Adventure Bike Rider Forum

If you stick to the Autoroutes and Nationals in France, you won't have a fuel issue.

Cover large distances on the Departmental roads and it becomes an issue if you let your tank drop below 30-40 miles. I have my sat nav set to show the petrol station POI's on screen, so I know how many petrol stations I was supposed to pass on this years trip, and more than 50% of them weren't there anymore. They were either closed and abandoned, or had turned into some other type of premises from used car lots to cafes. My sat nav maps are only about 4-5 years old, so they've all closed in that time.

Having passed two closed down petrol stations on my route where I had been hoping to fill up, I then detoured off my route to a town in the North because I was now running on fumes, and according to my sat nav there were 7 petrol stations in the town. I passed a few of them to find them closed down, and when I found one of them open I filled up and asked the guy at the counter about the others (I speak fluent French) and he said times were extremely hard and they were the only one in town still in business.

This is personal experience, and as my wife is French and I have family there I visit a lot more than most people.

If you live there it's different because you know where they are, you are not trying to find one en route, and you will also have a French debit or credit card.

There are enough people saying they've experienced fuel problems in France for there to be truth in it. To say it's not a problem, because in your experience it hasn't been, is a bit like saying Afghanistan is safe because you've been there and you didn't get shot.

I can be in the middle of nowhere on the trails and if I run low on fuel I push the Fuel Services button on my Garmin and every time I've done this there is always fuel available within 15km (usually 3 or 4). I usually pick one described as 'unknown' and it's more often than not a Carrefour - which are always 24/7 but don't always have 98 sans plomb.

It is important to check that your card will work in France - some cards need to be activated and yes some independents are shut from Saturday midi to Tuesday morning.

I spend at least 4 months a year in France.

First point fuel normally no problems around towns and major routes except on Sundays when you will almost certainly need a card (always carry credit and debit at least in case it doesn't accept one). Best policy fill up on Saturday.

Second point why the long ferry to Spain for first trip. Dover-Calais (Shuttle or ferry) then Autoroute dash to Reims (old camping at Municipal at Epernay) then off on RN's toward Jura, Annecy and Alps.
Or Autoroute (free) toward Namur (Belgium), 2hrs or so from ferry, then you are just 3 hours on some lovely sweeping roads to the Mosel valley with excellant twisties. Can always come back through France to ferry avoiding motorways. You have the same chance on the weather as coming up France from Spain. More riding time less sitting on a ferry.

If you can head in any direction from a fixed point then yes you will find fuel, that's what I had to do twice this year because the petrol station I was heading for en route was no longer there and I didn't think I'd make the next one along the route (if indeed it was even still there!). As my TomTom Rider v3 sat nav maps are a bit out of date, I chose places where there were a cluster of POI's together on the basis that one of them must still be in business. Having to detour East, West or South however, when you've already got 500 miles Northbound to cover in the day and are already on the bike for 14 hours, a detour to find fuel is a pain in the arse, much better to fill up when you pass one on your planned route, then you don't have to worry about it again for another 90 miles. Being on an XT660R with a 15 litres tank of course doesn't help, though on that trip it did average 60 mpg.

-Ralph- wrote:If you stick to the Autoroutes and Nationals in France, you won't have a fuel issue.

Cover large distances on the Departmental roads and it becomes an issue if you let your tank drop below 30-40 miles. I have my sat nav set to show the petrol station POI's on screen, so I know how many petrol stations I was supposed to pass on this years trip, and more than 50% of them weren't there anymore. They were either closed and abandoned, or had turned into some other type of premises from used car lots to cafes. My sat nav maps are only about 4-5 years old, so they've all closed in that time.

Having passed two closed down petrol stations on my route where I had been hoping to fill up, I then detoured off my route to a town in the North because I was now running on fumes, and according to my sat nav there were 7 petrol stations in the town. I passed a few of them to find them closed down, and when I found one of them open I filled up and asked the guy at the counter about the others (I speak fluent French) and he said times were extremely hard and they were the only one in town still in business.

This is personal experience, and as my wife is French and I have family there I visit a lot more than most people.

If you live there it's different because you know where they are, you are not trying to find one en route, and you will also have a French debit or credit card.

There are enough people saying they've experienced fuel problems in France for there to be truth in it. To say it's not a problem, because in your experience it hasn't been, is a bit like saying Afghanistan is safe because you've been there and you didn't get shot.

It is also like saying everyone will have a problem just because you have had one., See a petrol station then fill up, no problem
Better cross France of the list then as it is getting to adventurous might just have a fuel problem :pinch: yes France are having a little problem with their economy and a few business's are shutting it does not mean you can't get fuel or you will have a problem

cheers Spud

Redmurty wrote:[quote=

It is also like saying everyone will have a problem just because you have had one., See a petrol station then fill up, no problem
Better cross France of the list then as it is getting to adventurous might just have a fuel problem :pinch: yes France are having a little problem with their economy and a few business's are shutting it does not mean you can't get fuel or you will have a problem

cheers Spud

+1

See a petrol station then fill up, no problem is always the rule in most countries as is when in a group fill up when someone else stops and always start the day with a full tank filling up the night before or at end of run if possible to save time next day.
Still opening new Supermarkets in France most with fuel stations.

Problems ? All part and parcel of travelling. The old chestnut says it all; "No problem; just another challenge to be met and overcome".
Don't fret and conjure up demons. Just go. You will find that you meet the most uncommon kindness and a few assh0les along the way. Greet people with a smile.
You will reap the rewards and broaden your mind (not to mention your bum!)
Have fun! The World's a lovely place full of normal, lovely folks like ourselves just trying to rub along. My own travelling days are behind me. I envy you.

Just on the fuel, had 3 trips over the canal this year and have no probs getting fuel anywhere, even if you dont have a card just ask someone (French) to fill up for you and give them cash. But most of the supermarkets take all sorts of cards. Also if you ask some one to fill up for you, you wont get stung for the card use and exchange rate which will add up if you have a small capacity tank.

Also on a first trip, dont set yourself with destination goals, just go with the flow its more fun and less disappointing.

Steve

sprintster wrote:

Redmurty wrote:Never had a fuel issue in France there are plenty of petrol station and super markets to get your fuel from.

See you at the HISS (thumbs)

cheers Spud

Unless it's a Sunday and the pump won't accept your credit card! I ended up having to ask a local (in Frenglaise) to pay for me and gave him the cash.

I've had to do exactly the same although it was in 1998 I'd have expected things to have changed by now but it appears not.

Read a lot of these posts and a few of us have decided on France at the end of May. But we are not setting out a detailed planned route as too many things can affect such plans. A wish list and go with the flow is much better. This year we had planned a visit to Cap Ferret after our first overnight at La Rochelle. On the morning it was bucketing rain and while we could have gone as we were geared for the rain my attitude was that it wasn't worth being in Cap Ferret in a rainstorm [its beautiful in good weather, fantastic stopping places, lighthouse and a lovely road back to Bordeaux] so we went inland to our next planned stop and got a day of wonderful sunshine at Cognac and Angouleme and some great roads. No disappointment, just different.

From Ireland our choice is to arrive at Roscoff or Cherbourg.

I have travelled lots in France but mostly in car but also done a lot of bike trips.

In the end we evolve into exactly what suits us, from bike to gear to camping equipment and whatever so think your preferences carefully so everyone will give you different because we are all different.

My thoughts.....

I travel with 42l panniers and 40l top box and also tank bag. Top box is empty to start with, leaves room for foodstuff and whatever bits and pieces you pick up along the way. Tank bag holds the essentials for the overnight ferry, plus phone and all the other stuff.

Petrol in France is definitely buy it when you see it. I work on 10 miles to a litre when planning routes. If you use hourly or 90 minute stops, refuel. Don't skip the stops because once you tire that's it. Its a case of really pacing yourself and knowing how to get the best out of your day.

The advice re handing cash to a Frenchman, I had to do that too after all my cards would not work in the machines. Its not impossible, just travel with the idea of refuel when you see it. Its good too if you know how far you can travel before you run out.

Most supermarkets have petrol stations that are manned during supermarket opening hours. As in 8am to 8pm [often closed noon to 4pm too], but not on Sundays but some do 8am to noon. However we found a lot of these are now also gone over to card only and quite a few services we stopped at on motorways were card at pump only. Fine if the cards work all the time.

Don't plan too many miles into the day if you want to see something of the place. Santander to Calais, for example, is really 3 days in a straight run because the 3rd day you need to be at the ferry port in time. Divide the route in 5 rather than 6 and be loose about your plans, targets rather than must do things. A spare day gives you some weather room which you may need.

You are unlikely to be cold but a decent one piece rain suit is a must: when it rains it rains. On a cool evening it also stops you getting cold. 7 or 8 hours on the bike is not the same as 1 or 2 hours, you have to watch body temperature as in be comfortable. Being cool for 2 hours is ok, you can warm up, cool for 6 or 7 hours affects judgement. Same with being too hot.

I have done 6 hour trips in torrential rain and don't reckon any gloves stay waterproof for 6 hours rain, so pack a pair of the thin waterproof overgloves. Again, very thin and light, not much space. You may not get a choice about riding in the rain so you should make sure of the rainsuit and overgloves and even overshoes.

Flexibility is great, so plan some in. That way things like a puncture, a really bad day or some other problem doesn't spoil your trip. You can write stories about how a puncture spoiled a holiday or about how you spent a few hours in some gorgeous place while your puncture was being repaired by some very friendly and helpful guy.

Don't ask me on this one [been there], but things to pack spare: handlebar lever and gear lever. Buy secondhand and pack them somewhere as in taped into the bike. On a slow speed fall off or bike knocked over by some clown these are most at risk. You don't need the kitchen sink, but these are very useful. Can you imagine looking at a broken gear lever and thinking 'f**k' or looking at a broken one and thinking '5 minutes will fix this'. A lot of people put in a spare clutch cable, wise if its tricky to route in, as in the case of my K as its a tank off job to route the cable so it takes about an hour. Or just put in a new one before you go and keep the old as a spare.

No matter what insurance you have the first thing you have to do is get yourself home so make sure you have enough spare money on your card to pay for the things until the insurance company pays you back. A lot might pick up your bike but then you make your own arrangements re getting home and they refund you so you may need cash for hotel or new tickets. Also, they don't actually pay for the bike repairs so you could in fact be better leaving a bike in the hands of someone trusted to be repaired and then come back to collect it.

On cards why not get an o2 or other prepaid credit card in € euros and avoid a load of nasty bank and card charges? Use this for paying for petrol. There is a big racket with converting currency at the point of sale with exhorbitant exchange rates. You will be robbed by the bank filling a bike with small amounts as there is also a flat fee on most. Keep the exchange rate in your head and watch out for places that want to charge you sterling instead of euro.

If you travel in a group it can happen you get separated. Plan for this and what to do if it happens. What we do is when we set off we have agreed on our next stop or on where to meet if we get separated. If someone gets separated we don't spend ages trying to find them, just a text if possible to confirm all is ok. The deal is meet up at the next stop. Happened us up at Nantes on the way to the ferry home, I had warned my friend that the ring road was a risk and he was travelling in front. As I followed the signs in my correct lane and headed one way I watched him go the wrong way. Anyway we rejoined at our next stop, just exchanging texts to confirm all was ok. Friends in cars had done the exact same thing there a few years back and ended up spending so long looking for each other they missed their ferry home which only ran once a week. Brittany Ferries however were very good to them and just gave them a reroute through England.

Have an open mind and just go on the trip. Its a learning curve, for all of us.