Suggestion for first Cycling Holiday abroad

[sevenfourate]

Looking to book a few days (3 days riding minimum - with Travel around that) abroad, somewhere close’ish [Canary type distance / 4 hours max flying time ?] and warm’ish for two or three people in Sept. For all of us - a first foray into foreign cycling Holidays 😍

Ideally mostly light off-road / tracks / paths (?) to see some scenery and stay away from traffic. Most certainly NOT 80 hard / high altitude gain ride miles; at speed.

Any suggestions of location, Travel companies; or suggestions of a decent way to abuse myself and the hire bike for a few days - and then fly home again 😂

 

[Andy in Germany]

Looking to book a few days (3 days riding minimum - with Travel around that) abroad, somewhere close’ish [Canary type distance / 4 hours max flying time ?] and warm’ish for two or three people in Sept. For all of us - a first foray into foreign cycling Holidays 😍

Ideally mostly light off-road / tracks / paths (?) to see some scenery and stay away from traffic. Most certainly NOT 80 hard / high altitude gain ride miles; at speed.

Any suggestions of location, Travel companies; or suggestions of a decent way to abuse myself and the hire bike for a few days - and then fly home again 😂

Fly/train to Stuttgart, then ride up the beautiful Neckar valley to Villingen-Schwenningen and maybe over the watershed into the Danube and back: Surfaced traffic-free or low traffic route the whole way and stunningly beautiful scenery with not many hills.

 

[sevenfourate]

Fly/train to Stuttgart, then ride up the beautiful Neckar valley to Villingen-Schwenningen and maybe over the watershed into the Danube and back: Surfaced traffic-free or low traffic route the whole way and stunningly beautiful scenery with not many hills.

Fabulous ! Suggestion 1 is banked 😉 Thanks Andy. Weather traditionally looks ok for that time too 👌

My Boss has done ‘similar maybe two years ago’. He raved about it…..

 

[Jameshow]

That crys out Italy...

Nice food and great weather.

Perhaps southern France as a second.. perhaps a river ride but the scenery won't be as great?

 

[T4tomo]

just a bit of advice / musing from someone who has organised a few cycling jaunts.... whilst A -> B journeys seem more of an adventure, logistically having one base and doing day rides in differing directions is must easier to organise. If doing A -> B you either have to carry your luggage or get into the logistics of luggage transfer, which adds to cost / hassle and indeed often propels you to a cycle holiday company as their economies of scale will often make that aspect cheaper than DIY.

 

[sevenfourate]

just a bit of advice / musing from someone who has organised a few cycling jaunts.... whilst A -> B journeys seem more of an adventure, logistically having one base and doing day rides in differing directions is must easier to organise. If doing A -> B you either have to carry your luggage or get into the logistics of luggage transfer, which adds to cost / hassle and indeed often propels you to a cycle holiday company as their economies of scale will often make that aspect cheaper than DIY.

Undoubtably having a base: and doing daily rides from there is the plan. With no other options considered ! Cheers for pointing that out though 👍

 

[T4tomo]

Undoubtably having a base: and doing daily rides from there is the plan. With no other options considered ! Cheers for pointing that out though 👍

We're doing that from the Loire valley this summer. Driving down so the bikes can all go in the car. Loire a Velo path and quiet surrounding roads will make up the cycling.

 

[mjr]

Looking to book a few days (3 days riding minimum - with Travel around that) abroad, somewhere close’ish [Canary type distance / 4 hours max flying time ?] and warm’ish for two or three people in Sept. For all of us - a first foray into foreign cycling Holidays 😍

If you're in Suffolk, it seems obvious that an ideal first cycling holiday is to go to Harwich, get the overnight ferry, and do three days in the Netherlands. I would suggest either using a Stayokay or Centerparcs to the north near the coast as a base, or day 1 ride to Breda via the Heinenoord fietstunnel, day 2 to Renesse or Heemstede, day 3 back along the coast to the port via lunch at Goederede and dinner at Saam's in HvH town.

Drawback is that warmth isn't guaranteed, especially in September.

 

[Cathryn]

That crys out Italy...

Nice food and great weather.

Perhaps southern France as a second.. perhaps a river ride but the scenery won't be as great?

The drivers are too bonkers in Italy! Not for a first hols!

I absolutely loved Brittany last summer and think that could work well but it may not be so sunny there!

My first cycling trip was in Austria and I never looked back! Somewhere like Salzburg could be a lovely base!

 

[Jameshow]

The drivers are too bonkers in Italy! Not for a first hols!

I absolutely loved Brittany last summer and think that could work well but it may not be so sunny there!

My first cycling trip was in Austria and I never looked back! Somewhere like Salzburg could be a lovely base!

Sorry I'm from Bradford - I'm used to it!!🤣🤣🤣

 

[wakemalcolm]

I'm surprised that nobody's suggested Mallorca yet: loads of flights, plenty of accommodation, bike hire everywhere, plenty routing options and the locals know how to ride around cyclists.

 

[classic33]

Head west, Ireland.
Have a look at some of the Wild Atlantic Way trips, to get an idea of distance covered daily, and then do your own version.
Dublin to the west coast, then hang a left and head for Shannon for the return trip.

 

[sevenfourate]

I'm surprised that nobody's suggested Mallorca yet: loads of flights, plenty of accommodation, bike hire everywhere, plenty routing options and the locals know how to ride around cyclists.

I was in Tenerife last week (Not really Cycling).....and our Tour guide when going around Mount Teide National Park; said:


If you're a Pro Cyclist - you come to Tenerife to Train.

If you're an Average Joe - you go to Mallorca........... (*Which would suit me just fine)

 

[sevenfourate]

Head west, Ireland.
Have a look at some of the Wild Atlantic Way trips, to get an idea of distance covered daily, and then do your own version.
Dublin to the west coast, then hang a left and head for Shannon for the return trip.

I've played a fair bit of golf out there in a previous life. So have seen a fair bit of that Countryside. My friend had a house in County Clare; which i used to use as a base. So YES - there would be some fantastic cycling to be had there i agree !!

 

[sevenfourate]

If you're in Suffolk, it seems obvious that an ideal first cycling holiday is to go to Harwich, get the overnight ferry, and do three days in the Netherlands. I would suggest either using a Stayokay or Centerparcs to the north near the coast as a base, or day 1 ride to Breda via the Heinenoord fietstunnel, day 2 to Renesse or Heemstede, day 3 back along the coast to the port via lunch at Goederede and dinner at Saam's in HvH town.

Drawback is that warmth isn't guaranteed, especially in September.

Aside from the possible Weather 'issues'......At the very least thats easy to do ! Which on a first Cycling 'Holiday' and doing so many new things around that fact - is absolutely a consideration.

I emailed approx 15 UK companies i found on the net last night; with my requirements - and am eagerly awaiting replies. I know so little about it all - anything is increasing my knowledge base right now......