nice and gentle the whole day, then camp just outside Dover, getting an early ferry in the morning to Calais.
I have given 3 days 2 nights to get to Paris from Calais, surely thats an ok amount of time?

 

[rollinstok]

I will have to do the Brighton - Dover by bike, we will leave at first light and take it nice and gentle the whole day, then camp just outside Dover, getting an early ferry in the morning to Calais.
I have given 3 days 2 nights to get to Paris from Calais, surely thats an ok amount of time?

Plenty, plenty. The hardest day will be getting to Dover, after that its pretty easy going.

 

[Rymo]

Thats fine, yeah i did kind of think the Dover day would be tough, just got to hope for light wind / tail wind perhaps!

 

[Rymo]

Quick question, approximately how long should I expect for the Paris - Dieppe stage?
I could leave Paris Saturday Morning OR early afternoon and have the 8pm boat on Sunday booked from Dieppe you see..I have read that there is a farmers market on the weekends in Dieppe so would like to catch some of it, not sure about times that this would be going on till tho...?

 

[rollinstok]

A tail wind would be nice, that is a hard ride by anyones standards. Bags of time to enjoy France though !!

 

[Rymo]

EDIT. sorry its the 6pm boat...