Adventure Bike Rider

Ted99uk wrote:


Hi Ted,

I thought you'd say that!

Here's their webpage for contact details. Otherewise let me know nearer the like when you're coming and I'll make a reservation for you. They've recently started using an on-line booking page but I've just checked and no dates come up - teething troubles I guess!

See you soon!

Simon

howlingmoon wrote:



Without re-trawling the entire thred I don't think i've seen posted any mention of the comprehensive "Rough Guide to the Pyrenees". Lots of useful info and basic maps and suggestions for routes and accomodation etc for all. Michelin do quite a good scale Pyrenees map. Always better than a Satnav for the bigger picture.

Mul001 wrote:


I quite agree, there's nothing better than doing a bit/lot of research before you go, and a good guide is definitely worth its weight/bulk in the packing regime. Here's me on the Rough Guides, which are indeed probably the best paperback format guide there are:

"Rough Guides: these classic back-packers guides are renowned for their depth and insight; history, culture, etc. and in general their writing is excellent – so make good reading in their own right. There are Rough Guides to regions such as Catalonia or the Pyrenees as well as the main Spain Guide. Personally, I find the writing style, which is very much geared to young readers, a bit ‘in your face’ and even arrogant. But they do get a recommendation here."

My one caveat is hinted at in the last point - I know many of the areas and places that feature in the guides far better than the authors do - of course that's not a criticism in itself, all guides are intrinsically limited - but the Rough Guides are extremely Anglo-centric, and tend to forget that the rest of the world exists quite happily without a bunch of Brit back-packers lurking in the background while the real inhabitants get on with their lives, culture, cuisine, etc.

Having said that, unless you speak the language, have a degree or two in history, geography, etc., you won't do much better than the Rough Guides - until I get mine published for vast royalities of course . . .

Regs

Simon

On a brighter note; here's the hot off the pixel report of the latest ABR mini-bash to the Pyrenees!

Mr Dean, 'Big' Jim Lovell, Dave and Peter rode over the Puerto de Portalet in possibly zero temperatures this morning (it was definitely zero at the Port de la Bonaigua, near me, this morning!). But they survived, however, to turn up in time for afternoon tea, c/o self, followed by a refreshing blast up and over the Port de Cantó (1,725m)*.

The piccies speak fro themselves - grins all over methinks



Left to right: Dean, Jim, yours truly, Dave (or Peter) and Peter (or Dave)**



On safer ground: Triumph Tiger 800, Suzuki Vstrom 1000, another Triumph Tiger 800, and BMW F650 GS - and a whole load of ABR Stickers!

Cheers

Simon
* Dean, you told me that the Coll de Cantó was the highest you'd rode on the trip so far, and I agreed - but according to Spanish Wikipedia the Portalet pass is 1,794 metres - maybe your eyes were frozen over when you rode past the sign!

** OK ladies admit it - you're all bowled over by our amazing sense of style, eat your hearts out Gucci, Versace, et al - exept for Peter (or Dave)!

howlingmoon wrote:


Hi,

This is not really route advice buy a few points in general about the Pyrenees in May:

Depending on where you are, both in terms of east and west but especially the alititude zones, the spring will have either 'sprung' or you'll feel you're still in mid winter. There is about a three week difference in the leaves coming out, for example on beech trees between the region called the Pre-Pyrenees, which have an average altitude of about 1,500m and the Pyrenees proper whose average height is over 2,500m. Note that I'm only talking about the Spanish side - on the French side the vegatation issues are different entirely - better consult Britfrog on that one!

As well as the different climate zones May has the most variation of all the months of the year, both in terms of actual weather and the effects of the bigger picture, i.e. if it's been a cold winter then Spring is correspondingly late everywhere. So in general the second half of may is a better bet. But having said that the thing to do is to ride over and across the Pyrenees as well as along them - take my Carros de Foc day trip for an example - and utilize the diference in weather as each day dawns: it's often fine in the Pre-Pyrenees when it's horrible - including snow until June! - in the higher mountains. Likewise Atlantic frontal systems can either run along the French or the Spanish side (a very unpredictable phenomenon!), so it's always a good idea to check the weather from day to day - check each country's TV channels for on line weather reports that you can access from your digs (I recommend Spain's RTVE - try to find the video of each evening's report for full details and a good five day forecast) and it's good langaue practise too!

On the subject of digs: all of Spain's tourst sector gets going for Easter week and with exeption of the ski resorts they stay open until mid-September at the very earliest, but more usually until All Saints (November 1st). So camp sites, youth hostels, Bed & Breakfasts and cheap hotels, called 'hostales' (see my Accommodation guide for details). The only thing to watch out for are special fiestas, in which whole villages can be booked up in advance - if you want to stay in a particular place it's worth checking.

More seasonal things: action sports like white water rafting and canyoning also get going from Easter week, but note that the thaw also takes place in May, so rivers may be flooded. You will still see plenty of snow if you ride up to the ski resorts but you'll be lucky to find any open - although some do open specially for the holiday weekends if the snow is good. Otherwise I recommend combinging a bit of nude sun and snow bathing rolling around in the stuff - it works wonders so they say, but I'm not sure quite what it works wonders for!

A little bit on routes and snow: all of the tunnels are guaranteed to be open all the years round, give or take the odd hour when a blizzard is actually falling. But the passes over 1,500 are another matter, even in May and, rarely, in June. At least on the Spanish side will find notice boards alerting you to the status, Open, closed or snow chains only, at key junctions a long way away from the pass, so that you can alter your route in time - handy if you have a ferry to cath all he way up on the Channel!

That's all I can thjnk of for now, hope it helps!

Cheers

Simon

I cant say much more than simon has already said except a bit of forward planning always makes the trip easier. And dont try to ride too many miles per day set a limit of 250 miles , remember in the mountains speeds are much slower than motorways.
weather forcasting in France is light years better than that in the uk where they couldnt tell you with any certainty if it was going to shower snow or blow in 5 minutes time.
here if there is going to be a good snowfall we generally get 10 days notice, similarly if it is going to be windy we know many days in advance.
One thing that is overlooked by many people is the absolute necessity to take on water, you should drink at least 2 litres a day (at altitiude you sweat or loose water at 3 times the rate of sealevelleaving you at the end of the day with a dull headache, it also helps you maintain concentration!

here are our motley group at Villefranche at lunchtime about 3 hours behind schedule, I suppose it doesnt help if they have 4 gps's that want to go in 4 different directions.
Dean had given me their route across the hills so i waited in a village where they eventually turned up coming from 180 degrees the wrong directionb
Still they seem to be having a good time, however I doubt they will reach their destination much before 10 tonight.
Best of luck to them.

The Spanish Biker wrote:


Great pics of the boys, good to see you all smiling as the last phone call they were not happy as the hotel wouldnt let them in after 8pm so they are traveling to Tards in hope of a bed and some food, good luck boys

I wonder what hotel that was? I wish I had been there , i would have made their ears sizzle using every french 4 letter adjective.
I hope they did eventually find somewhere because I imagine they were all in.
The reason they were late arriving at my house was because jim had lost his vid cam off the bike the night before somewhere on the N260 as luck would have it he thought he could remember just wich corner (yeah right) so they set off early and found it lying in the grass, what chance that?
Simon PM me your phone number please

Wow,

I did the retrieval thing with a clock on the South Downs Way once - well done the lads!

Phone numeber done - and ditto the ears sizzling thing! Although I can't imagine that haopoening in Span you never know - I did offer to phone the boys' hotel in Olot to confirm their late arrival bit this was obviously not necessary - lesson for newcomers to Spain: evening meal doesn't start until 9.00 pm at the earliest - more usually people eat from 10.00, so check in for hotels is right up until midnight and often beyond.

Cheers

Simon

Wow finally getting back to Earth and out of cloud 9 we had not been to the Pyrenees!







WE HAVE NOW!! 6 Days round trip 2363 Miles

The Hotel in question was www.hoteltivoli.fr/hotel-bagneres.htm
We had big days on the Saturday and Sunday as in Pau, France through to Les Preses, (Olot) Spain 315 miles arrived about 9.30 ish and a late night well until 1 ish I blame the polish coach driver in the bar and the Spanish youth enjoying some banter about Chupa? after erm a few beers I think we each said one more for the road “All for one and one for all” Sunday les preses – Bagneres 341 miles arrived at 9.50 to be turned away (even though credit card was given One month before the trip and email confirmation received! So there we was no Dinner and one bike running on Air, we asked in a local restaurant a leaflet of another hotel was offered which we called to no avail, a young German girl in a local shop said come with me and off to bang on the door of a small hotel but again nothing. After Jim calling his wife and internet searches carried out in Blighty we rode to Tarbes, and after trying 3 or 4 places found refuge at a formula 1and fell into bed at about one’ish

Four Musketeers last seen heading for the hills here we are in perfect formation, not a hair out of place!



MORE....







We all had a great time it was emotional! Eventful, Drama, Fun, Fun, Fun Wow what a blast. And what made it extra special was meeting Spanish Biker and Brit frog many thanks to you both for your help pm’s your suggested routes were of course spot on nice meeting you and putting a face to the names, Tea in Spain and France (when you are up against it sit down and have a cuppa all ways does the trick) Simon your routes were just as you described perfect and not to be missed. Nigel great meeting your family (and Buster) and many thanks for all the insights.

Buster with an Akkward hotelier




You guys are a wealth of information we realy can not thank you enough! And was a breath of fresh air for ur weery travellers.

I must say rather nice area for a Rally (ABR’s from far and wide IMAO)

this guy is having great Fun off the beaten track



Yes indeed big thanks for meeting and leading us to fantastic routes. You cannot beat local knowledge, must send you guys some Karma not for the above but because I’m slightly Jealous of your chosen places to live in this biking playground heaven.

Must do a ride report later when I sift through the near on 800 pictures………

britfrog wrote:


Yes the sat navs there was 3 all garmin all using the same emailed route via map sourceed way points, I think the problem was.....

we was many times joining the route off of the actual route and the three sat Navs were or different stages of latest updates (new roads) spanning possibly over 6 years or more

poss a future tip to all sing off the same song sheet by updating to latest mapping

Still we got there in the end and remember if in doubt "All roads lead to Rome"

Hi Guys,

Glad you had a great time and home safe and sound. It was agreat trip you had - if a little ambitious on the timing/distance front. But null points to the French hotels who let you down - I rate Formule 1, we have too few of them this side of the Pyrenees!

One quickie - it looks like Brit frog and me are living somewhat parallel lives: a taste for the south, of course, a taste for silly Italian bikes - I had one odf these, then one of these, then sold them both for one of these - then got a mortgage, ho hum!

We also have a taste for these critters but the look of it!

More soon about an ABR meet in the Pyrenees - but a ibg 'perhaps' for me!

Cheers - looking forward to your reprt Dean!

Simon

Hi all
As Simon hints, there is something in the pipeline for next year. I had a chat with Alun at the Midlands Simmer recently which was very positive - probably looking at late season next year. I don't get back to Spain til end of next week - but when I do I'll be speaking to the guys there to bounce options around - and then we'll set up a separate thread to test interest etc. Watch this space...

Pat

Hi Pat, et al,

OK, you've pushed me over the brink into going public with my plans - see topic!

I'm open about the timing, May or October, but Inknow you'll be on the Trans-Am in spring so maybe that's a defining factor. But I'm also suggesting Monday-Friday as I expect most people - if there are any intereted! - will want to ride down from the UK. It's also better, for reasons that I explain in the topic.

Are you down over the week of the 17th/18th? We're going back to tarragona for the fiesta, bt can't get away until Sunday morning: any chance of you and Mrs Pat joining s there for the Castellers?

Cheers

Simon