It took me about 20-30 hours to create those routes and then more time to make the different packages. They were built by reading the book cover to cover, and painstakingly cross referencing it with google maps, street view etc. While I haven't ridden them yet, they've not been thrown together and I'm pretty certain they are faithful to the route.
People can choose to buy or not buy and I'm ok with that. I'm not exactly charging a fortune in the context of actually going and doing the journey. I know from feedback I've had that routes available elsewhere (that have been ridden) take detours off into random villages looking for food/drink/comfort breaks. Mine are true to the book leaving users the option to take their own detours when they please.
My point stands: The route is an unknown quantity to you outside of a computer screen.
To my mind selling the files is a bit off and runs counter to the ethos of the touring community that I am aware of.
At least had the route been completed with contemporary comments and observations there would be some value.
Besides, a lot of people love the planning process!
France is hardly a difficult country to cycle in.
The book was published in 2013.
Multiple versions of the route are available on the likes of
Biroto
RideWithGPS
CrazyGuyOnABike (members can download any gps file that journalists have uploaded)
And
Cycle.Travel
(At least three of those are fully free to use).
A small donation to cycle.travel not only gives a few advantages, it'll help make day to day cycling more enjoyable and it's giving something back to a community.
Personally, the idea of following a 1600km route, following the same stages as a (popular) author is not my idea of fun. My need for toilet breaks, food, water and the weather are all reasons that my needs and theirs diverge. Not to mention my own interests. Throw in multiple people? It gets very complicated!
For me, a gps route is a handy guideline in all but the most complicated urban environments.
This post is written less as a counterpoint to
@johnfev and more as an attempt to point out to folks that alternatives are available.
There are many, many wonderful resources that we all can use for info or just for inspiration. We learn. We share. Someone else comes along and does the same.
