European Wander - thoughts

[Aladinsaneuk]

Few Folk and myself have been muttering about doing something next summer on the bikes, and just doing a little tour or some such thing

Various ideas have been thought about, but would welcome others, with more experience, input

Basic plan, is for week commencing 21/06 - I know I am off then - and will be doing something, and hopefully others would be able to wander along as well!

This week was cherry picked as the adverts for contraception will still be in school so the fleecing gits who run travel companies will not be making too much money

So - thoughts so far

Eurotunnel then into belgium holland germany and back (Possibly including poland for a day trip) - may be too much milage in one week though

Portsmouth Bilbao and ride back - ok bar cost of ferry

Eurotunnel and wander around the low countries

Eire from where ever.... I do like Nigerian Lager !

any thoughts, or observations are welcome

[Fausto]

No idea when I am off next year but will keep an eye on this.

As for where.... as far as I'm concerned it would have to involve windy mountain passes. Proper ones so Netherlands, Belgium, Germany etc are out.

I will do the ferry to Spain and ride back thing one day so that's a contender. And you get the Pyrennees!

My most recent idea was to rent a chalet in France somewhere within 50 miles of the Alps and use it as a home base allowing for unloaded day rides into and around the mountains. I was looking at Jura.

Well thems me thorts.

[Tweaker]

Don't do the Bilbao route, take the Santander one instead if you decide on the Spain / ride back run. 2 nights on a ferry to Bilbao is the most mind numbing experience ever - I know 'cos we did it a couple of years ago - never again. Apart from going stir crazy, it also wastes a day of riding, which is the whole point of going. Excellent riding back though and would recommend it.

The Central Massiff region of France is a great place to head for too with a trip to the Millau Bridge (Truly awesome sight) thrown in for good measure.

TBH anywhere away from our over-congested, over-regulated roads is good.

[Aladinsaneuk]

portsmouth -santander crossings are wednesdays :(

Plymouth Santander sales at 1600 on a sunday, cost is 207 including a two berth cabin with shower (obviously a cabin can be shared by two as it is cheaper - with out the cabin, just a reclining seat is 137

ferry leaves at 1600

another option though

[Paulh]

Did a nice one in France a few years ago.

Rode down to the Dordogne then up the river valley stopping at little villages / chateaux to taste the wine, cut across to the Loire and rode down the valley, again stopping at little villages / chateaux to taste the wine, then head home.

We took a fortnight over it but could easily be done in less (depends on the number of wine stops)

[mangocrazy]

Another vote for France here; I love the place. Anywhere south of Dijon, Bourges etc. is great and once you get past Clermont-Ferrand you can't go wrong for roads. Even the Autoroutes are ace!

I am biased as I own a holiday home/project/money pit in the S of F and the roads near us are just stunning. The place is still a work in progress but I'm sure an overnight stop or two would be possible if people don't mind camping out inside a house (it does have the saving grace of a large garage, though).

[D-Rider]

Random thoughts ............

I fancy the Route Napoleon and the Stelvio pass being within the itinerary.

Wonder whether a pre-arranged trip could be sorted out to get a tour round the factory at Noale.
I know that Club Aprilia managed this - surely if they can do this, we've got to stand a chance.

Then there's Robertorolfo's suggestion that we should join him for a session round Valelunga. Dunno if there's the time to get to Rome and also he's not posted for a while .... but it's a thought to chuck in.

I guess we should also maintain a reasonable balance between riding and having a bit of a look at the places we're visiting.

Oh - and Mangocrazy's idea of using his place is good ... cheers

[Syltiz]

This is great. I will let you clever people decide but Im definately up for this.

[Aladinsaneuk]

lots of good ideas folks, kepp them coming


couple of other considerations

I am planning on camping as I am a cheap skate....

also - how many miles per day?

With the exception of a long days ride at each end to get to an are and back - how many miles is realistic per day?

I reckon a total of three tanks of fuel per day - about 400 miles per day would be a realistic target....

I will drop aprilia an email re the factory..... has to be a thought!

[Aladinsaneuk]

Aprilia Emailed, nothing ventured, nothing gained!

Noale is about 860 Miles from Dover btw....

from google maps:

9. Take the Dover - Calais ferry to Calais
Entering France

25.6 mi
10. Continue straight onto E15
4.6 mi
11. Take the exit toward Arras/Saint-Omer
0.6 mi
12. Merge onto A26
Toll road

162 mi
13. Take the exit onto A4/E50 toward Reims-Centre/Strasbourg/Lyon
Partial toll road

122 mi
14. Take the exit onto A4
Partial toll road

94.9 mi
15. Continue on A35 (signs for Colmar/Mulhouse/Offenburg/A35)
9.8 mi
16. Take exit 10 toward Duttlenheim/Duppigheim
0.3 mi
17. At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto D1422 heading to Strasbourg/Blaesheim/Innenheim/Obernai
Go through 1 roundabout

1.5 mi
18. At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto A35
24.1 mi
19. Continue on N83
7.1 mi
20. Continue on A35
Entering Switzerland

41.1 mi
21. Continue on A3
Toll road

9.9 mi
22. Take exit 9 toward Arisdorf/Bern/Luzern/Gotthard
Toll road

0.5 mi
23. Merge onto A2
Toll road

17.0 mi
24. Take exit 45-Härkingen to merge onto A1/A2/E35 toward Rothrist/Zürich/Luzern/Gotthard
Toll road

5.5 mi
25. Take exit 47-Wiggertal toward Reiden/Luzern/Gotthard
Toll road

0.5 mi
26. Merge onto A2
Toll road
Entering Italy

147 mi
27. Continue on A9
Partial toll road

19.3 mi
28. Take the exit onto A8/E62 toward Milano
Continue to follow A8
Partial toll road

6.9 mi
29. Take the exit on the left onto A4 toward Tangenziale Est/Viale Zara/Venezia/E66/Milano
Partial toll road

143 mi
30. Take exit Padova Ovest toward SP47
Toll road

0.5 mi
31. Keep left at the fork, follow signs for Padova and merge onto SP47
0.5 mi
32. Take the exit toward SS307/Castelfranco/Venezia/SS11
0.3 mi
33. Merge onto Corso 13 Giugno
4.3 mi
34. Continue on Via del Commercio
0.4 mi
35. Continue on Via dell'Agricoltura/SR515
Continue to follow SR515

7.2 mi
36. Turn left at Via Noalese/SR515
Continue to follow SR515

4.0 mi


so that would be france, switzerland and italy.... potential there!

[D-Rider]

I will drop aprilia an email re the factory..... has to be a thought!

I do hear they are not easy to persuade to let people visit .... I propose that we plan an attack rather than just blast off an email.

Club Aprilia has managed to visit so I think we should find out how they went about it and try to do the same. I believe that Club Aprilia is an officially recognised body (at least by Aprilia UK) and, maybe those of us that are members of Club Aprilia can use this to our advantage. I guess we need to find out who organised their trip and talk to them about it.
As I mentioned, Club Aprilia do have connections with Aprilia UK and maybe we can use Aprilia UK to help us.
I'm going to drop in at the club stand at the NEC show on Sunday - might just have a chat with them then. I know Griff will be there and he used to work for Aprilia - so maybe he can help.

Failing all that I know a few people in my company's Italian office and as we supply Aprilia, maybe I can get a contact through them.

[Aladinsaneuk]

good call

I was polite in my email, but did not mention that I was a member of club aprilia

or that I was one of those wierd Falco riders.... with a relatively standard bike.....

would be really funny to see the aprilia folks eyes as a flock of diverse falcos descended.....

[Aladinsaneuk]

http://www.club-aprilia.net/forum/forum ... le+factory

others thoughts on a factory trip from club aprilia

and I do seem to recall they were planning a museum - think I saw it in one of the comics last year

[D-Rider]

OK - if some from Club Aprilia are talking about trying this year, maybe we should join forces. They also seem to understand that it is very hard to get in to the factory - I think the chance of organising 2 separate visits would be even more unlikely - but a large, combined group might tip the balance.
This doesn't mean we have to tour Europe with them (unless we and they want to) but maybe meet up to do the factory together.
I note there are Futuras planning to go - so I guess we'd need to give them quite a head start in any case.

Another potential contact might be Ico - seem to remember he had some contacts that got him a new bike from the factory when Carino Ferroce went down in the IoM. They have an article on him and Carino Ferroce on the official Aprilia website.
I know he keeps himself to himself and hasn't posted on the AF1 forum for ages but he has joined the Falco group on Facebook recently.

[Aladinsaneuk]

last post on that thread was january 2007....