France - routes to avoid?

All,

I'm taking the old man (on his own bike) and the SV into France soon.

It's my first time riding abroad, and its only a weekend so we booked in to stay overnight in Rouen.

Any suggestions of roads to take or avoid from Calais?

Was thinking of something like this ;

http://goo.gl/maps/49ytI

[embee]

Not answering your question, but check my post here .

I'd get on the motorway for the first bit to get you past calais, then it depends on time and what types of road you want to ride?

[embee]

Back to the question, it does depend what you want really. It's a long time since I went that way from Calais, but it's not a particularly interesting area.

The main roads can be busy if they are the only viable route between towns, often the smaller "department" D roads can be more pleasant and not necessarily slower. Do get onto the smaller roads, you'll love them.

Depending on the day, try to avoid towns at 12 noon and 2pm weekdays when the lunchtime traffic suddenly explodes. 12.30 to 1.30 is usually fine for crossing towns.

It's better than it used to be, but petrol stations on smaller roads will close from Sunday lunch till Monday morning so if you need fuel to get back to the ferry for example make sure you can be on a major road or motorway.

On the topic of rules, remember the 50kph limit in towns/villages starts at the town sign, there won't be a speed limit sign. My advice is stick to 50kph in towns. Stop at STOP signs, that means a foot down.

Enjoy the trip, the rules sound a bit OTT but in reality as long as you don't go silly it's a fabulous place to ride, generally much nicer than the UK IMO.

Thanks,

I've chosen the route through google maps and clicking "avoid motorways".

I've uploaded that onto my Garmin Zumo - so can blindly follow that and always pop on the motorway for a short distance if the chosen route is no good...

Here's my final decision... http://goo.gl/maps/3jlC6

Ferry gets into Calais approx noon on Saturday, the return ferry is Dieppe to Newhaven, thought i'd mix it up a bit rather than trekking back the same way - and gives some time for a ride out and about on Sunday.

Are you planning to explore some of the roads while you're out there?

The trek from Rouen to Dieppe looks like a very short run.

E402 to Alençon is ok. I agree, to Rouen is short. If you want to push it and end up somewhere nice I'd recommend Tours. Or to Caen for a bit of sightseeing and then back to Dieppe via E44.

Just be aware to stick to the speed limits on the approach to any set of toll booths. Sneaky French police will hide in amoungst them and zap you with a speed gun. I got caught on Le Pont de Normamdie. I was speeding so fair play, but €90 there and then was a bummer.

I was driving by that logic but it doesn't work. They also sit in random places. I was stopped on the E44.

OK, so the key theme is that the French police are sneaky!

Dieppe is close indeed, the plan will be to head off to Caen/Amiens, or anywhere for a ride - then back to Dieppe for a late ferry.