6. 2012 THOUGHTS
After the success of London to Paris the
hunger to challenge again is back and so, it
would appear logical to continue to utilise
the equipments (bike) and push ourselves
harder and for longer to reach a new goal
• Suggestions include key European cities
cycling from London to: Milan / Barcelona/
Amsterdam/ Madrid/ Munich /Rome/Berlin
and also the big british challenge ‘John
o'Groats to Lands End’
7. JOHN O'GROATS TO LANDS END?
With a desire to complete a
challenge that rewards all
participants both physically and
mentally, I personally don't feel that
John o'Groats to Lands End’ will
deliver the same desires and wants
to ‘push’ through trainings
compared to a key European city.
alternative.
8.
9. 2012 - LONDON 2 BARCELONA
London to Barcelona
research...
10. CLASSIC ROUTE
Challenge Type: Road
Cycling - 850 MILES
Destination: UK-France-
Spain, Europe
Best Time: May, June, July,
August, September
Grade: Very Challenging
848 miles
11. TRIP DESCRIPTION
Challenge Type: Road Cycling - 850 MILES Destination: UK-France-Spain, Europe Best Time: May, June, July, August, September Grade:Very Challenging
The London to Barcelona Bike Ride is 12 days of cycling through some of France’s finest cycling areas and ending up in the party city of Barcelona in Spain. Each day is an
adventure where we travel through wonderful scenery and arrive in villages and towns with centuries of history. Along the way we stay in a combination of international
hotel chains and small independent hotels, having buffet lunches of local produce and various local specialities in the evenings.
Day 1 – London to Ouistreham - Starting at clapham junction - 8:00 am london, we have a half a days days cycling over 90kms and 400m ascent before we catch the
14:30 ferry to Ouistreham/Caen. This gives us the time to have a send off and briefing, sort out any problems we may have with our bikes and get to know our riding
companions. On arrival in France we stay overnight in a local hotel and prepare for the next 10 consecutive days of riding.
Day 2 – Ouistreham to Alençon - We head off on our first full day of cycling to cover 120kms with 945m of ascent, ending up in Alençon, occupied by the British
several hundred years ago and occupied by the Germans in WWII.
Day 3 – Alençon to Tours - Today we rise to the challenge of a serious distance to be accomplished. Not only do we have to cycle 150kms, but it is undulating all the
way and so takes us up and down 660m ascent. In the evening we arrive in the prestigious town of Tours which is famous for the wines grown under the Touraine name, for
being the finishing point of the Paris to Tours cycle race and for its 15th century Gothic cathedral.
Day 4 – Tours to Montmorillon - Setting off from the heart of rural France, now we are used to the demands of full days in the saddle, we eat up the 134kms and
the 725m ascent and are struck by the quiet and the expanse of agriculture and countryside that makes up so much of this region. When we arrive in Montmorillon it is to
be met with the gentle and sophisticated nature of a town that has considered itself the book capital of France for the last 150 years.
Day 5 – Montmorillon to Pompadour - Today we know we have really hit the hills! The distance may only be 145kms but suddenly the elevation is now 1890m. As
our weary legs push us into the village of Pompadour we are aware of the previous wealth of the area in the famous Chateau de Pompadour (of the family of that name)
and the current wealth seen in the Anglo Arab stud farms.
Day 6– Pompadour to Villefranche - We have respite on the elevation, if not on the distance, with another 150kms day over 1185m. As we near the end of the day
we can make out the excellent defensive position of St Cirque Lapopie, perched on a steep cliff 100m above the river. This has helped make the town one of the most
popular tourist destinations in the département, with the entire town almost a museum in itself. As such it became a popular Mecca for Post-Impressionist artists.
12. TRIP DESCRIPTION
Day 7 – Villefranche to Albi - We finally have a relatively easy day with just 100kms over 1040m ascent. As we arrive early at our destination, we have time to catch
up on sleep, washing, etc. Or we can visit the Sainte Cécile cathedral, claimed to be the world's largest brick construction; the Palais de la Berbie (formerly the Bishops'
Palace of Albi, and now the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum), which is one of the oldest and best-preserved castles in France; and the Old Bridge (Pont Vieux) which is still in use
today after almost a millennium of existence.
Day 8 – Albi to Carcassonne - Today we get the distinct feeling we have left central France behind us and are heading south towards the foothills of the Pyrenees.
After 108kms and 1200m ascent we enter the incredible UNESCO World Heritage Site of the town of Carcassonne with its upper city of double ramparts supporting 53
towers.
Day 9 – Carcassonne to Perpignan - We are on the fringes of Spain at le Boulou, a spa town just outside Perpignan. Again we have 145kms to cycle and 1200m.
Tonight is our last night in France as tomorrow we cross the mighty Pyrenees into Spain.
Day 10 – Perpignan to Ripoll - We have just 95kms to do but half of it is uphill, 1455m of ascent, as we scale the Pyrenees and charge down the other side into
Spain, the province of Gerona and to the village of Ripoll.
Day 11 – Ripoll to Barcelona - The final day of cycling and we are heading for home! Although Ripoll is at 600m above sea level and Barcelona is on the coast, there
are still 115kms and 1475 of elevation to be cycled, this time on busier, less well maintained roads. We finish our 12 day exodus in style with a champagne reception on Las
Ramblas. Once we’ve safely packed up all the bikes, the night is young and we are off to our celebratory dinner and to explore the nightlife of Barcelona.
Day 12
A well deserved day off from cycling to enjoy the sights and sounds of Barcelona before flying back to the UK.Your bikes will be transported back in the Tall Stories luggage
truck.
15. ROUTE
Starting the 850 miles
adventure in London we’ll
head south in to norther
France via Paris before
venturing through Toulouse
and Andorra before arriving
in Barcelona.
see route suggestion:
http://goo.gl/NWjg2
19. Green background signs - continued
Primary route forming
VISUALS part of a ring road
Primary route forming
part of a ring road
Signs on non-primary and local routes - black borders
Signs on non-primary and local routes - black borders
LON BARSA
london 2 barcelona
LONBARSA
CROSSROADS
Adventure
LONBAR At the At the junction
junction
londontobarcelona
LONDON BARCELONA
550km 550km
Barcelona
A30/05
London
A2012 Direction to toilets toilets
londontobarcelona Direction to
with access for the
with access for the
On approaches to junctions disabled
L O N B A R S E
On approaches to junctions disabled
LONLONA
Green panels indicate that the primary routedstartso atathe ejunction ahead.
lon ont b rc lona
Route numbers indicate that the primary route direction to a motorway.ahead.
Green panels on a blue background show the starts at the junction
Route numbers on aon a blue background show the direction to a motorway.
Route numbers green background show the direction to a primary route.
Route numbers on a green background show the direction to a primary route.
Other direction signs
20. Primary route forming
part of a ring road
Primary route forming
VISUALS
part of a ring road
Signs on non-primary and local routes - black borders
Signs on non-primary and local routes - black borders
LONBARSA
CROSSROADS
Adventure
At the At the junction
junction
Barcelona
A30/05
London
A2012 Direction to toilets toilets
Direction to
with access for the
with access for the
On approaches to junctions disabled
L O N B A R S E
On approaches to junctions disabled
Green panels indicate that the primary route starts at the junction ahead.
Route numbers indicate that the primary route direction to a motorway.ahead.
Green panels on a blue background show the starts at the junction
Route numbersaon a blue background show the direction to a motorway.
Route numbers on green background show the direction to a primary route.
Route numbers on a green background show the direction to a primary route.
Other direction signs
Other direction signs
Picnic site Ancient monument in the care Direction to a car park
of English Heritage
Picnic site Ancient monument in the care Direction to a car park
of English Heritage
Tourist attraction
Direction to camping Advisory route for lorries
and caravan site
Tourist attraction
Direction to camping Advisory route for lorries
