Cycling UK Forum

Sorry for the repetition.
I am coming from Santander to Switzerland, heading to Geneva. My brother's birthday present to me (1:200,000 maps) has gone via Jonhannesburg, I live in London, so my route planning has been limited so far.
Crossing points I have found here/online include
Col du Portillon
Pierre st martin
Col de Pourtalet

I'm not so keen on Somport, due to traffic reported.

Due to my route, I'd like it to be not too far east/west along the border, but I have no particular destination in France in mind. I'm on a hybrid bike with 28x700 tyres and with rear panniers with tent, it won't be 15kg somewhere around/hopefully under 10kg.
I have no urge to do the col du tourmalet, scenery is more important that the name. And I'll be doing this in July.

I've had a look at the profiles but I'm also looking for what other people think.
Any other suggestions/places to get advice would be great

Thanks
Meg

?? What repetition ?? Sorry I don't understand.

You could cross after Saint Jean-Pied-de-Port on the St Jacques de Compostelle pilgrim route (if you fancy some company!).

From Saint-Jean (at 146 metres) there are two routes across the Pyrenees to Roncesvalles (952 metres):
1.The high-route, the “route Napoleon" or "route traditionel" (GR 65). Highest point: the Col de Lepoeder, at 1410 metres,
2.The route through “The valley of Charlemagne” via Valcarlos. Highest point: the Puerto de Ibañeta, at 1057 metres.

I've done Somport, Pierre St Martin and Pourtalet. Of the three, I would say Pourtalet is the nicest, both on the Spanish and French side. Whichever you do, the descents are pure joy!

Pourtalet http://www.jeremytaylor.eu/cycling_over_pyrenees_1.htm

Pierre St Martin http://www.jeremytaylor.eu/cycling_over_pyrenees_6.htm

Somport http://www.jeremytaylor.eu/somport.htm

Descending off the Pierre-St-Martin wasn't a joy when I did it, in the rain also. I can't say how nice it is as we didn't see a great deal. My companion, who had failed to predict what it might be like at the top of a Pyrenean pass, be it a relatively minor one, in late September in choosing what clothes to pack, got to the stage of shivering uncontrollably, and could barely operate her brakes. Fortunately we found a mountain refugio within about a km of getting to that condition, with beds and hot food, and a hot shower soon had her functioning again. She managed to deplete her wardrobe even further by leaving her coat behind in a guesthouse a couple of days later, but luckily we saw only sun after that. We crossed back over Bujaruelo/Gavarnie, which, since it has no road on the Spanish side, is probably not an option you wish to consider.

Great. Thanks for all those responses.

I'be been looking at your site Jeremy, great pictures, so i think i will go for Portalet, as it's suitably central and works for my general route. Maps now on way!

(Graham, this is quite a common posting, so I was afraid some people may have pointed me the way of a search machine - which I already tried.)

I've never used this forum before, really impressed with really helpful answers! will be coming here again and hopefully providing some responses too,

Happy cycling

Meg

Good choice Peggy! And thanks for the compliment. I've spent the morning improving the quality of a lot of the images. It is quite common for the weather to change as you cross the frontier. Hot and sunny on the Spanish side and then cloudy and cooler on the French side. The vegetation is noticeably different as well. Make sure you take your camera!

We did Port de Larrau one year. Steeper on the french side ISTR, and wetter and greener. Better roads on the Spanish side.

You could do from Ainsa up through the Bielsa Tunnel and down on the French side. I've done it in the opposite direction three times. It's magnificent.

Thanks for all the help

I made my bike tour from Santander to Slovenia, loved it (Switzerland was tough though), Dolomites wonderful and Soca valley breathtaking.

Thanks again