Touring the West Coast of France

[Eddy Timlin]

I'm planning a tour of France in the summer and I'm trying to plan my route. I really want to go to St Nazaire to see the submarine pens but my issue is whether I can cross the St Nazaire bridge to Saint-Brevin-les-Pins. I am towing a cargo trailer behind me which weighs about 40Kg loaded.
My questions are if anyone can help:

1. Is it possible to cycle the St Nazaire bridgewith my cargo trailer?
2. Has anyone cycled it and if you have what is the elevation like on the bridge? If I had too could I get off and push?

Any help or advice would be much appreciated thanks guys.

 

[Dave Davenport]

40kg! You don't believe in travelling light do you.

 

[Eddy Timlin]

That's including the weight of the trailer which is 8kg. I'm going on my own and I plan to camp every night so that is the weight of the tent, cooking gear, sleep bag etc etc.

 

[bianchi1]

looks ok gradient wise, and judging by the road sign it is allowed.

http://maps.google.co.uk/?ll=47.296...=9pdt1LuXLi3i30hh6alpgw&cbp=12,208.69,,1,8.47

Not much fun but it will beat the round trip.

 

[psmiffy]

Ive been over it four times over the years - If you have managed to cycle to it you should get over it - traffic can be a bit dodgy when it gets busy or if they have a lane closed for road works - If you dont fancy it the ferry at Coureron is not too much of a detour

 

[oldleggs]

....yes l'ave peddled my way over the bridge at St Nazaire on a Sunday afternoon into a headwind and rain too! Great views from the top of the bridge. And there's a narrow white lined strip about a metre wide to cycle in which on a less windy day would be fine but, riding into the headwind it was a bit precarious, once at the top of the bridge great. I had difficulty in getting to the bridge though you can see it for miles....my navigation went a bit haywire, which it did on a few occasions whilst riding in France!
Best of luck

 

[Dave Davenport]

That's including the weight of the trailer which is 8kg. I'm going on my own and I plan to camp every night so that is the weight of the tent, cooking gear, sleep bag etc etc.

Still sounds quite a lot, we take loads of home comforts (roomy tent, stools etc.) and it only comes to about 30kg for two of us, and that includes about 5kg of her shampoo, conditioner, moisturiser, etc. etc.....

 

[psmiffy]

Still sounds quite a lot, we take loads of home comforts (roomy tent, stools etc.) and it only comes to about 30kg for two of us, and that includes about 5kg of her shampoo, conditioner, moisturiser, etc. etc.....

It sounds very reasonable to me - perhaps he has forgotten something?

 

[Eddy Timlin]

cheers for the help everyone I think I will get there and see how the traffic is looking, if I don't like the look of it I will detour to the ferry at Coureron. Also guys you seem to have quite a bit of experience in touring between you, if I list the contents of my trailer would you mind telling me if I have missed anything off or have packed anything I don't really need??

 

[Brains]

Start the list.
When we tour we take a pair of 20l panniers each, and have the tent/sleeping bag or stove/sleeping bag on the rack.
Total weight for two people is around 30 kg including food

The only reason I'd take trailer is if my bike could not take panniers

 

[snorri]

Also guys you seem to have quite a bit of experience in touring between you, if I list the contents of my trailer would you mind telling me if I have missed anything off or have packed anything I don't really need??

Would we mind? Would we mind? There are people on here who positively revel in such exercises, this thread could run and run .
Fire away young man!

 

[steveindenmark]

The weight of your tent and sleeping mat is of interest.

Steve

 

[jjb]

Eddy, have a browse of this blog mentioned in an earlier thread. It's a UK guy cycling a big multi-season loop of USA. I think he starts with 30kg (in panniers though) but what caught my eye is that on day 54 or 55 he's talking about posting stuff home and how great the bike feels on the hills afterwards. Mind you, it's not too hilly in Brittany and you're young - never a better time to hitch the wagon, take full kit, travel in style, and find out which bits you like best. Ready for anything!

 

[BalkanExpress]

cheers for the help everyone I think I will get there and see how the traffic is looking, if I don't like the look of it I will detour to the ferry at Coureron. Also guys you seem to have quite a bit of experience in touring between you, if I list the contents of my trailer would you mind telling me if I have missed anything off or have packed anything I don't really need??

Eddy,

to prepare yourself for what you have just let yourself in for I suggest you read the following

http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/critique-my-kit-list-please.6322/

This was the first thread i ever read on CC as I had been looking on-line for advice on what to take on tour. Happily I persisted... with CC and with touring

 

[Eddy Timlin]

Hi everyone thanks for the positive comments, below is a list of everything I am taking with me please feel free to comment on anything that catches your eye or anything you think I may have missed off.

1. Two man tent (weight 4.9 kg in case you are still interested Steve), sleeping bag and sleeping mat also a little travel pillow (combined weight 1.5 kg), extra pegs and a rubber mallet.
2. Small gas cooker (Coleman power stove, gas canisters, weight 150g), spare canisters x 2, kettle, mug, cup, plate, bowl, cutlery, chopping board, knife, bottle opener, matches.
3. Two small battery powered lights + spare batteries, wash bag,
4. Second set of cycling clothes, travel towel, casual clothes,
5. Spare inner tube x 2, pump, 2 x water bottles.
6. Laptop, charger, phone charger, charger.
7. Road map and OS map.
8. Phone, ipod, travel documents, wallet.