Going to France

[ChrisB]

We will be going to Angers France next month and would be grateful for any tips or advice that anyone could give, particularly relating to toll fees. Along with me and the wife on our GTR will be my son on his SV650 and a mate and his Mrs on their Blackbird. I promise to take the camera and post some pictures when I get back, this is our first trip abroad on a bike. ;D

[Lonewolf]

You are one lucky SOB.  ;D

Have a great trip and you MUST take lots of piccies!

[ChrisB]

Hi Lonewolf
Are we the only ones on this site after 9.00pm?
Last night I had to suffer match of the day and see those glorious reds win yet again, because no bikes on the box.
Tonight i am on this site enjoying a drop of Jamiesons to help ease my aching back after fitting kitchen units.

[Rusty]

Now that sounds like a good collection of bikes to take over to France !
There are endless tips that people will give you but here are a few of mine ... if it's hot, and I mean proper sweaty hot hot then take a load of really cheap T shirts ( the ones that cost £5 for 10 type thing ) and ditch them at the end of each day .... leaves you plenty of space for your kit and you won't have stinky panniers !
Buy a " quick dry " towel, half size from a camp shop online like " Field and TreK ".. don't cost much and again will save you space and weight.
Plenty of talc to dry out those sweaty bits at the end of the day.
One of those cotton neck pieces that doubles up as a bandana ... keeps the back of your neck getting sunburned !
If you come back with any Euro coins save them for the next trip ( there is ALWAYS a next trip ) for the Tolls etc.
Tolls ?? Usually very good fast roads.. and that's the problem ... as you arrive at the end of the toll road and approach the booths with your ticket you may/will see bikes lined up along the edge of the road .. blokes having a smoke etc .. they are not wasting their time but just waiting for the clock to keep ticking ... most toll roads will print a "start" time on your ticket and as you pass out the other end it makes a note of your "finish" time .. ie it will work out how long it has taken you to ride along that bit of road,and as we know if you have the time and distance you can work out the speed .... so if the toll road is 8 miles long and its only taken you a few minutes to complete it your average speed will be X km per hour .. and if its too high the local Traffic Police appear and issue you with an on the spot fine, usually around the £200 mark  ( yes I did say £200 ) and if you don't have the cash/credit card they WILL impound your bike .. I have seen it done.
So either be careful and slow down or take up smoking.
Have a great trip.

[Lonewolf]

Hi Lonewolf
Are we the only ones on this site after 9.00pm?
Last night I had to suffer match of the day and see those glorious reds win yet again, because no bikes on the box.
Tonight i am on this site enjoying a drop of Jamiesons to help ease my aching back after fitting kitchen units.

Match of the Day, is that still broadcast, I dont do football, cant think of anything less interesting.  ;D

[Rusty]

Glorious Reds ? 10 points clear at the top ... EASY !

[pembsgtr]

The last three trips into France just had plenty of change to hand and small denomination notes. I found wearing a set of edz underwear under leathers most comfortable, then at the end of the days riding armed with a tube of handwash in the shower a quick rinse and wring dry and then hang up and by the morning a fresh set of dry under garments. As above on tolls keep eye on time and distance and you should have no problems with the local genddarmes wanting to take money from you.

[Kawdolph]

Last year when in france we used to stop at services at least once on toll road to average the time,you can avoid the tolls but if you looking to make up time then they are the way to go.