South Cumbria?

[Boomer]

Yer all wrong. 
The Alps/Pyrenees have too many hairpin bends which are no fun at all,... just scary! 
The Lake District has too many cars/caravans/hikers. 

Motorcycling Nirvana is in the Ardennes/Eiffel.
Vast tracts of empty roads through farmland and forests, twisties that motorcycles were made for over the rolling hills and occasional sharp drops into the river valleys. Anywhere inside the red line you will find great riding roads, although the Belgian sections can be rather rough and pot-holed.
Also has some excellent stuff to see like The Caves of Han, Rocroi Walled Town, The Castles of Luxembourg, Bastogne War museums, vineyards (Mosel region), Spa-Francorchamps race track (yes you can ride on some of it) and most importantly a vast selection of breweries.
Hotels are plentiful, cheap, and welcome motorcyclists. Food is excellent pretty much everywhere.
Apart from the rough Belgian roads the only other -ve is that the weather is similar to here. Take your waterproofs,... even in summer.

[coman37]

Once again you are all wrong,  N260 Sort--- Ripoll  in N Spain the long sweeping open roads that Boomer yearns for without the hairpins,tourists, and rain of Belgium, Scotland and the Lake District all of which on a clear bright sunny day are magnificent but too few and far between to plan a successful jaunt

regards Coman

[mecki]

What good are empty wide sweeping roads if the speed limit is only 100 km/h (60mph)? 
To pay hefty fines or even risk loosing my licence I don't have to go to the continent, I can do that as well here in the UK. 
I love those high alpine passes with their hairpins and breathtaking views and don't find them scary at all. 
And if you don't feel like passes you can get all the other stuff in the Alps too.
The high passes are after all only a tiny part of the region.
I have been through the Eifel and the Ardennes and didn't find them that exciting.
Don't know about Northern Spain so I can't make a comment about that.
Probably too hot for my taste.

But it is good that everybody has different preferences because otherwise the nice places would be rapidly over-crowded. 

[SirToU]

I'll tell you what, I'll give you my opinion once I've done it.

Ive done the alps.... but not the passes - made our own route and got lost in a little place called Seehof. (dead end). (47.316177,7.559903 <---- put this number in google).

I'm sure it will be fantastic.

Neil

[patrick]

He made the Alps as a booby prize for those not fortunate enough to have The Lake District right on their doorstep, poor souls. 

Nah...... definitely got to disagree with that one. Much as  I enjoy the Cumbria landscape I really want to see and ride in the Alps again ( and may be stretch the GTR's legs on an autobahn on the way there!

On my last trip to the Alps the hotel was at 1400 metres above sea level and the road head of the valley was 2700 at metres.  Hardnott and Wrynose cant compete with that :-)

[patrick]

Y

Motorcycling Nirvana is in the Ardennes/Eiffel.
Vast tracts of empty roads through farmland and forests, twisties that motorcycles were made for over the rolling hills and occasional sharp drops into the river valleys.

I agree on this one. Had a full out in the Ardennes. Not knowing the area we just looked on a road map picked some twisty looking roads and popped a town or two in the sat nav.  Great!

[Lonewolf]

I haven't done any bike touring overseas for 25 years and whilst I fully enjoyed my jaunt to St Tropez on my Honda CX 500 I am very content currently to potter about The Lakes & Scotland especially but in fact anywhere in the UK. 

[O.C.]

Hi All,

I've got to go to South Cumbria on Thurdays/Friday can anyone give me some useful information about this neck of the woods?

(more information to follow later, when I know).

Neil

  Just to bring the post back onto topic Neil....It was good to chat and I'll see you on Friday 

[SirToU]

We'll I am here!

Did I see anything - Buggar All.  It wasn't raining, but it wasn't exactly clear blue skies either.  What's all the fuss about?  ;-)

Actually, I can up on the A1 and turned left over the top of Leeds (remember, I'm a southerner).

From Leeds to Skipton, then on to Barrow - even in less than perfect weather, it was a good choice - A1 was great (as far as motorways go), but the A465 was  excellent, caught me out a few times because I was too busy looking at what scenery I could see (1-2 mile visibility). and the hills and corners - Living in Cambridgeshite - I'd forgot about the whinedy bits....  :-)

It has everything, a little of northern France, Southern France, Southern England, Wales and NONE of London - Move up here for the weekends - where do I sign?  I just gotta find the really really nice bits now... - Oh and do what I'm up here to do - work  :-(

Thanks all for your helpful comments, even if they were telling me not too..  :-)

Neil

[O.C.]

Neil, it was great to meet yesterday after years of 'forum communication'   

Good to know that you had a safe journey home.

As they say in Bonnie Scotland "Haste ye back"

[Debs]

Neil, it was great to meet yesterday after years of 'forum communication'   

Good to know that you had a safe journey home.

As they say in Bonnie Scotland "Haste ye back"

He did say he was excited to see your bike collection.. I hope you didnt disappoint him..   

[SirToU]

Debs - they were very nice.

Thank you OC for the Tea, and flask of coffee (refilled my flask for me, before the 5 hour ride home).  when it was raining, and I was under the petrol forecourt canopy, it made a fantastic stop.  better than the rubbish they call coffee in the shop!

I have to say, I am really looking forward to some of the bike trips in the lakes.  What a place.

Thanks again Roger and hopefully catch up again soon.

Neil

[O.C.]

He did say he was excited to see your bike collection.. I hope you didnt disappoint him..   

I think Neil liked them Debs, they're not to everyones taste but I like 'em 

[SirToU]

Confirm today.... I'm moving to Cumbria!   I just want to play on the Cumbrian and Yorkshire roads.

Hopefully OC will show me the good biker meets when it warms up and I move up here in approximately 4 weeks! 

Neil

[100milesaway]

Good lad Neil, looking forward to meeting up, and playing out. You are in for a VERY special summer,  on some of motorcyclings finest roads surrounded by the best scenery on earth. I am sure you have made a very wise decision to come and join the northern numpties