Cycling fromo Essex to Venice- help needed on routes!!!

oilyribbons

Hi, I'm planning to cycle to Venice, Italy, in July, from Colchester Essex. Any ideas on the best route after Folkestone? I'm not the best cyclist, though I will be doing lots of training, and at 15 stone plus my baggage, I'd prefer not to get lost in Switzerland! I was thinking cycling roughly south down the length of France, and then over to Turin from there.

Has anyone done a similar thing? Also, info on how much money you'd need (camping) and any problems people have encountered.
Thanks
Oily

andymiller

The Euro-Velo Network map might be a good place to start. pdf downloadable from here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EuroVelo

Key issue is where to cross the Alps.

I'd budget 10€ a night for camping (plus food), 30-35€ for gitesd'étape (including meals), 50€ for hotels (excluding food).

oilyribbons

That's excellent, thanks for your reply. I see that eurovelo route no.5 would be pretty much perfect. Can't find a map for that on its own however- I've been on the eurovelo website as well

oilyribbons

Hi, I've got a boardman hybrid cycle, which I normally use race tyres for, but it's currently got thicker tyres on to beat the ice.

I haven't done one of these long tours before, but I'm not planning on taking much (tent, sleeping bag, spare set of clothes) as I'm moving to Italy to live for a year or so.

Any help on essential equipment would be much appreciated.

andymiller

Oily

See:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&ms ... b9716dfefb

Taken from here:

http://viaromeafrancigena.blogspot.com/ ... ber-5.html

EDIT:

This one looks more detailed:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8& ... urce=embed

from here:

http://pilgrimagepublications.blogspot. ... rbury.html

oilyribbons

That's very helpful- I'll use that as a guideline and buy some regional maps. Think that route looks the most direct, even though it cuts through the alps. Thanks

andymiller

Think that route looks the most direct, even though it cuts through the alps.

Is there a route that doesn't go through the Alps? :shock:

oilyribbons

haha yeah good point!!!

Bikeandhike

My family want to visit Poland this summer & I'm thinking of cycling at least some of the way back to the UK. Anyone know anything about EV2 (Capitals Route) or where I might find some downloadable maps?