Pico's & Pyrenees 2023

[Trinity765]

I finalised my trip details yesterday - booking the accommodation and so woke up thinking about it and getting excited. It's the usual excitement you get when you first book a trip, then you calm down for a couple of months and then you think "Fuck! It's next week!"

The plan is....

I'm travelling with a friend who I met on a Pyrenees trip five or six years ago and have kept in contact with. He's a great rider and easy going so I didn't hesitate when he suggested it for 2023.

We're getting the Portsmouth to Bilboa ferry in late June which is something that's been on my bucket list. It's a two night crossing so getting off of the ferry in the morning and riding to a hotel in Las Arenas, Pico's which is right in the heart of the mountains and close to the foot of the highest peak, Torre de Cerredo. We've got four nights there.

Then, a 350 mile hike to Laruns, France for six nights in the Pyrenees. Staying in an Airbnb, with a garage, that's almost on the town square so plenty of shops, bars and restaurants to work our way around. Most importantly, there's a boulangerie a couple of doors down that opens at 7am and a crêperie for an afternoon sugar hit if I need one

The ferry home from Bilboa is an early one so heading back the day before to spend a night in a hotel on the outskirts of town.

I haven't got a luggage solution for the bike yet - but being a speed triple there's a lot of choices - do I go modern/sporty or classic straps and buckles I'll also need some sort of a screen. I don't really have any decent motorcycle gear - it's all a bit old and scruffy so I need to decide what to get for the trip - I'm thinking that it could be really warm and it's a hot bike to ride.

Tyres may be an issue. I don't think I'll get much more than 2k out of a rear stock Metzeler Roadtech so may go with something less sporty however, I have already Googled tyre fitters near Laruns and there are six in the town of Pau which is 25 miles away

[KungFooBob]

Pau...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pau_Grand_Prix

[Trinity765]

Pau...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pau_Grand_Prix

That explains it

[Yorick]

I've always set off with new tyres. One less thing to worry about.

[Trinity765]

I've always set off with new tyres. One less thing to worry about.

So do I but I am not sure it will be enough. Thinking about it, getting the ferry means it probably will. I will do da maths.

[Yorick]

I've always set off with new tyres. One less thing to worry about.

So do I but I am not sure it will be enough. Thinking about it, getting the ferry means it probably will. I will do da maths.

I can get 2,000 miles out of my litre monster with a fat lad on board

[Trinity765]

I've always set off with new tyres. One less thing to worry about.

So do I but I am not sure it will be enough. Thinking about it, getting the ferry means it probably will. I will do da maths.

I can get 2,000 miles out of my litre monster with a fat lad on board

You've got a fatter tyre. Mine is 160/60, yours is 190/55? I'm not so bothered now as the mate I'm going with just told me that he only gets 2,000 out of his. I don't mind being in the shit if I've got a mate in the same shit

[Felix]

Get a tyre in euroland. Might be cheaper anyway but if you have 5/600 miles left on your old one that is 5/600 miles before you need another when you get home

[mangocrazy]

Where you're going you won't be wearing out the centre section, so I doubt it will be a problem...

[Trinity765]

Get a tyre in euroland. Might be cheaper anyway but if you have 5/600 miles left on your old one that is 5/600 miles before you need another when you get home

I'll have a fresh set when I leave home as no one likes the person who didn't bring enough rubber and everyone has to find something to do while they hunt around looking for one in their size and then skip around euphorically like they've found unicorn shite and waste a morning going to get it fitted (that story should be exaggerated if they own a KTM). I've decided not to panic as I've remember that they sell tyres in France and Spain and it won't be the end of the world.

[Felix]

I'll have a fresh set when I leave home as no one likes the person who didn't bring enough rubber and everyone has to find something to do while they hunt around looking for one in their size and then skip around euphorically like they've found unicorn shite and waste a morning going to get it fitted (that story should be exaggerated if they own a KTM). I've decided not to panic as I've remember that they sell tyres in France and Spain and it won't be the end of the world.

I suppose i was quite lucky when i needed parts. Organised bike tour with 7 bikes heading to the dolomites. We got to Arabba where we were stopping for three nights as it was half way trough our trip. Closest town was a good 45 miles away (Bolzano Bozen) While the group went climbing a mountain two of us went bike shop hunting. Found what we needed and headed back. We were in the bar before the group got back down.

[G.P]

We stayed in Tarbes when we did the Pyrenees last September its about 60 kms north of Laruns but close enough to the hills to choose a different Col to ride each day You'll love it, We rode down from Caen to La Rochelle and did an overnight there, then down to Tarbes - similar thing to you - an AirBnB in town with garaging for 6 bikes and a bedroom each.
We had an absolute blast. I think we all agreed we took too much luggage and the best single thing we took was a Cardo intercom system.
Enjoy!

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Fit Pirelli Angel GTs, I get 4000 miles out of a rear and the front has done over 6000 miles, a Street Triple is about the same weight and power as my GSX-S 750, just don't expect mega grip and feel from them.

[G.P]

Fit Pirelli Angel GTs, I get 4000 miles out of a rear and the front has done over 6000 miles, a Street Triple is about the same weight and power as my GSX-S 750, just don't expect mega grip and feel from them.

Rich Llewellyn (of Louigi Moto fame) instructs at Castle Combe and occasionally Pembrey. one day at combe he had a Ducati ST2 with Pirelli Angels on it. Didn't seem to slow him down!

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Fit Pirelli Angel GTs, I get 4000 miles out of a rear and the front has done over 6000 miles, a Street Triple is about the same weight and power as my GSX-S 750, just don't expect mega grip and feel from them.

Rich Llewellyn (of Louigi Moto fame) instructs at Castle Combe and occasionally Pembrey. one day at combe he had a Ducati ST2 with Pirelli Angels on it. Didn't seem to slow him down!

There's nowt wrong with them, but they don't inspire confidence, they'd be fine on track where they're getting warmed up, and they're loads better than the tyres most people raced on in the 80s.

[rodbargee]

N260

[Mr Moofo]

I finalised my trip details yesterday - booking the accommodation and so woke up thinking about it and getting excited. It's the usual excitement you get when you first book a trip, then you calm down for a couple of months and then you think "Fuck! It's next week!"

The plan is....

I'm travelling with a friend who I met on a Pyrenees trip five or six years ago and have kept in contact with. He's a great rider and easy going so I didn't hesitate when he suggested it for 2023.

We're getting the Portsmouth to Bilboa ferry in late June which is something that's been on my bucket list. It's a two night crossing so getting off of the ferry in the morning and riding to a hotel in Las Arenas, Pico's which is right in the heart of the mountains and close to the foot of the highest peak, Torre de Cerredo. We've got four nights there.

Then, a 350 mile hike to Laruns, France for six nights in the Pyrenees. Staying in an Airbnb, with a garage, that's almost on the town square so plenty of shops, bars and restaurants to work our way around. Most importantly, there's a boulangerie a couple of doors down that opens at 7am and a crêperie for an afternoon sugar hit if I need one

The ferry home from Bilboa is an early one so heading back the day before to spend a night in a hotel on the outskirts of town.

I haven't got a luggage solution for the bike yet - but being a speed triple there's a lot of choices - do I go modern/sporty or classic straps and buckles I'll also need some sort of a screen. I don't really have any decent motorcycle gear - it's all a bit old and scruffy so I need to decide what to get for the trip - I'm thinking that it could be really warm and it's a hot bike to ride.

Tyres may be an issue. I don't think I'll get much more than 2k out of a rear stock Metzeler Roadtech so may go with something less sporty however, I have already Googled tyre fitters near Laruns and there are six in the town of Pau which is 25 miles away

Oxford Aquabag 30lt
Rokstaps

Luggage sorted

[Trinity765]

I finalised my trip details yesterday - booking the accommodation and so woke up thinking about it and getting excited. It's the usual excitement you get when you first book a trip, then you calm down for a couple of months and then you think "Fuck! It's next week!"

The plan is....

I'm travelling with a friend who I met on a Pyrenees trip five or six years ago and have kept in contact with. He's a great rider and easy going so I didn't hesitate when he suggested it for 2023.

We're getting the Portsmouth to Bilboa ferry in late June which is something that's been on my bucket list. It's a two night crossing so getting off of the ferry in the morning and riding to a hotel in Las Arenas, Pico's which is right in the heart of the mountains and close to the foot of the highest peak, Torre de Cerredo. We've got four nights there.

Then, a 350 mile hike to Laruns, France for six nights in the Pyrenees. Staying in an Airbnb, with a garage, that's almost on the town square so plenty of shops, bars and restaurants to work our way around. Most importantly, there's a boulangerie a couple of doors down that opens at 7am and a crêperie for an afternoon sugar hit if I need one

The ferry home from Bilboa is an early one so heading back the day before to spend a night in a hotel on the outskirts of town.

I haven't got a luggage solution for the bike yet - but being a speed triple there's a lot of choices - do I go modern/sporty or classic straps and buckles I'll also need some sort of a screen. I don't really have any decent motorcycle gear - it's all a bit old and scruffy so I need to decide what to get for the trip - I'm thinking that it could be really warm and it's a hot bike to ride.

Tyres may be an issue. I don't think I'll get much more than 2k out of a rear stock Metzeler Roadtech so may go with something less sporty however, I have already Googled tyre fitters near Laruns and there are six in the town of Pau which is 25 miles away

Oxford Aquabag 30lt
Rokstaps

Luggage sorted

I got some pannier rails, not the prettiest things, and adapted the SW Motech panniers I already had, that with a Kreiga tail pack and I'm sorted. Not the best picture 'cos my helmet is in the way and my rucksack is chucked on top.

[Ditchfinder]

Do those headers need polishing?

[Trinity765]

Do those headers need polishing?

Nope.