RAID Pyreneen

tim_wand

Would like to do the RAID Pyreneen but would prefer to do it with just a mate and not on an organised tour like Pyractif.

I take it the recognised route is Biaritz to Arles. Looking at about 7 days not including Travel.

Would prefer to leave a car at the Atlantic Coast and then come back by Train or Air

Would be looking to Credit Card tour it staying in Geust Houses.

Would like to take in the Major Tour Cols.

Any one know a descent Book/ Guide to give me some Ideas.

I ve Scabbed bits of Pyractif's Website but fancy a bit of a loose itinenary In case my climbing legs cant hack it.

mz__jo

The Raid Pyrenéen is a randonnée permanente of a club affiliated to the FFCT. The starting point for looking is here

http://ffct.cvf.fr/app.jgi;jsessionid=E ... nk&sp=4660

The site of the organising club is here http://www.ccb-cyclo.fr/

http://www.ccb-cyclo.fr/cariboost_files ... nglais.pdf gives the barest of details of the raid so that you have to fix your plan before asking for full details of what you are about to take on.

If you can read french this account gives you a better idea of what it is all about. Lookng at it, if I had the time I would opt for the Tourist version rather than the Randonneur.
http://jean-louis.acin.pagesperso-orang ... ye%201.htm
I think his trip is possibly quite close to what you seem to be suggesting.

Googling will get you some more accounts in english

tim_wand

Thanks . Not looking to get a recognised randonmee certificate just really want to do a Pyreneen coast to coast ride. So I probably posed the question wrong. Will still check out the site for route information and night stop points.

mz__jo

The big disadvantage of this randonnée is that the organisers don't publish the route (in order to stop people doing like you want to). If you take Jean-louis' account and follow it on a road map, even without understanding all the french narrative (which would be a pity 'cos it is very well written) I think you will have pretty much as much information as you should need to plan your trip. There are other accounts, I have even seen a photo of a route card on the site of one of the organised tours (I will post the link here if I can find it again; I might have saved it on another computer) but already you will have a good insight into what is involved.
I suggest printing out Jean-louis' account as it is quite long. He has 8 "pages" which are really chapters. Some are only 1 or 2 pages long but the longest is I think 7 pages. A thumping good read for those who are a bit bilingual.Even though it was done in 1993 I think little has changed of the challenge and the motivation.

tim_wand

Will check the Jean Louis account out. Luckily on a totally professional basis I know a French Tutor who I am sure for a descent bottle of Cognac will translate it for me.
I think google chrome actually has automatic translation tools.

The Pyractif site gives an itenary and distances which I am sure I can use as rough guide with a decent Michelen road map.

VeloPeloton

You will find all the route details on this page.
http://www.velopeloton.com/raid-pyrenees/

Here is an alternative coast to coast route.
http://www.velopeloton.com/forum/velo-p ... eneen/#p63

VeloPeloton

tim wand wrote:

Thanks . Not looking to get a recognised randonmee certificate just really want to do a Pyreneen coast to coast ride. So I probably posed the question wrong. Will still check out the site for route information and night stop points.

If that is the case I would do a different route. The Raid route has some busy roads on it you could avoid. The Raid route was devised in 1952, they really need to revise it.

mz__jo

Thank you VeloPeloton I look up your site to post it and there you are ahead of me.
I think the general opinion is that the access to the Col de Puymorens carries much too much traffic so could be avoided by someone not wanting to stamp a card and win a medal.

Here is another account, this time of the long route (sorry, always in french) and a better page of the organiser's page, the account link is in english.

http://www.ccb-cyclo.fr/raid_pyreneen.html

http://myelloway.over-blog.com/categorie-10667469.html

Good reading, happy planning. Let us all know how you get on.

Cheers Jo

nickwill

Re the Col de Puymorens. The official route has now changed and goes via the Port de Pailheres. The section to the Puymorens was the only blot on a wonderful route. There is an account of my Raid Pyrenean on my blog (address below).

tim_wand

Some excellent stuff on here. Thanks guys plenty of sources for some decent research and planning might even expand my ecole francais.

Last silly question. Weather wise when would it be too late in the year to reasonably attempt the High Cols,

T.C.

Ha, been thinking of this myself, need a challenge for next year.

mz__jo

tim wand wrote:

Some excellent stuff on here. Thanks guys plenty of sources for some decent research and planning might even expand my ecole francais.

Last silly question. Weather wise when would it be too late in the year to reasonably attempt the High Cols,

September should still be ok in the Pyrenees IMHO; October very unpredictable and pack your snow-chains for november. Seriously I wouldn't plan on anything later than september. If someone was there on holiday anyway the response would be different. If the weather turns nasty, at altitude life could be a bit difficult. In the Alps it is normal to expect snow at altitude up to july 14th and after mid-august. Don't forget also that te climate has been turned a bit upside in recent years

If Velopeloton disagrees I would follow his advice; he's on the spot.

VeloPeloton

The last 2 years October was great, dry and warm, with the autumn colours it was spectacular.

To be sure of the high passes being open the second week in October is about it. We have had snow in the Pyrenees at the end of June and again in September but the first heavy snow should not be until mid to late October.

Garrigou

It doesn't have to be a hard & fast rule, but - as a guide - the last notable sportive of the season in the Pyrenees runs on the first weekend of October. That's probably a useful indication that event organisers don't want to risk the higher altitude stuff much after that.

Enjoy yourself. It's a great ride.

mz__jo

But whatever the time of the year go at least prepared for dirtyweather. Even in july a good thunderstorm can cause problems at 2000m.

tatanab

I don't think anybody has pointed out that there are two verions of the Raid Pyreneen. The Sportif version noted above has 18 cols but there is also a Tourist version with 28 cols. The distance for the Touriste version is 790km versus 10 for the Sportif, so not a lot in it. The Tourist verion has 16,000 metres of climbing and the Sportif has only 11,000. Both are run by the Cyclo Club Bernais.

I rode the Touriste version in 1995 and as I recall the roads were quiet with the exception of coastal roads at either end. I rode in early June and was lucky with the weather, high teens or low 20s,. That time of year there are still snow banks on the higher cols and everywhere is the sound of running water from the snow melt. Fabulous.

mz__jo

tatanab wrote:

I don't think anybody has pointed out that there are two verions of the Raid Pyreneen. The Sportif version noted above has 18 cols but there is also a Tourist version with 28 cols. The distance for the Touriste version is 790km versus 10 for the Sportif, so not a lot in it. The Tourist verion has 16,000 metres of climbing and the Sportif has only 11,000. Both are run by the Cyclo Club Bernais.

I rode the Touriste version in 1995 and as I recall the roads were quiet with the exception of coastal roads at either end. I rode in early June and was lucky with the weather, high teens or low 20s,. That time of year there are still snow banks on the higher cols and everywhere is the sound of running water from the snow melt. Fabulous.

Yes, the info is on the Club Béarnais links already mentionned above also in one of the accounts. You don't have a write-up of your experience by any chance, please??

tim_wand

I ve joined "Velo Peleton's" Site/Forum. Google chrome translates all the French entries, Excellent stuff and totally inspiring from guys who ve been there seen it done it and arent bothered about the T shirt.

Thanks a lot guys hopefully by this time next year I ll be able to add something of value to the site by completing my own ride.


Tim