Planning for France into Spain and Portugal

[johnny mcgurk]

Sorry malfunction.I know I'm biased but I would urge you not to avoid Bordeaux. Take the ferry as suggested across the Gironde estuary and drop down to Lacanau or Arcachon. Then take the cycle path into central Bordeaux. Not, cycle lanes but dedicated cycle paths, converted from disused railway lines. About 150km of dedicated cycle paths and pan flat. Bizarrely they give them road numbering, the one in from the coast is the D803 and the one out to Sauveterre is the D801. If you google pistes cyclables Gironde you will findd all you need.

 

[Milemuncher]

You don't say which Thorns you've got, we've got a pair of Sherpas and they've been great. We run a 26x27 lowest gear and haven't had to get off and push yet, even in the alps.

Hello Dave,

We have Raven Sport Tours with (as far as I understand it) very low gears. Rohloff hubs with 38T chainrings. Flat, narrow bars. They pedal up hills very easily, although the steering is very skittish going up - fine coming down, so not a problem. Now that we have gotten over the shock of what they cost we love them. They were a treat to ourselves when we retired last summer. The story of their purchase and a piccie is here is you are interested. We are sure we want to travel light so the weight carrying limitations are not a problem.

Thanks for all the advice, Dave. Much appreciated.

 

[Milemuncher]

We used the ferry between Le Verdon-su-Mer & Royan whch avoids Bordeaux. They go every half hour for about 6 euro.

Thanks Dave and Bikepacker. Missing Bordeaux would be good. A few years ago we flew into Bordeaux with our bikes and took the train to Bergerac before starting a tour. We didn't take to Bordeaux and would not rush back. I'll check out the ferry. Thanks both.

 

[Milemuncher]

This was my recent route

http://www.crazyguyo..._id=198301&v=1i

Looks almost identical from St Malo to just north of Bordeaux leg on yours. All I can say is that it wasnt flat, was very rural and surprisingly quite busy.

The section between Vitre (East of Rennes) and Coulonges (Just north of Niort) had 4500 feet of ascent in 140 miles. May be easier riding to go west of this further towards the coast.

Gosh, Doog, just checked out your trip on your site and that was hard! Hats off for the distances and the climbing. And calm facing mishaps. Are you sure you don't have an engine fitted?

 

[doog]

Gosh, Doog, just checked out your trip on your site and that was hard! Hats off for the distances and the climbing. And calm facing mishaps. Are you sure you don't have an engine fitted?

It was my first oversees tour however I think I must have stumbled on the canal that dave Davenport mentions earlier between St Malo and Rennes. That route would be a great start for your tour..

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I had a bit of a time limit so having suffered in the Pyrenees I needed to make up time, hence the few nutty days... I Intend to go back and do it slow(er) time ..although I was surprised at the amount of excess mileage I did simply 'aiming' for a camp site and a hot shower.....

 

[Milemuncher]

It was my first oversees tour however I think I must have stumbled on the canal that dave Davenport mentions earlier between St Malo and Rennes. That route would be a great start for your tour..

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Yes, I think this is right, doug. Checked it out on the via Michelin site and it shows up clearly as a great way to get into the very centre of Rennes. So, that's leg one sorted!

 

[onlineamiga]

We used the ferry between Le Verdon-su-Mer & Royan whch avoids Bordeaux. They go every half hour for about 6 euro.

I did the same thing when cycling up last year. It cuts off some mileage too. Its a nice change to be on a boat travelling on the water after endless forests through the south of France.
Had no problem with the bicycle on this ferry. They were very accomodating. You dont have to prebook either. Just roll up

 

[Milemuncher]

I did the same thing when cycling up last year. It cuts off some mileage too. Its a nice change to be on a boat travelling on the water after endless forests through the south of France.
Had no problem with the bicycle on this ferry. They were very accomodating. You dont have to prebook either. Just roll up

Thanks, I'm totally sold on this idea.

 

[jay clock]

First of all have a good look through the superb rseource that is crazyguyonabike.com - my offerings are here http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/julian

I would say absolutely avoid the coastal route into Spain. Busy, built up and hilly. By the time you get to the Pyrenees you will be fit enough for the inevitable hills so head inland a bit.

If you cross the Gironde at Soulac you then have 200k down to Spain. A little dull, but as stated above, lots of cycle tracks and quiet and flat. Another boat option is the one from Cap Ferret to Arcachon see here http://www.bateliers-arcachon.com/pdf/17.pdf

Campsites in rural Spain may be closed or not exist in October, but hotels are cheap. Ask for a "hostal" - this a cheap pension type hotel NOT a hostel.

If you can face it plan for a bit of rough camping - did it here in Spain and loved it http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=1r4vFZo&doc_id=6005&v=B4

Have a great time

 

[andrew_s]

You can cross the border at sea level at Hendaye, so there's no need to climb the Pyrenees, but as bikepacker says Spain is much harder work, whichever way you slice it!

The Pyrenees don't really stop at Hendaye - they turn into the Cantabrians and swing west along the the Spanish coast. You've still got to climb somewhere.
The Ibaneta (via the Embalse de Itaiz) is probably the easiest route, being just one climb rather than several. It's a main road until just after Roncesvalles though, and may be busier than you'd like.

I reckon the least hilly route through Spain is to aim for Pamplona, then Logrono, Burgos, Palencia, Zamora, Ciudad Rodrigo, Caceres, Merida or Badajoz, then into Portugal. I can't say it would be a scenic route.

 

[Milemuncher]

The Pyrenees don't really stop at Hendaye - they turn into the Cantabrians and swing west along the the Spanish coast. You've still got to climb somewhere.
The Ibaneta (via the Embalse de Itaiz) is probably the easiest route, being just one climb rather than several. It's a main road until just after Roncesvalles though, and may be busier than you'd like.

I reckon the least hilly route through Spain is to aim for Pamplona, then Logrono, Burgos, Palencia, Zamora, Ciudad Rodrigo, Caceres, Merida or Badajoz, then into Portugal. I can't say it would be a scenic route.

Thanks Andrew, this is very helpful. If you were adding some scenic alternatives what would you suggest (remembering that I want to end up on the Algarve)? I appreciate that this is the opposite to my original query, so thanks for your patience!

Norman