Winter training on Cyprus

wasabi_m

Planning to head to Cyprus for week of high mileage. Staying just outside paphos.

Anyone been for training recently? Any advice? How did you enjoy it?

jgsi

Last time i was on Cyprus was 1977... and as far as I recall, its the bloody last place to ride a bike that hasnt got an engine.

pbt150

Cyprus has changed a lot in the past 10 or so years. Lots of EU money has been pumped into the infrastructure, and the Cypriot government has been encouraging cycle tourism recently. I was there over Xmas staying near Limassol, and once you get out of the towns there are lots of very good roads. I even saw the Katusha cycling team (I think) on a training camp.

wasabi_m

pbt150 wrote:

Cyprus has changed a lot in the past 10 or so years. Lots of EU money has been pumped into the infrastructure, and the Cypriot government has been encouraging cycle tourism recently. I was there over Xmas staying near Limassol, and once you get out of the towns there are lots of very good roads. I even saw the Katusha cycling team (I think) on a training camp.

Any advice on routes? Also how are the roads, drivers?

vitesse169

I was in Cyprus for 10 days training with a mate in late November. I go each winter for 7-10 days warm training. Don't go on the highway, stay on the village roads. As with everywhere some drivers are complete arses, most however are good and give a wide berth. The roads around Protaras/Ayia Napa/Frenaros are better than here - no pot holes.... You can go 5km between villages and only 2 or 3 other road users. I also have seen a Ruskie team out there training, It's getting more popular as the weather is better than mainland Eurpoe. I've not been taining at the Paphos end but it's a small island so is likely to be the same as Protaras. Yuo are much closer to the Troodos mountains - so if the hilly suff is your calling - you'll be a pig in poo.... Have a great time.

wasabi_m

vitesse169 wrote:

I was in Cyprus for 10 days training with a mate in late November. I go each winter for 7-10 days warm training. Don't go on the highway, stay on the village roads. As with everywhere some drivers are complete arses, most however are good and give a wide berth. The roads around Protaras/Ayia Napa/Frenaros are better than here - no pot holes.... You can go 5km between villages and only 2 or 3 other road users. I also have seen a Ruskie team out there training, It's getting more popular as the weather is better than mainland Eurpoe. I've not been taining at the Paphos end but it's a small island so is likely to be the same as Protaras. Yuo are much closer to the Troodos mountains - so if the hilly suff is your calling - you'll be a pig in poo.... Have a great time.

Thanks for the advice.

Only thing worrying me is that first week in February could be just like Scotland!

vitesse169

wasabi_m - in that case it's likely to be changeable weather. Still be about 15 deg plus tho, if you take a mixture of kit you'll be ok. I went in mid Feb in 2010 and it was a mixed bag, couple days of wet some dry/sunny. When it rained it was only for a short while, tho the roads did stay quite damp. If you get 2 or 3 dry days together it will be pleasant - make the most of it.

triathlondaz

wasabi_m wrote:

Planning to head to Cyprus for week of high mileage. Staying just outside paphos.

Anyone been for training recently? Any advice? How did you enjoy it?

Why Cyprus? lived there for 3 years and weather not great at that time of year (hit and miss) were you going for other reasons? I would be heading to the Canaries at that time of year (oh actually I am )

il_principe

Be intrigued to hear how it is. My bro in law has been posted there. He MTB's but I'm keen to get out there with the roadie. Supposedly the roads in the mountains are good as a lot of EU money has been spent...

Gekkoman

The Cyprus Gov or highways authority are making improvements on the roads all the time.
The roads in and around the towns and Cities are not so good but once out in the countryside, you wont find better.
The further up into the mountains you go the less likely you are to see much, if at all any traffic.
Road surfaces around the Troodos are excellent but it will be a little chilly.
Outside Paphos there is a super 100km + route that to date I have not seen surpassed in its quality. A great day out.
It doesn't venture to fare up the Troodos either.

ilm_zero7

it will be cold - mornings and evenings - even here (doha) its arm warmers at 5 am !

2oldnslow

Well I moved to Cyprus when I took early retirement last June. Since Christmas apart from odd good day the weather in my area (Tala up in the hills above Paphos) has been by Cyprus standards pretty dire with a lot of rain. So not sure when you are planning your weeks training but I'd leave it for a month or so if I were you.

Road surfaces around Paphos are to be honest not great with a lot of broken tarmac and potholes the order of the day. But if you want hills we've got plenty of them on this end of the island. Head out of Paphos past Coral Bay take a right and settle into 10 - 12 km of 9% up through the hills to Kathikas take a left to Stroumpi onto to Tsada and run back down into Paphos will give you a ride of 70 80km with probably in excess of 1000m of climbing. The coast road out of Paphos (old LImassol road) is popular with cyclists and once you get past the turn off to the airport relatively quiet Paphos to Pissouri Jetty and back fair bit of climbing and great views over the "med". I believe Thomas Wegmueller (ex PDM pro) bases his tours on PIssouri but really it's just a question of following your nose. Good luck .