Cycling holiday destination for May?

MrsPB

We're looking at getting some sun in the May half term (end of May) next year and are after:-

a) good road cycling for my husband (and me, so some rides without HUGE gradients)
b) warm and sunny weather
c) family friendly/villas with pool/beach etc for our small children (6 and 5)
d) culture of some sort for my parents - nice towns, maybe a cathedral

Quite happy to fly or drive.

I was thinking Mallorca, or Tuscany, northern Spain....?

Does anyone have any experience or recommendations?

I have reviewed a lot of posts about great cycling in Tenerife, Mallorca, Lanzarote etc but not sure about the other aspects? Also a bit concerned that these islands may be too hot at end of May for cycling?

Thanks

JamesB

How about Corsica beautiful and still quite rural, nice towns in Bastia / Calvi / Corte; some good long cols in the mountains, not very high (< 1 500m) but start at sea level, or gentle coastal cycling south of Bastia. Went there in May this year, raid Corsica , was marvellous and not too hot, in fact it rained heavily first day

It`s not touristified but is nice in that respect. Planes from Manchester or car and ferry from Marseilles

Here`s link to some pics http://www.flickr.com/photos/55935603@N ... 024988452/

MrsPB

Thank you JamesB, hadn't thought of Corsica - will go google!

MrsPB

Looks beautiful in your pics. Is there a particular location you'd recommend (or avoid)?

Flexisurfer

Currently in the Calabrian region of southern Italy and having just been to Tuscany is quite a lot cheaper. Staying at an apartment in Pizzo Beach Resort, look it up it's fantastic. As for riding, in my opinion the roads are ripe for some late spring rides, but I bought my kitesurfing gear so can't comment too much but the area is stunning.

Wacky Racer

Just spent 2 weeks in Menorca, fantastic for cycling, not too hilly but there are a few if you want them. You'll see plenty on the road, it's safe, and loads to see. Highly recommended.

If you want culture, Mont Torro is magnificent, and towns of Mahon and Cuitadella offer plenty. Weather is excellent at that time. We stayed in a Villa with a private pool, costs were very reasonable, eating out is sensibly priced. You can fly there from pretty much anywhere.

We stayed in the north of the island away from the crowds, but Menorca is much quieter than Majorca anyway. Very family friendly.

BlakeysFC

Looking at booking a cycling training holiday for Spring 2013...found one on a website that seems a good deal at £400 for the week excl. flights

APIII

Sardinia is worth a look too

Pumpkin Positive

ccc

colin moore

Just been to Croatia, Istria region would tick all the boxes, cycling from a base at Rovinj would be my choice, as near the hills and a lovely town for the olds, with loads of beachs too, Porec down the road would also be a good base, it is the main tourist resort in the area. We stayed near Pula which has a great roman amphitheatre which is worth a visit, a bit flatter here for cycling. Our kids are a similar age and loved it. Decent bike hire may proove difficult, i only found mountain bikes so only went out once.

Ron Stuart

Simple check this out you won't get better value for money.

http://burgauvilla.com/activities/cycling

We are off there again in September some pics here....

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=1 ... ed0e427dcb

and

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=3 ... 08e17e5b70

Ideal for the family. 8)

JamesB

Is there a particular location you'd recommend (or avoid)?

it was all exceptionally beautiful area, maybe the busier western coastal beaches are somewhere I`d not go to again, and the mountain village of Zonza / Col de Bavalle was exceptional and would feature highly on my places to visit again

ben@31

South coast of France?

It's quite nice the French side of the Pyrennees, around Foix, before you go up into the mountains. With old lovely villages and lots of culture. It's on the Tour de France route too.

Can fly to Toulouse. Or a budget airline to Barcelona and then drive a hire car over the Pyrennees (soon to be a high speed rail link).

fsd61b

BlakeysFC wrote:

Looking at booking a cycling training holiday for Spring 2013...found one on a website that seems a good deal at £400 for the week excl. flights

What site were you on Blakeys ? I'm also looking for a warm spring destination on a very tight budget.

gabriel959

Puerto de Ancares, where the Vuelta went through today. Completely unspoilt, super cheap, superb quiet roads. Only cons is that you will have to drive for a bit from the airport.

Have a look at todays stage of the Vuelta, and trust me mate, I am spanish!

JamesB

I'm also looking for a warm spring destination on a very tight budget

can thoroughly recommend Vamos Cycling; very good value, based south Sierra Nevada, run small training groups etc see http://www.vamoscycling.com/training-weeks.

Going there in October for Feista week and cycling --second visit so I enjoy it

team47b

Ron Stuart wrote:

Simple check this out you won't get better value for money.

http://burgauvilla.com/activities/cycling

We are off there again in September some pics here....

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=1 ... ed0e427dcb

and

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=3 ... 08e17e5b70

Ideal for the family. 8)

Keep it quiet! :roll:


Great photos by the way.

saintly_jim

I went to Brittany in May and stayed in a wee town just west of Nantes. The temperature, for me, was just right- not hot enough to be overpowering yet good for just one layer. The terrain in that particular area was good too, I managed to ride my single speed around there and only encountered one gradient where I had to resort to pushing. Some nice beaches at Le Croisic, Batz-sur-Mer and La Baule as well. And it wouldn't be too far to drive when you get off the Weymouth/Poole/Portsmouth to St Malo ferry.

BlakeysFC

fsd61b wrote:

BlakeysFC wrote:

Looking at booking a cycling training holiday for Spring 2013...found one on a website that seems a good deal at £400 for the week excl. flights

What site were you on Blakeys ? I'm also looking for a warm spring destination on a very tight budget.

stuarthallcycling.co.uk

£280 for 7 nights,
£400 for 10 nights

(excl. flights)

These prices were for the October 2012 training camp, but I emailed them and they said that they'd more or less be the same prices for the Spring 2013 training camp too.

il_principe

Cyprus is a good bet. You've got rolling coastal roads or the Troodos mountains in the interior. There is hardly any traffic in the Troodos and 90% of it gives cyclists a respectful berth. It's hot but not at all unbearable in May (I went there this year). Gradients are shallow but climbs can be long. Also road surfaces tend to be very good (EU money.) I stayed with my sister and bro in Law near Limassol. Here are some Strava links to give you an idea as to the riding available:

http://app.strava.com/activities/9526776
http://app.strava.com/activities/9619024
http://app.strava.com/activities/9452817

cakeathon

Wacky Racer wrote:

Just spent 2 weeks in Menorca, fantastic for cycling, not too hilly but there are a few if you want them. You'll see plenty on the road, it's safe, and loads to see. Highly recommended.

If you want culture, Mont Torro is magnificent, and towns of Mahon and Cuitadella offer plenty. Weather is excellent at that time. We stayed in a Villa with a private pool, costs were very reasonable, eating out is sensibly priced. You can fly there from pretty much anywhere.

We stayed in the north of the island away from the crowds, but Menorca is much quieter than Majorca anyway. Very family friendly.

Menorca is nice, but its a bit small with a limited number of roads for a cyclist. Mallorca has just about everything for the cyclist. Mountains, flat and rolling roads. I recommend the north of the island - Puerto Pollensa, or Puerto Alcudia

The hotels are all geared up for cyclists. Although in May it can be quite hot for cycling...

gabriel959

Mallorca is great, but there are lots of trafic, it isn't cheap to fly there and accomodation isn't cheap either. I don't understand why people don't go to the Alpujarras or Ancares more, they are cheaper to fly, the roads are quieter and in better condition too.

I suppose the language barrier would be more of a problem though if you don't speak spanish.

tim000

just been to western crete and there were loads of cyclists out there . there are a couple of companies there that organise tours /training rides. they are based in agia marina .

http://www.hellasbike.net/

ian.r.mcdonald

Tuscany without doubt- have just come back but normally go in May to see the Giro

Hired a bike as air shipment is too much grief- A c40 Colnago was 90 euros for the week

loads of cyclist and great roads- just make sure you mean it if you go by someone on the climbs!

MrsPB

Thank you all for your help. I've waded through villas and routes, and flight details (including how much to take your bike!) for Corsica, Minorca, Lanzarote, Tuscany, Costa Blanca, Crete, Cyprus, Malta and finally we've booked to go to Mallorca. Phew! Glad that's sorted. We're staying near Cala san Vicente, which looks lovely and hubby very happy with the cycling options. Now, just need the sun......

laurentian

Ron Stuart wrote:

Simple check this out you won't get better value for money.

http://burgauvilla.com/activities/cycling

We are off there again in September some pics here....

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=1 ... ed0e427dcb

and

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=3 ... 08e17e5b70

Ideal for the family. 8)

I'd love to go cycling in or around Burgau - been there many times as I have a friend who lives there. I've looked at the link and I think she used to live in that same row of houses! (from the Luz Road turn up the road with the bus stop to your right yes?)

The Mrs and I were looking at flying to Faro with the bikes then cycling to Burgau and spending a week or so cycling in the area - perhaps into the Alentejo. A much overlooked and unexplored part of Europe. As I said, I've not cylcled there but I'd love to.

Ron Stuart

laurentian wrote:

I'd love to go cycling in or around Burgau - been there many times as I have a friend who lives there. I've looked at the link and I think she used to live in that same row of houses! (from the Luz Road turn up the road with the bus stop to your right yes?)

The Mrs and I were looking at flying to Faro with the bikes then cycling to Burgau and spending a week or so cycling in the area - perhaps into the Alentejo. A much overlooked and unexplored part of Europe. As I said, I've not cylcled there but I'd love to.

Some fantastic roads over and beyond the Monchique Mountain Range all to yourselves


The Villas are the last ones on your left on the way to Salema after leaving 'old boys' bus stop in Burgau 8)

We lived in Piddington Northants for 25 years before moving to the best county for cycling Shropshire , we will be in Burgau next mid Feb for three weeks we take in the Tour of the Algarve and do our own stuff, usually a small group of us with ladies also riding, keep in touch contact details on the Website.... http://burgauvilla.com/

Ciao.

mallorcajeff

cala st vincente is just up the road from where i live, very nice place you will enjoy that. If your going self catering villa then there is a very good lidl supermarket opposite the turn off you can use and is pretty cheap for all your supplies. the SYP next to it is much more expensive. If your hiring a bike there are a good few places nearby to rent from too. Enjoy!

laurentian

Ron Stuart wrote:

laurentian wrote:

I'd love to go cycling in or around Burgau - been there many times as I have a friend who lives there. I've looked at the link and I think she used to live in that same row of houses! (from the Luz Road turn up the road with the bus stop to your right yes?)

The Mrs and I were looking at flying to Faro with the bikes then cycling to Burgau and spending a week or so cycling in the area - perhaps into the Alentejo. A much overlooked and unexplored part of Europe. As I said, I've not cylcled there but I'd love to.

Some fantastic roads over and beyond the Monchique Mountain Range all to yourselves


The Villas are the last ones on your left on the way to Salema after leaving 'old boys' bus stop in Burgau 8)

We lived in Piddington Northants for 25 years before moving to the best county for cycling Shropshire , we will be in Burgau next mid Feb for three weeks we take in the Tour of the Algarve and do our own stuff, usually a small group of us with ladies also riding, keep in touch contact details on the Website.... http://burgauvilla.com/

Ciao.

Yep! they're the ones! Certainly fantastic places to stay. My fiend lived in one of them (its not the same one as her pool was rectangular I think)) which she rented for a while after moving from Salema. She then moved up to a huge place in the hills just over the N127 and is currently renting in Luz although she's very much "Burgau based". I was there in July and then again in September - like me she's a Northants girl (except I'm not a girl!). What are the dates for the Tour of the Algarve?

GeeSpot

JamesB wrote:

How about Corsica beautiful and still quite rural, nice towns in Bastia / Calvi / Corte; some good long cols in the mountains, not very high (< 1 500m) but start at sea level, or gentle coastal cycling south of Bastia. Went there in May this year, raid Corsica , was marvellous and not too hot, in fact it rained heavily first day

It`s not touristified but is nice in that respect. Planes from Manchester or car and ferry from Marseilles

Here`s link to some pics http://www.flickr.com/photos/55935603@N ... 024988452/

We did think about Corsica too but seeing how expensive the flights were from Manchester we decided not to fly, we did however take the ferry you suggested and was one of the best MB holiday we've had. only advice on that is to check through all ferry companies before booking as we saved money by checking price comparison websites instead of direct. We booked via www.ferrysavers.co.uk but aferry was very competetive too.

Ron Stuart

laurentian wrote:

Yep! they're the ones! Certainly fantastic places to stay. My fiend lived in one of them (its not the same one as her pool was rectangular I think)) which she rented for a while after moving from Salema. She then moved up to a huge place in the hills just over the N127 and is currently renting in Luz although she's very much "Burgau based". I was there in July and then again in September - like me she's a Northants girl (except I'm not a girl!). What are the dates for the Tour of the Algarve?

The dates for the Tour don't usually get confirmed until closer to the time but I am expecting it to run from Weds the 13th Feb to Sunday 17th Feb 5 Stages.
Here's a link to this years event.... http://www.steephill.tv/volta-ao-algarve/ The weather was fantastic and it was televised on Eurosport. Pic of Tour I took near Salir after cycling there from Silves we then cycled up the Malhao (13% ramps) to see Richie Porte take the stage and yellow.
Second pic is our friends turquoise camper stationed on penultimate corner!



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