Cycling Holiday

feelo

Hi all,

I want to head off on a cycling holiday for a week. Somewhere sunny but not too hot. I know there are plenty of package type holidays out there but I would like the flexability of just doing my own thing for the week and going where I want to go myself. Can anybody recommend a destination for me? I will also want to rent a decent bike for the duration of the holiday. Should I take a package holiday or can I just do it myself?

Thanks.

ford2600

Fly Ryanair to Girona.

This crowd have cannondale super 6 bikes for rent.

Super cycling country

feelo wrote: »

Hi all,

I want to head off on a cycling holiday for a week. Somewhere sunny but not too hot. I know there are plenty of package type holidays out there but I would like the flexability of just doing my own thing for the week and going where I want to go myself. Can anybody recommend a destination for me? I will also want to rent a decent bike for the duration of the holiday. Should I take a package holiday or can I just do it myself?

Thanks.

feelo

Hi ford2600

Could you be more specific? what crowd? what routes did you take and are they quiet/traffic free?

Thanks

ford2600

This crowd.

http://www.gironacyclecentre.com/

Sent you a route on pm. Once you get one days cycling in you suss out other routes. Nice rolling routes towards coast also, but busier traffic wise.

Busy near city centre, but bike friendly.
In mountains did 20km decent without meeting a car in either direction.

feelo

Thanks ford2600

Captain Havoc

Just get the boat to France and take your own bike.

feelo

I would prefer to do something like that but wiuld like some recommendations on good cycle routes that are traffic free or even long stretches of designated cycle tracks.

StickyMcGinty

Lanzarote was great for cycling when I was there last November when it's not too hot, but from between late May and August it might be too hot (depends on what you can handle)

Roads are quiet outside of the major towns (even in the towns the traffic isnt that bad) and the locals are used to cyclists. Smooth roads all the way too. Can get windy though.

If you're looking for a nice route follow the IronMan 180km - some great towns and a national park along the way. Some great climbs to the north of the island.

More climbs and general info here

Bike rental wise you've plenty of options - I got a nice full carbon ultegra Trek via Renner's bikes last year and there's plenty of rental places in Puerto Del Carmen. Some will even sort you out with a Garmin 800 for navigation

feelo

Sounds really good StickyMcGinty. I'll look into it. I've also heard that Gran Canaria is good too.

shaka

Missus just suggested this type of holiday to me but she wants to sit at pool while I'm cycling , fine by me

smacl

shaka wrote: »

Missus just suggested this type of holiday to me but she wants to sit at pool while I'm cycling , fine by me

Your missus really needs to start a blog. It's important that a voice like hers is heard by many*




(*many other peoples missus' that is)

smalltalk

+1 for Gran Canaria,pick a resort that suits you,rent a bike from http://www.free-motion.net/ and then climb your legs off:D

feelo

sounds good. Have you been? if so any recommendations?

robs1

I head to alcudia in mallorca every April. i stay in the viva tropic hotel. you can rent Scott bike in the hotel. it has a bike storage area and a bike mechanic in the bike shop in the hotel. you can do your own cycles or go with a group. there would be on average about 100 people cycling out from the hotel every morning all have different levels of ability

Eamonnator

+ 1 on Lanzarote.

I've been going there for past six or seven years.
I go in October, weather is perfect at that time.
Once you get away from the heavily populated areas, it's magic.
Roads are quiet, and well paved. Traffic is light. Motorists are
well behaved and bus drivers give you a wide berth.
I bring my own bike, but there are a number of good bike rental places.
As mentioned Renners are very good. There is also one on the sea front, between Porto del Carmen and Mata Gorda that do BH bikes.

Ole Rodrigo

The Las Playitas resort in Fuerteventura is a base for a week of cycling ( there's a good pool and local hiking also ) - the island is big enough to get a few different routes in. There's a group leaving the resort most mornings, not sure about now but in 2010 they were renting out Tarmacs. The roads on Fuerteventura are quiet and although bumpy and gusty it doesn't have the bigger climbs of the other Canary islands ( if that's what you would prefer ).
It isn't as populated as the other islands either, you'll need to factor that in with coffee stops but the bike shop can supply some good routes. It has a kind of desolate feel in and in places you might think you're somewhere like the Mojave desert. The geology is interesting, like the other islands.

The only other thing I'd say is that sports resorts are a bit mad, unless you don't mind a gaggle of bronzed tri-hards uniformly whizzing past your open air breakfast table first thing.

http://www.playitas.info

http://www.fuerteventurabikehire.com/

davgtrek

spent 2 weeks in provence last august. The most amazing place for cycling you could imagine. I rented a felt full carbon for about €30 per day all in. I was staying near mt.ventoux so everywhere you went there were cyclists. Great thing is that there is sooo much to do and see there all within miles of a base that everyone and other halves will be totally happy. Your cycling through vineyards and lavender towns and world heritage sites and of course some of the most famous routes in cycling. You cannot go wrong there with a bike !! I'd go again in the morning. Only downside is that accommodation there is pricey.... sure your only a few hours drive to monaco etc..... just google cycling in provence and you'll see tons of info.

I have heard great things about majorca too and a mate went to italy on a package cycling tour where everything arranged but check out provence.

I was cycling in 35 degrees and thought it would be a disaster but no. once you drink gallons of water ( every little village will top you up ) and tip along at a suitable pace for yourslef you'll go for hours...

IS_a_Class

very nice info. never considered the canary islands for a cycle trip before

slideshow bob

Alcudia in Mallorca was great in October last. Got a full carbon Willier from SportBequi for €10 a day, but list price is higher than this I think. Bikes left at the hotel for us so we could get on the road just after we arrived. Good route map available, and some great roads for cycling. Options of mountains or flat. Can't wait to go again.