Thinking of biking to Paris...

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TobyM

Senior Member
Myself and a few friends are planning on cycling to Paris from Ludlow next year, possibly for charity. We've just been having a quick look at the route, and we think we'll probably go for the Newhaven to Dieppe option. Regarding the route from Dieppe to Paris, has anyone ever cycled along the D915? It seems to go most of the way, and would make map reading so much easier. We might be doing the whole French part in one hit, so we don't want to spend ages working out where to go, especially as the day is more than likely to start while it's still dark. I understand that D roads are usually very nice for cycling, and on streetview it looks good, but I just wanted to see if anyone knows anything about this particular route.

As for the bit from the end of the D915, we'll worry about that at a later date! Following this route works out as about 120 miles, so it is doable in a day. We'll probably try and break it down into two days though, as we'll be knackered enough after biking from Ludlow to Newhaven and getting barely any sleep on the ferry.
 
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TobyM

Senior Member
Just found someone elses route which is almost exactly what we were planning: http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Dieppe-Paris-D915
 
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TobyM

Senior Member
Just looked on viaMichelin, and the D915 is a red road - I'm pretty sure this means busy, so you might as well just ignore this whole thread!
 

srw

It's a bit more complicated than that...
Yup - I don't know the road, but high numbers in France usually mean busy.

Have a look at some of the FRNttC Newhaven and Dieppe threads in "informal rides" - one of them probably has a link to a route, which I know has been admired by those who've ridden it.
 
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TobyM

Senior Member
I think it would be a generally more enjoyable experience if we do it in two days on quieter roads. None of us have ever ridden in France before so perhaps tackling a busy road is a bad idea at first!

I'll take a look, thanks. We might just follow Donald Hirsch's route, but it's a little more complicated.
http://www.donaldhirsch.com/dieppeparis.pdf
 
I'd better fix that!
:rolleyes:
 
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TobyM

Senior Member
I went to Paris a few years ago and loved it, I'd just very much like to go again! Plus, if we decide to do it for charity, it's much easier to say "We're planning on cycling to Paris" than it is to say "We're cycling to La Ferté-Macé" (for example, it's Ludlow's twin) and then have to explain where that is!
 

snorri

Legendary Member
"We're planning on cycling to Paris" than it is to say "We're cycling to La Ferté-Macé"
Indeed, but there are other well known places in Europe.;)
I cycled to Paris a few years back but considered it to be one of these trips in which the destination was more fun than the journey and simply passed comment because there does seem to be a fixation on France in cycle forums and I just like to encourage folk to explore some of the other great cycling territory in mainland Europe.:smile:
 

AnneW

Über Member
I cycled London to Paris in June TobyM, using the Avenue Verte and a mates GPS skills (not always successful). We did it over 4/5 days, I couldn't do it in any less (yet) but thought the journey was great.

Following Snorri's advice from an earlier post, I'm currently looking at a trip in Majorca in March :thumbsup:

Enjoy the Paris trip and then look at where else you can go..... no point missing out on anywhere.
 
I can confirm that the D915 is not a pleasant road to cycle on - not always all that busy but a fast road with cars coming up to 70 miles an hour. My route is only 10 miles longer than the direct route envisaged, and the few additional miles and extra complexity both come largely at the end - where the unpleasantness of taking the main roads (into Paris) would be greatest

Donald
 
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