Fridays Tour 2013?

[StuartG]

There's inevitably going to be a 'Ride to the Tour' and even 'Ride Back' ...

 

[dellzeqq]

possibly - but if we go to the southwest of France it will be a pretty small ride.

 

[wanda2010]

Wanda makes a mental note to hold 2 weeks' holiday allowance for this trip and to starting a piggy bank savings scheme

 

[martint235]

Yep time to start saving!!! I'd also better start being nice to SWMBO in order to get a pass.

 

[mmmmartin]

I've had a few suggestions, including southwest France and Burgundy, and I thought Goole might be good.

Goole gets my vote. Trains easy and cheap with guards vans for bikes. France will get fewer riders, and it's the critical mass that matters. We could do day rides, perhaps using trains at the start/end. An overnighter to the coast would be good. Dates matter to me though, before mid June I'm too busy at work then there is the LEL ride 28 July to aug 2 so mid july onwards is probably out. If I'm not riding I'll be helping out at a control.
Hiring a house near Goole might be tricky, I'm not sure how many there are......

 

[dellzeqq]

Holland?

my instant reaction is..............not a chance - but that's silly because I only know the big cities. Your further thoughts?

 

[wanda2010]

Yep time to start saving!!! I'd also better start being nice to SWMBO in order to get a pass.

You mean 'extra' nice, surely?

 

[martint235]

You mean 'extra' nice, surely?

Probably extra, extra, extra nice. She's already agreed to LEL and the associated costs, to take another week away without her may require more than chocolates!!!

 

[mistral]

here's another thought. A one/two centre tour. .

Shrewsbury/Ludlow/Hereford?

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I'm weirder...teetotal

not after carter bar you ain't!!!!

 

[GrumpyGregry]

If we are talking one/two centred stuff might I suggest Northumbria and Cumbria and a spot of trans-pennine loveliness. One looked darned fine from a bike last week and the other rather splendid from a seat on the coach last evening....

 

[dellzeqq]

and the reason why is this..........geography. Take a look at the map and you see that England gains form as it goes eastwards - and that form gives rise to patterns in settlement and building and town-making.

I'll accept the Lake District as an exception, and own up to a fondness for Lancashire, but if you're looking for wide open spaces, historic towns and distinct uplands and flatlands, then east is best.

I'm persuadable, mind...

 

[martint235]

Hmmm, I think the arrows are pointing the wrong ways!!! Particularly as the "Interesting" one is right over that boring flat place.

 

[StuartG]

Shrewsbury/Ludlow/Hereford?

+1
Except we would likely be mown down by proper LeJoGers

 

[User169]

my instant reaction is..............not a chance - but that's silly because I only know the big cities. Your further thoughts?

TMN's comments are fair, but don't forget Maastricht. West into Belgium - LBL territory so reasonably lumpy, East into Germany for Carolingian historical stuff and South to Luxembourg to, er, drop off bags of cash.