Moto GP - Le Mans 21st MAy

[Robbo SPS]

This weekend, a few of my mates are taking our 2 wheeled pleasure toys to France to watch this race....


Anyone else want to tag along ?

Otherwise.....

IO have NEVER done Calais to Le Mans...

Whats the best rout...

Was going to try Calais - Le Havre - Peage Motoway, then pick up the N138 to Le Mans... If the weather good...

IS Rouen still a bottle neck ?

[Barry]

Hi Robbo,
Rouen depends on what time you are there, its the most direct from Calais, horrid in rushhour, depends how lucky you are at other times.
Last time I tried a alternative route, it was slower that banging through Rouen.

One alternative is to leave the A28 at J11, pick up the A29 to Le Havre, exit at J9 Yvetot and cross the Seine at the Pont de Brotonne, when you get down to the A13 you can either pick up the new motorway to LM, the A28, or carry on to Bourgthroulde on the D313 and pick up the N138.

Are you on the bike or in a car? Suspect the former, don't forget there are apparently no services/fuel on the new motorway yet.

If you want more details on the Yvotot route let me know.

[Barry]

Just reread your post and see you are on your bikes.
Only done Calais route by car.
Rouen shouldn't be a problem on 2 wheels, traffic jams? PAH!
It's the shortest route, so I would use that, and then have some fun on the N138. Fueling might be a problem depending on what time you are travelling, if you are giving it some stick it will be 2 fuel stops if you start full at Calais, presuming 130 miles per tank.
Never done the scenic non motorway routes from Calais to Rouen, but I think that our glorious global moderator has, so if time permits that might be worth investigating, but I think that even on a bike it takes a lot longer.

Have a good time, wish I could go as well.

 

[smokie]

Last year, with the caravan on, we went towards Paris from Dunkerque, then skirted Paris via Chartres. The route was mostly motorway so cost a  bit in tolls, and was probably longer than the usual way, but avoided the stop/start of all those N138 roundabouts after Rouen (which are a pain when towing). Small amount of congestion around Paris (this on a Sunday) but overall journey time was good.

It probably wasn't a "good" route for normal use but we enjoyed it more - towing a caravan is a pain at the best of times and at least that way we felt like we were bowling along pretty well.

[Lorry]

Every year another couple of villages build bypasses, which have to have at least 4 roundabouts.  You just get up to speed with a 'van when you hit the next one.  Then there's about 3 steep valleys, which are always clogged with old overloaded trucks in first gear

However, the good bits are suberb.  This years problem is the A28 motorway.  Its straight and flat so is ideal for a caravan, but boring for a bike.  I'm thinking half and half

[keithk]

http://www.gpfrancemoto.com/

? I guess there has been a little "artistic" licence used here?

and if they use the same oneway system as the Moto 24 have fun...

[Robbo SPS]

Artistic - What you mean Rossi's front wheels not bouncing along ....


Barry - We are on bikes, but Steve's GSXR1000 doesnt do more than 100 miles oper tank, and my 600 struggles to keep up with them at the usual pace, so 100 miles is about ready for juice.

I think Auto route to LE Havre, then N138....

Roundabouts aer fun unless its raning

[Stu]

Apparently the Motorway is open all the way through now so no hole at Rouen.

[SmithA]

Apparently the Motorway is open all the way through now so no hole at Rouen.

So is there now a faster way round Rouen? if so please tell 

Andy

[Ferrari Spider]

Sorry, you've had your hopes raised,  its either across Rouen as per normal or take the by pass route.  Have a look the LM guide Werner is putting together, route directions are there.

http://www.lemanszone.de/caguide2006.html

[Kpy]

Apparently the Motorway is open all the way through now so no hole at Rouen.

The motorway isopen all the way, with the exception of the run through Rouen. But the Rouen part is well signed, and you'd need to hit this evening's rush hour to get held up there.
Diverting via Havre adds 40 miles to the route, even if you avoid the town and take the Pont de Normandie. There's also a 5 euro toll each way on the bridge. Not recommended  

[SmithA]

Ah well i like to see the roundabout with the cows on, it makes me feel i am well on the way to getting there and my thirst starts to increase 

Andy

[Barry]

Artistic - What you mean Rossi's front wheels not bouncing along ....


Barry - We are on bikes, but Steve's GSXR1000 doesnt do more than 100 miles oper tank, and my 600 struggles to keep up with them at the usual pace, so 100 miles is about ready for juice.

I think Auto route to LE Havre, then N138....

Roundabouts aer fun unless its raning

A lot of HGV's on the 138, keep your eyes open for diesel on those roundabouts.

Have a safe trip, and enjoy the race.

[Lorry]

A lot of HGV's on the 138, keep your eyes open for diesel on those roundabouts.

Have a safe trip, and enjoy the race.

Lots of tractors and cows too.  Look out for the brown sticky stuff too.

Whats brown and sticky?
A stick

[Rob]

Whats brown and sticky?
A stick

Whats pink and fluffy?

pink fluff











ok, i'll stop it now