What is the best route for a bicycle touring beginner?
Join a local club and take a bicycle tour in your home country. However, if you wish to plan your own tour for the first time consider the Danube Bike route from Passau, Germany to Vienna, Austria. Because the route is paved and signed on both sides of the river; there are frequent posted location maps; hotels are used to cyclists and foreigners; the distance makes an excellent one week tour or for two weeks if you continue to Budapest.
If you are concerned about handling bicycles and accommodation book a self-guided tour on the Danube Bike Route from one of the many travel companies. Guided tours are also available, although not necessary on this route.
Filed under Bicycle Routes by on Jul 19th, 2010. Comment. 
Do I require a touring bicycle? In a word, no, it really depends on the your style of bicycle touring.
If you are spending a week at a villa in Tuscany and taking day trips any bicycle capable of carrying your camera and traveling up the hills will do. While if you are cycling across Canada or the United States loaded with camping gear and proper touring bicycle is desired. And if on a two week bicycle tour on a European paved bicycle route while staying in hotels or bed and breakfasts a road bike or hybrid with racks, water bottle cages can sometimes work.
If you do use a road bike ensure that you use 700 x 28 tires and have a rear pannier rack. Fenders are nice but not a necessity. You will be fine on the road.
Filed under Bicycle Touring Equipment by on Jul 19th, 2010. Comment.
Bicycle touring bikes may include the following features:
• A range of gears, usually from 24 to 30, for cycling on different types of terrain including up hills carrying your luggage
• Heavier frame made of steel to carry the extra weight from your luggage and perhaps ride over the occasional rough road or cobblestones
• Touring bicycles usually have 27 inch (700c) wheels like a road bike, but they are normally fitted with fatter tires, 28 to 35 millimeter (1.1 to 1.4 inches) and sometimes with stronger spokes. This increased tire width gives the touring bicycle increased shock absorbency and makes them more suitable for rougher surfaces and the heavier loads. Touring bicycles are heavier than road bikes
• A more relaxed geometry for the longer days of bicycle touring in the saddle
• Racks to carry your bike bags (panniers) on the rear and sometimes the front
• Fenders to keep water from flying up from your touring bicycle in the rain
• Minimum of two water bottle holders, much like road bicycles
• Saddles are more of a personal issue with some cyclists preferring one with gel and others a harder saddle. Some people like the saddles with a slit down the middle which creates less pressure on you when riding. Also saddles are different for men and women.
• Local laws may require your touring bicycle be equipped with a bell or horn and reflectors
• A bicycle computer to measure your distances is also a great option
Filed under Easy Bicycle Touring by on Jul 20th, 2010. Comment.
San Gimignano, Tuscany
Your Bike tours in Tuscany are on quiet roads as there are no bicycle touring routes in Tuscany to explore. You will fall in love with the scenic landscape covered with red poppies in the spring or sun flowers in the autumn. The roads you cycle are lined by cypress and olive trees, vineyards too, and long winding hilly climbs lead to wonderful stone villages. Italian drivers are fast, yet generally gently around cyclists as there are many on the roads
There are several districts you can bike tour in Tuscany which may be combined to form a longer routes.
Southern Tuscany
Start your Bike tour in Tuscany by cycling in Chiusi with sweeping views of the area, its located on the main train route from Rome. Cycle to Cortona, made famous in many movies and television shows and a great overnight location.
Cycle to Montepulciano, home to great wines and many historic buildings. Easy cycling brings you to Pienza and San Quirico d’Orcia, both worth a stop to investigate. Your bicycle touring then brings you to Montalcino, after a long 6 km climb. But stop here to explore the castle, and many streets. Then its on to the historic town of Murlo as you bike tour through the Tuscan hills, before arriving in Siena, Chianti.
This is the center of the Tuscany region which lies between Florence and Siena. The main street of Siena within the city walls is a meandering pedestrian walkway flanked by shops which opens up into City Hall and Piazza del Campo. The town at city hall is worth the climb for outstanding views of the region. The weekly market is absolutely huge with everything from shoes to food for sale.
Your bike tour in Tuscany now takes you north to Monteriggioni, an impressive hilltop fortress. Continue through the town of Colle di Val d’Elsa and start climbing the hill to San Gimignano. This medieval town does not permit cars on its streets which receives plenty of daytime visitors. Spend the evening the see the stone building night lit. From San Gimignano make an easy day trip to historic Volterra, site of Roman ruins.
Continue your bike tour in Tuscany by traveling to Radda, a interesting stone village again with no cars permitted along its streets. Great for an overnight stay.
Continue your bike in tour in Tuscany the vine covered Tuscan hills to Greve and on to Florence. You will find that there is lots of traffic in Florence itself. You will want to see the fabulous art galleries and famous Ponte Vecchio.
Northern Tuscany and Florence
Departing Florence on your Tuscany bicycle tour and heading to the west is fairly flat with lots of small towns until you reach Lucca. This is the gem of the region, with walls so wide there is a bicycle route around the 4 kilometers loop (2.5 miles) around the city. Inside a medieval city with shops, restaurants, churches.
It’s a short 29 km (18 miles) cycle lined with cypress trees from Lucca to Pisa to see the famous leaning tower and duomo (cathedral) inside the city walls. Continue your bicycle tour north along the Mediterranean coast to the home of Pinocchio.
Your bike tour in Tuscany will be the envy of your friends.
Filed under Bicycle Routes by on Jul 24th, 2010. Comment.
One of the top regions for a New England bicycle tour is Maine. The video above is in the Portland area. The route starts in a park located on a bay on the north end of the city and travels along the coastal bike path before entering the old harbor area. You then cross the river (bike lane on the bridge) to the south shore.
Quiet roads greet the cyclist as you visit various coves piled high with lobster traps and see several lighthouses which are pictured in the video.
This is a great route for families or cyclists wishing a moderate day trip.
Filed under Bicycle Routes by on Jul 24th, 2010. Comment.
Bicycle touring in Italy
GPS is an acronym for Global Positioning system that can be useful to navigate when bicycle touring in unfamiliar area. You must still carry a map, GPS units don’t always work the way you might expect, and you don’t always have the coordinates you need for a destination, so you need a paper map for reference as backup. GPS units don’t work well, if at all, in under tree heavy cover so if you’re in a forest, you may need to find a clearing to set your position, which isn’t always easy.
Some of the things you need to look for:
Ease of use – you need a GPS that is easy to learn how to use, some offer touch screens
Construction – it is important your GPS is rugged, compact and lightweight. You will require a handheld type unit instead of a GPS designed for auto use, an excellent accessory is a bicycle mount for your handlebars. It should also be waterproof as it is sure to rain at some point during your bicycle tour.
Map Display – you need a GPS that can be easily read in all light conditions. You will want to test the unit from different viewing angles in direct sunlight for visibility.
Maps – a key your GPS is access to maps of your bicycle touring destination. Some GPS have built in maps but that may not be helpful if cycling in Asia or Europe. Fortunately most GPS units have a USB connection to enable you to download maps from your computer for your destination.
Batteries – do carry spare batteries but it is best to use common batteries such as AA size that can be purchased during your bicycle tour. if necessary. Also long battery life is essential; some two battery models have a longer life than the models with four batteries. Some people carry rechargeable batteries but the charger can add weight which you are trying to reduce while bicycle touring.
Accessories – you might want to consider a bicycle handlebar mounting kit, GPS maps, battery packs or a protective carrying case.
Using a GPS while Bicycle Touring
Before your bicycle tour, select some “waypoints” along your route, such as intended camp sites, towns, intersections etc, and using print or online maps with degree/minute/second guides, input the waypoints into the GPS unit to use as guideposts along the way so you don’t get lost.
A secondary reason for a GPS is that it can provide information about your bicycle tour such as knowing how far you’ve gone and what elevations you have climbed although a good bicycle computer will accomplish this as well.
Filed under Bicycle Touring Equipment by on Jul 26th, 2010. Comment.
Taxi in Varadero, Cuba
One of the favourite bicycle touring destinations for cyclists who live in northern areas is Cuba. There are numerous scheduled and charter flights to Havana, Santiago de Cuba and Holguin other Cuban cities from Canada, Europe and Mexico.
Major advantages of touring Cuba by Bicycle:
• A very inexpensive destination
• The warm climate is pleasant in the winter season; some find it very hot for cycling at times. Best time to visit is November to April
• Friendly people, very safe as crime is almost non-existent
• Largest island in the Caribbean with lots of cycling routes for 7, 14 nights or longer
• Very little traffic on the roads
Guided cycling tours of Cuba are offered by a number of tour operators: Exodus and Explore from the UK, McQueens Travel and GAP Adventures from Canada and others. Another option is to book a stay at one of the resort hotels, particularly in the Santiago area, and go day trips on your bike. A third option is to explore on your own staying at inexpensive pension type accommodation.
If not on a guided tour of Cuba which includes your bicycle then bring your own on the plane. A common practice when bicycle touring is to take an old bike, use it during your stay and leave it behind when you leave. Cuba is a poor country and the local people appreciate your old bike.
Along the way you will see historic colonial cities, lush jungle forests and Cuba has a reputation for some of the greatest beaches in the world. Cuba drivers are accustomed to cyclists as many of the local people use bicycles, although you do need to watch out for potholes. Routes are generally not demanding, there will be some hilly sections particularly in eastern Cuba.
A popular route from Havana is to cycle to the west to visit the Sierra del Rosario mountain range, a UNESCO biosphere reserve. In the center of the island you have Cuba’s most colonial city, Trinidad. Eastern Cuba is more mountainous and forested.
If planning your own tour stay in a Casa (B & B) which are run by Cuban families and are very inexpensive. The food is cheap and plentiful and many consider it better than what is found in some of the 3 star resort hotels.
If you are looking for a warm cycling destination this winter, consider Cuba.
Filed under Bicycle Routes by on Jul 28th, 2010. Comment.
Cycling tours europe can include a visit to the Salzkammergut (Lakes) region of Austria near Salzburg.
A very scenic series of routes circling the lakes of the Salzkammergut which are framed by high mountains. Much of the movie, The Sound of Music was filmed in this region and it is also a popular recreation area for Austrians all year round.
Start your bicycle touring in Salzburg and head along the Salzkammergut route into the gentle hills to the east. After a few hours you reach Mondsee, your first lake. The church here was the site of the wedding scene in the movie, The Sound of Music. The bike route continues on a quiet road with a climb and downhill before reach St. Gilgen on Lake Wolfgang.
Continue on the paved bike path along the southern shores of Wolfgangsee. You may choose to stay in St. Wolfgang (bike ferry ride across the lake), Strobl or Bad Ischl and the eastern end.
Do take a day ride to scenic Hallstatt, your third lake and a town now famous on many calandars. This is a pedestrian only town so lock your bike and go exploring.
The Salzkammergut bike route continue north along the Traun River to Gmunden, located on another lake and a great place to stay.
From here cycle along the bike route to the west into Steinbach on the Attersee before heading back to Salzburg along one of several options. Others who are bicycle touring head north and connect with the Danube Bike Route.
Filed under Bicycle Routes by on Jul 31st, 2010. Comment.