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Europe Topics specific to Western and Eastern Europe, from UK to the Russian border, and south-east to Turkey.
Photo by Lois Pryce, schoolkids in Algeria

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Photo of Lois Pryce, UK
and schoolkids in Algeria



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  #1  
Old 16 Feb 2009
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My first bike was an SV650S and it was bloody brilliant! Apart from the rust...

Second vote for the Nurburgring - my fave place in the whole world, and the roads around there are superb, especially the B258 through the Ardennes. The whole area is petrolhead heaven. I've been hooked on the place since the moment I first arrived there. If you want to know anything about the ring (where to stay, where to go, what it's like etc), just ask!

My second preference would be to blast down through France, across the top of Italy and into the Balkans. Slovenia, Croatia. Two weeks might be pushing it for that, but if you took a direct route through France and Italy it can be done. Check it on GoogleMaps and compare to the sort of daily mileage you want to do.
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  #2  
Old 16 Feb 2009
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Depends really what the trip is about. If you just want to ride lots of miles on interesting roads then you are probably taking a bit of a risk with the weather in early April and it rules out a lot of mountain roads in both the Alps and the Pyrenees.

If you want to see places enjoy the sights, food etc. then as others have suggested a route taking in the Atlantic coast (Pornic, Les Sables d'Ollone, La Rochelle, Bordeaux) down to Bairritz, then depending on the weather, either go up into the Pyrenees or cross into Spain at the coast and visit Pamplona, Sarragoza and Barcelona then cross back into france and visit Perpignan, Montpellier, Millau (Bridge) and back via Paris. Stick to reasonably sized towns for your overnight stops as a lot of rural France (don't know about Spain) is shut until the Summer.
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  #3  
Old 16 Feb 2009
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Thanks for all the advice - v. helpful.

Sounds like the French coast to Spain is the way forward then. Think I might leave the Alps till the summer when the weather is better and I have more experience - and thus get more out of it.

I think this trip is going to be a mix of biking as well as exploring, so don't want to be on the bike all day, every day.

Don't mind about camping, but think it might be more fun going down the hostel route, meeting people our age etc.
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  #4  
Old 16 Feb 2009
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Originally Posted by garthunkle View Post
Thanks for all the advice - v. helpful.

Sounds like the French coast to Spain is the way forward then. Think I might leave the Alps till the summer when the weather is better and I have more experience - and thus get more out of it.

I think this trip is going to be a mix of biking as well as exploring, so don't want to be on the bike all day, every day.

Don't mind about camping, but think it might be more fun going down the hostel route, meeting people our age etc.
Hostels - great. I specially recommend the hostel (auberge de jeunesse) at wonderful Chartres. Near the fire station.

Bring big chains for your bike as usual. Chain it to something.
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  #5  
Old 16 Feb 2009
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Originally Posted by todderz View Post
Second vote for the Nurburgring - my fave place in the whole world, and the roads around there are superb, especially the B258 through the Ardennes. The whole area is petrolhead heaven. I've been hooked on the place since the moment I first arrived there. If you want to know anything about the ring (where to stay, where to go, what it's like etc), just ask!
3rd vote here.

The 'Ring is a must see for any petrolhead. The whole area is like a ghost town when it's shut so if you're not camping, I'd stay in the hostel at Cochem which is maybe half an hour away, along a fantastic country road but roads like this are fairly easy to find in the Eifel/Mosel/Hunsruck area anyway. Take a torch if you go into town at night as it's a very dark walk back.

Anyway, don't plan it to death. Decide where you'll stay the first night and decide where next when you wake in the morning. Enjoy.
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Old 16 Feb 2009
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Hi, if you are visiting the 'Ring' , Koblenz is definately worth a visit. Where the Rhine and the Mosel meet. It will be cold touring in April and i would suggest using the many Hostels in Europe which is also a great way to meet people. Andy
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  #7  
Old 16 Feb 2009
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Originally Posted by Andysr6 View Post
Hi, if you are visiting the 'Ring' , Koblenz is definately worth a visit. Where the Rhine and the Mosel meet. It will be cold touring in April and i would suggest using the many Hostels in Europe which is also a great way to meet people. Andy
Good luck with your Black Sea trip BTW, Andy. Some Turkish guys did it a couple of years ago. It's on HU somewhere. Paulo was the bloke.

Check out "Karaban the Inflexible". !!!!
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  #8  
Old 17 Feb 2009
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Having taken all your fantastic advice, I put together this rough route.

Google Maps

What are your initial thoughts? What are we missing out?

Could we make it to Italy as well in the 16 days, without pushing it?
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Old 23 Feb 2009
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go sarf m8
We did portsmouth to Bilbao to cut out the boring French bit, but the 18 hour not 24 two night version is best. Pico mountains for 2 nights (Great), north spain and portugal still cheap and fantastic roads. Down to Lisbon, cutting across the bottom corner and back via Spain, Pirenese and back to Bilbao...... best holiday ever and just 6 months after passing my test.... oh yes all this on a Goldwing with my missus (approx 500kgs in all)
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  #10  
Old 23 Feb 2009
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"The boring French bit"? And you live in.......Manchester? Hmmmm!!!!!!!!!
Last edited by Caminando; 26 Feb 2009 at 20:06.
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  #11  
Old 23 Feb 2009
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France and northern Spain? Why not do something less common?
I would go to Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia.
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