Motorcycle Touring Routes

Limousin to the Pyrenees

2009-03-08T07:06:00.000-07:00

Distance: 271 miles, 437 Kms

Towns: Treignac, Seilhac, Tulle, Altillac, Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne, Saint Cere, Figac, Villeneuve, Villefranch de Rouergue, Caylus, Caussade, Montauban, Auch, Tarbes, Lourdes, Argeles-Gazost.

Regions: Limousin (Correze) Midi Pyrenees (Heutes Pyrenees, Tarn et Garonne, Aveyron)

Roads: D16, D940, N120 (D1120), D940, N140 (D1140), D922, D1, D926, N20 (D1020), D928, N124 (D1124), D924, N21 (D1021), D100.

Description: A Mixture of wide open fast roads and some amaizing twisties through rural areas which will send you dizzy with a sprinkling of N roads . The D940 does get narrow in places with some switchback bends.

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Millau to Treignac (Riders Rest)

2009-02-15T01:34:00.000-08:00

Options 1 & 3

Options 2 & 4

Description: All these routes from Millau take the same route to Aurillac but from Aurillac I have given 4 options... Option1 & 3 are more suitable for Cruisers and heavy bikes whilst Options 2 & 4 have some narrow and technical roads still doable with cruisers and heavy bikes but maybe not so desirable on them. All Timings are Max time it should take incl stops...

Millau to Aurillac - Take the D911 out of Millau towards Rodez. After Bois-Du-Four take the right fork onto the D29 again towards Rodez. On the outskirts of Rodez merge onto the N88 (D1088) bypass and follow it North to the D988 towards Sebazac-Concoures, continue on the D988 to Bozouls where you take the D920. Follow the D920 to Espalion, where it winds along the River Lot to Entraygues-Sur-Truyere stick with the D920 all the way into Aurillac.

Option 1
198 miles approx 6 hours with stops
The D922 from Aurillac to Bort-Les-Orgues is a good fast road wide tarmac with a good surface and rides into the Volcanic Region of the Cantal. At Bort-Les-Orgues (By the Dam) take the D979 to St Angel, Meymac (Take the D36 until you re join the D979 - do not go on the D979E3), Bugeat, after signs for Viam look for the D940 which takes a left fork down into Treignac and Riders Rest.

Option 2
181 miles approx 6 hours with stops
from Aurillac take the N120 (Re signed as D1120 in places) to Argentat (duel carriageway and very streight to start) from Argentat take the D18 to Egleton where you will pick up the D16 to Treignac and Riders Rest.

Option 3
179 miles Approx 5.5 hours with stops from Aurillac take the N120 (Re signed as D1120 in places) through Argentat all the way into and through Tulle to Seilhac where you pick up the D940 all the way to Treignac and Riders Rest. - You can get congestion on the N120 and Tulle can be complicated uless you have satnav (which will try and push you down small D roads such as the D44 after Tulle).

Option 4
If you want to get really adventurious you could do option 1 with a detour up to the Volcano "Puy Mary" This is the one I would do ;) From Aurillac cut through the centre and take the D17 up to Puy Mary, at the top of puy Mary hang left down the D680 until you join the D922 to Mauriac where you take the D678 to the D105 Chalvignac cross over the river Dordogne onto the D16 to Egleton and then D16 to Treignac and Riders Rest- From Aurillac to Puy Mary and to the D922 the roads are quite narrow but twisty and the views are spectacular. From Mauriac the roads become narrow again and the surface is uneven but can be fun (and you can imagine the French Resistance scamoering through these hills) . This one is 201 Miles and is going to take you about 7 hours with stops though you may stop more often for photo's.

http://www.ridersrest.net/

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9 Chateaux - Northern Dordogne

2009-02-14T09:20:00.000-08:00

Distance: 230 miles 366 Kms

Regions: North Dordogne, Haute Vienne, Correze.

Attractions: Chateau de Puymartin, Château de Puyguilhem, Château de Jumilhac, Château de Hautefort, Château de Bourdeilles, Château Châlus Maulmont , Arnac Pompadour National Stud and Chateau, Segur le Chateau, Le Tour Masseret, Château de Coussac-Bonneval.

Coffee Stops: Ussel, Vigeois, Arnac Pompadour, Peirqueux, Chalus, Masseret,

Description: There are some narrow roads with dodgy road surfaces on this route so beware... The Dordogne region has many of the finest castles in France, often in spectacular locations, and frequently surrounded by carefully manicured gardens with far-reaching views over the surroundingcountryside. Many of the castles date from the turbulent times in the 12th-14th centuries and the wars between England and France (see Hundred Years War). Also where Richard the LionHeart spent most of his days.

Segur le Chateau

Arnac PompadourMasseret Tower

Château de Jumilhac

Château de Coussac-Bonneval
Château de Jumilhac

Millau to Toulouse

2009-02-14T02:57:00.000-08:00

Distance: 121 Miles; 194 Kms

Towns: Millau Saint-Rome,-de-Tarn, Saint-Affrique Albi, Marssac-de-Tarn, Gaillac, Montastruc-La-Conseillere, Toulouse.

Regions: Midi Pyrenees

Roads: D41, D96, D993, D999, N88, D988

Attractions: Millau Viaduct, West Tarn Gorges

Coffee Stops: Saint-Rome-de-Tarn, Marssac-the-Tarn

Description: Take the D41 west out of Millau following the river Tarn to the D96 which continues to follow the river untill crossing it on the D993 at Saint-Rome-de-Tarn (Coffe stop), carry on on the D993 to the D999 at Saint-Affrique. Follow the winding D999 to Albi either cut throught the centre or take the N88 byepass to Marssac-de-Tarn where you pick up the D988 through Gaillac all the way until picking up the N88 again in Montastruc-La-Conseillere should pretty much get you there It is 121 miles some 3 - 4 hours dependant on speed and stops. The route starts with a technical twisty bit but twards the end it becomes a fast strech of road into Toulouse from Albi though you will start to pick up traffic...

Millau to Andorra

2009-02-12T05:30:00.000-08:00

Distance: 217 miles; 350Kms

Towns: Millau, Saint-Rome-De-Tarn, Saint-Affrique, Moulin-Neuf, Belmont-Sur-Rance, Lacaune, La Slavetat-Sur-Agout, Saint-Ponse-De-Thomieres, Corniou, Lespinasiere, Caunes-Minervois, Carcassonne, Limoux, Quilan, Coudons, Roquefeuil, Ax-Les-Thermes, Merens-Les-Vals, Pas-de-la-Case

Regions: Aude, (Languedoc-Roussillon); Aveyron, Tarn, Arierge, (Midi Pyrenees); Andorra

Roads: D41, D993, D999, D32, D607, D602, D907, N112, D920, D620, D118, D117, D59, D613, N20, N320, N22, CG2.

Attractions: Millau Viaduct, West Tarn Gorges,

Coffee Stops: There are many small villages which you can enter and have coffee - head for Centre.

Description: This route is a feast of twists and turns. It starts off by following the river Tarn west out of Millau before joining the wider roads which wind their way south and west through some fantastic roads and scenery of the Midi Pyrenees. Whilst this is only a couple of hundred miles it is a long ride expect to take 5 to 7 hours dependant on stops. Make sure your battery is charged up on your camera.

Toulouse to Barcelona Motorcycle Routes

2009-01-21T13:55:00.000-08:00

These are a few few diffrent ways I would typically take a bike cross country from Toulouse to Barcelona - or return.

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The key is as follows:
The blue line is the one I would take that balances time with the ride.
The orange will save you time but has less good roads
The brown line goes through Andorra (for duty frees) takes longer/has better roads than the blue.
The red line is the one I would take - I would expect to make the journey in about 10 hours.
The motorway from Toulouse to Perpignan and down takes about 4-5 depending on the border delay.
The orange/blue line will take at least 6 hours
The brown about 8

Off the route de cols - through the Barousse Valley

2009-01-16T15:21:00.000-08:00

Not recommended for Goldwings etc: This is a great north south short cut - best ridden south north - but pretty outstanding both ways..... great if you're coming down to go to spain or just want to get off the beaten track.

These pictures were taken in the area - the first set are not comprehensive so do come backfrom time to time to see if they've got any better.

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The reason to go south north is you take the single track road with slightly more traffic on it going UP Port de Bales with right of way AND you get some terrific views of the Barousse Valley on the descent.

A 6 hour ride in the Pyrenees

2009-01-16T13:42:00.001-08:00

This is a ride I did with a customer who had rented a 1200gs with me for the weekend. It took about 6 hours including photo stops and some duty free shopping.

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Google has it at 85 miles/130 Km - it's probably closer to 200KM all in all. At a 60 KPH average - which is good for these parts it's around 3.5 hours continuous ride - I haven't tried this circuit alone - but I figure I could do it in about that time. It doesn't show that we probably attacked it in the wrong direction!

Argeles - St Beat/St Gaudens

2009-01-16T09:19:00.001-08:00

This is a route I take when I want to go east west on the french side. It takes me about 8 hours. Most people will take 12. That's pretty continuos riding time - minimal breaks - say 1 hour in the 8 total. Bear in mind I do all my riding here and I figure most people will take more time to complete it. I would say if you're not used to continuous switchbacks allow 2 days to ride it - or set of at 6 a.m. with a view to getting into St Gaudens in the evening. Going Argeles to St Beat following this route is not recommended. to get an idea of what it's like open the map in one window and watch the slide show in another!

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I have tried to relate the photos to the correct roads where i can:

I do try and update the maps and the photos when i can so feel free to drop by anytime.