ukdodger wrote:Paul Smith SRCC wrote:Whippet wrote:That looks like a good option to try after I get LEJOG out of the way this year.
I rode LEJOG as well, one of my 'life boxes' I wanted to tick, 'Bordeaux-Barcelona' has a much different feel in every way, careful of the timing though, each time I rode it riders, as in plural, went down with heat stroke.
Paul
Have you got a GPS track for it?
I don't no, I've yet to invest in a GPS (although the Garmin 800 or 810 has taken my fancy....), I do have a record of the itenary though which was:
Day 1 - Arrive at Bordeaux. Remainder of the day free to explore the city.
Day 2 - Bordeaux to Villandraut - 46 miles
Route follows a cyclepath out of the city and then continues through rolling vineyards, before crossing the Garonne River into the Gascony Forest.
Day 3 - Villandraut to Barbotan - 56 miles
Easy riding through the vast pine forest of the Landes de Gascony Regional Park, you pass the Notre Dame des Cyclistes, a small 12th century church filled with cycling memorabilia, ending the day at the busy spa town of Barbotan-les-Thermes.
Day 4 - Barbotan to Marciac - 42 miles
Continuing south the route takes you through the rolling countryside of Aquitaine, passing through fields of maize and sunflowers and sleepy villages.
Day 5 - Marciac to Lannemezan - 42 miles
Route contines through the foothills of the Pyrenees as you head towards the mountains.
Day 6 - Lannemezan to Bagneres-de-Luchon - 45 miles
The first day in the mountains has a challenging, but fabulous ride over the Port de Bales, and then a long descent down to the popular spa town of Bagneres-de-Luchon.
Day 7 - Rest Day at Luchon.
Day 8 - Bagneres-de-Luchon to Arties - 30 miles
A nice short day that starts with a climb over the wooded Col du Portillon, taking you into Spain and along the Aran Valley.
Day 9 - Arties to Sort - 45 miles
A superb ride that takes you over the beautiful Port de la Bonaigua, with a long 25 mile downhill ride to Sort.
Day 10 - Sort to Coll de Nargo- 42 miles
The route continues through the mountains, taking you over the Collado del Canto and along the Segre Valley.
Day 11 - Coll de Nargo to Solsona - 44 miles
This is another excellent days ride that takes you along a quiet mountain road through some superb scenery and past some amazing rock formations.
Day 12 - Solsona to Montserrat - 56 miles
A longer day that takes you through the dry rolling hills of Northern Spain, ending with a climb through rocky crags to the monastery at Montserrat.
Day 13 - Montserrat to Barcelona - 40 miles
The final days riding takes you out of the hills on a meandering route that takes you through the suburbs of Barcelona into the city.
Day 14 - Free day in Barcelona.
Day 15 - Transfer to airport to return home.
Paul