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We’ve been batting around an idea for a road trip to Ainsa (spain) for a bit of riding
there was a thought to break the journey and have a day riding in France.
looking at the map Bordeaux is about half way… any decent places to ride near there to break the journey?
I’m undecided whether its better to just push on and get to the final destination but if we are missing out on something amazing it would be worth looking into!
Thank you in advance
I would rather go overnight to Bilbao or Santander save a boring drive and arrive less sleep deprived. Not sure there are many crossings available this time of year though.
Nothing amazing round there a few nice bits of scenery along the BTT routes and the weather is likely to be a bit rubbish.
Nothing as far as I’m aware around Bordeaux - either very flat or vineyards. There are some nice xc trails further up in the Dordogne but probably not worth a big detour.
I live East of your route halfway down France and whilst there is some half decent XC trail around us (one round of the French MTB Cup was held locally)...I'd not bother, just blat on and get to Ainsa in a day.
We travelled down that way when our daughter was competing in the EWS. We had the same idea but didn't find anything worthwhile to ride. In hindsight we should have just got their as quickly as we could and enjoyed the extra time on the trails around Ainsa. We could have spent a lot more time their enjoying it but had to travel to the next event in Finale so there was loads we didn't manage to ride.
Its on our list of places to revisit to spend more time at a relaxed pace.
Bordeaux would be a dead loss for riding, I dunno about further East. Two drivers - St Malo - San Sebastián easily. Plenty riding around here, then Aínsa is a 3h drive.
I don't ride much now, but I run in Aínsa a lot, and I would be tempted to save my legs tbh 😉
Looking at the map, would be easier to drive via Pau - it's a lovely city for a visit...
Ainsa is too good to delay arrival. Living in SW I get the ferry to roscoff then smash it to Ainsa in a day.
Thank you all..
that’s given us some great info to work with.
We've done the drive from Northern France to Ainsa a couple of times, in a camper van. Both times we have got beyond Pau on the first days drive, then meandered over to Ainsa via a half day riding at Fabian, north of the Beilsa tunnel.
Done the trip many times, mostly from Calais, as above, my advice would be to make haste to Ainsa!
You are missing loads if you don’t stop. Fabian already mentioned although only an hour from Ainsa. Basque coast is packed with hand built trails. Near Pamplona there is loads. If you’re in a van few places are better than Landa in Basque. Ens. Loudenville. Val d’Aran depending on your route. Riglos. Guara. Each one is easily as good as Ainsa.
Bordeaux is also awesome. Like France’s San Sebastián. Rubbish for biking though!