Looks like you have never been to the Massif Central, lots of former industrial valleys that were powered by water off the mountains . Best of both worlds old converted railways and climbs out of the valleys. Much better than the Alps or Pyrenees as you are not restricted by the lack of side roads.
Places you'd like to visit on your bike this year?
- Thread starter Bimble
- Start date
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We are also visiting Trevelez, the highest village in Spain apparently.
steveindenmark
Legendary Member
I will be going to Rennes in France in June and riding along the canals to St Malo and doing a circuit of Brittainy and Normandy before coming over to the UK for the first time in years. Looking forward to fish and chips.
Andy in Germany
Guru
- Location
- Freiburg im Breisgau
I really want to take my bike to Japan when I visit Beautiful Wife's family: partly to see the countryside (people don't realise that most of Japan is incredibly remote) and also as an acceptable reason to get some introvert time after putting up with a family of extroverts...
figbat
Slippery scientist
- Location
- South Oxfordshire, UK
For no reason I have become quite attracted to riding the Cambrian area of Wales. It looks hard, maybe harder than I am capable of, but I still find myself going back to it.
StuAff
Silencing his legs regularly
- Location
- Portsmouth
Donger
Convoi Exceptionnel
- Location
- Quedgeley, Glos.
A nice city ... but if I recall correctly you are nearer to Colmar. Some fantastic cycling through the vineyards along the edge of the Vosges to the SW, W and NW of Colmar, and every little village and town is a corker. If you want to experience Alsace, that's where I'd head for.
Grant Fondo
Guru
- Location
- Cheshire
That sounds great. I want to explore southern Snowdonia this year and Lake Vyrnwy area. So peaceful mid Wales, great for gravel riding as well.
ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
It is ok to write about it though!Rule one about introvert time: don't talk about introvert time
HobbesOnTour
Guru
- Location
- España
I thought so too.....
But apparently it's not
It's the highest in Andalusia though!
Wonderful part of a wonderful country
Andy in Germany
Guru
- Location
- Freiburg im Breisgau
I reached Colmar last year and very pretty it was too.
Next time I'll push a bit further to see the mountains. I'll be interested to see how they compare to the Black Forest
Andy in Germany
Guru
- Location
- Freiburg im Breisgau
Donger
Convoi Exceptionnel
- Location
- Quedgeley, Glos.
If you mean Narbonne and you are going twice the length of the Pyrenees, I'm guessing you want to do some serious climbing, including a few of the big TdF regulars. In my opinion, you really shouldn't miss the Port de Pailheres, just to the East of Ax les Thermes. The summit is exactly 2,000 metres, and the descent features some of the best, most tightly packed hairpins I have ever encountered. I drove it in the car and the sat nav absolutely lost its S**t, repeatedly telling us to "perform a u-turn when possible". I believe it has been done at least once in the TdF and was classified HC. All I can say is that it is an absolutely stunning road and I wish I'd had the chance to ride it on a bike.
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