Riding through France/Spain

[annsxman]

A friend and I plan on riding to Marbella during w/b 9 May, leaving for Le Havre overnight on Sunday 9th and returning from Caen on Sunday 16th. We aim on staying somewhere around Pau on Monday 10th, maybe around Madrid on Tuesday 11th, leaving Marbella on Friday am and aiming to get to French border same day then back up close to Caen on the Saturday night. We'd like to try some of the passes over the Pyrenees and any other good roads. If anyone has any tips or recommendations on route or places to stay then please post them

regards

[barry sheene]

The road that runs south from Toulouse through Faux and into the Pyrenees then onto Andorra is excellent, but beware it's also one of the most dangerous roads in Europe.....for pics

see
http://ombomb.kicks-ass.org/resources/2002/Pyrenees020602/KneeDown.html

[stooz]

might be out of your way abit, but the road along the yesa lake is nice (30m east of pamplona) there is a very very nice hotel at Javier, 1 mile off a turn to the west end of the lake, south. the route down the the lake, the roncal pass is good too.

also the Na2140 from burgui to lumbier (north of the lake) is recently retarmacced and sweeping non stop.

[annsxman]

barry sheene said:

The road that runs south from Toulouse through Faux and into the Pyrenees then onto Andorra is excellent, but beware it's also one of the most dangerous roads in Europe.....for pics see http://ombomb.kicks-ass.org/resources/2002/Pyrenees020602/KneeDown.html

Nice Pics. We're planning on Col du Somport and Col du Portalet which are essentially on the route from pau to Huesca, so a fair bit further West than the road through Andorra. But thanks anyway.

[annsxman]

954 girlie said:

Hi there, Sounds like a fab trip, I can't wait to get over to spain again... I havn't ridden in the south before, but last time I rode over the Pyrenees, stayed in the Parador San Marcos in Lyon (Magnificent renaissaince building... totally awesome!!) then I headed through the Picos de Europa stopping at Fuente De, I then headed to Santiago de compostella, I think the route was generally following the pilgrims trail which you should look up if you wanted to take that route. The scenery in Northern Spain is outstanding, the history and buildings fascinating and the roads are second to none! I then headed further down into Portugal (roads weren't quite so good) & looped back up to the Pyrenees via Salamanca. The spanish are bike friendly, and there are heaps of roadside tavernas. Check out the Paradores (National hotels) on the internet....they are outstanding! Have fun! & take care on the mountains Anna >> Edited by 954 girlie on Tuesday 24th February 10:22

Anna

We're looking at Pau, Huesca, Zaragoza, Madrid, Salamanca, Seville, Rond, Marbella on the way down and a more direct route on the way back - probably Grenada, straight up to Madrid, Burgos then cutting across to Pamplona and the mountains.
The Madrid Salamance road looks as if it could be quite good on the map. Any comments from first hand experience?

[annsxman]

OK Thanks. I'll have another look at the map.