The wrong side of the road...
Kevin and Julia Sanders
When Kevin ran his motorcycle training school in Cambridge, we noticed many newer riders lacked the confidence to take their bike abroad. We decided to run short trips into Europe, with a bit of tuition en-route, to provide guidance for those who wanted to give it a shot on their own.
The obvious first step in riding abroad is France and even onto Belgium, and as tame as that may sound to the very experienced, for those with no foreign miles under their belt - two wheels or four - riding onto the continent where the food, people, culture and language are different and the riding is on the wrong side of the road – can be nerve-wracking. Here’s what to expect and how to deal with it:
THE CROSSING
Both Eurotunnel and the ferry can be an ordeal for first timers: wet metal ramps and decks, an audience of fellow travelers looking on...
Take it slow and follow instructions. On ferry crossings, you’ll be directed to park on your sidestand and in gear, or on the centre stand, between two floor anchors on the deck. Your bike will then be secured with a central strap over the saddle. On the Eurotunnel, there’s no strapping the bike down, just ride through the train until you’re directed to stop, park on the sidestand and in gear and stay with your bike. It’s all very easy.
THE ‘WRONG’ SIDE OF THE ROAD
I’m certain this simple difference puts many riders off going altogether, but ride on the right! It needs a little concentration to start with but becomes natural very quickly. The basic rule is: keep the kerb to the right – some riders mark an arrow pointing right in their cockpit, as a constant reminder.
ROADS
The autoroutes (motorways) will push you south quickly but are devastatingly dull. Sardine-tin traffic jams a la M25 rarely exist but unlike the UK, toll roads are the norm, so you’ll need Euro cash or a credit card for the automatic booths. Don’t go through the orange ‘telepeage’ lanes - these are automated lanes for cars with microchips.
France is more than twice the size of the UK with the about the same population so it has unspoilt countryside and quiet roads, so stick to those instead for a much more pleasant riding experience.
ROAD ETIQUETTE
Riding on the right means that the most common form of acknowledgment between bikers is to hold out the right foot; when they overtake, they don’t want to take their hand off the throttle. And don’t think that just because you are on a Harley that an R1
will blast straight past you; on the Continent, the badge/brand is not important.
Even car drivers are courteous. There’s always the exception of course but in comparison with the UK, French car drivers are much nicer to bikers.
ROUTE PLANNING
If you’re abroad independently for the first time, to take out some of the nerves, it is a good idea to plan a route upfront. Decide your number of days away, with a maximum mileage you’re prepared to ride each day, to determine what’s going to be within reach.
Don’t try navigating by road numbers, as up to three can be attributed to the same stretch of tarmac in France. Use towns along your route as your guide.
NEED FOR SPEED
Remember that those speed signs on the road are kilometres and not miles per hour! France has different speed limits depending on the conditions. If it is wet, officially you must reduce from 130kph to 110kph (approx. 68mph) on the motorway. On the open roads, keep to 90kph (56mph) or in the wet, 80 kph (50mph). Through towns, it is always 50kph (approx 31 mph). In towns, you won’t see speed limits posted. The sign with the town name indicates the start of slower riding and at the other end, the sign with the town name crossed-out means you can speed up again.
ACCIDENT OR BREAKDOWN
A massive element of breakdown could be avoided by proper bike preparation, having enough tyre tread when you start the trip and not running out of fuel, etc. So head off having prepared as best you can. Make sure you have travel insurance for you personally, motorcycle insurance for the bike and European breakdown recovery, if you don’t fancy having to deal with getting your bike back on your own.