Cycling Holiday

Transylvania, Romania is one of the lesser known and surprisingly good cycling destinations in Europe. Here are a couple of ideas for road cycling climbs and beautiful mountain biking areas in Romania:

Off Road Cycling Areas in Transylvania, Romania

Road Cycling Climbs in Transylvania, Romania

Germany is severely underrated for cycling holidays I think, particularly the south of Germany.  Bavaria in particular has got fantastic countryside (lakes, the Alps, historic towns and castles) and has a well developed cycle network of over 9000km. 

CycleBavaria does some great fully supported guided and self-guided holidays, and are happy to customise cycling holidays to suit!

I drove down to the French Alps this year with my bike. 11 hours door to door. By the time you've paid tolls, you'll be wondering why you didn't fly and rent a cheap road bike which is what I do when I go to Majorca.

Here's some pics, routes and reviews from Majorca and the Alps:

https://humancyclist.wordpress.com/2013/09/28/cycling-in-majorca/

https://humancyclist.wordpress.com/2015/07/19/road-cycling-in-the-french...

I've done a few (Newcastle based) Saddle Skedaddle UK MTB guided trips and a self guided CTC (ie they shift your bags and book accom + take you back to your car at the end).  They are excellent and do all sorts of continental road trips as well.  They'll probably do something bespoke if you wanted to do a long distance trip, possibly more fun than just being based in one spot.  I stayed in a Chalet Hotel place called Chateau d'Oz when I did Alp d'Huez which was excellent.  Came back from the Alpe and the owner walked out with a tray of cold beers and said the Dauphine was on the big screen in the lounge; class!

Hi Phil, next time, try cycling in Portugal

I run a small cycling holidays company in Portugal - our website is http://portugalbiketours.com. We run road bike and mountain bike tours in several regions like the Algarve, Douro, Alentejo. Our country's got great weather, great food and crazy landscape diversity and lots of car-free roads to choose from!

We'd love to have you over next time!

Best,

Pedro Rocha

Northern Italy is very good also and very cycle friendly. There too you can rent a bike and even hook up witha local club. If you wnt flat, there is that and if you prefer climss and descents, you have those options too.

The food and wine options are also first rate.

Also look at places that rent bikes....could save you the expense and hassle of taking your won although personally, not matter how good the rental bike is it never feels the same as your own but that's just me and i am fussy!!

As an example, we rent bikes at 165 euro per week.

However, i fly BA to Bologna and they only charge £30 each way for the bike and offer great service unlike Ryan Air who now rob you....err i mean charge you £50 each way and offer terrible service! BA can be around same price on flights too by the time you add luggage into the equation.

Phil

I actually work in Riccione in Italy for a hotel as a bike guide. It is extremely popular here with riders from many countries...i got the work here after coming many times as a guest so say with impartiality that its great here!

Roads are not as smooth as Spain but makes up with it with stunning views, scenery, food and friendly people. The riding is hilly but suitable for any level of rider unlike somewhere like The Dolomites or other mountains where there are few recovery rides.

I have popped the link for the hotel site for you below....prices are really good and include all food and different level guided rides from only 59 euro a day....beach side location also for after bike relaxation which you dont get in the mountains!!!

http://www.hotelperciclisti.it/holiday-riccione/cycling-holidays_6.html

Feel free to drop me a line if you want any more info or check them out on Trip Advisor or on Favebook where there are hundreds of photos.

In France you will have to have reflectors fitted front an rear. Also you need to carry a hiviz vest at all times the ones that builders etc wear will do. Can't remember the bs number off hand. But that is a must as well.

Don't forget helmets are compulsory in Spain not sure about France

This time of year going into autumn, the bay of Biscay can be very rough as the atlantic storms whip back towards Europe. A bad crossing could be more knackering than a long drive !

Northern Spain is a great destination and you don't even have to fly to get there. As an alternative to fiddling about with bike bags and risking your bike to baggage handlers, you could take the ferry from Plymouth or Portsmouth to Santander. The Picos de Europa include some great climbs and descents and you have a choice of mountain biking or road cycling as well. Base yourself at the campsite in Arenas de Cabrales and do day rides or just simply ride around and stay at various Pensao on your route.

The roads are good, the Spanish drivers are used to cyclists and you'll meet a lot of French and Spanish riders on the road too.

And at the end of the day, the Spanish wine and food is good.

Been there, done that and will go back with my sons.

Hi Phil,

I live in Morzine in the French Alps and run cycling holidays out here - you'd be more than welcome to come and stay with us!

Our website is http://www.44south.co.uk/1-summer/road.php - have a look.

We have a lovely 5 bedroom chalet that we base our holidays from, and offer day rides around the area that has seen the Tour de France visit on many occasions, with masses of routes and climbs on our doorstep. Generally one of us rides with the group each day so you don't need to worry about route planning, and we have spent a fair amount of time checking out the coffee and pain au chocolat stops en route so that you can make the most of your ride time.

We support a number of sportives in the area throughout the summer which can be a great way to add another dimension to your cycling out here. Generally these are Lake Geneva in May, Time Megeve and Morzine valley in June and Gruyere and Annecy in September.

We also work with Velovation who offer multiday tours so if you wanted to combine 3 days here and then 3 days on the road you can - anything is possible!

Let me know if you'd like some more info on anything.

Kind Regards,

Ali

www.44south.co.uk
info [at] 44south.co.uk
+44 (0)20 8144 5011

You could do lot worse than southern Spain with Vamos Cycling first time out. Great value for money and very friendly. Buying an inexpensive bike bag & booking with the right airline will most likely be cheaper than hiring. I've used a very flimsy canvas bag worth probably £60 or so a number of times. Just padded out sensitive areas with a big £5 roll of packing from an office supply store. Or hire a bike box which could still be cheaper than hiring. Most folk like to use their own bike as being used to the handling helps when pushing it a bit on a descent, which is half the fun of cycling abroad.

I'm off to Majorca next week. Amazing roads, sunshine, mountains. Voila. Plus a great road bike hire shop that doesn't cost the earth.

Thomson holidays charge £30 per bike.Tenerife is great for cycling all year.Spain/costa del sol and costa blanca are good between april- October.All the hotels I have used don't seem to mind the bikes in the rooms.What I do is find and use the service lifts at the hotels and keep out the the way of the other guests.There is nothing better than your own bike £30 is less than the price of bike hire.Thomson.com is best for price.Book the bike on the flight before you go to the airport.Don't drive down the Spain.By the time you get there you will be too Knacked to enjoy the bike.If you want a Hotel to stay at ask I've just the place in mind

We stayed with Buzz Alps in their chalet in the French Alps last year,coinciding it with the TdF being in the area.
A couple of guys drove with a van from Calais and it was about 10 hours i think.If there's 4 of you i wouldn't fly.
Some tours for the Pyrenees and Alps are horrendously expensive.
Something a bit different is the European Bike Express to the fixed base holiday in Northern Spain.
A long time to be sat on a coach though.

The daily hellograph has some good info and links here

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/spain/10260208/Vue...