Not got anything planned for this summer and want to get a week away on the bike. Late May probably. Can't manage the usual two weeker this year. Ideas for 1 week from Calais? Germany, Black forest perhaps? Cheers
Depends how many miles per day you want to do. I've been to Europe loads in a car. Milan is 23 hours drive away Nurburgring in a day from Calais easily. Spa is on the way. Monaco? Tuscany?
Went on a week's ride with son round the mountainy bits to the west of Nice a few years ago. That was great fun. Lac de Saint Croix was quite spectacular. Took it easy so we had time to ride the twisty bits then found places to stay with pools and time to relax. Used the A8 to get to the best bits then never saw it again.
Black Forest doable in a day from Calais but it's a long ride, obviously you could stay overnight in Luxembourg and then continue to the Black Forest on day 2 and staying overnight in Baden Baden before riding the B500 on day 3 (but it's not a particularly long road so best turn off and find some other roads to ride before rejoining the B500), you could then head into the Vosges Mountains Germany/France border towards Verdun and then an easy ride back to Calais
I’ve been impressed by Luxembourg, Vosges, Harz, Eiffel Mountains. All easy on a 1 week trip. Alps are great too, but it rains lot… Good routes on here: https://www.ride.co.uk/routes A taste of Harz: A taste of Luxembourg:
Avoid the B500 in Black Forest. Ultra low speed limits (fairly strongly enforced) have killed it. It’s not just me: https://www.simonweir.co.uk/post/the-death-of-fun
Get an A4 sheet of paper, draw a big arrow pointing towards another drawing of the sun, stick in your tank bag and just follow that! That said France has been ruined by cameras, the B500 is very over rated, but I would still do the Route des Grande Alpes again - weather permitting!!
Cheers all, some bits to look into - sounds like the Black Forest / B500 is not what it used to be! Will look into Vosges and the Eifel mountains I think since Brexit the speed cameras aren't necessarily an issue.... Got flashed by one near Rouen at Easter last year when I was in the car, and haven't had anything through the post.... But don't take that as gospel!
Northern (and much of the rest of) Spain IS excellent - it’s the usual haunt for our two-weeker on the bikes. Unfortunately this year I can only get 1 week holiday, so I’d like to have 7 days riding rather than a day at each end on the ferry if you get me
Another vote for Vosges from me. Spent a day or two going round there then moved on to northern Italy but could have easily stayed...
As others have said the B500 isn't as good as it was, from memory on my last trip some sections were closed to bikes on Sundays, some other less popular roads are good the B59 or 89 were pretty good but may now have the same restrictions and cameras as the B500, watching Baron Von Grumble's latest road trip he is finding some amazing roads in Hungary/Croatia but definitely more than a 7 dayer.
I have the same urge too.... but want to do 2 weeks away.... Probably Northern Spain and where ever the roads takes me..... How about a 1000rr Tour?? Get a group of us and explore.....?
This chap - Tim Rodie Rides Motorbikes - did a 1 week trip with his mate -sorry it is a KTM vid It might be useful ....
