A stupidly long tour through the length of France, from the Belgian border on the North Sea to the Spanish border on the Med. Aiming for roughly 180 miles every three days, on a tandem. Two pretty fit riders who aren't too fond of hills, carrying kit and using hotels and B&Bs. Planning for up to three weeks riding and one week recovery before getting home. Aiming to raise money for charity, so looking to impress potential donors.
Route 1 (the Short Route) - from Belgium across the rolling chalk hills of the north to Angers, then turning South across the rolling limestone hills of the Perigord to Agen, then along the Canal du Midi to Carcassonne and over the foothills of the Pyrenees to the coast. About 910 miles, almost all travelling across the grain of the country - alternating plateaus and river valleys.
Route 2 (the Long Route) - to Angers as above, then down the Loire Valley to Nantes, out to the Isle of Noirmoutier (in the Atlantic), down the coast to Bordeaux, then along the Garonne and the Canal du Midi to Carcassonne and the coast as above. About 1075 miles, the first third rolling, the middle third pancake flat and the last third hilly. Has the disadvantage that it's 170 miles longer, the cycling advantage that there's a big flat bit in the middle and the sponsorship advantage that it visits three different seas.
Route 1 (the Short Route) - from Belgium across the rolling chalk hills of the north to Angers, then turning South across the rolling limestone hills of the Perigord to Agen, then along the Canal du Midi to Carcassonne and over the foothills of the Pyrenees to the coast. About 910 miles, almost all travelling across the grain of the country - alternating plateaus and river valleys.
Route 2 (the Long Route) - to Angers as above, then down the Loire Valley to Nantes, out to the Isle of Noirmoutier (in the Atlantic), down the coast to Bordeaux, then along the Garonne and the Canal du Midi to Carcassonne and the coast as above. About 1075 miles, the first third rolling, the middle third pancake flat and the last third hilly. Has the disadvantage that it's 170 miles longer, the cycling advantage that there's a big flat bit in the middle and the sponsorship advantage that it visits three different seas.
