View Full Version : help me with my next cycling vacation.
ColnagoC59
08-04-2019, 02:09 PM
done a number of my bucket list rides, swiss alps, french alps, girona, mallorca, french pyrenees to name the big ones that come to mind. also did weekends up ventoux, levi's grand fondo and hincapie in south carolina.
what should be next? was thinking about cote de azur and dolamites. looking back I think I enjoy staying in the same base camp during the trip. just makes it more relaxed not to have to constantly change hotels. any good ideas?
XXtwindad
08-04-2019, 02:18 PM
Some good ideas in this thread (currently right above this one):
https://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=240758
tony_mm
08-05-2019, 01:43 AM
Alsace F
Massif central F
Dolomites I
Lago di Garda I
Valais CH
Graubünden CH
Schwarzwald D
Etc etc....
romalor
08-05-2019, 03:42 AM
Belgica is nice ( in summer at least ) :cool:
572cv
08-05-2019, 06:47 AM
How long is your trip? What time of year? Is there a group?
As to the Cote d’Azur, I’ve done two trips to the Nice area, using the stay-in-one-place model you describe. You have your own kitchen, you can hang out, shop locally, enjoy a village. If you can get close to Tourette-sur-Loup village, you’re on a great cycling route, with good local services and shops and restaurants. We found a house and went with four other couples, but there are apartments and small houses too. Riding in September/October, or anytime in the spring is great, and the prices for rentals drop down to the “wow, that’s pretty good” zone. Try Homeholidays or Airbnb to get started. A good search term is maison de vacance, or in English, vacation rental. Use the the town to more quickly narrow the search. Up the Col de Vence and into the high country behind, then back down through the Gorge de Loup is a fine ride. Many others are wonderful too.
alessandro
08-05-2019, 10:30 AM
Iceland.
Please explain. Road or MTB? I've been there twice, both times with family, no biking. That place is spectacular and sparsely populated. But every cyclist I saw there looked utterly demoralized, because of the wind. Granted, they were bikepackers, and had huge sail area on their large panniers, but still: The trees are few, the wind has little to block it, it rains often.
But every cyclist I saw there looked utterly demoralized, because of the wind. Granted, they were bikepackers, and had huge sail area on their large panniers, but still: The trees are few, the wind has little to block it, it rains often.
Epic.
https://icebikeadventures.com/tours/gravel-multi-day-tours-iceland-gravel/
https://www.therift.bike/
EricChanning
08-05-2019, 03:35 PM
Nice makes for a very nice base camp with plenty of fine routes. The international airport located their helps if you are traveling from the US.
Mr. Pink
08-05-2019, 04:34 PM
If the Dolomites.... https://www.hotelmesdi.com/hotel-arabba.htm
Haven't stayed there, but right on the road of the Marlamode. Bike room and bike centric in summer, right next to a lift in winter. Not a bad deal at all in summer, with two meals. Incredibly beautiful place, I was there a few years ago for a few days.
572cv
08-07-2019, 04:24 PM
How long is your trip? What time of year? Is there a group?
As to the Cote d’Azur, I’ve done two trips to the Nice area, using the stay-in-one-place model you describe. You have your own kitchen, you can hang out, shop locally, enjoy a village. If you can get close to Tourette-sur-Loup village, you’re on a great cycling route, with good local services and shops and restaurants. We found a house and went with four other couples, but there are apartments and small houses too. Riding in September/October, or anytime in the spring is great, and the prices for rentals drop down to the “wow, that’s pretty good” zone. Try Homeholidays or Airbnb to get started. A good search term is maison de vacance, or in English, vacation rental. Use the the town to more quickly narrow the search. Up the Col de Vence and into the high country behind, then back down through the Gorge de Loup is a fine ride. Many others are wonderful too.
Just a follow up on Tourettes-sur-Loup.... I remembered where I found the house we stayed in. This is a place for a group, really, but was really a pretty nice landing spot, as noted above. The website is VBRO. lots of other choices there too.
https://www.vrbo.com/412673ha?noDates=true
merlinmurph
08-07-2019, 04:36 PM
Iceland.
FWIW, during our trip to Iceland, I had absolutely no desire to have my bike with me. Then again, different strokes...... If you wanted to go off the beaten track for an adventure ride, Iceland would work.
Depends what you're looking for. The OP said he wanted a base camp and Iceland just wouldn't work well that way, IMHO.
chunkylover53
08-07-2019, 04:47 PM
I based myself in Florence for 10 days. Tons of options - ride to Siena, do Eroica course, etc., can also take quick train out to Lucca and great riding.
Team Murray
08-07-2019, 10:04 PM
Norway. I’ve ridden on Lofoten island. But I here that Bergen is great.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Drmojo
08-07-2019, 10:41 PM
But...
Try more exotic
Madagascar-where you are unlikely to see
Yankees or ANY other cyclists
Laos or Vietnam
Southern Africa
Tasmania
New Zealand
etc etc etc
Wherever you go, talk to the locals
Stay in their homes, it enriches the
experience
Enjoy!!
donalrey
08-08-2019, 08:18 AM
I second or third Nice. I've been there twice to ride. First time was short and thought it was okay but the second time (earlier this year) I really fell in love with the riding. For a "bike vacation" you can't beat it. Tons of options right out the door (both paved and dirt). You can do a significant ride in 4-5 hours and come back and have a nice meal in town and just people watch.
homagesilkhope
08-08-2019, 10:07 AM
I'm going to second the idea of returning to a place you know. Yes, a list can be fascinating and chasing a bucket list offers some excitation. But the OP speaks of the simplicity of a single base (yes! I don't need thirteen mountains in thirteen days anymore than I need thirteen cities). If the place you know (or kinda know) is good, it can get even better - and less stressful - when you really know it, its ins and outs, good roads and bad, best times of day to ride, where the better coffee and pastry stops are, mechanics you like, even where all the water fountains are so that one bottle is very nearly always enough. Or how about this: thirteen ways up the same mountain! It's what's kept me coming back to the same place in Italy for twenty years with only an occasional diversion here and there. Enjoy!
I too have been to Iceland and would not want to be on a bike there.
I was just in Italy (Tuscany) without a bike and really wish I had my bike there. Great place, great weather, great food, great people.
LouDeeter
08-08-2019, 10:45 AM
There are some classic locations within the U.S. where you can get a great ride, with scenery, easy access to lodging and restaurants and you don't have to spend a lot to get there. If mountains are what you want, think the Sierras, West Virginia, Jan Heine's many routes outside of Seattle, or one of my favorites, the triplet in Arkansas of Mount Magazine, Mount Nebo and Petit Jean Mountain, followed by riding in the Ozarks.
If you like off-road, try the C&O Canal from Cumberland, MD to Georgetown. Nice path, but probably want to ride at least gravel tires if not full blown MTB.
Blue Ridge Parkway
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