Tour plan: St Malo, to Puivert, to the Raid Pyrenean, to Santander, to the ferry

[bludger]

Got this beauty planned for October.



I will be supporting a control point for an upcoming long distance race and I will be riding there from St malo.

This is a draft route based on komoot. For the Pyrenees I will be following the Raid Pyrennean randonée route - details at https://ccb-cyclo.fr/raid-pyreneen.html

What I'm undecided about most is the route from St malo to Puivert, and from the end of the Raid to Santander. I have quite a few slack days either side of deadlines so moderate sidetracks are fine.

I will be wild camping for quite a bit but hope to be put up by friendly warmshowers types too. I will probably treat myself to an Airbnb on finishing the raid.

I'm riding on 32s, a bit of gravel is fine but I will swerve anything that's more technical.

Any experience of cycle touring in these regions and input on route selection, must-visits, etc, is very welcome

And if you're doing the race I might see you at CP4! 

[Phil W]

You might like to read this report by Marcus.

https://www.marcusjb.com/blog//finding-where-the-edges-are

[bludger]

That's a cracking read cheers Phil. I think I'll be borrowing that route to Portsmouth if I fancy riding there on the day!

[mattc]

And if you're doing the race I might see you at CP4! 

Youi're on.

Er... remind me where CP4 is?

[bludger]

Puivert!

[bludger]

In a grim bit of news the control I was meant to be operating will now instead be an unmonitored parcours - I'm still heading out, and will instead take a more leisurely route to the foot of the Pyrenées with a mind to do the Raid properly, at randonneuring speed. I think I'll use that route from post #2 in this thread!

[Martin]

You do know that the Santander Pont Aven ferry is currently operating to Plymouth not Portsmouth? (unless they've fixed the engine problem). They cancelled the entire sailing for a few weeks last month when I was due to go (had to fly instead).

It's probably worth looking at the cycle route of the French or Norte Camino de Santiago, saw 100s of riders doing it last month. You won't be interested in this company but it will give you an idea of the route

https://www.pilgrim.es/en/northern-way/

[bludger]

Yes, I will be returning via Plymouth. Still not decided how the Plymouth-London bit will get done... Not ruling out cycling it!

Thanks for the route tip 

[mzjo]

I am trying to work out how your route down goes through my part of the world. It looks a bit west of me, Niort, Saintes. if you fancied coming a bit further east I might get out to meet you (if you're not so fast I only see the blurr of whizzing wheels).

[bludger]

It's very kind of you to offer, the route is still quite plastic but if I'm honest I want to keep myself as flexible with timescales and commitments as I can and I get a bit aggy about running late for stuff or whatever. A big part of this trip is going to be just slumming around like a big stinky TCRer without the speed. Hope that's understandable.