Lake Garda - cycling and bike hire in Garda
Lifeboy123
Posts: 213
Heading out to lake garda on Saturday for a week with the girlfriend , staying in Garda so hoping to sneak in a couple of early morning rides
Does anyone have any experience of cycling around the lakes and are there any organised rides ?
I'm informed there is a bike hire shop near the bus station but not sure if it just has leisure bikes rather than road bike
Does anyone have any experience of cycling around the lakes and are there any organised rides ?
I'm informed there is a bike hire shop near the bus station but not sure if it just has leisure bikes rather than road bike
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Comments
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I've just come back. I planned to. I was staying opposite Garda (San Felice). There was a good bike shop.
But, frankly, the roads were a nightmare. Constant traffic jams on the main route. For you it should be better as it will be much quieter now.
I was planning on cycling round the lake. To be frank, it's not the road that I pictured in my mind's eye. I envisaged a nice, wide open, calm road. It's narrow, undulating, not all that nice in places and full of traffic. The tunnels around Riva Del Garda are particularly narrow.
That said there were shed loads of cyclists around. There is a massive amount of off road stuff mind. You might be better off with an MTB and heading up to Riva or Monte Baldo.My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
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Thanks, will check it out
No fan of Mountain biking , to me it would be venturing over to the dark side0 -
We were on holiday in Malcesine on the north east side of Lake Garda a few months ago. We didn't cycle as didn't fancy even using the heavy hotel bikes as the road going round the lake near us was narrow and busy with tourist buses etc.
We spent a day up at Riva right at the top of the lake, and if going again we would stay there, as it seems to be more cycle-oriented with some routes into the hills away from the lake.
I think the route right round the lake is around 143 miles so quite a challenge, especially on busy roads.0 -
Cycling around the lake would be very hard. I know the lake well, but it wouldn't be my choice of roads to cycle. Having said that I've only ever been out on borrowed bikes from Verona, usually straight to a restaurant.
If you go into Verona for a day stop at Parona for an ice cream at La Parona del Gelato here, truly excellent and made by a former cycling world champion. Downhill ladies in the early nineties, it may be the darkside but it's mightily impressive all the same. Now making award winning ice cream. You know you're in the right place because it has a Kona open/closed sign on the door.0 -
I go every year, sometimes hire a bike, sometimes take my own. These are the best I have used, http://www.matashop.it/ and offer a drop off/pick up service for their bikes.
Always stay in the Gardone region (in the hills just behind, Tresnico to be precise) and the cycling around there is incredible. However if you don't know the roads, you can very easily take a wrong turn and end up through a pitch black tunnel on a motorway having to call the Mrs to come and get you in the brand new car that she has never driven before in a foreign country scraping it down their narrow roads... yes that happened :-)
But that shouldn't put you off, that was me ignoring my Garmin! There are some really stunning cycling to be had. https://www.strava.com/activities/3278554550 -
Yeah Mata shop was the one close to me. Only realised they had a drop off service on my last day! The hassle of picking up put me off as well.
As said, OFF the Lake the roads are insanely beautiful. But do take a Garmin!My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
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Yes, I should make it clear I meant I wouldn't ride the road around the lake. The area and other quieter roads are stunning.As said, OFF the Lake the roads are insanely beautiful. But do take a Garmin!0 -
I've stayed a few times around the lake - Malcesine, Peschiera and Torbole etc. The main lake road always had some traffic but is maybe even busier now - it always had some traffic but I was never too bothered by the amount, I'd normally ride a bit of the lake road then head away from it and it gets more interesting then.
Cycled towards Trento, North up to tiny Lago di Cei (I think- had a mega steep climb at one point), the road away from the lake towards Trento was like a short dual carriageway so cars were sometimes travelling pretty quickly. Passo Folgaria was one climb I recall as a hard sweaty ride one day.
The hill roads were generally quiet as I recall.
Plenty bike shops around - Malcesine, Torbloe, Arco, Peschiera, Lazise (Michael Rasmussen's shop)
A clubmate rode round the lake one day (think he met up with some pros - a few live in the area) so ended up doing far longer ride than he'd planned. I'd not wuggest that as a ride as some bits, as others have said, are not to pleasant, busy and dark tunnels.
I've stayed a few times around the lake - Malcesine, Peschiera and Torbole. Sounds liek the main lake road is busier - it always had some traffic but I was never too bothered by the amount, I'd normally ride a bit of the lake road then head away from it and it gets more interesting then.
Cycled towards Trento, up to Lago di Cei I think (mega steep climb at one point), the road aaway from the lake towards Trento was like a short dual carriageway so cars were sometimes travelling pretty quickly. From Arco the Passo Flogaria was one climb I recall as a hard sweaty ride I did one day.
The hill roads were generally quiet as I recall.
Plenty bike shops around - Malcesine, Torbole, Arco, Peschiera, Lazise (Michael Rasmussen's shop), MTBs more popular but many have road bikes too - best to make contact before you go to see what they have in your size.
A clubmate rode round the lake one day (think he met up with some pros - a few live in the area) so ended up doing far longer ride than he'd planned. I'd not suggest that as a ride as some bits, as others have said, are not to pleasant, busy and dark tunnels.0 -
To add.
Italian drivers don't signal and they are just as bonkers as claimed.
There are loads of people on bikes. Pootling and full on racers.
Some wear helmets. Most don't.
The roads aren't wide enough to get UK style safe overtaking.
BUT......................
Everyone gets on. Everyone seems safe. No one gets annoyed with a cyclist over or undertaking.
Given how RELATIVELY well people drive in the UK it's worrying that cyclists appear less safe and are treated with contempt/nuisance.My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
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To add.
Italian drivers don't signal and they are just as bonkers as claimed.
There are loads of people on bikes. Pootling and full on racers.
Some wear helmets. Most don't.
The roads aren't wide enough to get UK style safe overtaking.
BUT......................
Everyone gets on. Everyone seems safe. No one gets annoyed with a cyclist over or undertaking.
Given how RELATIVELY well people drive in the UK it's worrying that cyclists appear less safe and are treated with contempt/nuisance.
Thats a very good point, I always feel unsafe driving in Italy, but always safe cycling :-)0 -
On a single lane roundabout I entered at 6 o clock and was going straight on to 12. After I had entered a Mini came from 9 o clock, came round my left hand side and tried to go across me to 3 o clock.
I was driving a T5.
She waited.........................My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
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For 6 hours?On a single lane roundabout I entered at 6 o clock and was going straight on to 12. After I had entered a Mini came from 9 o clock, came round my left hand side and tried to go across me to 3 o clock.
I was driving a T5.
She waited.........................
I enjoy driving in Italy more than over here, even Milan is fun. It could be some sort of genetic thing I suppose.0 -
Where are you staying Lifeboy? It's a beautiful part of the world.
The main cycling centre seems to be the top end of the Lake around Riva but there are plenty of cyclists everywhere.
I just got back last week from a week staying in Gardone. I hired a Colnago from Mata cycles for 3 days - I hopped on the bus from the hotel down to the shop to pick the bike up and then they collected it from the hotel. 105 euros for 3 days including the 10 euro pick up. They provided pedals too. Just remember you have to buy your bus ticket at the tabac before hopping on the bus!
The lakeside road was very busy but I never felt unsafe. I do know that the tunnels up towards Limone and Riva are reknown for being dark and dangerous though apparently they are now lit. The main roads will however be a bit quieter now that the main tourist season is over. Also there didn't appear to be as much HGV traffic on the weekend as on the Monday.
None of the climbs were excessively long but were long enough, and plenty of hairpins to enjoy.
This was my 50 miler:
https://www.strava.com/activities/375478591 which was really nice and I was in part guided by a local back from Idro so avoided the main road.
I also went for a meander:
https://www.strava.com/activities/376380675
You quickly get up into the hills and the views back over the lake are great, and not something most other visitors will get to see.
Enjoy!0 -
This was my 50 miler:
https://www.strava.com/activities/375478591 which was really nice and I was in part guided by a local back from Idro so avoided the main road.
Enjoy!
You beat my time up to Capovalle by just over a minute :-(
That road past Idro is where I ended up going off piste through a series of pitch black tunnels, I $hit a brick I kid you not!0 -
This was my 50 miler:
https://www.strava.com/activities/375478591 which was really nice and I was in part guided by a local back from Idro so avoided the main road.
Enjoy!
You beat my time up to Capovalle by just over a minute :-(
That road past Idro is where I ended up going off piste through a series of pitch black tunnels, I $hit a brick I kid you not!
I can picture where you went wrong I think. IIRC you needed to ignore the slip road and carry on along the normal road which wasn't signed back to Salo - if you compare our rides you'll know for next time (or just copy my route!
I stopped a few times on the route to take some pictures, so should have been faster!
Interesting to see how different your elevation gain is compared to mine for virtually the same ride - especially as the high point is only at 1,000m :shock: 0 -
This was my 50 miler:
https://www.strava.com/activities/375478591 which was really nice and I was in part guided by a local back from Idro so avoided the main road.
Enjoy!
You beat my time up to Capovalle by just over a minute :-(
That road past Idro is where I ended up going off piste through a series of pitch black tunnels, I $hit a brick I kid you not!
I can picture where you went wrong I think. IIRC you needed to ignore the slip road and carry on along the normal road which wasn't signed back to Salo - if you compare our rides you'll know for next time (or just copy my route!
I stopped a few times on the route to take some pictures, so should have been faster!
Interesting to see how different your elevation gain is compared to mine for virtually the same ride - especially as the high point is only at 1,000m :shock:
Funny how the routes are identical up until that point.
I too has taking pics hence the slow time, I also got caught in a torrential storm which did not help. Especially the descent. </excuses> ;-)
Ignore my elevation, I hit the Strava auto correct button (which I always do) and it seems this only works for UK and US maps otherwise you get wild inaccuracies where the data points don't quite align.
I've pinched your route as back next May. Cheers :-)0 -
Oh, I hear from family and customers out there it's really hot at the moment but it may break for next week. It will still be a hell of a lot better than here though.0
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It's lush. But hot. We had 2 bad days out of 14. Other than that, sun all the way. And some glorious storms. Lake temp is about 25 at the moment. Warmest outside body of water I've ever been in.My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
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If you do try and circumnavigate the lake, then make sure you take some lights. Anti-clockwise from Riva there are some tunnels and they are pretty terrifying if you have no lights. Ask me how I know.
From memory, it was just under 90 miles all the way round. When I was there it was about 36C and I struggled to find places for water. Decent ride though, very satisfying.0 -
By staying in Garda, I take it you mean Riva Del Garda, at the head of the lake. If so, then there are loads of amazing roads from there. Up in to the hills you can't really go wrong, but I wouldn't cycle around the lake unless very comfortable with heavy traffic, but even then it wouldn't be the most scenic route.
Try heading to Bolognano, Santa Barbra, San Felice and back to Torbole and Riva (if that's where you're staying). You can extend this route via Castellano and Patone, but that's an all day ride (i've not ridden it, but drove out that way, took a MTB when I went).
Or up to Lago di Tenno (amazing turquoise waters).
There's several bike shops in Riva and Torbole (the two towns pretty much merge in to one). All do bike hire, I'm sure you'll find what you need.0 -
More likely he means Garda, the town on the eastern side of the lake.By staying in Garda, I take it you mean Riva Del Garda, at the head of the lake.0 -
More likely he means Garda, the town on the eastern side of the lake.By staying in Garda, I take it you mean Riva Del Garda, at the head of the lake.
Ignore those routes then!0
