I often go on about it and tell everyone that will listen that they must do this at least once!! just going through some photo's so thought id share with you my day on the route napoleon.... waking up in grenoble, soaking wet and and cold from the previous days ride in the rain... was overcast and looking like another wet day in the saddle, i was gutted!! been waiting all year for this day... we get to gap where im told the fun starts... stop for a jimmy and quick coffee... could the weather be taking a surpsing turn for the better!?!?! fingers crossed... altitude rising and scenery and roads are getting better and better... follow the river for a couple of hours and stop for a bit of lunch! get to the top, mid june and still snow on the ground!! meeting some locals in a village, who thank us for being sensible in the villages, wish us well, and point us off in the best direction! Stopping on the mountain roads for some pics... topping it all off the next morning with a few 6am laps of the F1 monaco circuit and a coffee HAPPY HAPPY DAYS!! cant wait to get back next year.
really was... just the highlight really, 8 days of pure quality riding! my pal done a dvd of the whole trip, feckin amazing... took him weeks to edit!
Dont get me wrong, I used 1 on the Haslam race school, very nice bike, I loved it. my point was only the view for the calander. wouldnt mind looking at that for a month
ha ha.. no worries, know what ya mean.. cant wait to get some decent pics on the blade, didnt get too many in germany this year (long story) which was a real shame!
Took this in the Gorges du Verdon (next to the Route Napoleon) the other month: Absolutely breahtaking roads round there. Great surfaces, fast sweeping roads, tight climbing hairpins, great weather, little or no traffic - heaven!
Another vote for the Route Napoleon (N85), totally agree Jimbo, do it if you haven't already guys. I'm defo doing it again in 2012. Like to see your DVD Jimbo. JD
Aiming to do two trips mate, Andorra around early June, and then France early September. Well, that's the plan at the moment. Trouble is I want to do the Black Forest as well. Always limit my trips to a week though, 10 days would get me in trouble with 'er indoors' lol. Thanks for doing a copy for me mate, looking forward to seeing it. Great pics btw. JD
black forest is GREAT for about two days, but quite limited imo... b500 is doable in a morning, the rest of the time you driving around for the sake of it! roads to it and below it are great though, so why not do it on way to Napoleon... kill two birds with one stone!
We normally spend 4 days in BF, just nice to have a base, (the hotel we stay at is brilliant, great food as well!) ditch the gear and then ride, but I think you're right that you don't need that long. As you say the roads to it are great, love the road through Gerardmer, always stop at the viewing platform to take in the scenery en route. Will be spending a good deal of time on Mapsource over the next few weeks, maybe as you say, combine the two this time. What luggage do you use for the Blade mate? Always had Ventura on my Gixers, trouble is it looks like I'm carrying a bungalow on the back lol, and it did affect my fuel consumption quite a bit. JD
i had a oxford tail pack, great but not the most sturdy and the bungee straps damaged thmy tail paintwork in germany we based ourselves so i got a big hiking rucksack, was ok for one day each way but couldnt do it everyday... so next year, im going ventura, keeps everything off the bike and is fixed nicely and easy to remove (you already know this i know)... looks bit poo i agree, but great kit!
Yeah, hate rucksacks for touring, funny, I've got some footage of Shaun putting on his Kriega rucksack and saying "this is going straight on ebay when I get back". Mind you, it was the R35 and he had it packed to the limit, weighed a ton lol. Have to show you the DVD I did of that trip.
i was with him when he bought it!! told him he was mad... he did sell it yeah, but then i done the same for germany. rather be in pain than scratch the bike!! lol ventura is pretty much only thing ive ever seen that doesnt damage paint. would go for oxford throwover but sure it'll do the same. kreiga now do a US30 + US20 system, maybe an option, but alot of messing around??
Had the Kriega stuff, too fiddly, and everything got totally squashed up. Not for me. Ventura it will probably have to be. Having said that, my mates blade was scratched on the tail unit using the Ventura system, can't remember what caused it exactly, but could have been easily prevented with a bit of protective tape etc.
