Pyrenees - SV650.org

L3nny · 03-07-12, 01:33 PM

Thinking of visiting the Pyrenees next year.

Will be getting the ferry from Plymouth to Santander I expect. Has anyone done this crossing? Is it as mind numbing as I am expecting?

Looking at 10-14 days including the crossing but spending at least 3 days chilling by the beach somewhere.

Any suggestions on roads and places to visit??

TSM · 03-07-12, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by L3nny

Thinking of visiting the Pyrenees next year.

Will be getting the ferry from Plymouth to Santander I expect. Has anyone done this crossing? Is it as mind numbing as I am expecting?

Looking at 10-14 days including the crossing but spending at least 3 days chilling by the beach somewhere.

Any suggestions on roads and places to visit??

Ive done Santander to Plymouth and it was boring, you could just as well ride from nrth -> sth france in 2 days.

dyzio · 03-07-12, 02:02 PM

Portsmouth - Santander, as above, boring as fff, but given where I am in the UK, riding through France would have been even worse.

Get as much as possible of the n260, Andorra is nice to visit. Think I'd try to zigzag between France and Spain to get the best roads.

I think Luckypants and Mavic cycle there so they might offer good advice.

L3nny · 03-07-12, 02:09 PM

I know, I am still undecided. According to Google Maps it's just under 9 hours from Calais to Bordeaux but riding on the Autoroute is also pretty boring.

TSM · 03-07-12, 02:10 PM

Ive done to andora which was nice on both sides.

http://forums.sv650.org/showpost.php...59&postcount=7

L3nny · 03-07-12, 02:55 PM

Andorra is definitely on the list.

Luckypants · 04-07-12, 09:13 AM

Not done the long crossing, but I respect what others have said about it being boring. So how about a shorter crossing to Brittany (e.g. Portsmouth / St Malo or Poole/Cherbourg)? Then ride the west coast to the Pyranees.... Looks more fun than a big ole boat....

L3nny · 04-07-12, 10:07 AM

Did consider that but it's still a 12 hour crossing, although it's overnight.

Is the ride through France that interesting though?

Luckypants · 04-07-12, 11:43 AM

If you are the sort that can sleep on a ferry in a chair, then it's worth it for cost / time reasons IMO. Not done the west coast of France, but generally like coastal roads so it would appeal to me. Plus it goes through Bordeaux, so worth it for a visit to a wine château

STRAMASHER · 04-07-12, 12:27 PM

Mind numbing? No. Certainly not as bad as the Portsmouth one used to be. 36hrs!

Not long back from Spain on the bike. Plymouth to Santander, Bilbao - Portsmouth. Now both 24hrs with Brittany Ferries.

Arrive in Santander, Picos D'Europa west, along some brilliant m/way. East for Pyrenees again along some awesome m/way. Spoilt for choice. No hours and hours of dull peage through France. Instant goodness!

Usually head for Jaca as a first stop. Plenty of accom.

Only road you need to know is n260 for Pyrenees.

Gets you to the beaches eventually. Cadaques is beautiful.

Barcelona - Santander back is a (long) days ride on the m/way. Have stopped in Zaragoza a coupla times to break it up. Very very nice. Very very hot too(105f a few weeks ago.)

But you miss out on gems like any of the roads north/north west from Soria. N111 (don't go through the new tunnel, take the "high road") or even better Sierra De La Demanda. LR113.

Peak of N111. Nobody there whole road up and down. Bliss.

Picos

03-07-12, 01:33 PM	#1
L3nny Member Mega Poster Join Date: May 2008 Location: MK Posts: 2,109	Pyrenees Thinking of visiting the Pyrenees next year. Will be getting the ferry from Plymouth to Santander I expect. Has anyone done this crossing? Is it as mind numbing as I am expecting? Looking at 10-14 days including the crossing but spending at least 3 days chilling by the beach somewhere. Any suggestions on roads and places to visit??

03-07-12, 02:02 PM	#3
dyzio Member Mega Poster Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Aberdeen'ski Posts: 2,274	Re: Pyrenees Portsmouth - Santander, as above, boring as fff, but given where I am in the UK, riding through France would have been even worse. Get as much as possible of the n260, Andorra is nice to visit. Think I'd try to zigzag between France and Spain to get the best roads. I think Luckypants and Mavic cycle there so they might offer good advice.

03-07-12, 02:09 PM	#4
L3nny Member Mega Poster Join Date: May 2008 Location: MK Posts: 2,109	Re: Pyrenees I know, I am still undecided. According to Google Maps it's just under 9 hours from Calais to Bordeaux but riding on the Autoroute is also pretty boring.

03-07-12, 02:10 PM	#5
TSM The Sick Man Mega Poster Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Peckham.SE.LDN Posts: 4,768	Re: Pyrenees Ive done to andora which was nice on both sides. http://forums.sv650.org/showpost.php...59&postcount=7 __________________ OTR: KTM 690 Duke R 2015 Full Akro SIDELINE: Kwak ZX636 A1P 2002, Red, R&G's, Yoshi, Double Bubble Screen GONE: Kwak ZX-7R P1, Full Akro, Undertray, Screen GONE: SV650S K2 Very Bruised & Without Fairing, Motovation Frame Sliders, R&G Ally Sprocket Toe Protector, HEL 2 Line Setup, GSXR K1 600 RWU Forks, Barnett Clutch & Springs, Penske 8981 Shock, Gilles Ti Rearsets, Steel Barends, Scottoiler, AFAM Chain & Sprockets, Twin FIAMM Horns, Skidmarx Bellypan, Full Micron Zeta Steel System, Cut down undertay. Forum Problems & Information / Site Suggestions

03-07-12, 02:55 PM	#6
L3nny Member Mega Poster Join Date: May 2008 Location: MK Posts: 2,109	Re: Pyrenees Andorra is definitely on the list.

04-07-12, 09:13 AM	#7
Luckypants Moderator Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Nr Ruthin Posts: 7,056	Re: Pyrenees Not done the long crossing, but I respect what others have said about it being boring. So how about a shorter crossing to Brittany (e.g. Portsmouth / St Malo or Poole/Cherbourg)? Then ride the west coast to the Pyranees.... Looks more fun than a big ole boat.... __________________ "Your Viffer sounds like it is raising hell! Spot on." - Witchery 17/4/08 Snow Plough Appreciation Society - Member #3

04-07-12, 10:07 AM	#8
L3nny Member Mega Poster Join Date: May 2008 Location: MK Posts: 2,109	Re: Pyrenees Did consider that but it's still a 12 hour crossing, although it's overnight. Is the ride through France that interesting though?

04-07-12, 11:43 AM	#9
Luckypants Moderator Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Nr Ruthin Posts: 7,056	Re: Pyrenees If you are the sort that can sleep on a ferry in a chair, then it's worth it for cost / time reasons IMO. Not done the west coast of France, but generally like coastal roads so it would appeal to me. Plus it goes through Bordeaux, so worth it for a visit to a wine château __________________ "Your Viffer sounds like it is raising hell! Spot on." - Witchery 17/4/08 Snow Plough Appreciation Society - Member #3

04-07-12, 12:27 PM	#10
STRAMASHER Member Mega Poster Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Sunny Glasgow Posts: 1,715	Re: Pyrenees Mind numbing? No. Certainly not as bad as the Portsmouth one used to be. 36hrs! Not long back from Spain on the bike. Plymouth to Santander, Bilbao - Portsmouth. Now both 24hrs with Brittany Ferries. Arrive in Santander, Picos D'Europa west, along some brilliant m/way. East for Pyrenees again along some awesome m/way. Spoilt for choice. No hours and hours of dull peage through France. Instant goodness! Usually head for Jaca as a first stop. Plenty of accom. Only road you need to know is n260 for Pyrenees. Gets you to the beaches eventually. Cadaques is beautiful. Barcelona - Santander back is a (long) days ride on the m/way. Have stopped in Zaragoza a coupla times to break it up. Very very nice. Very very hot too(105f a few weeks ago.) But you miss out on gems like any of the roads north/north west from Soria. N111 (don't go through the new tunnel, take the "high road") or even better Sierra De La Demanda. LR113. Peak of N111. Nobody there whole road up and down. Bliss. Picos Last edited by STRAMASHER; 04-07-12 at 12:35 PM.

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