Best Place to Cycle
climber888
Posts: 12
Hey Everyone
We all see the professionals cycling through some of the best terrain within the world, and it makes me wonder, what is the greatest place you have ever cycled before, or seen on t.v whilst watching a race?
We all see the professionals cycling through some of the best terrain within the world, and it makes me wonder, what is the greatest place you have ever cycled before, or seen on t.v whilst watching a race?
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French Alps.0
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Surrey Alps! (is the best place ive cycled)0
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Heavymental wrote:French Alps.
They can be very busy - big great main roads.
The Pyrenees are rather quieter and a little more wild. Are quite a few climbs were it's be unusual to see a car.
Unless you're very fit, big proper mountains are pretty tough though.
I've heard great things about Tuscany.0 -
The Cumbrian fells, some brutal ones in their own right. Fantastic views on a rare nice day. If I could pick anywhere to ride though, I would love to ride in the Dolomites.0
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Northern Spain around Girona and north into France.0
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Corsica is the best place I have cycled.0
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In the UK it's the Derbyshire hills - mix of great roads and scenery, lots of variety of roads (unlike some of the wilder places in the UK) and it's all near my house !
Outside of the UK - Normandy - but largely because the only place I've been cycling outside the UK is Normandy.
it's a hard life if you don't weaken.0 -
Luckily I've cycled in Tuscany, the Alps and the Pyrenees and can't disagree about any suggestions thus far, but generally for me the criteria are:
Smooth* tarmac
Fast, sweeping descents
Traffic free roads
Tailwind
Sun on your back
I could also add the Belgian Ardennes. The single best piece of road I've ridden is the road down from Muirwoods National Park in Marin County to PCH. First time down, I had to turn around and ride back up to experience it again.
* exceptions are roads specific to a region that add to the cycling experience such as French Pave, Begian Kaissen and Italian Strade BianchiMake mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..0 -
Rick Chasey wrote:Heavymental wrote:French Alps.
They can be very busy - big great main roads.
The Pyrenees are rather quieter and a little more wild. Are quite a few climbs were it's be unusual to see a car.
Unless you're very fit, big proper mountains are pretty tough though.
I've heard great things about Tuscany.
Cant believe im agreeing with the boy but hes right this time0 -
The roads around Stellenbosch, South Africa. Amazing scenery, mountain passes, quiet roads. The chance of seeing baboons/ ostriches etc. All the wineries you can visit if you are that way inclined. Friendly mostly english speaking locals. Perfect weather, 30 C, no humidity.
All roads are smooth, with a hard shoulder on single carriageways so you can ride 2 abreast without traffic getting in the way. Oh and they drive on the left too.
Just perfect.0 -
Carreterra Austral, southern Chile. Glaciers, waterfalls, mountains, fjords, hardly any people. It is 60-70% dirt road though.0
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BarryBonds wrote:Rick Chasey wrote:Heavymental wrote:French Alps.
They can be very busy - big great main roads.
The Pyrenees are rather quieter and a little more wild. Are quite a few climbs were it's be unusual to see a car.
Unless you're very fit, big proper mountains are pretty tough though.
I've heard great things about Tuscany.
Cant believe im agreeing with the boy but hes right this time
Know what you mean but I've never found it too busy and always had better weather than I have in the pyrenees (maybe just lucky) so I go back. Easy to find quieter rides even in well known areas and also fairly easy to keep main road sections to a minimum. But also, I've ridden major cols like the Glandon and the Madeleine, among others, on perfect summer days without seeing another rider for long periods. I don't like crowds but I'd not think twice about going back again. Even the Alpe can be relatively quiet.
But yeh, if you don't like going uphill for 20kms, go somewhere flatter.
For quieter, smaller hills and lovely rides, go to the Vercors.
If you are going to the Alps or the Vercors; Have a browse here... http://www.grenoblecycling.com/
This thread should probably be in Tour and Expedition...0 -
Dane7 wrote:The roads around Stellenbosch, South Africa. Amazing scenery, mountain passes, quiet roads. The chance of seeing baboons/ ostriches etc. All the wineries you can visit if you are that way inclined. Friendly mostly english speaking locals. Perfect weather, 30 C, no humidity.
All roads are smooth, with a hard shoulder on single carriageways so you can ride 2 abreast without traffic getting in the way. Oh and they drive on the left too.
Just perfect.
What about the tourist killing rape monkeys? I would have thought getting on a bike in Lycra there was a bit dodgy, Neer mind the sunscreen dont take your missus in a taxi0 -
The canyons around Boulder, Colorado - you are a mile in the sky before you enter the Rockies.0
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Have to def say derbyshire. Some classic climbs and brilliant terrain.
The peak district neverr fails. Even after years and years of exploring it i still find new places even now0 -
For me it was the Dolomites and after seeing Sunday's Giro stage it brought it all back. I did the Maratona in 2006 in perfect weather as was the whole weekend, also no snow only on the top of the Marmolada (High summer only though)
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Second would be the Serra de Monchique/Serra da Brejeira region of Southern Portugal (Algarve/Alentejo) the best place in Europe to ride Autmumn/Winter/Spring by far.
Third if you want quiet roads is the South East Limousin region of France, beautifull unspoilt countryside with lovely rolling hills and flatter sections.
Lastly where I live in the Shropshire Hills.
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