I’ll keep viewing and login the interesting bits – I’ve until Auust ’15 to et sorted

cheers Denis

Amazon sometimes have good deal on the Drift cams, every time they produce a new cam the price on older models get much more interesting..

As for a no-go area in the Pyrenees region that’s easy – Andorra! Even 14 years ago it was a bit of a dump, now it’s far worse mostly due to high levels of traffic. Plenty of bikers head to Andorra thinking it’s the highlight of the Pyrenees, trust me – it’s not! The area has become really built up over the last 10 years and is now a complete pain to get through in summer, in winter it’s just a massive ski resort. It’s also a duty free zone which might sound great – until you join the queues at the border controls. My advice is don’t bother going anywhere near Andorra – unless you want to go off-road, but even then you got to be careful unless you have a local guide that speaks Spanish as you can meet armed border guards “Guardia Civil” even on a seemingly deserted mountain and especially in the middle of no where.

As for a list of passes not pleasant to ride well thats a tough one, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all that, also what type of biking you’re into etc. But here are a list of my favorite cols/ports starting from east to west and in no particular order as I love ‘em all.. This is of course only the tip of the iceberg as there are so many great roads that wind up into the Pyrenees that dead end at ski resorts. Then on the Spanish side there are loads of amazing canyons and roads that aren’t even on any maps, especially in the national parks like the Bardenas Real south west of Pamplona. I’ve been riding the Pyrenees for years and I’ve still plenty of exploring to do so forget about seeing it all in one trip
Check out my YouTube Channel as I’ve got many of these passes on there and I’ll be uploading more soon..

Col d’Orgambidé
Col d’Haritzcurutche
Col de BurdinKurutcheta
Col d’Orgambidesca
Port de Larrau
Col de la Pierre St Martin
Col d’Aubisque
Cirque de Troumouse

Col du Tourmalet
Col de Bielsa
Col d’Agnes
Port de Lers

Enjoy,
Denis

I’m off to the NEC in November so I’m sure there must be some deals to be had

Keep these routes coming – the Pyrenees needs exploring if only by me!

Are the any “no go” area ? as in places that should be avoided at all costs r ones that just aren’t pleasant to ride?

What would you say in your opinion, would be the top 5 or even 10, Cols?

Thanks again – you really are superb at what you do!!!

I’m using the Drift HD 170 which I attach to the bike and the Drift HD Ghost (a smaller cam) which I stick to the side of my helmet with a bit of heavy duty velcro…
http://driftinnovation.com/drift-ghost/

Denis

I’d just like to ask what camera do you film all your tours with? I may have missed it in which I’m obviously not very observant!

Thank you for providing some brilliant footage and can’t wait until August 15 for 2+ glorious weeks

Certainly whetted my appetite !!

Graeme

If you want to pick my brains feel free, happy to help. Be warned though next May I’m planning to be back on the road early in the month so get in touch before that to be sure I’ll be able to reply. When I’m on the road I like to go back to basics and completly detach myself from TV, Radio, News, FaceBook, Internet, Computer, Mobile Phones, Smart Phones, Ipads this website – the lot, It’ll be just me, the bike and the road, even my wife will have trouble contacting me lol

Denis

Fortuitously I found you site with its wonderful descriptions of the Pyrenees only this week. The week I’ve happened to book my RT, the wife and myself on the Santander ferry for June next year for a 2 or 3 week tour.

I’ve shamelessly copied a number of routes and also booked myself into Chalet le Chapeau Bleu for a few nights at your recommendation.

Nearer the time I may pick your brains some more advice

Regards Mark (from sunny Cornwall)

I’m not going to say that intercoms are definitely legal or not as the tossers in Brussels keep coming up with new and increasingly bloody ridiculous laws every couple of days. That said if intercoms are illegal in Spain or elsewhere it’s the first I’ve heard of it! Especially as the bike dealers in Spain are selling them!

I think there may be a little confusion here over in-ear earphones and the actual use of intercoms and SatNavs while riding! In Spain “in-ear” earphones are illegal, or at least it’s a 90€ fine if you’re caught wearing them while connected to an mp3 player as they are regarded as distracting to the rider. So, any bike-to-bike intercom system that uses “in-ear” earphones are illegal, but if it uses speakers fitted within the helmet thats fine.

Speakers fitted within a helmet’s padding are legal, so for example you can have a Bluetooth device (Scala Rider) connected to the speakers so you can listen to your mate commenting on the semi clothed hookers working the roadside or listening to directions from a SatNav. However it’s illegal to operate/adjust ( i.e. press any buttons) a SatNav or intercom while riding a motorcycle.

I have, as yet to hear of any cops anywhere enforcing this as it’s almost impossible to police and I think most cops have better things to be doing anyway. I was stopped by the Guardia Civil 3 or 4 times last year and each time I had in-ear Bluetooth earphones in and they did not seem to care. Either way it’s always a good idea to carry a couple of hundred euro in cash just in case you are unlucky enough to get caught and have a cop enforce this rule.

So, to be clear – it is technically illegal to take your hand off the handlebar of a moving motorcycle to adjust a SatNav or an intercom attached to the side of your helmet, the argument being that you are not in full control of the motorcycle. To turn on/off or adjust the volume of the Scala Rider system for example you need to pull over and stop to do so. This is fair enough and probably common sense, a lot like useing a hands free kit for using a mobile phone while driving a car. However, EU legislation is coming to ban all use of phones, hands free or not while driving, how this will affect intercoms remains to be seen, but they will probably become illegal at some stage.

The traffic laws in Spain are very difficult to give advice on. For the most part all common traffic laws are EU based, but the problem in Spain is that Spain is made up of autonomous states, regions like Murcia, Valencia, Catalonia, Navarre, Castile etc all have slightly different regional laws and their own governments under the central Castile government in Madrid. Even the fines differ from region to region! It’s impossible for a tourist to know each regions specific laws and the cops understand this and will usually ignore infringements like these “if” you are not also driving dangerously like over the speed limit!

Either way, dont be worried. Have extra cash in the unlikely event you do get fined, just use your common sense and ride with the intention of arriving home with your “fine” money intact
Hope this helps..

Denis

First off, you’re going to have to put your indicators and mirrors back on as they wont be street legal in Spain without them. I doubt if you would make it past customs before you get you’re bikes impounded, and even if you did the Guardia Civil will bankrupt you with cash on the spot fines out on the road.

As for the hi-vis, you don’t need to wear one but you do need one and must wear it if you break down or get a puncture etc and need to stand on the side of a road or motorway. You will also need spare bulbs and fuses but you do not need to carry a warning triangle, that’s only for cars etc..

You will definetly need; Passport, spare cash for on the spot fines, insurance, road tax, registration docs etc. I’ve more info on this and riding in Spain tips here A Virgin’s Touring Guide

If your going to take in some off roading in the Navarre region etc you must be able to carry plenty of extra water as it can get seriously hot (30C+) and extra fuel if your bikes tank range is under 270km, if you break down or run out of fuel in the remote areas of the parks you’re in big trouble. If you have a laser card DO NOT use it for buying petrol in France or Spain, use only a credit card, but cash is better.

The weather on the French side can be very different from the hot/dry Spanish side especially on the Atlantic coast which has frequent torrential downpours (May/June) so ye might want to take rain gear.

There are plenty of speed and drink driving checks on the Spanish side, even in the middle of nowhere and the fines are cruel. Stick to the speed limits and watch your drinking in the evenings and you will have a blast. The roads on the Spanish side are better, but on DR605’s I don’t think you will care what type of road your on

If you can you should visit the Spanish tourist board offices in the UK or online to get more info on the Pyrenees national parks, in many areas it’s prohibited to use motorbikes on the trails. But there are plenty that you can and even cross the French/Spanish boarders via these tracks/trails which you will love. Just be careful, there are bears and wolves in those hills

I’m planning to get back down there this year myself on a F800GS to find some of these trails. If you find any good ones yourself be sure to let me know so I can upload them for others to find..

Hope this helps, let us know how the trip went when you get back..

Denis

What can I say, you have the perfect tool for the job with the RT and you’re going to love it. Both sides of the border are fantastic with the roads on the Spanish side the best, smooth and winding – just perfect for the RT.

I’ll have another post up next week with more info on the area, with more routes and plenty of videos to come on the YT channel.

I’m sure you will have a blast

Safe riding,
Denis

We`re booked in to Chapeau Bleu for 7 nights end of July this year so your report and routes are perfect timing for us.After that a ride down to Barcelona for 4 nights (keeps the wife happy ) then back to Santander.
2012 rt with wife as Pillion and really looking forward to it. We stayed in Briancon last year and followed your recomendations for the Mont Prorel and had a great stay.

Tony.