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[Waverider]

Hi all,

this is only my second post so hope it's in the right place.

I am planning a trip to the Barcelona MotoGP in July, I've booked the ferry to Le Harve from Portsmouth but don't have loads of time. Leaving on the Thursday and returning on the following Tuesday. Obviously plan to spend Saturday night and Sunday in Barca to watch the GP which leaves three days to get there and two days to get back.

I've had a look at a few maps and read a few websites, including bestbikingroads.com which has loads of info on random roads in various countries. One or two I would like to try and ride on this trip, specifically the N260 and connecting roads in Spain.

I'm sure this is a fairly well travelled route and wondered if anyone had any specific advice of roads not to miss or more importantly anything to avoid. I'm travelling with a friend and we will both be on litre bikes, any tips on dealing with French / Spanish rozers would also be appreciated.

I realise that I would probably get a good response from a touring site but would rather hear it from fast bike riding loonies like yourselves 

The trip is about 1700 miles so I'm aware we will be spending alot of the day riding. Loosely the route will be Le Harve to Biarritz stopping overnight somewhere between Le Mans and Bordeaux, then Friday night in Biarritz. Saturday Biarritz to Barcelona. Sunday MotoGP, then Barcelona back to Le Harve with an overnight stop on route.

Any tips, advice or warnings will be appreciated.
Thanks.

[Markyboyzx6r]

Waverider,

Welcome, mate. That sounds like a fantastic trip.

Can I ask a question - is Biarritz an absolute 'must do' for this trip? The reason I ask is because to get from anywhere north of Bordeaux to Biarritz will require many miles of dull, flat and straight roads.

If you google British Bikers France - there is a forum for, well, exactly what it says on the tin, and they're friendly and with lots of good advice.

As for the rozzers - you're doing lots of miles in France - you will meet the gendarmes at some point, and they WILL have speed cameras, it's really changed over there these last 5 years.

Oher drivers will flash you if the police are ahead, but I wouldn't rely on it.

[Waverider]

Waverider,

Welcome, mate. That sounds like a fantastic trip.

Can I ask a question - is Biarritz an absolute 'must do' for this trip? The reason I ask is because to get from anywhere north of Bordeaux to Biarritz will require many miles of dull, flat and straight roads.

Good question, I was disscusing this last night. I wanted to go there to sneak in a quick surf / party and I thought it would be a nice ride from there to Barca over the Pyrenees. Unfortunately there is no real obvious route between the two and as you have pointed out the drive there looks pretty dull.

I think we may skip Biarritz and ride down through the south east of France as it looks like there are some very nice roads in this area.

If you google British Bikers France - there is a forum for, well, exactly what it says on the tin, and they're friendly and with lots of good advice.

As for the rozzers - you're doing lots of miles in France - you will meet the gendarmes at some point, and they WILL have speed cameras, it's really changed over there these last 5 years.

Oher drivers will flash you if the police are ahead, but I wouldn't rely on it.

I will have a look at the "British Bikers France" site tonight. Brrrr !! Speed cameras...

Cheers

[Waverider]

Went to Barcelona via Biarritz as planned and Markyboyzx6r you were right, I had to find out myself though. 

The roads in the Pyrenees more than made up for northern France, they are amazing with great surfaces, no pot holes, reasonably good drivers, loads of lovely bends and sunshine. I couldn't have asked for a better trip. Most of the roads we rode were on the Spanish side although on the way back we edged Andora then into France.... Fantastic. Next time I'll get the ferry to Santander!