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So, fairly big ask, but does anyone have any pointers for a "holy grail" European 3-4 Day single track bikepacking loop with easy airport access?
So I'm trying to find a good loop for a potential long weekend away and was thinking of seeing if there was anything away from these shores as currently Scotland is looking most favourable, but weather can be very hit and miss - especially in September which is looking the most likely time for this trip.
So for this route to be a winner it would need to;
- have a good percentage of reasonably interesting single track (no point flying without it).
- Be accessible to an airport with at least semi affordable flights (extra trains are fine as long as bike friendly or station is near enough airport to be able to keep bikes in bags for the train.
- The country needs to have reasonably lax wild camping laws - or cheap(ish) huts/refuges/camping open in September.
Also ideally;
- Dryer then the average weather than Scotland.
- A round trip loop to the same airport, so we can store bike bags at the airport.
- High mountain views - because who doesn't love them!
Areas I've been looking without too much success for good routes is the mountains around Bardonecchia (from Turin airport) or the Pyrenees within train access of Toulouse. Some possibles are a variant on the Tour Des Combins taking the train to Aosta valley (Turin) or TMB flying into Geneva (too long for 4 days inc. flights?). Not at all fussed if it’s not a “known route” or even needs a train link ½ way through to get the best riding in! Links to trip reports would be a bonus too! Thanks all in advance!
Surely something from Malaga - even if you have to arrange a taxi to/from the start point.
Santander or Bilbao airport or ferries
https://bikepacking.com/routes/basque-bikepacking-vuelta-de-vasco/
Massif central? fly to clermont ferrand?
Ooo! Been while since there's been a post I've felt I can help with...
You've got 2 grand suggestions in there which I can recommend a tweek to:
Tour Des Combins variation. Except I'd fly to Geneva then get the train to Orsieres just up from Martigny (and if times add up, consider taking the post bus up from there to the Grand St Bernard pass, and staying in the monastry which is a pretty unique experience, not too expensive and if you ask very nicely, you might be able to leave stuff there, although it would mean you'd have to take the more boring descent back down to Orsieres. I'd also say the refuges, though Swiss and not the cheapest, are worth it to save carrying the extra weight on the bike, those few kg's would really make themselves felt when you're climbing to near 3000m... I dragged Sanny round it in 2019 maybe, he wrote up the story in Singletrack a couple years back.
TMB, definitely doable in 4 days including flying in and out if you're cracking on, and September is the best time to do it. Basically, if you feel you're falling behind schedule you can shortcut along the road on the valley floor most of the way round, or hop on the train on the swiss side back to Geneva and just miss the final day past Champex Lac to Chamonix
what about into Faro and then rather than just heading along the coast daily excursions into the (reasonably sized) hills to the north returning to a different coastal town each night?
https://biketestreviews.com/bikepacking-in-portugal/
https://www.lifeinthesaddle.cc/2020/12/via-algarviana-exploring-portugal-gravel-cycling.html
Fly to Carcassonne and ride around the Caroux. It is home to the Shimano Epic Enduro race. You Will struggle to find better singletracks.
Well timed thread OP- I was going to start a similar one yesterday. Likely June for me, but some good looking suggestions up there.
I was also looking at Nice as a start point for the alpes maritimes, but can’t see a ready made loop so may need more planning/ research.
Tick
Watching with interest...but nothing constructive to add 🥺
Surely something from Malaga – even if you have to arrange a taxi to/from the start point.
That will be horrendously hot in the summer.
How about Sonia in Romania. Train from Bucharest (get first class still cheap as chips but garentees a seat). Cheap as chips amazing mountain area. Not ridden there but worked in Romania and used to take the train to Sonia on a weekend and went walking, even got a bike park there!
That will be horrendously hot in the summer.
Ah. Thought it might be OK in September.
Slovenia you could fly into Trieste in Northern Italy and out of Ljubljana.
Here's one you won't have come across.
Fly to Reus which is the airport serving Tarragona and the Costa Daurada but instead of turning left out of the airport to the beach, turn right and up into the Priorat wine region and ride the Volta de Montsant which is a 120km predominantly off road single-track Loop through vineyards, canyons and stunning scenery. 1,000 to 1,500m altitude September is very manageable weather wise as this is Northern Spain so mid to late 20°s. It also happens to be where I live so I can help with logistics, local knowledge etc. PM me if you want more info.
Rute del Tigre
Slightly further South, on my doorstep is the El Port range which also has a 3 day loop.
@pistonbroke
What would the temperatures be like in the mountains in that area in early July?
In the true spirit of STW I'll suggest Switzerland:
https://bikepacking.com/locations/switzerland/
Railways are great and you can quickly go anywhere once you land in Geneva or Zurich.
Except for natural parks, camping is ok above 2000m. Bellow that, is bit "grey-ish", as far as I'm aware rules change from canton to canton and maybe even between comunes. But as long as you camp discreetly and leave no trace, you will be fine
@mark
Temperatures in early July would be again mid to late 20°s, this is a remarkably temperate area, close to the Mediterranean but high enough to be a bit cooler. It's really unspoilt in fact there's a Bikepacking event called the Cataluña Trail that takes place in July,
Cataluna Trail
Another vote for Tour Des Combins; also did this in 2019, in our case early August and we started and finished from the Italian side at the village of Etroubles.
The Rifugio Adolpho Letey above Champillon is superb and you could easily get there in a day from Aosta city.
The climb the next day up to the Fenetre is an Alpine classic, initially riding following a buried Roman aqueduct, crawling along cliff edges and then the hike up to the high point, surrounded by glaciers.
Our second day became a bit of a monster, two big climbs and staying at the Cabane Col de Mille. It's fine, a bit 'Swiss' (soul-less) but really only because it's in contrast to the night before in Italy! Just don't be late for dinner, they stick to Swiss timings. Not Italian...
Day three was the other way around, one climb, two big descents. First thing, down to Bourg st Pierre, up over the Grand St Bernard and then the sweet singletrack for miles back to Etroubles.
Nearly all the descending in this route is superb Alpine singletrack, barring the bit inside the tunnel by the barrage, that's just very strange. A dusty dirt road spiralling down inside a mountain. Narrow, with poor lighting.
Other options on this route are to break at the Caban Chanrion or to use a B&B in the valley down below the Mauvoisin dam.
As someone else suggested, this tour can be readily accessed from the Swiss side at Martigny if that works out better. I've done that on another trip another time but that one included dropping in to the Montreux jazz festival at the end of the week. Pure 'Singletrack' eh..?
Riding round Bardenechia is very good at least on the trails using the ski lifts same with Sauze down the road. Lots of high military roads in the area that looked good when I was there no single track though.
Bikepacking.com is a great resource if you have not seen it ye. The Basque route Matt posted looks great straight from the airport, been mulling over it for awhile and Malaga is easy option fly in start peddling away from the coast.
For those watching this with a bit more time on their hands, I organise a bikepacking trip that runs across Spain from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic coast, mainly off road and using some incredible trails. This year's trip runs from the 20th to 29th of May.
Spanish Divide
Wow, lots of awesome trips to consider! Will do the maths of them all and see what works out flight timing wise and cost wise over the next few weeks and see if I can sell them to my riding partner - that is assuming we can find a weekend we're both free!
Bikepacking.com is definitely a great resource - done a few of the routes from there!
Coincidentally I was looking for someone else over the weekend. Mid Sept with Ryanair from Manchester to Reus. Early Wednesday morning return late Sunday night would mean 5 full days riding. Fares are just over £100 plus bike. From memory, flights from Stansted and Gatwick are cheaper still.