The Fridays Tour 2013 with added poll

[mmmmartin]

the Gendarmes will be targetting ferry traffic.

As they did after the introduction of the law requiring you to have a yellow high-vis jacket in the car for each passenger, ie each car needs to have four of them in case the car is carrying four people. Some of the first to be penalised were ferry passengers.

There is some law in France about cyclists wearing high-vis at all times in urban areas and in cases of poor visibility, but I am unsure of the details, and I ignored it when I was riding there last September, and in any case, with Johnny Foreigner you can never be sure if and when the law will be enforced. I'm sure someone living and riding in France will be along in a minute to correct me. But in any case French supermarkets sell high-viz waistcoats for about two quid.

 

[ceepeebee]

As they did after the introduction of the law requiring you to have a yellow high-vis jacket in the car for each passenger, ie each car needs to have four of them in case the car is carrying four people. Some of the first to be penalised were ferry passengers.

There is some law in France about cyclists wearing high-vis at all times in urban areas and in cases of poor visibility, but I am unsure of the details, and I ignored it when I was riding there last September, and in any case, with Johnny Foreigner you can never be sure if and when the law will be enforced. I'm sure someone living and riding in France will be along in a minute to correct me. But in any case French supermarkets sell high-viz waistcoats for about two quid.

woah - a hi-viz each? we've been to France about 6 times since that came in and each time with just the one hi viz tabard in the car - best grab some from here then....

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Aldi/Lidl in UK sell tabards for a couple of notes too.

 

[ceepeebee]

Aldi/Lidl in UK sell tabards for a couple of notes too.

we have a whole bunch here that are up for grabs as we're shutting down - anyone want a hi-viz polo shirt?

 

[srw]

Hi-viz on bikes required only out of town after dark and in poor visibility:
http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/hi-viz-jackets-and-cycling-in-france.29138/#post-570084

Obligation pour tout cycliste circulant hors agglomération, de nuit ou de jour si visibilité mauvaise , de porter un gilet er rétro-réfléchissant à partir du 1 septembre 2008. L’obligation s’applique aussi au passager éventuel.

Halfords will sell you a kit of all required to be legal in France when driving - there are regulations on headlight shades, light bulbs and emergency triangles as well as hi-viz and breathalysers.

But it's a bit early to be worrying about that now - there's still over 11 months to go.

 

[Gordon P]

But it's a bit early to be worrying about that now - there's still over 11 months to go.

Nevertheless I've had a look at ferries, although it looks as though they can only be booked 3 months in advance (note in calendar for mid-March '13). None look timed to be friendly for coming down from London but Portsmouth option best I think.

 

[srw]

Nevertheless I've had a look at ferries

Me too.... There are two ferries a day from Portsmouth except at the weekend.

I have contacts in the Guildford area (and somewhere in Guildford to offer up for a very small and select group) if there is a desire for an overnighter - although with a 7:30am ferry it might be best to leave earlier than usual, or leave it to the fast lads and lasses.

 

[martint235]

Brittany Ferries will release their 2013 schedule at the end of august. They've promised to email me when I can book

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Can put limited number of folk up in the 'sham overnight if it makes life easier for more northerly types. Premier Inn, beloved of Susie, right opposite the station too.

My thinking is myself and bike will go to Pompey Harbour by train. No restrictions on Pompey bound services from the 'sham The lovely Helen will probs (as in almost certainly) take car; in which there may be some room for cycling types to load limited amounts of luggage though it may have a brommie and or a Circe Helios in it too.

 

[dellzeqq]

I'll go by train to Pompey or Poole, and probably have a trailer for the stuff for the ten mile ride to Cherbourg

 

[StuAff]

Either Portsmouth Harbour or Portsmouth & Southsea will be the best options for those coming by train- the Harbour station is five minutes further at the end of the line, but slightly more straightforward to get a bike out (platforms all on one level, though there is a ramp to negotiate at the front). The town station has the main platforms on an upper level, but there is a lift, and you can get bikes in it.

 

[srw]

I can see us taking a car across, and making a fortnight of it.

There's no mention on the Brittany Ferries' site of a restriction on the number of bike passengers - but it might be worth checking.

 

[ceepeebee]

Trailer, Colnago?

you just know that DZ will be turning up with a cross-check and attached BOB YAK.... with a colnago rack on the top of it.


(actually, that would be pretty awesome)

 

[mmmmartin]

we have a whole bunch here that are up for grabs as we're shutting down - anyone want a hi-viz polo shirt?

i'd like a high-viz polo shirt - i have one and find it's good for riding a perm solo in this country, and would like another........
YHPM

 

[dellzeqq]

I can see us taking a car across, and making a fortnight of it.

There's no mention on the Brittany Ferries' site of a restriction on the number of bike passengers - but it might be worth checking.

I'm attempting to check........