Thinking of biking to Paris...

[dellzeqq]

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.

we've done the D915 from Gisors in, taking the old route through Marines and Cormeilles. It's not bad, almost pleasant when the faster traffic is diverted away. I made a complete Horlicks of the way through Pontoise last year, but cracked it this year - you simply go straight until you reach the river, turn right and then turn left over the bridge. We then went D14, D392 (except that you can't take the D392 directly from the D14 - you have to turn right on to the Rue de la Marne, which is one way, go past the Autoroute and then take a left to meet the D392). From there it was a straight run through Neuilly. That's the tough part, and if I do it again I'll spend the night in Pontoise or somewhere a little to the southeast and ride in to Paris first thing in the morning. (I should explain that we ride overnight from London to Newhaven, take the morning ferry, and then stop for the night before continuing on to Paris the next day).

I've not done the Avenue Verte, but everybody I know who has done it says it's a pain. Our route to Gisors is a delight, passing through a succession of delightful villages, and Saint-Saen, which is a great place to stop if you take the morning ferry from Newhaven and decide to take a break for the night.

I'd recommend the Bar Tabac 'Le Relais Parisien' on the roundabout in Torcy. Saint-Saen is awash with great bars and cafes even if you're not stopping for the night. I'd especially recommend a boulangerie ion the Rue Saint-Adrian in Marines - you have to turn right in the centre of the village and divert a couple of hundred yards off the route. There's a half decent pizzeria in Morgny - you have to divert left from the centre of town.

This is a great ride. You've got to be tough if you take the roads in to Paris at a busy time of day and the traffic can be so dense in the centre of Paris that it is quicker to walk, but Normandy is just beautiful.

The route from Dieppe to Gisors is here http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?saddr=Unknown road&daddr=49.924936,1.0808169 to:49.9228631,1.0761252 to:49.9184492,1.0869893 to:49.866113,1.148191 to:49.67816,1.27607 to:49.58433,1.3864 to:49.5160135,1.4351454 to:49.488533,1.488613 to:Gisors, France&hl=en&ll=49.670239,1.287289&spn=0.046272,0.077162&sll=49.517408,1.456032&sspn=0.046417,0.077162&geocode=FWHt-QIdV5sQAA;FUjL-QId8H0QAClNwu7DBqLgRzHKfTW9McCBtg;FS_D-QIdnWsQACmBGw8jqJjgRzHhLKw3SBQMEw;FfGx-QIdDZYQACltRi01DqLgRzFROQU5SBQMEw;FYHl-AIdH4URACmzqhljQaPgRzHgrvY3SBQMEw;FVAH9gIdpngTACkzxKRpIcjgRzH-Y9HB2hthpw;FcqY9AIdoCcVAClR2ms_jMzgRzHQNw86SBQMEw;Fe2N8wIdCeYVACmLfjT2WC3nRzGRfAg4SBQMEw;FZUi8wId5bYWACllyMlYyC3nRzGa7mPbZJLBFg;FR7z7wIdwxsbACnxeoZmpeDmRzEjErn--yczYQ&oq=Dieppe&dirflg=w&mra=dpe&mrsp=7&sz=14&via=1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8&t=m&z=14
I marked up two Michelin maps - the Normandy map and number 305 which is a slightly larger scale map for Paris. There are a couple of unsignposted junctions, but if you look at the route on Streetview beforehand you shouldn't have too much trouble.

 

[AnneW]

dellzeqq says: I've not done the Avenue Verte, but everybody I know who has done it says it's a pain

I think it would depend what you're looking for.

Avenue Verte has a good surface, is wider than similar ex-rail tracks in the UK and goes through towns and villages, passing pleasant scenery. You can get off the track to reach shops and cafes and there are some that are on the track itself (in season).

If we'd had more time we'd have liked to see more of the area. As it was we found it a great way to cover the miles quickly afer getting off the ferry at 3pm.