We ask you to print out or download what you need before the ride and bring it with you. This page provides:
- The ride itinerary
- Route notes for each day in a variety of formats
- GPX files for each day, with notes about converting them to different formats
- Notes about loading GPX files on to phones
- Notes about using what3words
Itinerary
You can download the itinerary here.
Route notes
Here are the route notes for all five days in four versions. The PDF versions do not require any special software besides a PDF reader as provided with most web browsers. If you have suitable software, the Word documents allow you to change the layout and formatting to suit your preferences and bike mounting choice. We provide A4 and A5 versions.
Day 1: St Malo to Rennes
Day 2: Rennes to Laval
Day 3: Laval to Flers
Day 4: Flers to Port-en-Bassin
Day 5: Port-en-Bassin to Herouville
Digital routes
The following sections provide digital versions of the routes suitable for loading into GPS devices and mobile phones with mapping apps. If you have a GPS device or a smart phone we advise you to load the digital routes and suitable software (such as OsmAnd) that allows you to see the route and your location on a map without needing an internet connection. You can use your device for navigation but, even if you don't, the ability to see where you are and where the route goes could get you out of trouble if you go wrong.
These versions are not, however, a substitute for the printed ones. The route notes provided above include advice on where to get refreshments and identify the compulsory check-in points. Please do not rely on the digital route files alone.
We provide a GPX file containing a track rather than a route (prevents some devices from re-routing if it 'thinks' it has a better route, or if you go off the route). If you see gobbledegook when you click the 'gpx file' link, come back to this page, right click the link then click 'Save target as' or similar.
The 'visualisation' link allows you to see a route on the Mapometer web site using a map or a satellite view as background. Mapometer also provides height and gradient graphs as well as alternative export options. You do not need a Mapometer account.
If you can't find a gpx file version to suit your device, the gpsvizualizer web site allows you to convert gpx files into a ton of different formats.
Day 1: St Malo to Rennes
Day 2: Rennes to Laval
Day 3: Laval to Flers
Day 4: Flers to Port-en-Bessin
Day 5: Port-en-Bessin to Herouville
Downloading documents and digital routes to phones
There are several ways to do that but the two simplest - that works for all types of phone and all versions of operating system - is to either:
- Tap the relevant links on your phone and follow the download instructions; or
- Email the files to your phone and extract them from there.
If you use OsmAnd for route guidance and mapping, opening a GPX file from a download or email automatically transfers the file to OsmAnd's route library. Other, similar products might do the same.
what3words
what3words is an app that assigns every 3 metre square on the surface of the planet a unique set of three words. The words have been chosen to be distinct when used over the phone. The app therefore allows you to communicate your location precisely to the support team.
The app does not require internet access to provide the three words.
We suggest you download the app and practice with it before joining the ride. You don't want the first time you use it to be in an emergency!
The app is available from: