Generic Touring Thread

Quite possibly the wrong place for this but I'm heading to the Alps with @J0nathan and a couple of others not of this parish in August. We're going to be based near Alpe d'Huez for 7 days.

Any recommendations for routes around there? Will have access to a car so can drive someplace and do a loop. Obviously there is an embarrassment of riches in terms of climbs around those parts and plenty of detailed websites, but what's not to miss? Huez, Galabier and Croix de Fer on the hit list so far but it'd be good to get routes sorted and loaded onto garmins/maps bought before we head out :)

Anyone know where I can find info on the paving conditions on roads in Scotland? Planning a mini tour round the Cairngorms with my sister and I know from experience that the main roads can be less than inspiring, but the resolution on Google earth isn't good enough to see whether a lot of the smaller roads are paved or just gravel tracks. We'll be on road bikes so limited to roads with decent paved surfaces.

streetview?

My experience living up here in scotland and having done a fair amount of riding in and around Ballater is that most if not all roads are paved.

Some of the cycle paths and foresty roads however will be gravel tracks

Can highly recommend the route of the Vaujany.

Otherwise, a good day to do if you have the car is:

• drive to cafe near top of glandon
  
• descend the croix-de-fer
  
• cross the valley at la chambre
  
• climb the madeleine
  
• drink hot chocolate in the nice cafe up there
  
• descend madeleine back to la chambre
  
• climb glandon from the back
  
  

Just over 100km.

Oh and another one...

Up the alpe (either the back way through villard reclus, or up the front if you must!)
Down the sarenne
Up the Lauteret
Up the Galibier
Turn around and descend the Galibier
Stop for hot chocolate at top of Lauteret
Descend Lauteret to Bourg.

Top tip: try not to let your forks fail on the last descent and end up spending two nights in the hospital in Grenoble.

Thanks! That La Vaujany route looks bang on, we're hopefully staying at Allemond (basically the start).

Such excite

Col de madeleine
Col d'iseran
Col d'izoard

Lake annecy is beautiful. Semnoz is there too and it's a brutal climb.

Allemond, c'est bon. Say hello to the girls in the bakery. Also, price fixe menu in the Belgian place is always a good bet if you get bored of campsite food.

Oh, I've remembered what I came to this thread for: West Country Way - anyone ridden it? Planning to do it at the beginning of July and wondered if anyone had tips for places to stay and visit etc.

I've spent today planning touring in the highlands too, further west though. As mentioned, street view is perfect for this. If the road/track/path doesn't have street view then if you go on earth view and zoom in of the track, any photos taken in that area should pop up at the bottom. Pretty handy, although understandably sometimes people succeed in not having the track in their photo.

I Live by Torphins, pretty close to the Cairngorms, Motoko is right, all the roads will be paved, great scenery, the military roads are nice and brutally open to the elements. Ballater is lovely, just a shame about the Old Station Cafe.

Streetview is another great shout.

Cheers all, that's a good idea about looking at the photos when streetview ends. Looks like the only viable route is basically a big circular one round the outside of the park. I'm going to have to go back with a mountain bike, as off-roading there looks ace

That looks awsum!

Also watch this for inspiration

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOrcWFZ-q-4

Need some help with this two options to cross to France:

1 London to Portsmouth on the same day, wild camp somewhere near Portsmouth, get up very early to catch the first ferry to Cherbourg in the morning (9:00).

2 London to Portsmouth on the same day, make some time visiting the town, have dinner and then take the night ferry (11ish I think) to Caen (arrives the next morning).

I reckon the second one is the best choice but I don't know if it would be possible to sleep during the trip. Are there any comfy sofas or beds on the ferry?

You don't want to spend time 'visiting the town' in Portsmouth...

Well I would need to spend 3-4 hours doing something.

Best cooking equipment? I was thinking of a trangia, used them in scouts and seemed like the bees knees, but possibly a little heavy?
Another concern is fuel. Since I'm flying out it's going to best buying it when I get there I'd assume. I was thinking spirits?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Trangia-Mini-Trangia-Cookset-Spirit-Burner/dp/B000LN7HUC
Looks like a nifty set-up

What about the folding one? No pans included, but looks super small.

If you go for the night ferry (and this isn't a cheap as possible trip) then I'd book a cabin. There might be some spots to sleep but you'll struggle to find somewhere comfy and quiet. Lots of other people will be looking for the same as you so if you're not the first on the ferry you're competing for a limited resource!

With a cabin you will have your own bed and the ability to close turn the lights off, plus privacy and (hopefully) quiet. Possibly even a shower which could be good if the weather is grotty on the trip down from London.

If you're looking to save money then don't get a cabin, but you shouldn't expect to get a good night's sleep.

sit in a field and drink a bottle gin.

will help with sleep aswell

Thanks for the reply, it has been very useful.

By the way, is the bike stored on a safe place on the ferry or should I take with me panniers and all the stuff?

What others have said, especially the Sarenne.

The dead end to La Bérarde is a good ride too. Head south from Bourg d'Oisans then turn right onto the D530 at the left hand bend. There is (or was back in 1999) a great little cafe in the village for lunch.

Another route off the beaten track is the road to Villard-Notre-Dame. It wasn't paved entirely but was easily tackled on a road bike.

Nice quiet climb the Notre Dame. I've never gone past the village square at the top though - can you get down the other side?

I think so, the road continues out the village then descends down to come out about halfway down the Ornon.