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Route Planning Where to go, when, what are the interesting places to see
Photo by Daniel Rintz, Himba children, Namibia

The only impossible journey
is the one
you never begin

Photo by Daniel Rintz,
Himba children, Namibia



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Old 2 Nov 2012
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Bicycling around the Basque Region of Spain and France

I am trying to get information about good biking roads to travel for an upcoming ride. I'd appreciate your help if possible: Start in Bilbao to Vitoria, Vitoria to Pamlona, Pamplona to St. Jean PP (france), St. Jean PP to Bayonne, Bayonne to San Sebastian, San Sebastian to Bilbao. 300 miles in 9 days. I'm leaving in 2 weeks to investigate possible roads (the trip is in June 2013). It would sure help to have some upfront information. Thanks DD, Indiana
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Old 2 Nov 2012
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I've cycled a little in southern Spain. So can't offer you any info.
I've also cycled around North America and bits of Europe.
All I've ever done is to find good maps with height contours of the areas beforehand.
But one thing you said made me offer this response:

Quote:
Originally Posted by NorthAmericano View Post
I'm leaving in 2 weeks to investigate possible roads
I wonder if that's a good idea.
My preference is to go places not seen before.
And get ideas from people along the way. I found it works particularly well on a bicycle as it's the simplest thing to talk to someone on the road. But you need good maps as well. Then it's easy to discuss the map with someone you maybe don't share a common language with.
By cycling somewhere you've already been, you may lose something from the journey.
Maybe
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Old 2 Nov 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NorthAmericano View Post
I am trying to get information about good biking roads to travel for an upcoming ride. I'd appreciate your help if possible: Start in Bilbao to Vitoria, Vitoria to Pamlona, Pamplona to St. Jean PP (france), St. Jean PP to Bayonne, Bayonne to San Sebastian, San Sebastian to Bilbao. 300 miles in 9 days. I'm leaving in 2 weeks to investigate possible roads (the trip is in June 2013). It would sure help to have some upfront information. Thanks DD, Indiana

= a first post!!

McCrankPin makes a very good point about covering the ground and you could get a load of information from the internet and other research, such as studying good maps.
Two areas come to my mind immediately:
1. The Picos de Europa, which I haven't visited (yet) but that has a great reputation for climbing/descending.

2. The Pyrenees; I was there, in the West Pyrenees, a few weeks ago and the mountain roads were still covered at that time with the Tour de France graffiti painted on the road surfaces - so you can just follow their route!! Simple, except it is a lot of climbing and descending. It all depends how much of that you really want.
Check out the Cols:
Tourmalet
D'ausbique
etc etc
e.g. via Google maps/satellite.

In general, the French road surfaces are excellent and the Spanish ones are even better, having been constructed more recently.

ps For June 13 check out the route of the next Tour - it may be there then, in which case roads will be packed out with spectators and closed for the race.
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Last edited by Walkabout; 2 Nov 2012 at 18:34. Reason: ps added
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