Generic Touring Thread

Looks pretty nice aside from a few rainy days! Thanks for in the in-depth reportage.

Not sure how Andrews chainstays lived!

Good write up! Looks great!

I’m thinking about doing lejog at the end of June.
Anyone got a route recommendation? There are a few options when I search online.
Any tips would be appreciated.
I’m probably going to get the train to Scotland from London to start because I’ll be in London at the time. I live in Devon so finishing in the south west works for me.

Anyone stayed in Biarritz? Need somewhere to stay whilst I wait for my train at the end of this week. It’s an early train out so close to station preferred. TIA.

Also just got back from France. Was doing St Malo to St Sebastian but had to leave 4 days in from La Rochelle in the end.

Beautiful place to ride, people were super friendly, helpful and patient. Drivers were very conscientious of cyclists too, night and day compared to cycling in the UK, makes British people seem like absolute psychopaths in comparison.

train back to Dieppe via Paris then ferry to Newhaven. Took nearly 24 hours including wait time :)

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I stayed in the Premiere Classe by Biarritz station last week.
VERY basic, but if you're familiar with those hotels, you'll know what to expect.

Not much around there, but there is a small complex of shops - Veloff Bike Cafe if it's open, or I ate a veggie burger at Raje Kitchen.

Anyone help inspire me to do some trip planning?

Looking to do a 3-5 day tour in September - possibly France / Belgium / Holland / Ireland or even further into southern Europe, but lacking in inspiration. Based in Worcestershire, so would need to factor in travel to SE England for ferries/trains.

Not that fit atm so nothing too lumpy - something around 60-80k per day for some relaxed touring days with tent/panniers on touring/road bike (i.e. nothing too gravelly).

Holland touring has a nice thread. I like catching the ferry from Harwich but dunno if that's convenient from where you are.

I did a nice little four dayer last year that took in St Omer, Cassel, Mont de Cats, Ypres, Bergues and Dunkirk. Mainly on nicely tarmaced backroads, though there was a bit of cobble action in Cassel and some unwelcome 'off road' along the Calais to St Omer Canal. Would recommend. Saw barely any traffic, ate lots of good food, drank a fair amount of good northern French/Belgian beer. Terrain is flat to undulating.

I'd missed that thread - thanks, will have a read.

This sounds spot on for September.

It was great. If you do it, I'd highly recommend going to Esquelbecq and visiting Brasserie Thiriez. Terrific beer and a nice terrace to drink it in if the weather's good.

Just finished what should have been a 16 day trip to Alicante in Biarritz (10 days). It was clear after a few days that, due to an injury, a lack of winter prep left me a in no condition to get over the Pyrenees. Let alone tackle the ride down to Alicante.
A lot of lessons learned though. Long distance touring is not for me. The grind of tent up and down and the riding over this time doesn’t suit me.
I need to pack lighter and stick to 5 or 6 day trips tops.
I think I prefer travelling alone and meeting people. We’ve all got on each others nerves even though we are very good friends.
Some good fun though…

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For me, for long distance, alone is always going to be the best way. You will still fall out with yourself but you tend to see your own point of view much easier than everyone else's.

I am jealous of those people who can A) be bothered to pitch and pack tents and B) Can actually get a decent nights sleep on a lightish touring set up.

I would just put more money aside and spend it on the cheapest accommodation possible while having the ability to camp if its really necessary. I spent way more than I expected on my 4 month trip but I would spend that money again in exactly the same way given the chance, well worth it.

Good to hear about the Seine a Velo

Although you do deviate a bit, overall it is a lovely route. Lots of traffic free bits, but then also a few quite busy roads, which I'm sure they'll change as the route develops over time.

You pass lots of town too you can dip into for food etc, that mostly seemed to be open!

In Biarritz ended up staying at Camping Biarritz for 2 nights. A couple of kms from town and the station. A good restaurant, good showers etc. on my second night (a Thursday) there was an open mic night which was good quality and gave an excellent vibe.
Pitches are on something of a slope but just about
flat enough.

was this today?
also on a tour from St malo to San sebastian and staying at camping biarritz today!

Yes. Thursday. Are you riding the specialized? We may have met also in La Rochelle?

ah no that wasn't me - am in a group and I'm riding a green genesis

Perhaps you were over by the pool, I saw a group there when I walked around.
Anyway, safe onward travels and hopefully the improving weather stays with you.

Brasserie Thiriez.

I brought back a tonne of their beers when I drove over to race 24hr MTB thingie last year. The bar looks fun but we didn't have the time to hang about.

It was great. I arrived after cycling a fairly hilly 30 miles in 25 degrees weather, so finished one beer while waiting for the second to be poured. Drank outside in the sun, but was grateful for the cool of the indoors as well. Would go back again.

For water purification are tablets good enough? Seems like it will be quite a few tablets before the equivalent cost/ space of a water filter. I’m only road touring so it’s more of a back up if I get caught short on a hot day in a more remote area. Just checking I’m not missing something really