Cycling UK Forum

My now ex partner (the trip last summer must have done it!) took a guitar!

Hi
Well done on the JOGLE trip! Can't advise on your proposed trip but if you see my last post (lurking somewhere as the France Trip) we have just done a holiday trip in France where we stuck to Northern France as I needed to be close to ports as my dad is ill so I needed ot be able to get home if necesary. We went West from St Malo, around Brittany, into Normandy, Pas De Calais and home from Zebrugge to Hull. With two weeks you could do St Malo to Zebrugge (probably around 800 miles??) or t'other way round but it might not be super sunny! However, there are lots of interesting sites, Brugges, Normany landing beaches, Bayeaux, St Michel etc plus you can cycle the coastline if you want which we found fun. WIth your timescales and your fitness levels you would also have time to meander about a bit if you spotted something interesting not on your route. Good luck whatever you decide!

I don't know if my technical knowhow runs to putting piccys on the site folks - plus, most of our photos are just of us two eating and drinking on various campsites!
As for ages, fitness etc...Chris is 36 and prior to the trip did a fair bit of riding (3 times a week of around 20-30 miles a go on either a road bike or a mountain bike). We live on the edge of the Peak District so the riding is fairly up and down as well. I have just turned 38 and, as said before, did little riding but did ran around 15 miles a week. We are both fairly healthy (no fags) and small, weigh around 10 stone each. We did no training before the trip as we decided that nothing would really be able to prepare us for the trip, probably daft. To get to Portsmouth we rode for around 50 miles a day for 4 continuous days, camping each night, and that was enough to get us both cycle fit for France - I was most worried about my legs hurting and if I really hated riding each day. Although my legs were stiff and aching initially, the worse thing was the bum blisters which lasted about a week and were v.painful!

As for gear, I will need to check with Chris for any technical stuff, I ride a hybrid bike (specialized vita) and chris rode his specialized mountainbike with more slick tyres. Before we left chris put new tyres on both bikes which were meant to be puncture proof and they worked - not one puncture! We both had rear panniers and I also had a barbag. Stuff I took in my panniers (bought for £30 from Argos and were fantastic):
Lightweight 3/4 self inflating mattress, lightweight down sleeping bag, inflatable pillow, silk inner (in dry bag)
Two padded cycle shorts (basic cheap mens ones from Decathlon and really comfy), vest, two cycle tops (long and short sleeved), trainers, two sports bras, pack-a-mac, cycle gloves
Cotton dress, cargo pants, leggings, two tops, three pairs of socks and 3 pairs of pants, sandals (all clothes in dry bag)
Stove (gas canister with screw on three armed ring) (had to buy new stove in france as you cannot get Coleman gas which are stove ran on), 3 small billycans for coffee/super noodles, teabags & coffee
Badminton set, 2 novels, bike lock, washing line and pegs, canvas bag, washbag (toothbrushes, toothpaste, showergel, sudacream)
In my barbag;
Passports, money, bankcards, E11 cards, 2 sporks, mobile phone, IPod, leatherman tool, journal, suncream, campsite maps and camera.

Chris also carried the tent, mallet, bike tools, inner tubes etc, basic first aid kit, 2 long wraparound bike locks to use with the D-lock I carried, and a guitar!

Feel free to ask any specific technical questions and I'll ask Chris!

As for where we go next.....since we got back it's all we can talk about! Trying to work out how to afford a year off riding...any ideas?

Hi
Just to let folks know that we made our trip as planned (and posted on here prior to going).

In a nutshell we cycled from Derbyshire to Portsmouth and sailed to St Malo, headed West along the coast of Brittany to the end, then South to some of the penisulas (point du raz) then inland East. Then rode through Normany, via Bayeaux and a few other places, up through Calais region, into Belgium, weekend stay in Brugges and then home from Zebrugge to Hull. Major rainstorm in Hull and it was freezing so got a train part way home and rode home last 20 miles (this was the only transport we used). Left home on 10 July and got back on 25 August. Forgot the cycle computer but did well over 1,000 miles, cycling pretty much evry day for between 30-65 miles. Won't bore you any further but just letting folks know in case anyone wants other information from the trip etc.

PS: before the trip I only rode to work once or twice a week (3 miles each way) and had only done 2 overnight camping trips on the bike and had ridden no more than 30 miles in one day. Getting bike fit is pretty quick when you are on it every day!

You will easily catch up us - we have no idea where we are going and I am a slow biker!! Just sorting panniers out now - trying to decide if two pairs of pants and socks is enough bearing in mind i will be in padded shorts in the daytime??
Lisa - still cant PM you as I cannot see your PM icon - just so you know I'm not ignoring you!

Wow, what a kind offer Lisa - unfortuately I am rubbish with computers - how do you pm someone??

Thanks for the replies - we are off on the ferry on 14th so won't bump into you on the ferry but good luck with your trip - you sound about as organised as us!!

Thanks for the advice re the bike bus (never heard of it) but it is all planned now. I guess if we went south to north we would still have to sort out a ferry/train back to UK?

Packing the panniers tomorrow and leaving on Sat which should be fun and praying the weather stays nice for our ride down to Portsmouth which is around 210 miles. Just hoping my legs last out - I am only an occasional cyclist so god knows what will happen

I need to get back from France as well end of Sept and have same problem. have read the above - am I right in thinking that dismantling the bikes and carrying on as described means that you dont need to book your bike on as an extra - this would be really helpful as part of the problem I have is that i have no set date to return so need to get a train as and when. If I dont need to pre-book the bike can I just book my Eurostar ticket and then turn up somewhere in France and get a train to Paris to pick up the Eurostar and then get on the eurostar? Do i need to book the bike on Eurostar or can I just carry the bike on that as well??

I need to plan a cycle route from Chesterfield to Portsmouth to get the ferry. Someone has advised that you can plan a route here somewhere on this site and then use that to locate campsites along the route - can someone help advise me how to do this. Thanks

Hi
We want to bike to Portsmouth from Derbyshire to get a ferry to St Malo but are unsure how best to work out how long it will take as we need to pre-book the ferry as it is an overnighter and we want a cabin. Any way of checking a route and looking for campsites on the way?
Also, any general advice re: France welcome. We have campervaned there serveral times but now are on bikes with panniers. Want to some of the Pyrenees although noticed the Central Massif and this looks good as well!! Any thoughs - we are going to France on 14 July and can be away until end of September. Cheers

Hi
My partner and I have decided to take the summer off to tour France on our bikes. We do ride a fair bit (him more than me admittedly) but we have no real plans where we are going regarding a set route as it was a bit last minute deciding. We are off aruond 10 July 2010 and want to cycle to Portsmouth and sail to St Mala (we are in Derbyshire) but are worried about booking the ferry (necessary as it might be booked up) and no making it there in time. Also, not sure about the route and campsites on the way down? Any advice on that one?
Secondly, once we get to St Malo we are debating where to go. We have been to France most years in campers/cars etc so are Ok with the general layout but are unsure whether to go down the west coast as we want to go over the pyrenees at some point so head down to Central Massif which looks great.
We are able to be away for up to end of Sept - any thoughts??? sorry for being so vague.