Pyrenees , what to do ?

[Jerry Atrik]

Due to go to the Pyrenees in a couple of weeks time to follow the Raid route but with the floods it looks like the road from west to east is unpassable up to Tourmalet . I'm now stuck on what to do . Bike Express drops me of in Bayonne and was being picked up in Perpignan a week later . I could extend my holiday a bit and head north to Roscoff and enjoy the west coast ride where the ferry home is quite cheap as I am on a budget . Any other idea's guys ?

 

[bikepacker]

A friend in the area says the Tourmalet is still climbable from the East Side. From a base near Bagnères-de-Bigorre it would be okay. You could then climb the Aspin from the West (easy climb even with a load) and continue along the foothills to Perpignan. Maybe ever worth staying on the Bike Bus to Lourdes and starting from there. Although there are reports of floods at Lourdes apparently it is only near to the grotto in the lower lying areas.

 

[andrew_s]

You could look at following the Spanish side, which remains an interesting route further out from the main crest than on the French side, though there are also problems there. If you do, you'd probably be best staying Spanish until after Andorra. I believe the Bielsa and Vielha tunnels are bike-legal (no sign of any prohibition on Streetview, and I did ride the Bielsa once, downhill), but you probably wouldn't enjoy 3 or 5 km in with traffic up a 4-5% gradient.

In Lourdes there were photo

 

[Jerry Atrik]

Some good idea's here guys , thank you . Will ring Bike Express tomorrow and see if I can alter my arrangements . Really want to climb Tourmalet .

 

[Jerry Atrik]

Spoke to Bike Express today and changed my drop of to Lourdes . Will head to Bagneres de Bigorre and pitch up for the day and watch stage 9 of the Tour roll into town , then on the Monday head up to Tourmalet from the east side starting at Campan . Savour the views then drop back down and continue on my merry way to Perpignan ,so all not lost . Not the full route but a good excuse to go back next year . Thanks again guys .

 

[bikepacker]

I can recommend this campsite: http://www.camping-bigourdan.com/anglais/index.html
It is a mile out of town on the road from Lourdes, next to Intermarche and just down the road from Lidl. Owned and run by a nice Frenchman who speaks some English.

Just over the other side of the Aspin is this place run by an Englishman Ian Turner. http://www.pleinairpyrenees.com/ A warm welcome always from him and wife Allison.

 

[Jerry Atrik]

That's very useful bikepacker ,thank you .

 

[HillSpecial]

Hoping to go in August !