Eurovelo route 1 - Ferrys

[cisamcgu]

Mrs cisamcgu and I are thinking, in very vague terms, of cycling from Biarritz to Brittany - maybe next summer - taking 3-4 weeks. The plan is to drive to Portsmouth, ferry to Bilbao then either cycle or train to Biarritz (depends on traffic and route) and then ride north, basically following Eurovelo #1 to St, Malo, Caen, or Cherbourg then getting a ferry back to Portsmouth; pick up car and drive back to Liverpool.

The route from Biarritz to Brittany is fine - we can spend the winter deciding on this, but I have a couple of other questions :

How to get from Bibao (or possible Santander) to Biarritz - what is the cycling like, what are the trains like ?

How feasible is it to just turn up at one of the Brittany ports and be able to buy a ticket for 2 people and 2 bikes for Portsmouth on the next available ferry ?

Thanks
Andrew

 

[bianchi1]

I was thinking of doing something similar. Be aware that not all of the brittany ferrys to Spain carry bikes. I think it's only the Tuesday crossing to Santander, but I could be wrong.

If you don't mind me asking, where were you thinking of leaving your car for three weeks? From what I've seen this is the most expensive element of the holiday!

I've never had a problem with just turning up at Caen (ouisterham) and cycling on to the ferry without booking. They seem to be quite flexiable when it comes to bikes.

 

[Dave Davenport]

It's fantastic riding along the coast between Bilbao and the French border, up and down but never too long or steep and quiet roads apart from through San Sebastian. The few miles through Biarritz aren't great but it doesn't take long to get through.
The West coast route is very easy but a bit dull, have a think about doing something like this https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=Sh&doc_id=11266&v=7O

 

[cisamcgu]

I was thinking of doing something similar. Be aware that not all of the brittany ferrys to Spain carry bikes. I think it's only the Tuesday crossing to Santander, but I could be wrong.

If you don't mind me asking, where were you thinking of leaving your car for three weeks? From what I've seen this is the most expensive element of the holiday!

I've never had a problem with just turning up at Caen (ouisterham) and cycling on to the ferry without booking. They seem to be quite flexiable when it comes to bikes.

I know someone who lives in Portsmouth, so I was planning on either parking the car outside their house, or alternatively parking it at the ferry terminal - but that is £10 per day - which could end up costing 100's of ££££

Thanks for the info about the ferries to Bilbao/Santander carring bicycles. I had had a brief look and assumed they all carried bikes - but I guess not; I will have a more careful look

 

[Brains]

Europeanbikeexpress is worth looking at

 

[cisamcgu]

Europeanbikeexpress is worth looking at

I agree, however, Mrs cisamcgu wouldn't be seen dead on a coach full of sweaty, lycra clad cyclists, travelling from one end of the continent to the other

 

[Dave Davenport]

We've used the ferry to or from Bilbao twice and Santander twice, even when we've had a bit of rough weather it's better than being sat on a coach IMO.

 

[Brains]

I agree, however, Mrs cisamcgu wouldn't be seen dead on a coach full of sweaty, lycra clad cyclists, travelling from one end of the continent to the other

She might do if the competition is Slyme Air or SleasyJet.or leaving the car somewhere you have to get back to
Having done all the options more than once, if money is no object then;
The best option is to load the bikes onto the car and drive to hotel in France stay the first and last night and leave the car there and trains to the start
2nd best is European Bike Express
3rd Option would be trains to the ferry, foot passenger across and then cycle and/or trains to the start and cycle home
4th option would be air

The only downside of European Bike Express is the time on the coach, having said which door to door time when compared to a budget airlines is probably not that much different and obviously a load faster then driving yourself
Other than that the coach has a number of advantages
It will run near enough door to door
You don't have to do any special packing, just turn up with you bike and load it and go
It's infinitely a load less hassle
It's probably considerably cheaper

 

[Scoosh]

There were some reports last year that European Bike Express had gone very much downhill and was very poor service etc.

Has anyone been on it recently - like earlier this year ?

 

[Dave Davenport]

She might do if the competition is Slyme Air or SleasyJet.or leaving the car somewhere you have to get back to
Having done all the options more than once, if money is no object then;
The best option is to load the bikes onto the car and drive to hotel in France stay the first and last night and leave the car there and trains to the start
2nd best is European Bike Express
3rd Option would be trains to the ferry, foot passenger across and then cycle and/or trains to the start and cycle home
4th option would be air

The only downside of European Bike Express is the time on the coach, having said which door to door time when compared to a budget airlines is probably not that much different and obviously a load faster then driving yourself
Other than that the coach has a number of advantages
It will run near enough door to door
You don't have to do any special packing, just turn up with you bike and load it and go
It's infinitely a load less hassle
It's probably considerably cheaper

In your opinion, others might have different preferences, I have.

 

[Brains]

In your opinion, others might have different preferences, I have.

True, What do I know ?

I only have the experience of over 100,000 miles of annual flight miles over a decade and multiple European cycle tours.
Flights would always be my last choice, and budget airline the last of the last choices
Any other option is usually cheaper, often faster and always a lot more pleasant

 

[Dave Davenport]

True, What do I know ?

You know what type of transport you prefer and works best for you. I know (also from experience) what I prefer and what works for me. We have different preferences, it's not a case of being right or wrong.

 

[Brandane]

You know what type of transport you prefer and works best for you. I know (also from experience) what I prefer and what works for me. We have different preferences, it's not a case of being right or wrong.

Exactly, and much depends on where you live in the UK..
For instance, @Brains 3rd option of travelling to the ferry by train works out much more expensive for me (unless I can plan well ahead and take a risk on non flexible advance singles). It costs around £165 for a return train ticket for me to get to Portsmouth.
Cheaper to drive, even solo. Cheaper still to fly.

 

[Dave Davenport]

I've just remembered that I've got a trip report (as a word file) that I did for our club newsletter from when we did Bilbao to St Malo in 2010, I can mail it to you if your interested.

 

[mmmmartin]

Bilbao ferry does not takes bikes.
Trains in Spain are a pain, few and tricky for bikes.
Better by far are the coaches, which take a bike in the underneath luggage area for €10 extra. Can book online or the day before or turn up. Supposed to put bike in plastic bag but can use black plastic rubbish bags taped together with parcel tape. Sometimes the driver wants it done, sometimes not. Coaches are clean, fast, frequent, comfy, and have free wifi. Very different from the UK, although Alsa is owned by a UK company.
Brittany Ferries are almost always clean, comfy, food is good, recommended.
Flying is almost always uncomfortable, noisy, stressful, but often - not always - cheaper and quicker.
All this depends on where you are starting from and where you are going, obvs.