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Hello, I'm in the USA and looking for an off-road bike route from the Pyrenees at the Spanish border to Nice. I'm looking for the most direct, fastest dirt (mostly) route, rather than necessarily the best quality singletrack. Being in the states, I'm limited on my resources. It looks like, worst case, I could take a combination of GR 36>GR 7>GR 6>GR 4. Anyone know if bikes are allowed on those? I don't mind techy but needs to be relatively fast overall.
Thoughts/suggestions for dirt routes from about Perpignan to near Nice?
Lucky barsteward, I'd love to do that...
There will be loads of routes, but be warned, it takes me hours and hours on the www to research routes! Use sites like bikemap.net and gps-tour.info and you can usually string a tour together, with that, googleearth and online IGN maps.
I have never had any trouble riding on tracks and trails in France however have no idea what the 'right of way' rules are there. I know there are a few 'interdit' (prohibited) areas but they tend to be National Parks etc and again all that info is on the WWW,
Good luck and make sure you write it up so we can all gain from your findings!!
C
http://biking66.com/vtt.club.de.prades-156-28.php
It might be worth speaking to these guys in Prades, just inland a bit from Perpignan. They will direct you to an english speaking Dutchman who organises trail riding locally. They have a huge knowledge of their local trail networks and could probably put you in touch with others on the ground who may be able to help you.
Long shot, but worth an email.
Officially I think GRs are pedestrian only but no one gives a monkeys in France. If it works, go for it.
There is a section of the camino st jacque de campostelle that goes from perpignan to at least narbonne, there is some good riding behind narbonne towards salagou/montpellier. The riding between Toulon and nice through the Maures, petit Maures and Esterel is excellent. Look on www.geoportail.fr to plan your route (you can choose the IGN format and get a proper map).
You will never have anyone giving you a hard time for riding a track in france so anything that is a track or a footpath is fair game.
Thanks everyone, I looked up the IGN maps on Geoportail. Seems pretty decent and easy to follow the GR routes. I'd be looking to do this a year from now so plenty of time for research.