Cloudbase999 Posted March 4, 2019 Posted March 4, 2019 We rode a couple of cols in the Pyrenees last year, end of May with hardtail MTB and lightweight bags for basic kit, B&B accommodation. On the bikes from 6:30 to 22:00 most days with lots of leisurely lunches, coffee stops and sunsets with vin et pain et fromage. 261km, 8760m, 7 cols; ⛰Col d’Portet-Aspet (2x), ⛰Col de Mente, ⛰Col de Portilion, ⛰Col de Peresourde, ⛰Col de Aspin, ⛰Col de Tourmalet Flew into Toulouse, stashed our luggage and bike boxes with a service called NannyBag. Train schedules were affected by the annual strikes, so we broke down the bikes, stashed it in the largest Uber we could find and got dropped in the parking lot of a Boulangerie in Cazères. Had an absolutely stunning 4 days in the Pyrenees, finishing in Lourdes. Train-schedules were still stuffed, so rented a car and returned to Toulouse. Hoping to do something similar through the French Alps this year. Would love to spend a couple of days riding in the Dolomites in Italy. Any recommendations welcome, please.
wildwindfr Posted March 4, 2019 Posted March 4, 2019 Still want to ride down to my sister in Melmoth, Natal. It would be about 750km from Polokwane. I just never seem to have the time.I suppose I need to make the time or it will never happen!This has gotten me thinking!!!
ChrisF Posted March 4, 2019 Posted March 4, 2019 I own a small bike shop in Prince Albert and have bike travelers passing by all the time . People from Europe mainly . They ride entry level bikes and frequently sleep next to the road . Some are on tight budgets and make do with what they have . I have been fortunate enough to have been to some of the destinations mentioned in this thread and will be riding the amateur Ronde and Paris Roubaix next month but South Africa has a lot to offer in terms of touring . And what a stunning backyard you have I am so happy for those physically able to do a 2 to 3 week trip on a bike !! For many of us that is not possible, or not practical. Be it due to health or work commitments. That is not a reason to not do a local bike trip ! January we went to Prince Albert for 2 nights. I managed to ride up Swartberg pass. For me that is one massive milestone ! We then drove to Calitzdorp, and stayed there for two nights. Here I was restricted to gravel roads, still the views were magnificent ! The next two nights we stayed outside Montagu, and the farmer showed me towards their private kloof, inviting me to cycle up there. So whatever your budget, health and leave allows .... there ARE nice trips out there for each and every one of us HOPING that the next project in the Northern Cape starts soon .... REALLY want some more of THIS -
Dusty Posted March 6, 2019 Posted March 6, 2019 https://www.adventure-journal.com/2019/03/so-you-wanna-plan-a-bikepacking-route-our-resident-pro-has-advice/ Some useful stuff.
Wayne pudding Mol Posted March 6, 2019 Posted March 6, 2019 We rode a couple of cols in the Pyrenees last year, end of May with hardtail MTB and lightweight bags for basic kit, B&B accommodation. On the bikes from 6:30 to 22:00 most days with lots of leisurely lunches, coffee stops and sunsets with vin et pain et fromage. 261km, 8760m, 7 cols; ⛰Col d’Portet-Aspet (2x), ⛰Col de Mente, ⛰Col de Portilion, ⛰Col de Peresourde, ⛰Col de Aspin, ⛰Col de Tourmalet Flew into Toulouse, stashed our luggage and bike boxes with a service called NannyBag. Train schedules were affected by the annual strikes, so we broke down the bikes, stashed it in the largest Uber we could find and got dropped in the parking lot of a Boulangerie in Cazères. Had an absolutely stunning 4 days in the Pyrenees, finishing in Lourdes. Train-schedules were still stuffed, so rented a car and returned to Toulouse. Hoping to do something similar through the French Alps this year. Would love to spend a couple of days riding in the Dolomites in Italy. Any recommendations welcome, please. IMG_1944.JPG IMG_1190.jpg IMG_1687.jpg IMG_1780.jpg IMG_1653.jpgthis looks like a dream trip
Wayne pudding Mol Posted March 6, 2019 Posted March 6, 2019 The thought of my wife riding a bike through Europe with me gave me a proper chuckle this morning - it took her 2 years to notice I’d sold the bike I bought her - I’m sure she’s be more than happy to go ahead in a car
Duane_Bosch Posted March 6, 2019 Posted March 6, 2019 The thought of my wife riding a bike through Europe with me gave me a proper chuckle this morning - it took her 2 years to notice I’d sold the bike I bought her - I’m sure she’s be more than happy to go ahead in a carHaha. Yissie. You could rent a car and have her drive your gear to the next hotel/bnb and work your way through a place like that. You just set it up that you leave your spot early to get a bit of a head start. My Fiance and I have done 3 trips on the bikes together. Not bikepacking stuff. Road cycling. Based in a place and riding the cols in the area. She leaves all the planning to me which is something I love doing. I love traveling with her. Apart from her aversion to Carbs she's a great travel mate. She loves to cook so before the trip she starts planning stuff she wants to cook based on the country we are going to. Our last trip in December was FANFKINTASTIC. We rented bikes rather than take our own. I bought a map of Mallorca and used that plus video's from the Col Collective and others to plan our rides. I used Strava to map the rides and put them on our GPS's. On the way back we spent a day floating around Paris. We did one touristy thing which was the Picasso museum. I've since framed the map and hung it in my place.
Wayne pudding Mol Posted March 6, 2019 Posted March 6, 2019 Haha. My Fiance and I have done 3 trips on the bikes together. Not bikepacking stuff. Road cycling. Based in a place and riding the cols in the area. She leaves all the planning to me which is something I love doing. I love traveling with her. Apart from her aversion to Carbs she's a great travel mate. She loves to cook so before the trip she starts planning stuff she wants to cook based on the country we are going to. Our last trip in December was FANFKINTASTIC. We rented bikes rather than take our own. I bought a map of Mallorca and used that plus video's from the Col Collective and others to plan our rides. I used Strava to map the rides and put them on our GPS's. On the way back we spent a day floating around Paris. We did one touristy thing which was the Picasso museum.Marry her - mine doesn't get bikes but is very supportive. To make my dream cycling trip work for both of us I'd have to base it around wine farms. Need to do some homework on great rides from great vineyards
ChrisF Posted March 6, 2019 Posted March 6, 2019 Marry her - mine doesn't get bikes but is very supportive. To make my dream cycling trip work for both of us I'd have to base it around wine farms. Need to do some homework on great rides from great vineyards now now ... you DO live in the PERFECT area to test and re-test your travel model .... My wife does not cycle, but OFTEN goes with us. She enjoys the restaurant the views these places offer, while we cycle. It also works very well with a child, as we can do a couple of shorter rides with a milkshake recharge ...
Paul H Posted March 6, 2019 Posted March 6, 2019 I did a short tour up the West Coast and Namaqualand and then back via Cederberg. Pure bliss. Camped at caravan parks and did some wild camping too. Long to do more!!!! My brother did plenty all over. His favourite places were Iran and Colombia. See his blog here:Www.cyclingtheworldforbirds.blogspot.com
Paul H Posted March 6, 2019 Posted March 6, 2019 I did a short tour up the West Coast and Namaqualand and then back via Cederberg. Pure bliss. Camped at caravan parks and did some wild camping too. Long to do more!!!! My brother did plenty all over. His favourite places were Iran and Colombia. See his blog here:Www.cyclingtheworldforbirds.blogspot.com
Sepia Posted March 6, 2019 Posted March 6, 2019 now now ... you DO live in the PERFECT area to test and re-test your travel model .... My wife does not cycle, but OFTEN goes with us. She enjoys the restaurant the views these places offer, while we cycle. It also works very well with a child, as we can do a couple of shorter rides with a milkshake recharge ... That sounds like a win-win situation. Wish it could apply to me.
Duane_Bosch Posted March 8, 2019 Posted March 8, 2019 Booked my plane ticket for Geneva yesterday!!! Morzine Again. 8th time. Those that have been will understand exactly why I go back year after year. 650km of marked trail, 22 ski lifts. 6 bikeparks in 2 countries all accessed from the same pass. Loads of bikeshops, bars & restaurants to take your money and 7000 like minded folk to share the stoke with. I arrive on the 14th. I should get in to town around 1pm. The WC is in Les Gets which is 1 lift and a 3km downhill roll away. The question is do I go watch or do I take advantage of having the whole of the rest of the PDS almost to myself??
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.