French Roads and Top Tips for survival - essential reading for the first time rider in France.

Tip 1: Anticipate differences in a larger country than UK.

Stating the obvious, France has a land area several times that of UK. So What? you might ask. Well... making comparisons will highlight differences. With more land area and emphasis of movement of produce expect to see some large haulage trucks, some with trailers, causing major air turbulances. At any speed, these can blow you way offline. Generally, the French roads are wider with less hedgerows, better apex/exit visibility and consequently safer. In the north many roads are boringly straight and stretch for miles in a straight line, with blind spots caused only by hill crests. On the flatlands winds can act strongly, especially around Le Mans, so keep well away from side ditches and trucks causing buffeting. Learn the road signs and methods of road surface repair.

Tip 2: Gendames on roundabouts

The national hobby for police on a sunny day is to stand around at roundabouts. What are they looking for? They are there to fine you if you cross the white line on the approach to the roundabout. A simple pastime that brings good revenue.

Tip 3: Fill your tank on a Saturday. Rural gasoline stations close on Sundays therefore top up regularly. Note also the self service pumps which are available at some supermarkets DO NOT accept British credit cards.

Tip 4: expect some slow moving farm vehicles, articulated lorries, etc, pulling across and out of side turnings. On the "D" roads 1.0 meter high White posts mark road edges and bends and are very helpful when riding at 7/10ths. The marker post has a black tip normally, but has a red tip if there is a farmers or "D" road turning off. Especially helpful approaching the crest of a hill to know which way the road turning (left or right), and to know if there maybe farmers shit on the road (if red tipped).

Tip 5: French driving is generally better than UK. If on a "D" backroad or hilly section, watch out for small mustard yellow vans with the words "le Poste" written on them.

Speed tends to drift upwards on any day long journey and when the tarmac and tyres are hot it is GREAT! Car tyres certainly screech and can be a warning. Listen for the screeching especially on bendy mountain roads, it may mean that someone is trying to pass you. The usual scenario is that Johnny Le Poste is driving is underpowered Citroen on his daily round and will not take a foot off the throttle to avoid losing momentum. Be wary when passing dilapidated cars and vans on uphill sections - as Johnny Frenchman will be back up your arse in no time.

Check rear mirrors especially on mountain roads. Johnny Postman travels his patch daily, knows the road and bends like the back of his hand and is probably an ex 24 Hour Le Mans driver. Enjoy following these experts - if you can keep up.

Tip 6: Care drivers that want to race you. Wave on the car driver past you and let him pester the rider in front.

Do French dislike GB Plates since Iraq? Imagine your yellow number plate is like a red rag to a bull. Add to this their national pastime of overtaking "everything" on the road. So don't ride to close together. If you do the car behind will close up to your rear whilst waiting for you to get out of the way. This is dangerous for you.

Tip 7: French roads have a different composition. Observe them well.

French pave can look different to British tarmac. It has a shinny white appearance due to its high content of granite. However there is nothing to support that it maybe less grippy than the A4011 or whatever. But when wet this same pave can look positively like ice. Enjoy yourself by all means, but check whether the road is clean or degraded with oil first. Perhaps this is why the French traffic regulations on speed varies according to whether it is wet or dry. (see Speed Limits elsewhere).

Tip 8: "Priorite a Droit" means Priority to the vehicle approaching your path from the right. Especially at certain roundabouts. Don't get "T boned" in France!

Imagine riding down a road in the UK and that a vehicle coming out from a left side turn has right of way to pull in front of you. What a terrible country this would be to ride with this danger! Well, swap over to the right of the road (you already know they drive on the right in France YES?), and imagine that traffic coming from a side junction on the right might have priority to pull in front of you. That is so called "Priorite a Droit". If there is any French wording that MUST be learnt it is the wording to indicate where you can get T-boned. "Vous n'avez pas priorite" means "you do not have priority". Sometime seen on sign posts, this indicates the old rule of the road - the approaching vehicle on the right may hit you side-on. Expect confusion in small villages and towns. On open highways "priorite" is more in line with expectations. Note the symbolic signposts indicating "priorite". On some roundabouts approaches the driver is warned "Vous n'avez pas priorite", which is a reminder to not proceed without caution.

Tip 9: "Gravillons" means Gravel

THE MOST IMPORTANT SIGN! And it does not exist on a pole at eye level. Another variant is a triangle with yellow background and picture of a worker shoveling gravel - and is a temporary sign 'erected' (ha) during road maintenance. BIKER BEWARE. The yellow sign signals immediate danger and warns that ROAD CONDITIONS ARE TOTALLY UNFIT for 2 wheeled vehicles. Gravel is spread copiously for repairs. Tons of loose gravel are spread with virtually no tar. Theory is that traffic does the job of compacting the gravel over time (months?). After a short while this gravel gets rutted like the waves at sea as traffic carves it into mounds and valleys. - thats on the straight bits. On the bends, traffic spreads the stuff sideways too. When the rear of this warning sign is observed on the other carriageway, only then it is reasonably safe to assume the repair section has been passed. See photo below.

When this sign is seen on a fixed pole, it is usually warning of falling stones/rocks which may lay on the road or bends ahead. Ensure your visor allows you to study road conditions in shade as well as sunshine.

Tip 10: In summer: don't become a statistic!

This last tip may not be relevant to your trip. France closes shop from late July thru August for vacation over a four week period. During this period, French head southwards to the sun, sea and vineyards. Without doubt this is the most dangerous period to be on any road in France. The death toll soars, largely because of all the above reasons.

Airborn Pests

Bugs can cover the visor and obliterate vision in no-time. Keep a damp leather in a plastic bag with water ready for easy use. Keep the visor closed when moving - some bugs can knock your eye. Be careful when stopped at traffic lights - if you should lift your visor.

Speed Limits

French speed limits (in Km/hour). Know the equivalent miles/hour and put a red spot on your speedo at the relevant position. Speeding fines are on-the-spot, so keep a spare 500 Euro handy if you plan to break limits. The limits are:-

Do not expect to see speed limits posted when entering towns. The town signpost (name) is the marker for commencement of the speed limit - A triangle mounted above the sign. The end-of-town and end-of-limit sign is the triangle crossed through. Exceed the limit by more than 15 mph and police have the right to confiscate your licence in France!