Roadtrip

GPS is useful, but double check the route on a map before you set off over any distance, the Garmin on my bike is completely bonkers. This year it tried to take us up cobbled streets at about 1in3 slope with steps every few hundred yards. In previous trips it's had us riding up lanes with grass growing out of the centre etc. The programming has "fastest" and "shortest" as route plans. I want "sensible" no alleys, descents down goat tracks etc.

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Too funny. Still nothing like using your brain. :cheers

VFR4Lee said:

Too funny. Still nothing like using your brain. :cheers

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Agreed, every time it has taken us somewhere stupid, it has been because we didn't take the 5 minutes to check the route. It's only a case of zooming out on the display and having a look, most of the time.

This year on our Spanish trip, we stopped in a converted Castle in a the town of Jaen, fantastically restored place, high on a hill overlooking the valley.



We used the tried and trusted navigation technique of
A. Looking up, and
B. Following the signs.

Throughout the 20 minute ride up through the town to the hotel, the GPS was "recalculating" and telling me to turn around, etc. One of it's suggestions was what is basically a footpath, cobbles, steps et al.

In fairness the GPS comes into it's own as you leave town, the major routes, motorway and dual carriageway are easy enough to pick up, but the smaller roads can be very hard to find without the help of satnav.

If anyone ever fancies Spain rather than France I can heartily recommend the Parador Hotels. They are state owned and fantastic buildings for the most part - 4 star or higher. Get more details from their UK agent Keytel International who saved our lives on our trip when my fuel pump failed, we missed the ferry and had to re-schedule everything on the fly as we phoned from service stations in France etc. The Paradors aren't cheap, you need to book in advance and get one of their deals to make the price sensible. Eat in the town, even breakfast can be scary in the hotel.

The Northern end of Spain is my favourite for the bike, further south the summer sun is just too punishing to ride in, we saw a sign displaying 42°C at one town near Grenada - admittedly it wasn't that "in the shade" but sat at lights in leathers etc. it was ferkin hot. Camel backs are an absolute must.

The Picos Europa are a brilliant alternative to the Pyrenees which are themselves fantastic. I think the roads are better surfaced than the Alps, and quieter. Use the Brittany Ferries boat from Portsmouth or Plymouth to Santander.

GUYS

Just a quick question re: tank bag? I have tried to fit an aprilia tank bag from a friend but it not what I'm looking for? Did you use a tank bag on your trip abroad? The ventura luggage seems big enough, but lack of map pockets, passport holder etc I would go without the tank bag.
seen the alpinesarts aero tank bag, which seemed pretty good, but If I could do without I would?

Ur advise gratefully received.

Cheers

Nick

Nick,
I use a Heine Gericke Street Life tank bag. It has a pocket for a satnav and expands. It is easy to get round a T and has not marked my tank after 2 uses. Be carefull tough mate as tang bags get in the way of fill ups. I can undo the 2 front ties and fill up but it can be a bit tricky.

Be carefull with panniers to as they get perilously cloe to the cans. If you go that way make sure you get gud uns.

I use a baglux tank bag, you need to get a cover for the tank as well, so they aren't cheap, but they work well. Alternative is the Famsa bag, a few mates on AF1 use Famsa without any problems

Has the Baglux got a cut out for the petrol cap ? Seen a bag that plonks on a velcro pad with a cap cut out somewhere that looked very good.

Cheers,

I going to use ventura backpacks, grt for the T as nowhere near the cans. have satnav so not really concerend with the map pockets on a tank bag?
Might just use a kriega back pack which will carry most of my small stuff!

Dont fancy the problametic fuel stops as these will be frequent!!!!!

Nick

from a mate... not sure if they're on your path.

I pulled into the Hotel restaurant Les Tuileries in Sereilhac near Limoges, one of my favourites at about 5pm, had a cold beer on their terrace and then went to my room for a shower and a nap.
Sure enough when I woke up, the sky was black and it was raining. I walked round to the dining room and sat down to the best meal of the trip. Starting with a trio of fish dishes, scallops in a sauce, a prawn pastry and a pan fried fish in another delicious sauce, we continued with a lovely filet steak with beautifully cooked foie gras, some of the best I've ever eaten. This was accompanied by 4 different vegetable cakes and some good thick chips. I washed it down with a good Cotes Du Rhone which also went well with the cheese. The dessert was a tour de force, a home made brandy snap cone full of delicious summer fruits, a dark chocolate mousse and a home made tuttifrutti ice cream. To help it go down I had a glass of excellent Calvados, and staggered off to my bed.A really good day.
In the night I was woken up several times by the thunder and torrential rain. I woke up at 7 and it had stopped raining so I quickly packed and got on my way under black clouds made even more threatening by my dark visor. 20km to the motorway then 300km of motorway to the N154 to Chartres. I stopped at a bar I know, Hotel de la Poste in
Ymonville just after the turnoff where they do an excellent breakfast, and was on my way again by 10am

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it will be great the roads in france are great i went france italy switzerland germany last year fantastic ! i dont know how far from dover you live but i live 160 miles and the best advice i was given was to travel down in the afternoon and stay in calais then set off after breakfast leaving you the whole day to ride . we done 400 miles stopping at dijon which is a nice city . reims is also nice but from there we headed to chamonix so cannot help you anymore : ( oh and if you have a datatool 3 alarm dont turn your bike off at the tolls 2 of us had them jammed by raido masts so look around for these befoe switching off ! and have a great time

Nobist said:

Has the Baglux got a cut out for the petrol cap ? Seen a bag that plonks on a velcro pad with a cap cut out somewhere that looked very good.

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Picture of the baglux tank cover on Liz's 07

Well I'm back from my roadtrip,

And was it good, the bike was fantastic, bare a few minor niggles (threw a bolt of the side carbon fairing, drank the juice and my arse was a bit sore!!!) apart from that it was great.
started off in Rouen, she might say 11 hours on the 1st day was 2 much, sorry love!!!!
Down to Angers then off to sunny La Rochelle for a few sunny days.
Then across to Bordeaux and then Marseille and up to the Vorden Gorge, what a place and great roads for bikes.
Then onto carcassonne and then up to Grenobles, again great roads (not the best for the T as the back brake started to become useless and doing the fast corners with the missus and luggage started to get scary lol!
Then across to Dijon and then finally Reims. Yesterday caught the eurotunnel home to Cardiff. Some 2300 miles later and one dirty bike.

The T I have to say was brill, my arse did get a bit sore but only after a heavy days riding, I only had to top up the oil once after approx 1800 miles and I was getting on average 120 miles out of the tank!!!!

The rear tyre is now for the bin after a bit of Peage work to make some ground up!!

The tomtom rider was brill and would def recommend to anyone, with the aid of maps just in case.

I'll post some pics once I get some kip.....

Thanks for the update and looking forward to seeing some brilliant pics!