Want tips for bike travel through Europe & Australia

[vonguitar@gmail.com]

Thinking of doing a self-contained bicycle tour through the U.K., parts of France and Germany, up to Denmark, Sweden, Finland, over to St Petersburg, Russia. 

This would happen next year, so I have time to put an itinerary together.  If time & ambition permit, may do some touring in Australia, and New Zealand. 

Would love to visit with anyone who's been through those countries.  I've done some solo self-contained bike touring in the US, but beyond the borders would be new for me. 

There's a slight chance I might include Italy.  I'd like to see Ghisallo, Italy, home place of the partron saint of cyclists.  Would like to visit with anyone who's been there, also.

[Mark Manley]

There is a very good resource here for route planning in Europe http://www.eurovelo.org/

Here is one for the UK http://www.sustrans.org.uk/

And here is one with some useful information on global travel, I realise it is primarily for motorcyclists but there is a cycling section and great advice on visas, routes and places to stay if you are taking the road less travelled http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/

Have a great trip, it is a fabulous world out there full of great places and people.

[vonguitar@gmail.com]

Thank you very much for the helpful information!

Happy pedaling!


Von Ketelsen
Carroll, IA USA

[vonguitar@gmail.com]

I tried opening  http://www.eurovelo.org/

And also, tried opening http://www.sustrans.org.uk/

the first one didn't open, and apparently, the server for the second one doesn't work.

Thanks for taking time to contact me.  Just thought you should know that those two sites don't seem to be working.


Von Ketelsen

[lukethedrifter]

both opened for me

[Mark Manley]

And me, that's how I got the links, give it another try.

[bert claes]

Hi,

1 good address to get help for touring: www.wereldfietser.nl

You can write in english, everyone can read it there...

I cycled last summer from belgium to lissabon in 4 months with 60 miles sharing road with cars... amazing routes there!

[vonguitar@gmail.com]

Thank you!


Von Ketelsen

[cycling girl]

You might want to join the warm showers list. It lists cyclists who are prepared to accommodate other cyclists and provide local knowledge tips about cycling routes yet. We have been members for over 10 years and have hosted dozens of international cyclists in our home. We have also stayed with some overseas. Wonderful folk and a great resource for travelling cyclists. warmshowers.org

[vonguitar@gmail.com]

Great suggestion!

Thank you!

[Galloper]

If you're cycling in the UK, the North of England is probably better than the South.   There are some very good long(ish) distance routes.   The C2C and Rievers Route are very good and can be done back to back.   Other routes are the Hadrian  which follows Hadrian's Wall and there's lots of great cycling on quiet roads in North Yorkshire and Co. Durham.   Going further north, the Tweed Valley and Dumfries and Galloway have great cycling and are developing lots of cycle routes.   The Scottish Highlands are magnificent.

For Germany, contact the National Tourist Board.   They produce and excellent booklet with information on many delightful cycle routes.   I'd recommend the Moselle, the Rhine Gorge and the Main-Tauber-Altmuhl in particular but there are many more.

In France there's plenty of good cycling.   The Loire a Velo is a cycle route which follows the River Loire and is well worth trying.   I'd also recommend the Dorgogne/Vezere area and (when you've got your climbing legs) the Massif Centrale.

[Galloper]

Oh! Forgot to mention, the Tour de France Grand Depart is in North Yorkshire along with the first two stages next year    Bonne Route!