Pyrenees Long Weekend start of July

shmooster
shmooster Posts: 335
edited January 2017 in Tour & expedition
Hi all, I'm planning a long weekend for about 10 of us cycling in the Pyrenees around the 1st of July. Looking for recommendations of places to stay (we prefer half board and happy to cycle on our own without guides), and any route recommendations. Looking to do the Tourmalet, Hautacam, Aubisque, maybe the Aspin and Peyresourde. Hopefully we'll fly to Lourdes but might have to be Toulouse depending on days as I think there aren't too many flights to Lourdes.

Thanks.

Comments

  • tomisitt
    tomisitt Posts: 257
    How about following the route of the iconic 1910/1969 Tours? I did this a couple of years ago, and it was incredible.

    Start at Bagneres-de-Luchon (Hotel Alti), climb the Peyresourde, the Aspin and the Tourmalet. Stay in Argeles Gazost (Hotel les Cimes). The next day climb the Soulor and the Aubisque, descend into Pau, catch the train from Pau to Montrejeau, ride the 20 miles back to Bagneres-de-Luchon.

    Two days riding, 120 miles, 16,000ft of climbing in the wheel-tracks of Lapize and Merckx. Very beautiful and (for me) very emotional. Absolutely loved it.

    Some photos here: http://isitt.org.uk/6.html

    Route here: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/7285652
  • bernithebiker
    bernithebiker Posts: 4,148
    Bagneres de Luchon is a good place to base yourself.
  • andcp
    andcp Posts: 644
    Having stayed there, I can recommend Velo Peloton: https://pyreneescyclinglodge.com but they might struggle to get 10 of you in; not far from Lourdes, great riding in the area. I think Paddy is on this forum somewhere.
    "It must be true, it's on the internet" - Winston Churchill
  • marcusjb
    marcusjb Posts: 2,412
    tomisitt wrote:
    Route here: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/7285652

    That looks a cracking route and takes in some classics.

    There is so much good riding around there, love it. Riding some of the classic climbs is very emotional - all the times you've watched racing on the TV, the names on the roads, the statues, plaques etc.

    Fabulous!
    Stuff about riding a bike a long way
  • shmooster
    shmooster Posts: 335
    Thanks all, I'll drop Paddy a mail. I'll also see if there's a way we can incorporate that route, I like the idea of a train journey during a ride, feels like more of an adventure somehow.
  • ror3h
    ror3h Posts: 68
    Argeles-Gazost is a great spot for pretty much all of those climbs. Only 10 miles from Lourdes too so easy to get to. Alternatively you could stay in Saint-Lary-Soulan, lots of amazing climbs on the doorstep.
  • durhamwasp
    durhamwasp Posts: 1,247
    We stayed at Argeles-Gazost, perfect base for Aubisque, Soulor, Hautacam and then Tourmalet and Luz Ardiden just up the road in Luz St Sauveur. Argeles had everything we wanted, altho Luz did seem to have a few more restaurants and bars so I'd say it may be a better base.

    We flew into Biaritz with Ryanair, then hired a car to drive across to Argeles. We hired a static caravan on a campsite, cheap as chips and had the use of the campsite swimming pool for post-ride. Nice new accommodation and own kitchen, fridge, TV etc. There were so many options along these lines in both Argeles and Luz.

    Theres a write-up on our website and also loads of photos. https://snookcycling.wordpress.com/pyrenees/
    http://www.snookcycling.wordpress.com - Reports on Cingles du Mont Ventoux, Alpe D'Huez, Galibier, Izoard, Tourmalet, Paris-Roubaix Sportive & Tour of Flanders Sportive, Amstel Gold Xperience, Vosges, C2C, WOTR routes....
  • phil485
    phil485 Posts: 364
    We did 4 days in Saint Lary Soulan last year. My first pyrenees trip. Did most of the climbs you mentioned plus an absolute stinker up to some lakes which were stunning. Billed as a rest day it most certainly wasnt!
    Flew with BA to toulouse and hired a couple of cars and a van which followed us around carrying kit and anyone who had had enough.
  • shmooster
    shmooster Posts: 335
    I tried Velo Peloton but fully booked already, so looking at the Hotel Primerose instead, had some friends stayed there previously and they recommended it. Expect we'll fly to Toulouse with Easyjet from Gatwick (not a Ryanair or Stansted fan) and get transfers. Found a useful guide to climbs online http://en.argeles-gazost.com/media/parc ... 122015.pdf
  • xacasar
    xacasar Posts: 13
    Try to get in touch with them http://www.bikebasque.co.uk/
    Nice guys, they can certainly help you out.
  • shmooster
    shmooster Posts: 335
    xacasar wrote:
    Try to get in touch with them http://www.bikebasque.co.uk/
    Nice guys, they can certainly help you out.

    Thanks but all sorted with Primerose now.

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