Next year I am going to hit the trails somewhere in Europe, cycling one point to the other.

I will have 12 days in total, but will reserve day 1 and day 12 for travel/flying, giving me 10 full days of riding.

I have had my heart set on the Via de la Plata (1000km from Seville to Santiago de Compostella), but wondered if anyone had other suggestions that can rival this? I suppose the route would need to start and end within easy reach of an airport. And because I am a tight-arse, somewhere with cheap flights are most appealing.

Here's an overview of the Via de la Plata: http://www.csj.org.uk/route-via-de-la-plata.htm

Gairy might have an idea or two. Posts on the forum as 'gairym'.

http://gairy.co.uk/

Grenztein Trophy?

I'd quite like to do the Schwarzwald bike crossing across the German Black Forest but it's only 450km. could combine it with. Swiss route though. Trails are more forest track than anything else but the beer is good...

That Schwarzwald bike crossing looks amazing. I've always wanted to venture in to the Black Forest, and that seems like the perfect way to do it.

Yeah I think you can tack on a bit of the Rhine route too or into Switzerland.
I've been to the Black Forest a couple of times and it's very efficiently suited to cycle touring. Routes are clearly marked and well surfaced gravel tracks generally. A rigid bike/hardtail is probably the most suitable. I took my Scott 29er hardtail and it was perfect. The towns are very picturesque and the eating out is well priced. Supermarkets are priced similar to the UK too.
If you're looking for epic singletrack, then it's not the place really but I'm a big fan of xc riding (as are the Germans!).
Wild camping should be easy but there are loads of campsites in the Black Forest...

Ryan air flew me and the fargo in/out of Begerac in one piece quite cheaply.

Loads of Dordogne trail maps here:

http://www.dordogne-perigord-tourisme.f ... re-309.htm

(just click on the yellow walker icons, not that they mind about cyclists and bikes sharing trails)

I love a good route-ideas thread.. The Black Forest info may be ideal for next Autumn.

Camino Santiago from the Pyrenees to Santiago or Finisterre? Pics here - http://www.flickr.com/photos/67338272@N ... 830858998/
If you stay on the walker's path it's a nice route for 8-10 days, some great XC, some easy dirt roads and an interesting, varied route. Pick a quiet time of year to avoid the walkers though. We flew to Biaritz and got a train to somewhere within 50 miles of St Jean Pied-a-Port, San Sebastian I think, and flew back from Madrid via Santiago Compostella, on Easyjet. Can look up the full details if needed.

Cheers Jameso,

Funnily enough - I got in touch with you earlier in the year (probably Jan/Feb) after stumbling upon one of your posts in a Camino forum to quiz you on those funky handlebars and the frame bag (I had never seen one 'til I saw your flickr page!)!... You directed me to BearBones, and gave me plenty of good advice re the Camino. Cheers!

Upon a bit of research I decided that I preferred the less-used Via de la Plata than the Frances route.

Whoops.. repeating myself as I age .. : ) Never did have a great memory. Funnily enough I was just looking at the route you linked first and thinking of how much I enjoyed the Camino, maybe I should ride the Plata route sometime! Especially if it's quieter. Thanks..