London to Cannes

[David Warwick]

Hello!

I'm a filmmaker about to set off on a tour from London to Cannes (for the film festival) and would very much welcome advice from anyone who has done the same or a similar trip.

I leave on the 1st of May and need to be in Cannes for the start of the festival on the 13th. It'll be my first tour, and I'm hopelessly unprepared. I have 10 days to organize pretty much everything, from my bicycle to my camp sites.

What bike would people recommend? I've got a budget of around £500, and from my initial research figure the Dawes Horizon 2008 is probably my best bet.

I'm also a bit torn as to whether to take the ferry or the Eurostar across the channel. I've only got 13 days to reach my destination, and so am leaning more and more towards the Eurostar option - which would admittedly make it more of a Paris to Cannes tour, rather than London to Cannes...

Cheers

David

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www.davidwarwick.eu

 

[Brains]

If you are a film maker on your way to Cannes on a bike it may be possible to work your way there.

Every year the Fireflys cycle from Geneva to Cannes usually on the TdeF route to arrive on the opening day, they are all media/advertising/film/tv people.
(They were supposed to have Lance along this year but I guess that may be off as he has a broken collar bone)
http://www.thefirefliesride.com/history/index.html

 

[jay clock]

Not sure where to start! You need to get a move on

Bike - the Horizon looks fine. Get it asap and ride it every day to harden your bum up. Do 4 miles the first day, 6, 8 etc until you can do 20 or 30. Check it all works, and that you know how to operate it all ok

Buy some panniers. If you can afford it, I would STRONGLY recommend you do hotels for your first tour. If money means you must camp, then buy the lightest you can afford but that probably means spending a lot - see my musings here and indeed browse CGAOB generally for tons of tips http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/france2009 - I will be there too!

Get proper cycling clothes. Two sets. One to wear, one to wash each night. Only have absolute minimal non cycling kit. Assuming you need stuff there, can you get a colleague to cart it down

There is so much to say, and I do not have much time right now. But I will check back and add to whatever the others say.....

 

[Cathryn]

Good advice above - what a fab idea!

 

[rich p]

I estimate that you'll need to do 65-75 miles a day which is asking a lot for a novice - if you are!
I think you'd be well advised to get the train to Paris and enjoy the ride more.

 

[Crankarm]

I would do ferry Dover-Calais only takes 2 hours and within 45 mins of landing you can be bowling along in the France countryside. Fri 1st May is a bank holiday in France BTW. I was actually on P&O's site earlier today and a foot passenger with bike was £14 one way. At one point it did come up as £4 when I was trying another combination of dates and return as opposed to two singles but I couldn't seem to bring that fare up again. Eurostar I think require you to dismantle your bike and pack it up for carriage on the train. Not sure if your bike then goes on the same train as you or another? I don't know perhaps some one else can add something on Eurostar. I have taken my Brompton on the Eurostar and the TGV with no problem as of course it folds happily sitting in a luggage rack unlike a fixed frame bike.

Your choice of bike Dawes Horizon given your short notice and possibly short acquaintance with your new bike is fine. I just read a journal of a guy who cycled OSLO to Nordkapp in Norway then down to Istanbul on one no problems except a few punctures. They apppear very capable and good VFM. www.Crazyguyonabike.com Carl Cartlidge journal summer 2008.

Buy waterproof seam sealed panniers and bar bag such as Vaude Aqua Plus range or Ortlieb Roller Classics or Bike Packer Plus ranges. The Vaude have the edge for me as easier to get on with and much better closing arrangement. Both will last years. Buy some clipless pedals Shimano SPDs say MT520s with Shimano Mt31 or Mt41 shoes.

On your bike fit decent tyres at least Schwalbe Marathon Plus or XR minimum 28C as favoured by serious tourers. If you think you are not going onto rough tracks then perhaps you could fit a slicker tyre such as the Specialised Armadillo All Condition which are bullit puncture proof having a thick Kevlar band. However the guy who toured Norway to Istanbul on his Dawes Horizon was most impressed with the tyres that the bike came with. Sorry don’t know the make. He only got punctures when he changed them for his "apparently" better spares.

Are you planning to do the ride solo and unsupported? What sort of terrain are you looking to follow? Are you planning to take any heavy camera equipment for filming en route? Given you've only 12 days you can't really afford to hang around as 50 miles a day for 2 weeks if you're not used to cycling is a tall order. Buy a basic computer so you can record your distance and speed something like a Cateye Mity 8 or Cateye Strada Cadence. If your load is heavy then consider a trailer over panniers which will unfortunately blow you budget out of the water. Once you add up the cost of purchasing everything including bike and camping gear it might be better to travel by Eurostar and TGV 1st class.

Have 3 water bottles on your bike so you don't get caught in the middle of nowhere with no water. You'll need a stove. Camping Gaz canisters are widely available in France.

As stated you'll need a decent light weight tent and a sleeping bag. I'd go for a 3 season bag as it can still be chilly at night even in France in May. Also you’ll need a carry mat/mattress. I would go for a half size inflatable one such as a Thermarest. Take two sets of cycle clothing. Don't forget to buy some lights and hi viz gilet which is now mandatory in France for cyclists. Might be a good idea to buy a helmet as well. Infact you could just head for Decathlon in France as a lot of their stuff is of good quality and is cheap.

Also try and stay at municipal campsites which are generally in middle of towns. Go for small towns where possible as much nicer. These are far cheaper than private campsites in France. You are also more likely to see cyclists or hikers there. You can also stay on farms as well obviously you need the farmers permission however farmers do put boards out advertising campsite 150m so you might come across an unmarked site. Probably highly illegal as France is such a beaurocratic nation. Wild camping in France is illegal particularly in forest areas susceptible to fire. Just don’t get caught if you are forced to camp wild. There are plenty of campsites in Franc so it shouldn’t be a problem. If you fancy a bit more luxury but don't want to break the bank then try a chambre d'hotel which are basically B&Bs in France although many are a lot nicer than UK B&Bs I have to say. Controversial.

Finally get some travel insurance and a decent D-lock for your bike in Cannes as I'm sure you won't be allowed to take your bike in with you when you make your acceptance speech for your Pam d'Or.

BTW do you intend to cycle back?

Bon chance.

 

[hubbike]

If you have a good level of fitness don't be afraid to do long days in the saddle. Take some lights. Going a long way each day is not about going fast but by going slowly for a long time. wake up early go to bed late. IMO this is the greatest advantage of a tent. you don't have to stop at a sensible time, and when you do want to stop you can just find a field or some woods.

100 miles is 4 sets of 2 and a half hour sessions pootling along at an average of 10mph. Puntuate them with meals and keep on rolling till you've done the mileage. Then go to bed.

It wont leave much time for sight seeing...

 

[David Warwick]

Thanks guys, this is all really helpful.

I went ahead and booked my St Pancras-Paris Nord Eurostar ticket today. For everyone's information, it's an extra £20 to register a space (if they have it) for a bike in the luggage hold.

Brains - thanks for the heads up about the fireflies; I'll drop them an email tomorrow.

jay clock - good call re: taking 2 sets of cycling clothes... I have some panniers already and cycle a lot round London, so should be okay there.

Crankarm - Great detail, much appreciated. It's an unsupported solo effort, yes, but I plan to pack very light. Am only really going to be armed with business cards at the festival.

hubbike - My fitness is pretty good I think. I did a 40 mile test ride on my ancient racer the other day and found it fairly easy going... Will heed your sound advice and fight the temptation to bomb it!

Cheers

David

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www.davidwarwick.eu

 

[Percy]

I'll add a d) to all of the above, which is that if you are of reasonably sound body and mind, as much as all these things need to be considered, you'll be fine. You could leave tomorrow and do it easily on your ancient racer. Cycling through France is one of the easiest and most enjoyable things in the world.

On more practical matters I would offer the following:

You won't need to book campsites at this time of year but be prepared to resort to a hotel room/wild camping if you really need to stop (i.e. proper knackered) and you can only find closed campsites - some, but not all, only open for the summer months (i.e. June onwards).

France shuts at lunchtime (12-3pm) so if you think you'll need a decent, quick feed in these hours make sure you have the food with you.

I hope you have somewhere organised to stay in Cannes! I've ridden through there (not at festival time) and it was, unsurprisingly, very busy and expensive then.

 

[andym]

I would do ferry Dover-Calais only takes 2 hours and within 45 mins of landing you can be bowling along in the France countryside. Fri 1st May is a bank holiday in France BTW. I was actually on P&O's site earlier today and a foot passenger with bike was £14 one way. At one point it did come up as £4 when I was trying another combination of dates and return as opposed to two singles but I couldn't seem to bring that fare up again. Eurostar I think require you to dismantle your bike and pack it up for carriage on the train. Not sure if your bike then goes on the same train as you or another? I don't know perhaps some one else can add something on Eurostar. I have taken my Brompton on the Eurostar and the TGV with no problem as of course it folds happily sitting in a luggage rack unlike a fixed frame bike.

You can now take undismantled bikes on Eurostar (in the past you had to send them separately and then collect from Waterloo). But the catch is that it costs (IIRC) £25 each way for the bike space. So it's cheaper to take it in a bag.

It may only take 2 hours to get across the Channel but it takes almost two hours to get from London to Dover - so Eurostar is by far the quickest option if you can afford it (there may not be any cheap tickets left).

 

[David Warwick]

...Having a bit of trouble finding my reasonably priced Dawes horizon (2008 or 2009). Can anyone suggest a retailer?

Cheers

David

 

[andym]

Spa Cycles?

 

[David Warwick]

...They're sold out... Everywhere seems to be sold out... Maybe something like the Ridgeback Voyage would be a good alternative?

 

[andym]

Looks like a decent bike. I don't know how it compares with the Horizon, but it should get you to Cannes!

 

[jay clock]

http://www.wheelies.co.uk/products-Horizon-2009_25022.htm but looks pricey. I can however get you a sizeable discount - very sizeable! - send PM if you need it. Best to call them first and see about delivery times without giving name etc