Cycling holidays, with a twist

renevat
renevat Posts: 56
edited April 2015 in Road general
Hi all, I realise the cycling holiday question is quite a regular post but can anybody offer any thoughts/experience of cycling holidays with a non cycling other half? My good lady is happy to support my pedalling efforts and quite likes the idea of somewhere warm whilst I bimble off for a while, does anybody have any recommendations please. I quite fancy Spain, Majorca, Italy, maybe even Tenerife but do companies offer deals with a non cycler? I like the idea of pedalling off in the morning, doesn't have to be every morning, and then chilling pm with my wife. Be great to hear of any experiences to help plan for Sept, Oct time. Cheers all.

Comments

  • ai_1
    ai_1 Posts: 3,060
    Do you want to cycle on your own or were you looking for some sort of organised cycling groups.
    Tenerife will work if you want to have a sun holiday and get out on the bike each morning for a few hours. Mt Teide is a good challenge. Only downside is that dependin gon where on the island you go, and whether you intend to hire a car, there may not be a huge variety of routes. For example from the south side at El Medano or Playa Los Americas it's great for rides on 2 or 3 days but after that you might want to be starting out from a different location or you'll likely be repeating big segments of previous rides.
  • southdownswolf
    southdownswolf Posts: 1,525
    Nearly every holiday for me is a cycling holiday with a non cycling other half/family. We normally go out one day, then its pool day the next. On pool days, I disappear off on my bike to explore the countryside. If you are happy to go off by yourself then it doesn't really matter where you go, except if you are not taking your own bike, in which case make sure the town you stay at has a bike rental.
    http://www.stuartmole.co.uk/
  • mrushton
    mrushton Posts: 5,182
    Pyractif in the Pyrenees is supposed to be good or in Italy the Belvedere in Riccione, the latter being exceptional in it's food/riding etc. You need to fly to Rimini or further away Bologna/Ancona. Quite a few things in Majorca which in cycling terms offers a lot for your money. Riccione ticks boxes tho' for riding/food/beach etc
    M.Rushton
  • phreak
    phreak Posts: 2,953
    Check this place out - http://www.villabertagnolli.it/

    It's just on the outskirts of Trento, so there's a reasonable size town nearby and there are beaches near Levico Terme if that's your thing.

    For cycling, there are loads of great climbs in the area, including the Monte Bondoni, that should keep you busy.
  • FatTed
    FatTed Posts: 1,205
    Maybe here?
    http://www.belvederericcione.com/en/bea ... y/1-0.html
    OR
    http://www.hotelfunivia.it/en_bike.aspx
    Not stayed at either hotel.
  • morgegurray
    morgegurray Posts: 48
    www.colletts.co.uk
    Check these guys out,

    offer organised walks and cycle days in the Dolomites, all free to join and can come and go as you please. :)
  • bernithebiker
    bernithebiker Posts: 4,148
    Palma is great place to base yourself, as you have access to all the great riding that Majorca has to offer, whilst being in a beautiful small city that was recently voted No.1 in the world.

    That way, while you're out cycling some of the best roads in Europe (especially now so many of the climbs have been / are being resurfaced), your missus can be hitting the boutiques in Palma, lunching on tapas, visiting the museums, cathedrals, or just snoozing on the beach.

    And the airport transfer only takes 10 minutes.
  • renevat
    renevat Posts: 56
    Cheers guys, quite a few to consider. Research has taken place and, hopefully, a booking is imminent :D Thanks to you all.
  • apreading
    apreading Posts: 4,535
    Most of the tour companies like Saddle Skedaddle (just plucking a name - there are others!) do some single centre based holidays, which would probably lend itself to something like this. Its only a problem if you change hotels each night.
  • bompington
    bompington Posts: 7,674
    Puerto Pollensa worked well for us. Mrs Bomp isn't a non-cyclist, but wanted easy whole-family runs along cycle paths and quiet lanes, so on alternate days Bompette (15) got on a road bike for the first time and burned me off comprehensively :oops: on the usual Mallorca rides - Sa Calobra, Formentor etc, we all went out together (Bompetta the 5-year old delightful monster on a trailer bike) on the other days, and afternoons were spent chilling in all the obvious ways.
    Basically the perfect holiday for us but YMMV. We met a lot of bored-looking bike widows and orphans hanging around waiting for the MAMIL to return.
  • homers_double
    homers_double Posts: 8,292
    I've just booked the car for our holiday in August a dropped a hint that, as it's a 9 seat VW transporter with plenty of room I might as well take my bike instead of hiring one out there.

    I was told in no uncertain circumstances that it was NOT a cycling holiday.
    Advocate of disc brakes.
  • sloppyschleckonds
    sloppyschleckonds Posts: 8,019
    Tbf, once the sun goes there is fack all to do in PP
    I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles
  • homers_double
    homers_double Posts: 8,292
    Drink beer?
    Advocate of disc brakes.
  • JohnW52
    JohnW52 Posts: 34
    My other half drives the team car of course!

    It's not quite like that. We go every spring to Mallorca (we have a timeshare) and hire a Citroen Berlingo or two depending on how many we are, to get the bikes in the back so we can start wherever we like on the island. My wife is quite happy to drive a car and then go off exploring on her own, usually to beaches as she's a keen open water swimmer, even in March. We will often end up a ride at the beach and then drive back. Cala Sant Vicenc and Sant Elm are favourite places to end up.

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