The PBP Dieppe-Paris Route Thread

[Manotea]

LoadsaPBPers will be taking this well trodden, er, ridden, route and indeed I'll be on the Thursday night ferry. Any advice on the route to take, whether you plan to take one or two days, will be appreciated. A pleasing route will definitely trump a fast one for the ride out to Paris. I'm on a single hop down to Paris but will not be in a hurry so more than happy to trundle along in company.

[frankly frankie]

When I did it I planned on 2 days, but actually ended up doing it all in one.  This was a combination of 3 things - very early kick-off the ferry (well before dawn), no overnight stop pre-booked, and feeling super-fit (as one hopefully does, before PBP).

Dieppe-Torcy-Bellencombre-Buchy is nice and direct, easy and quietish roads.  It used to be an AUK PRoFS route.  Then I would go Charleval (to avoid climbing over Lyons-la-Foret) and (if doing 2 days) head more or less S to strike the PBP route (and join other groups arriving from Le Havre / Caen) around Gambais.  Riding in along the route is great fun - lots of company!

[CramCycle]

Depending on how my travel qorks, I will either be getting the morning or evening ferry over on the Thursday. I'll be taking my time on the way down but I don't see it taking more than a day, even at a leisurely pace. If I get the morning ferry I may stop before Paris but we shall see how it goes.

Anyone recommend any good cafes/stops on the way down?

[CramCycle]

Dieppe-Torcy-Bellencombre-Buchy is nice and direct, easy and quietish roads.  It used to be an AUK PRoFS route.

Is it still a PRoFS route, how would one find out?

[BloodyHills]

I'll be getting the 23.30 from Newhaven and heading down to Paris in one day.
Then will have all of Saturday and most of Sunday to relax:)

[mmmmartin]

Anyone recommend any good cafes/stops on the way down?

I recommend this place:
http://www.visitfrance.co.uk/accommodation.cfm?i=5166
the English owners do a clean room, very good dinner with wine and a decent continental-style breakfast. We have stayed with them as an overnight halt southwards from Calais for several years. They are near Neufchatel which is a bit close to Dieppe - couple of hours or so I'd have thought)  for those on the overnight ferry but for someone on a morning ferry from Newhaven and planning to take their time, this might be just the job. They also know another B&B nearby, where we have stayed and that is also very good.

[CramCycle]

On a side note does anyone know how accommodating LDLines are at swapping times?

I booked the late ferry as I can definitely make that but I might just make it in time for the earlier one, I know with Stena and Irish Ferries are reasonably accommodating if you turned up at the earlier ferry and you asked politely (and they are not full obviously).

Anyone with previous experience?

[Frank9755]

I don't know the answer to your exact question but an issue is if they are full or not.  On a trip a few weeks ago they sold out of bike places early on so some people who wanted to go couldn't. 

You could try seeing if there are any bike spaces available on the one you want to go on.  If there aren't any, then your chances of getting on would seem a lot worse. 

[Chris S]

Being of sound mind, unlike the rest of them in the East Anglian Chapter, I'm not riding PBP; I get my self harm by riding fixed gear, and I don't hate myself enough to do both.

However - to show solidarity with the team - I'm planning on heading south in a cycle-camping stylee in time to wave a flag at the finish next Thursday.

I'm booked on the overnight ferry on Monday 22nd. My plan was to ride to Lyons-la-Foret and camp there. Looking at the terrain on Open Cycle Map, it doesn't look too fierce - and many of the D-roads follow river valleys amongst the hills. The phrase "Nestles deep in the largest Beech forest in France" is what attracted me there. If I have to push my 73" gear + camping paraphernalia up some hills - so be it.

Of course, if HMG doesn't turn up with my renewed passport in time, I ain't going nowhere  .