Riding in Cyprus....

Ska!

Anyone here ever ridden in Cyprus before? Seeing as I'm a Canuck, we're travelling quite a distance to get there so there aren't many I can ask around here for riding advice. I've checked a few sights on line and they look good but wondered if anyone here has any first-hand experience and can offer advice/recommendations on who to contact or who NOT to contact for that matter. I'll be close to the Troodos Mountain range and I'm sure I'll be hitting at least that.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Downside to the trip is that I'll be doing it in early July when it's a billion degrees there :-(

I'm sure I'll make another ride video there if my camera doesn't melt........

colintrav

The Island is still split in half ...


Turkish and Greek too very different people that dislike each other and you have to go thro checkpoints when entering each half of the Island

, RAF Base is a good place to stop for a blether if you can close enough without being shot or arrested [only kidding ] lol also it is very very expensive to stay on the Island ...


Personally I would rather head to Malta has a lot more history and better scenery not only that you can go and view the George Medal that Island was rewarded during the War because if the rentless German Attacks .. and a film was made about this The Malta Story ..Excellent Film

pigeon42

Me & Daniel B spent 10 days in Cyprus at the end of September/beginning of October this year, and had a fantastic time!

We'd definitely recommend contacting Al & Kirsty at MountainBikeCyprus.com - they are very welcoming and knowledgeable. We hired road bikes for 10 days from them so we could explore the island a bit under our own steam, and also did 3 1-day guided mountain bike tours with them.

The first was quite short and fairly straightforward, along the coast near Paphos, but gave us a good chance to get used to their Marin full-suspension bikes. The 2nd tour was the real test (certainly for me at least!): a full day up in the Troodos Mountains. It was a very technical route, lots of rocks to get over, around Mount Olympus. I was quite apprehensive, not being a very experienced rider, but our guide Al had the patience of a saint & gave a great mixture of valuable tips on how to improve, coupled with a bit of gentle ribbing when I got a foot down!

Final tour was 40k on the Akamas Peninsula - a nature reserve on the western-most tip of the island. This was very different riding to Troodos - much less technical, but very very warm in places, with quite a few climbs - and of course some great downhill sections to compensate! I certainly felt like I learned huge amounts from both Al & Kirsty, and even on our first mountain bike outing back in the UK, I found my confidence had grown massively.

For the road biking, Dan & I were staying just north of Pissouri, so our road rides tended to take us up towards the Troodos so that at least we knew it was downhill on the way home! We really enjoyed the road riding inland: not much traffic to trouble you at all, and some stunning scenery with roads that were pretty good on the whole. One day we cycled east, and then south down to just outside Limassol, before following the coast road back west: these roads were a lot busier with traffic, so not quite as enjoyable (plus on that day there was the mother of all westerly headwinds to cycle in to!)

Dan & I had a brilliant 10 days: great weather, great riding, and Al & Kirsty (aka MountainBikeCyprus) could not have been more helpful or hospitable - definitely get in touch with them if you're going out there.

If you're after any more info, feel free to ask!

Ska!

pigeon42 wrote:

Me & Daniel B spent 10 days in Cyprus at the end of September/beginning of October this year, and had a fantastic time!

We'd definitely recommend contacting Al & Kirsty at MountainBikeCyprus.com - they are very welcoming and knowledgeable. We hired road bikes for 10 days from them so we could explore the island a bit under our own steam, and also did 3 1-day guided mountain bike tours with them.

The first was quite short and fairly straightforward, along the coast near Paphos, but gave us a good chance to get used to their Marin full-suspension bikes. The 2nd tour was the real test (certainly for me at least!): a full day up in the Troodos Mountains. It was a very technical route, lots of rocks to get over, around Mount Olympus. I was quite apprehensive, not being a very experienced rider, but our guide Al had the patience of a saint & gave a great mixture of valuable tips on how to improve, coupled with a bit of gentle ribbing when I got a foot down!

Final tour was 40k on the Akamas Peninsula - a nature reserve on the western-most tip of the island. This was very different riding to Troodos - much less technical, but very very warm in places, with quite a few climbs - and of course some great downhill sections to compensate! I certainly felt like I learned huge amounts from both Al & Kirsty, and even on our first mountain bike outing back in the UK, I found my confidence had grown massively.

For the road biking, Dan & I were staying just north of Pissouri, so our road rides tended to take us up towards the Troodos so that at least we knew it was downhill on the way home! We really enjoyed the road riding inland: not much traffic to trouble you at all, and some stunning scenery with roads that were pretty good on the whole. One day we cycled east, and then south down to just outside Limassol, before following the coast road back west: these roads were a lot busier with traffic, so not quite as enjoyable (plus on that day there was the mother of all westerly headwinds to cycle in to!)

Dan & I had a brilliant 10 days: great weather, great riding, and Al & Kirsty (aka MountainBikeCyprus) could not have been more helpful or hospitable - definitely get in touch with them if you're going out there.

If you're after any more info, feel free to ask!

Exactly the type of info I was looking for......thanks so much! We're still in the process of booking so I may contact you with some other questions later if I come up with some.

Thanks again!

Wrinkly Jim

I am going to Aya Napa for two weeks at the end of September and would like to hire a decent. road bike. So far all the sites I have found are for mountainbiking. I would rather avoid the hassle of taking my own bike if possible. I would also be interested in some road routes anyone might have. I finish my LVRC season the day before I fly out but would like to get in a few 60 mile rides while away. Thanks in anticipation.

EJC

Hi,
Can you tell me please (Pigeon 42) the name of the accommodation just north of Pissouri?
We are planning to go to Cyprus in October for our honeymoon and want somewhere special to stay...
Thanks.

Ska!

Well, here's the update.

I ended up contacting Al and Kirsty (as recommended by many) and it was a total riot! It was the right move for sure. Ended up going a second day towards the end of my holiday (after the Mrs. gave me the green light) as well.

Also, as I mentioned above, here is a short videoI made of one of the days out in the mountains. So very fun indeed.

For those who think this is crazy stuff, no worries, they have trails for all levels of rider so...... Whatever your level is, they can accommodate you and you'll have a great time. They are very professional and very pleasant in every way.

Cheers.