Le Havre routes

Richard_D
Richard_D Posts: 320
edited February 2011 in Tour & expedition
Myself and a group of friends are doing a trip from Basingstoke to Paris raising money for the RNLI this summer. The bit of the route that we are having the most problem planning is getting out of Le Havre any suggestions would be appreciated. We want a on road route.

Comments

  • dilemna
    dilemna Posts: 2,187
    http://www.voiesvertes.com/htm/departement76_av.htm

    And a Michelin map 1cm:2km.
    Life is like a roll of toilet paper; long and useful, but always ends at the wrong moment. Anon.
    Think how stupid the average person is.......
    half of them are even more stupid than you first thought.
  • fietslogies
    fietslogies Posts: 46
    http://www.af3v.org/CarteAF3V/carte-detaillee.html

    Go for the orange and purple lines between Le Havre and Evreux.
    60 bicycle trails along Belgian canals, rivers and former railway tracks : http://www.bikely.com/listpaths/by/fietslogies
  • nicktheluddite
    nicktheluddite Posts: 221
    Are you planning on crossing over the Pont-de-Normandie? It's a pretty major road - dual carriage-way with a bike lane and it wasn't that much fun. I think it's only a 70km/h speed limit but it feels like the cars are faster. Route de L'Estuarie was the route we used to get to it (which was nice and quiet) - google maps makes it look like you could MIGHT be able to go all the way along this and then onto Route de Marias. I have NOT been this way - streetview at D982 / Rue de L'Ecluse looks like there might be some sort of barrier? but nothing at the other end.
  • oilyribbons
    oilyribbons Posts: 24
    If you don't take the Pont de Normandie road straight out of the port, then you end up having to do a long detour. When you get out of the boat, keep to the right - you have to go back into what seems the lorry port, but as long as you have the sea on your right, you will eventually see the Pont de Normandie. It is a major road but it's generally quite quiet. There are bike paths all the way up to the bridge. Once you cross the bridge there's a good two mile climb up a wide main road. When you're up on top, it's bascially flat all the way to Paris, and the roads are quiet too.

    I've done this route twice, and once you get beyond the bridge, 13 miles from the port, it's all country (but main) roads and quite pleasant.
  • andrew_s
    andrew_s Posts: 2,511
    I'd recommend using the ferry at Quillebeuf (free, every 15-20 mins) rather than the Pont de Normandie.

    Route on Google Maps
  • Richard_D
    Richard_D Posts: 320
    This may seem a silly question but what are the rules about bikes in France. The reason I asked is three of us did some research separately and came up with 3 different answers.
    Hi-vis when and where?
    Helmets? lights and reflectors? CTC seemed to say rulles were similar to the UK but HiVis needed dusk onwards

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