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I know using Google Maps I can choose "no tolls" vs "no motorway", but we still end up on main routes.
I want to take my time, cruise along without the stress of having some local flashing hits lights in my rear view mirror.
Is there a sat nav app that suggests more sedate routes?
Specifically France, Spain and Portugal.
Cheers.
I think the best approach is to use paper maps
Komoot will recommend quieter (non-trunk) roads when you use the Bike Touring option.
Cycle.travel
Planned and rode a route from Southampton to Prestwick. Very easy to use once you get used to it and if you subscribe it gives you an OS Map option.
Automatically plots the route on cycle routes and very quiet back roads. Can also put in a gravel option.
I'm a firm fan of the cycle.travel website for routing this style of ride. The iOS app is new, and I've not used it yet, but assume it uses the same routing algo, so should be goodd. Think the Android app is a way off yet.
Cycle.travel has a lot of very loyal users. I've only used it for shorter rides but has produced great routes.
Strangely enough, just got an ipad from work and downloaded the cycle.travel app. Works well.
This is what i used last summer
https://www.weserradweg-info.de/mobile/de/tourplanner/
https://en.francevelotourisme.com/
Edit - the german one you I guess you can read german - zoom in and the cycleroutes appear and it covers all of europe
The french one I think you can select for greenroutes
I also got an overlay for google maps that shows allthe greeroutes in Spain. but I have no link - its on my big cycle tour thread. Ill look for it
Cycle.travel is very good.
Used it last summer to plot a quiet route from Stirling to Pitlochry - a route I'd done many, many times before.
Gave me a completely new route that was most excellent - and quiet.
this has the spanish green routes on it. somewhwere there is a link toa google maps overlay. they are great and there is loads of them.
Cheers guys....
Have followed a few of the bike routes through France to mostly good effect. Had to turn back at one point because of a low bridge!
Edit.... I can't find cycle.traval on android play.... 🤔
Is it apple only...?
Another vote for cycle.travel. So simple to use and every route is super quiet traffic wise
Is it apple only…?
Funnily enough I’ve recently switched to apple and it’s fine.
Had it for years on my Galaxy though, so as far as I know shouldn’t be an issue
You sure you’re spelling it right?
it’s cycle.travel
not travAl
cycle streets.net is pretty good for uk based touring.
put a start point in, and a destination, and it gives you 3 options.
fastest, slowest and middle ground. also tells you busy spots.
Sorry, yeah... Cycle.travel... Drunk fast fingers.
From their website....
"There’ll be an Android version in 2023."
Might be there in time for the return journey.
Will give the komoot app a try.
My advice is don't plan too strictly. Have a rough route in mind but only plan th detail a day or two ahead as otherwise you find yourself thinking " I have to get to this town tonight" much better to not have deadlines
What I did was while having my coffee in the morning make an assessment of how I was feeling and plot a route for the day. Mid afternoon reassess and sort out that nights accommodation. Be flexible - the days going well? ride till 7pm. Not feeling it? head for the pub at 3 pm
Cheers tj, but I'm in a van.
Just don't fancy the stress of the main routes with trucks and commuters. Quite happy to sit dawdling along at 50kmh. Not in a hurry.
Also used komoot for bikepacking in Croatia/bosnia.
Road route option put you on to some busy main roads.
Mountain bike option was far too hike a bike or very overgrown foot paths.
Gravel option was perfect. Quiet country roads with good gravel and cycle routes.
Oops alpin - I assumed bike tour 🙂
One thing I did in France with picking roads was to pick a D road that went in the direction I wanted but wasn't a direct route between towns. they carry little traffic
Yup... Department roads... Often single lane and add you say, quiet.
Went for a 10km walk yesterday between some megaliths, about half was on tarmac. We saw three cars all day. Awesome.
Another plug for Komoot.
I did a 1,400km coast to coast ride last summer across France using Komoot's gravel option all the way. Took me on really quiet roads, canal towpaths and lots of lovely Voie Verte (cycleways). There were just a couple of sections of 'proper' gravel but mainly in the Alps where there aren't many alternative routes (also avoided the infestation of motorbikes on some of the Cols).