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Cycling in Europe
- MrCooms
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- Joined: Sun Nov 04, 2007 7:01 pm
Cycling in Europe
Postby MrCooms » Sat Dec 06, 2008 11:36 am
I have a trip planned to europe starting the end of April next year and im interested in doing a cycling tour. I had origionally booked in a tour with https://www.adventuretravelgroup.com/ starting in Barcelona and heading up to the pyrenees but un-fortunalty they haven't received the number to run the tour.
I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions / recommendations for an active tour in europe? i've done the typical Bus tour of europe hence looking for something a bit different and more active this time.
Cheers
Michael
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Postby lukas » Sun Dec 07, 2008 11:11 pm
If you're thinking of doing it solo then a) I'm jealous and b) it's very possible with a bit of research. I had a taste of the pyrenees last year and would love to do Europe more extensively on a bike in the near future.
Canyon Ultimate AL

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Postby grw » Mon Dec 29, 2008 5:01 pm
I liked the French Alps around Bourg d'Oisans. Very cycle friendly, unlike the Chamonix area, where all the traffic seemed to be filtered up the valleys so every road seemed like a motorway. Further south, the French Riviera can be stunning in places - cycling around the bowl overlooking Monte Carlo is very impressive. For something more chilled out, the coast further east in Italy towards Finale Ligure can take in the old Roman road, which although it can get very busy with cars in the peak seasons, higs the coast line all the way to Genova. Italians are crazy drivers. But at least they smile when they're scaring the living daylights out of you. I was recommended to try the road further round from Genova - can't remember what its called - something like the "Five Villages'.
For something very different, riding in Iceland is an experience. Its not that big, and would be fun to go all the way round!
G
- CUEVO
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Postby CUEVO » Mon Dec 29, 2008 8:22 pm
grw wrote:I was recommended to try the road further round from Genova - can't remember what its called - something like the "Five Villages'.
For something very different, riding in Iceland is an experience. Its not that big, and would be fun to go all the way round!
G
Cinque Terre maybe??
- Tale
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Postby Tale » Mon Dec 29, 2008 8:49 pm

I once did a four-month W-shaped tour across Europe from the Netherlands to Poland, as far north as Amsterdam and Warsaw, and as far south as Geneva (Switzerland) and Timisoara (Romania). Netherlands/Belgium is over in a flash because it's flat and there are entire roads dedicated to bicycles, but it's an experience.
There was good cycling in Germany, Austria and Hungary. One major part of my trip was following the Danube through Bavaria, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary, where there are cycleways alongside it the whole way and lots of amazing, history-buff things to see and do (and drinK).
If you like hills, go to Scotland. I've been around it on a bike and the combined total of elevation you gain is supposed to be comparable to scaling Everest or something. Also northwest Scotland can be more beautiful than anywhere in the world.
The wildcard I would throw in is Switzerland. People think "holy crap, it's all mountains", but it's not - you can ride the whole length of Switzerland along scenic lakes, with the Alps on one side and the Jura on the other. Suggested route: Geneva to Schaffhausen, then get a train somewhere. It's amazing, safe, cultural, and expensive (the only downside).
Having done my return trip to France, the place I would personally head for is Germany because I speak the language and I would like to see the parts I've never been to. I plan to ride all the way around Germany next time I can afford to travel to Europe.
I've never done a bus tour, but a Kon-Tiki tour group camped next to me one night in Budapest and they were bloody awful. They had not smelled the smells of country roads, sat under a remote tree with camembert, baguette and vin rouge, then ridden drunkenly onwards in the rain, and they hadn't really survived anything significant. They didn't get lonely, I suppose, but neither did I when they chatted to me all night.
If I can answer any questions about these places, fire away.
- toolonglegs
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Postby toolonglegs » Tue Dec 30, 2008 7:16 pm

- geoffs
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Postby geoffs » Thu Jan 01, 2009 8:16 am
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/To ... urope-1989
i did this on a very low budget and had a great time. i was invited to peoples places regularly to join them for dinner which is an experience that wouldn't happen on a paid tour.
dont try my route with an april start though. norway wouldn't be a good pplace to cycle/
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Postby grw » Mon Jan 05, 2009 10:45 am
dont try my route with an april start though. norway wouldn't be a good pplace to cycle/
Dunno about that. I timed my Norway tour so I was up in the Arctic Circle for the 24hr sunshine. Admitedly started my tour a little later (in early May) and had fantastic weather through to June. Still snow in places but mainly bright sunshine, and very clear air.
g
- MrCooms
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Postby MrCooms » Mon Jan 19, 2009 8:57 pm
I have finally made a decision this week and i'm going to be doing a tour that follows the Giro d'Italia which starts with the time trial in venice and then progresses into the Dolomites which is a challenge i'm really looking forward to.
Training has now stepped up another cog and i've also booked in to do the 4 Bright boot camp in 2 weeks time which will be good for me to see how the legs fare on some decent climbs.
Cheers
- AUbicycles
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Postby AUbicycles » Thu Feb 12, 2009 9:12 am
MrCooms, did you book locally or directly OS? Would be good to hear how it goes - recommendations are always good.
Cheers
Christopher
- hartleymartin
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Re: Cycling in Europe
Postby hartleymartin » Wed Apr 08, 2009 11:31 pm
http://raleightwenty.webs.com - the top web resource for the Raleigh Twenty
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