cycling marseilles to barcelona

thanks for that link, very handy, and the route ideas. Zonc, when you say 'small and rough' do you mean the roads or the hills - ie do you mean it's bumpy tarmac, or actually unpaved? Just deciding on what tyres to take at the moment... I'll probably go for Halo Twin Rails that I have, as they're fast and comfortable on smooth tarmac but can handle coarser grades, and even tracks, quite well.

any vague ideas as to how long a ride like the one you suggest would take - just thinking in terms of booking my return transport, and allowing a couple of days in Barcelona to take in the sights.

A friend of mine mentioned going via Puigcerda, I think it was, which is 150km or so from Barcelona.

thanks zonc. how about going over col d ares? is that more direct/ a bit quieter?

Just thought I'd offer a quick run down of the route I took in the first week of november. Most of the time, it was cloudy in the morning, then cleared up by the afternoon. Pretty good cycling weather heat wise. The weather took a turn for the worse in the pyrenees, so I ended up detouring round to the coast, where the sun was shining.

I used IGN 1:250 000 maps, (languedoc roussillon and bouches du rhone), just 4 euros each at FNAC.

rough route: Mirabeau (North of Aix, my starting point at a friends house), via Pertuis, Eyguieres (nice, lots of wild camping potential), Arles, to Saintes Maries do la Mer. wild camped on the beach. 150km or so. Some bigger roads but plenty of space for bikes.

SM de la Mer, via La Grande Motte, south of Montpellier to a little spot near Caux (north of Pezenas) - camped in an organic vineyard - lovely area round there: lots of small, quiet roads. 130 or so.

Caux, via Cebazon to Homps. Great road, quiet for the most part, super smooth. then picked up the canal du midi waterside trail to Caracassone (again, very nice, a little rough in places so better for 700x30c+ tyres), and south to a great backpacker hostel in Preixan. (called Sidsmums) 130 or so.

Preixan, via Limoux, Quillan, St Paul de Fenouillet to Perpignan. Busy at first (it was a weekend) then better from Quillan, through a gorge, quiet, snow capped peaks in the distance and lovely picnic posts. Very gentle climb. Killer headwind for the last 20km into Perpignan though. 125kms or so.

Perpignan via coast road into Spain. Not sure where, as I didn't have a map and just hopped on a train when it was getting late, as I needed to be in Barcelona that evening. Train to barcelona just 9 euros. Quiet road on the french side once out of the sprawl of Perpignan, lots of superb spots to swim (cold but refreshing) and seaside villages to stop in, a few hills but nothing to worry about. I imagine this road would be busier in the summer season.

All in all, a lovely tour. The roads were broader the first couple of days, then quieter in the Languedoc. The foothills of the pyrenees were great, will have to return to ride the passes in better weather - I just had a tarp and a small summer sleeping bag. Looks like there is loads of potential round there, given more time.

All the shops seemed to shut at 1pm, some until 5pm in the smaller villages! (it was sunset at 5.30). Internet at lovely Sidsmums, and at the YHA in Perpignan. (bit of a dump, that place).

I was planning to visit Manosque too (NE of Aix), as I'd heard it was lovely and the surrounding area is stunning, but it rained that day!