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cycle from Havana to Trinidad in Cuba

  • 20-11-2014 8:48pm
    #1
    magpye
    Registered Users Posts: 30 ✭


    Hi,
    Did anyone ever cycle from Havana to Trinidad? Thinking of doing it in February. Its about 320km but I'm trying to figure out the logisitics.
    Any help/advice would be appreciated.


Comments

  • #2
    purple cow
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 139 ✭✭purple cow


    magpye wrote: »
    Hi,
    Did anyone ever cycle from Havana to Trinidad? Thinking of doing it in February. Its about 320km but I'm trying to figure out the logisitics.
    Any help/advice would be appreciated.

    Drove it in 1999. Havana to Bay of Pigs. Bay of Pigs to Trinidad. Road was in absolute sh1t. On the plus side - there wasn't much traffic


  • #3
    m5ex9oqjawdg2i
    Closed Accounts Posts: 11,221 ✭✭✭✭m5ex9oqjawdg2i


    Ha, crazy. I am doing this in February also. Joining a guided tour though so it's all taken care of.

    Are you bringing your own bike OP?

    I believe they lack bike repair shops and the ones that do exist are not exactly fantastic. Roads are not in great shape either but there is less traffic as purple cow said.


  • #4
    stiofan85
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 505 ✭✭✭stiofan85


    Sounds like a cool trip. Best of luck!


  • #5
    Cyclingtourist
    Registered Users Posts: 1,599 ✭✭✭Cyclingtourist


    Did Havana to Pinar del Rio in W about eight years ago. Flew with bike Dublin-Gatwick-Havana with Virgin Atlantic in March. Stayed in casa particulars. Watch your stuff especially in Havana, they'll steal anything you leave around and lots of scams with street money changers and cigar sellers. Beer is good but don't drink unbottled water. Road surfaces can be non-existent in places and watch out for newly laid tar, if you get it on yourself or bike it's nearly impossible to get off.

    You should be OK, just be prepared to rough it a bit.


  • #6
    Sr. Assumpta
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 411 ✭✭Sr. Assumpta


    purple cow wrote: »
    Drove it in 1999. Havana to Bay of Pigs. Bay of Pigs to Trinidad. Road was in absolute sh1t. On the plus side - there wasn't much traffic

    Spent some time in Cuba in 2004, including in Trinidad de Cuba, the road to there (from Havana) was tarmacadamed but heavily pot-holed, and in generally poor condition. The driving on display was atrocious, and road-markings, where present, were largely ignored, ....the centre of the road being the preferred choice of all drivers, thus resulting in some interesting "chicken" scenarios. There was no road-side lighting, or reflective markings etc., and night falls almost instantly at this latitude, so take care not to be caught out. In fact take care in general, and take out decent travel insurance too.


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  • #7
    magpye
    Registered Users Posts: 30 ✭magpye


    Fernanda Colossal Cornflakes wrote: »
    Ha, crazy. I am doing this in February also. Joining a guided tour though so it's all taken care of.

    Are you bringing your own bike OP?

    I believe they lack bike repair shops and the ones that do exist are not exactly fantastic. Roads are not in great shape either but there is less traffic as purple cow said.

    Hi, yes bringing my own bike. The lack of repair shops is a worry but I know a bit and intend on upskilling as much as possible before hand.
    I did a guided tour in 2007 but on the other side of the island and the roads were ok. Just ok.
    Can I ask who your guided tour is with?


  • #8
    magpye
    Registered Users Posts: 30 ✭magpye


    Cyclingtourist wrote: »
    Did Havana to Pinar del Rio in W about eight years ago. Flew with bike Dublin-Gatwick-Havana with Virgin Atlantic in March. Stayed in casa particulars. Watch your stuff especially in Havana, they'll steal anything you leave around and lots of scams with street money changers and cigar sellers. Beer is good but don't drink unbottled water. Road surfaces can be non-existent in places and watch out for newly laid tar, if you get it on yourself or bike it's nearly impossible to get off.

    You should be OK, just be prepared to rough it a bit.

    I was in Havana in 2007 and yeah there was plenty of scams involving cigars going on. Luckily I had a friend who spent a lot of time there and he advised me to speak Irish to any of the hawkers who came upto me. They didn;t know the language so they just left me alone then.
    Don't mind roughing it, thats part of the adventure. Casas are the way to go, my only concern is bringing enough water, can't imagine I'll pass many garages haha.


  • #9
    magpye
    Registered Users Posts: 30 ✭magpye


    Sr. Assumpta wrote: »
    Spent some time in Cuba in 2004, including in Trinidad de Cuba, the road to there (from Havana) was tarmacadamed but heavily pot-holed, and in generally poor condition. The driving on display was atrocious, and road-markings, where present, were largely ignored, ....the centre of the road being the preferred choice of all drivers, thus resulting in some interesting "chicken" scenarios. There was no road-side lighting, or reflective markings etc., and night falls almost instantly at this latitude, so take care not to be caught out. In fact take care in general, and take out decent travel insurance too.

    Thanks for the info. I intend to be on the road early in the morning 6am - 7am as i'll need to get through as many kms before the hottest part of the day. I'll rest then and get back on the saddle.


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