Europe (local)

To start our bike season, we want to cycle the "Route 99" from Lausanne to Zug in Switzerland, called the "Herzroute".

We had to wait a long time due to the miserable spring weather.

Eventually, on 21 June 2013, the longest day of the year, we take the train to Lausanne in the afternoon, so we can begin the journey early next morning.

A five day tour of the Pyrenees, beginning in Foix and crossing westward to the Col d'Aubisque. The mountains lived up to expectation, with great climbs and descents. Following a week of heavy rain, I had to make a couple of diversions to deal with flood affected areas. Unfortunately that meant missing a couple of the highlights I went to do; the Tourmalet and Aubisque. The upsides, including dry weather, however, outweighed the problems. Here you will find a description of the route I took, the one I had intended to, as well as tips on hotels and restaurants along the way.

Descriptions of our cycling holidays in Europe for our friends. We are an old couple (a Canadian and an American) that travel by bike using hotels. This is a description of the places as much as the biking, but also relays our experience as cycling tourists in Europe.

This trip took place just after the September 11th tragedy, just after an emergency landing of the Air Transat flight in the Azores (Air Transat is our carrier), and during a period when we were told that flights over the pole would have to take a more southerly route because the Russians were testing missiles there. It wasn't until after we got back that the Ukrainians managed to shoot down an Israeli airliner with missiles over the Black Sea.

Descriptions of our cycling holidays in Europe for our friends. We are an old couple (a Canadian and an American) that travel by bike using hotels. This is a description of the places as much as the biking, but also relays our experience as cycling tourists in Europe.

Last year we biked from Toulouse to Nîs. We thought we would have liked to go further, but ran out of time. So this year we decided to "finish" the bottom of France and check out Provence. Here is a map.

Descriptions of our cycling holidays in Europe for our friends. We are an old couple (a Canadian and an American) that travel by bike using hotels. This is a description of the places as much as the biking, but also relays our experience as cycling tourists in Europe.

Clermont-Ferrand is considered to be the capital of the Massif Central area. It is a city with a population of 150,000, its main industry seems to be Michelin tires, and its main historical claims to fame are that it is near Vercingetorix's capital (he's the Gaulish chieftain who was beaten by Julius Ceasar -- and they are still sore about it around here), and the crusades were started here.

Descriptions of our cycling holidays in Europe for our friends. We are an old couple (a Canadian and an American) that travel by bike using hotels. This is a description of the places as much as the biking, but also relays our experience as cycling tourists in Europe.

This year we biked from Lyon in West central France through some of the passes in the Alps.

Descriptions of our cycling holidays in Europe for our friends. We are an old couple (a Canadian and an American) that travel by bike using hotels. This is a description of the places as much as the biking, but also relays our experience as cycling tourists in Europe.

So this year we decided to ride in Italy. We wanted to see Rome and Florence and possibly further. In the end we didn't get much further.

Descriptions of our cycling holidays in Europe for our friends. We are an old couple (a Canadian and an American) that travel by bike using hotels. This is a description of the places as much as the biking, but also relays our experience as cycling tourists in Europe.

We had already biked through some of France and Italy, so we decided that we should try to see some of Spain. Plus, after biking a bit through the Alps, we wanted to check out the Pyrenees; and since I'm pushing 63 and only have one good leg, I felt I'd better do this soon.

Descriptions of our cycling holidays in Europe for our friends. We are an old couple (a Canadian and an American) that travel by bike using hotels. This is a description of the places as much as the biking, but also relays our experience as cycling tourists in Europe.

In 2007 Kate and I biked from Venice to Milan over the Stelvio Pass. When we got to the top of the Stelvio we found that this was the second highest pass in Europe. So this year we decided that we really needed to bike over the highest pass in Europe. This is the Col de l'Iseran, which, at 2770m, towers over the Stelvio by a full 13m.

To do this we decided to start from Marseille, and bike up to Bourg Saint Maurice, where we ended a previous trip over the Grand and Petite Saint Bernard Passes, and knew a friendly hotel. On the way we would see the Gorges du Verdon, the biggest canyon in Europe, and climb the Col d'Allos, the Col de Var, the Col de l'Izoard, the Col de Lauteret and the Galibier, and finally the Col de l'Iseran.

Descriptions of our cycling holidays in Europe for our friends. We are an old couple (a Canadian and an American) that travel by bike using hotels. This is a description of the places as much as the biking, but also relays our experience as cycling tourists in Europe.

Last year we biked some serious hills in the French Alps; so we wanted something less strenuous this year. We decided to go to Spain for a change, and settled on a trip through Andalusia from Granada through Cordoba, Seville, Cadiz, then the Mountains to Ronda and finally to Gibraltar.

Descriptions of our cycling holidays in Europe for our friends. We are an old couple (a Canadian and an American) that travel by bike using hotels. This is a description of the places as much as the biking, but also relays our experience as cycling tourists in Europe.

Last year we biked through Andalusia in Spain to Gibraltar. This year we wanted to see some of Italy that we hadn't seen. Particularly, we wanted to see Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Mt. Vesuvius, and bike the Amalfi coast. This inevitably involved going to Naples.

Descriptions of our cycling holidays in Europe for our friends. We are an old couple (a Canadian and an American) that travel by bike using hotels. This is a description of the places as much as the biking, but also relays our experience as cycling tourists in Europe.

The idea behind this trip was that we would see Venice and Milan and get to bike another alpine pass, this time the Stelvio.

In der Hitze Mittelamerikas wurde mir klar, der nächste Urlaub sollte wieder ein sportliches Abenteuer sein, das Mensch und Material an seine Grenzen bringt.

Und was bietet sich da besser an als Radeln auf Island? Wind, Regen, Matsch und Geröll, dafür ist Island unter Kennern bekannt.

Es gab nur ein Problem... meine Freundin! Es gibt zwei Sachen, die auf keinen Fall aufeinander treffen sollten: Sie und Island (und schon gar nicht mit einem Fahrrad!). Um unsere Beziehung zu retten, bekam ich schließlich von ihr einen Freibrief und durfte zusammen mit einem Freund den Walfänger spielen.

Zusätzlich gibt es eine Bildergalerie.

The amber trail is part of a green ways network of central and east Europe. This biking trip covers from Budapest to Krakow (approx.716 Km)

This site describes a day by day itinerary in Spanish, however I will be happy to share information in English upon request.

Itinerario in bicicletta, frizzante, spiritoso e poetico attraverso la Toscana, Umbria, Marche. Dal Mare Tirreno al mare Adriatico.

Bike route, sparkling, witty and poetic through Tuscany, Umbria, Marche. From the Tyrrhenian Sea to the Adriatic Sea

Itinerario nel Parco Nazionale Majella. Ogni tappa qui descritta è di circa 40/45 km. Interamente su strade asfaltate, di cui molte di poco traffico, permette di essere effettuata da chiunque abbia un minimo di allenamento e che viaggi con borse o zaino.

Route in the Majella National Park. Each step described here is about 40/45 km. Entirely on paved roads, many of which are of little traffic, can be done by anyone with a minimum of training and travel with bags or backpack.

In the year of 2010 I participated in the Ötz valley bicyclemarathon (228 km + 5300 m) which is one of the most prestigious bicycle marathon event in Europe. Its slogan is „I have a dream” and a lot of starters think this, me too. First I saw a report about it in the TV 17 years earlier and I hoped I would cycle it once in my life. I rode my touringbike and I carried a small videocamera with me to record the day for video.

The route starts in Austria, Tirol. Its 1st climb is Kühtai (2020 m) which ascent contains a stretch with 16% steepness. On the descent I reached 86 km/h speed. After Brennerpass the 3rd ascent was Jaufenpass / Passo Monte Giovo by pleasant sunny weather. As I reached Bad St Leonhard in time (before timelimit) I knew that the last hard climb, Passo Rombo / Timmelsjoch (250 m) would be a pleasure for me (I knew it too, had climbed earlier): enough time and unbelievable feeling on that wonderful road. I took a lot of photos and often used my videocamera and enjoyed the last climb very much, while I saw few cyclists struggling. I reached the finish with great emotions and memories: that was one of the most memorable day of my life. The travelogue contains a 28 minutes long video about the bicycle marathon.

Nine week bicycle tour tour with different travel plans for all 6 participants: Finland - Kirkenes - North Cape - Tromsø - Lofoten - Tromsø - Bodø - Östersund - Mora - Oslo

Bicycle tour on the Swedish island Gotland with tent, with a lot of sightseeing. Some part on the main land and on Öland for connecting the railroad station of Kalmar with the ferry ports.

The basic idea of this tour originates, to combine a bicycle tour with a concert of of Mary Gauthier at Malmo. [...] Useless to say, for me as a lifelong bicyclist I have decided to take the chance and pack my Brompton folding bike and carry it with me. That's make me touring around the city of Malmo / Sweden.

To travel to Malmo, is somehow easy. I decided to take a direct flight to Copenhagen, using my free miles. Then by train to Malmo, which is nowadays just 35 minutes away from Copenhagen, if one takes the train. So far, as I know, the train passes a sub-sea tunnel, which shortens the travel time drastically down. Needless to say: I had a wonderful concert, a wonderful stay and enjoyed riding the city of Malmo.

I have never seen a 'bicycling ride city' as Malmo before, but it is in competition with Copenhagen, which seems to have people with the same habit. Language of Denmark and Sweden is somehow similar. Both countries are rather expensive. Both countries still on their original currency, the Swedish crown or the Danish crown. A foreigner needs not to change money. Everything can get paid by credit card. Really everything; even the toilet usage at the train station.

Enjoy the pictures and my report. Good luck to our followers!

L'opportunità di riscoprire vecchi percorsi arginali, uniti ad affascinanti tratti di strade rurali attraverso rigogliose colture frutticole e formazioni boscose fluviali, ha portato all'ideazione di una proposta di percorso cicloturistico che colleghi due direttrici turistiche a valenza europea già affermate ed in fase di definizione e potenziamento quali la dx Adige e la sx Po.

The opportunity to rediscover old riverside paths, combined with fascinating stretches of rural roads through lush forested river formations and fruit crops, has resulted in the development of a proposal for a cycle path linking two main tourist valence European-established and being definition and enhancement such as right Adige River and left Po River.

Cycling on the ice is a great thing. You drive away from man-made paths, you have countless opportunities to go in a direction, and you get really close to unspoiled landscapes. A bit of skill is required to assess the self-chosen roadway as safe. We learned from previous tours in Germany, when lakes and rivers freze for a short time and animate to small bike tours. After that we were attracted for a distant goal with different landscapes: the Swedish archipelago with its countless islands and bays - enough space for an extensive trip over several days. The ice in February was thick enough and open areas were mostly already recognizable from afar. As it turns out, the biggest problem was the snow, which had grown in few days so high that we had to continue on the streets.

September 2012 and I was back, solo in the French Pyrenees, staying high and near the Spanish border,specifically in the Pyrenees Atlantique and Haute Pyrenees. My goal was to ride many of the famous cols and to explore the Pays Basque and Bearn. I planned to spend several days in different locations, riding unloaded on the oh-so-beautiful little roads of France before moving on. The ride began with a beautiful, all-too-short ride along the coast south from St. Jean de Luz, then turned inland to St. Jean Pied de Port, Larrau, Arette, Arrens-Marsous, Luz St. Sauveur. Cols climbed included Arnostéguy, Orgambide, Burdincurutcheta, Bagargui, Marie Blanque, Aubisque, finishing with the very famous Col de Tourmalet.

L'itinerario si svolge nell'area a nord-est di Lecce toccando il Bosco di Rauccio, posto quasi in prossimità della costa adriatica. Il bosco è uno degli ambienti naturali più belli di Puglia, ultimo residuo di una più estesa e folta copertura boschiva conosciuta nel medioevo come "Foresta di Lecce". Ma la meta ultima della nostra ciclo-navigazione è la straordinaria Abbazia di Cerrate, della prima metà del XII secolo, la cui costruzione sarebbe stata voluta dal conte normanno Tancredi.

The tour takes place in the area north-east of Lecce touching the Rauccio Forest, located almost near the Adriatic coast. The forest is one of the most beautiful natural environments of Puglia, the last remnant of a more extensive and dense forest cover in the Middle Ages known as the "Forest of Lecce." But the ultimate goal of our cycle-navigation is the extraordinary Abbey Cerrate, the first half of the twelfth century, whose construction was commissioned by the count Norman Tancredi.

La parte meridionale del percorso attraversa i confini dei paesi balcanici: Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Grecia e Turchia. Alcuni lo percorrono già, molti lo stanno promuovendo, presto sarà una realtà per il cicloturismo europeo.

Winter time in Austria is boring for bicyclists. In order to get my lazy bones moving, I have decided to do this tour.

At the Spain Island Fuerteventura you may find the sun of Africa and you training partner, the wind of the Atlantic. Fuerteventura has become popular by bicyclists. It's a rocky, hilly Island. Main Wind direction NW. It would be wise to ride against the wind in the morning and return with tail wind.

Roads are empty only on very early morning hours. During day time, all the others are on their way with rented cars. But take care, looking at the driving performance of some drivers, told me: not everyone is with a drivers license. But even the bus drivers can be special. I have been using once a bus, and the driver as set the speed to automatic and with his feet he made dancing steps to follow the loud music of the radio, whilst his bus has been riding against the car before him in far too short distance.

Winding roads, most of them are new (maybe EU money returns) makes riding road by bicycle easy. Highest elevation on road is the Betancuria circle with the highest summit of the 'Morro Velosa', round 660 meters above sea level. Not all road shown in the maps are paved. The Island has become popular for mountain biking. [...]

A month of biking took us from Munich to Venice over the Alps. We did not bike up the Alps. Check the site to find out how we did get up. We went up the Inn river from Rosenheim through Innsbruck to Landeck. Once over the Alps through the Reschen Pass, we followed a beautifil Adige (Etsch in German) river. The Adige flows through Bolzano, Trento to Verona. Along the Po river it was a zig zag route to Venice.

This is a great introduction to cycling holidays in Brittany France. The hotels are typical country hotels, not expensive tourist traps,but all offer clean simple rooms with en-suit facilities etc.

Roma, la città più bella del mondo, non finisce mai di stupire con la sua eleganza architettonica di ogni epoca. Non mi stupiscono i chilometri percorsi per visitarla: ben 75. Il giornale che leggo in treno al mio rientro, è solo un pretesto per calmare la mente pervasa di mille ricordi, di mille visioni, di mille chilometri.

Rome, the most beautiful city in the world, never ceases to amaze with its architectural elegance of every age. I'm not surprised the mileage to visit: well 75. The newspaper I read on the train on my return, it's just an excuse to calm the mind filled with a thousand memories, a thousand visions of a thousand miles.

A due passi dalla modernissima stazione centrale dei treni, un giovane ciclonoleggiatore, vestito come un artigiano d'altri tempi, ci prepara delle ottime city bike equipaggiate (incredibile) con borse Ortlieb a sgancio rapido ....

A few steps from the modern railway station, a young renter of bicycle, dressed as a craftsman of the past, prepared for us some great city bike equipped (surprise) with bags Ortlieb quick release....

A bike tour in winter, along 4 Regional or National Parks. 350 km in six days. From Spoleto (Umbria) to Sora (Lazio).

Riding bike around Elba Island, in june, from and to Portoferraio.

Continua il racconto dell'itinerario da Aosta a Roma

Fuori Pavia il percorso Francigeno si inoltra in strette strade provinciali e piste sterrate. Oltrepasso Belgioioso con il suo bel castello, sosto per il pranzo all'ombra di un altro castello il Cusani Visconti di Chignolo Po,supero il ponte della ferrovia di Lambrinia, seguo una strada sterrata sull'argine del fiume che conduce a Corte Sant'Andrea.

Continues the story of the bicycle trip from Aosta to Rome. Out of Pavia path Francigeno you forward in narrow roads and dirt tracks. I cross Belgioioso with its beautiful castle, I stop for lunch in the shade of another castle of the Visconti Cusani

Prima parte dell'itinerario dal Gran San Bernardo a Roma percorso in bicicletta lungo il il pellegrinaggio del vescovo Sigerico che nel X secolo fece da Canterbury a Roma. Questo itinerario attraversa le testimonianze più significative dell'epoca medioevale.

First part of trip from the Great St. Bernard to Rome by bike, path along the pilgrimage of the bishop Sigerico that in the tenth century made from Canterbury to Rome. This route passes through the most significant example of medieval era.

Las Vías Verdes de Ojos Negros I y II , con unos 160 km de longitud, unen Santa Eulalia (al Noroeste de Teruel) con la ciudad de Sagunto, y entre las dos forman la Vía Verde mas larga de España.

Atardecer entre Escandon y Teruel

La ruta sigue en su mayor parte el trazado de un antiguo tren minero abierto a principios del siglo XX, y que unía las minas de Ojos Negros con el puerto de Sagunto. Las minas fueron en su momento las principales minas de hierro de España, que ademas contaban con la ventaja de ser a cielo abierto y de fácil explotación. Sin ninguna industria en la zona capaz de explotarlas, se construyo un ferrocarril de vía estrecha que llevara el material a los altos hornos de Sagunto. Esta linea estuvo en funcionamiento hasta 1973, cuando para aumentar la capacidad de transporte, se reconvirtió a vía ancha el tramo desde las minas a Santa Eulalia , donde se unía a la ya existente red de vía ancha de RENFE. Quedo entonces el resto que la linea de vía estrecha entre Santa Eulalia y Sagunto en desuso, y este es mas o menos el tramo que se ha transformado en vía verde, y que durante muchos kilómetros transcurre paralelo a la linea de vía ancha todavía en funcionamiento para transporte de viaj! eros.

Seconda parte dell'itinerario con dati GPS del percorso. Descrizione del diario di viaggio con precisione e professionalità. Tirreno -Adriatico dall'Argentario al Conero 374 km suddivisi in cinque tappe; 4370 mt di dislivello; oltre 37 h in bicicletta. Hanno pedalato questo viaggio condividendone salite e discese, sole e pioggia, gioie e sudore, allegria e amicizia:Angelo, Enzo, Giorgio, Giuseppe, Marino, Pietro, Stefano. a cura della Associazione FIAB-Grossetociclabile. "In bici per l'ambiente"

Second part of the data with GPS location. Description of the travel diary with precision and professionalism. Tirreno-Adriatico Argentario to the Conero 374 km divided into five stages; 4370 meters of elevation gain over 37 h on a bicycle. Rode this trip sharing ups and downs, sun and rain, sweat and joy, happiness and friendship: Angelo, Enzo, George, Joseph Marino, Peter, Stephen. by the Association FIAB-Grossetociclabile. "Cycling for the environment"

Dal Tirreno all'Adriatico, un viaggio in bicicletta che attraversa in orizzontale l'Italia, per congiungere idealmente i due promontori posti geograficamente "all'altezza del cuore" del Paese.

From the Tyrrhenian to the Adriatic Sea, a bike trip through horizontally Italy, to join the two promontories ideally placed geographically "at the heart" of Country.

Orbetello, Capalbio, Bolsena, Orvieto, Todi, Massa Martana, Bevagna, Foligno, Plateau Col Fiorito, Serravalle di Chienti, Tolentino, Macerata, Recanati, Loreto, Ancona, Ancona centers of historic, scenic and cultural meet along the way. The Ways Aurelia, Cassia and Flaminia consular roads you ride, of 'Albegna in Tuscany, the Tiber in Rome, Chienti and Power in the Marche region, the valleys of the rivers that follow.

Terza parte del tour Trieste - Istambul

Da Skopje con arrivo a Istambul
Il pensiero finale è per Asif. Ho ricevuto grande stima da questa persona e affetto da tutta la sua famiglia, senza fare altro che essere superiore ai luoghi comuni e ai pregiudizi di molti. Faleminderit.

Third part of the tour Trieste - Istanbul

Arriving from Skopje to Istanbul
The final thought is for Asif. I received great respect and affection for this person by his whole family, not help but be more than clichés and prejudices of many. Faleminderit.

A 3-day, 250-km bike and train ride on the Lake Road in Switzerland, from Geneva to Interlaken