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I've been planning a route from London to Athens and some people told me not to go along the valleys and the main road (easier, flatter routes) in the Balkans, purely because there are gangs operating and you could easily get attacked with your bike stolen and you robbed, before even realising it. Some areas are pretty rough, and that's not the landscape I'm talking about. So better of via remote paths, especially when riding at nighttime..
Anthi-
I’m not sure you’ll have to worry about that.
Of the 6 TCRs I don’t think I’ve heard any reports of anyone being the target of a Balkan gang.
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I know someone who was kidnapped recently while cycle touring in Macedonia. His story is one of the most terrifying things I've ever heard. He managed to escape and had to hide in a forest while he heard his kidnappers searching for him. It was like something from a movie.
You have to keep your wits about you. Googling suggest Macedonia itself is a bit of a hot spot, with a few stories for refugees heading West of similar incidents. I imagine this is a very rare occurance but it's put me off a little, particularly solo in Macedonia. Stay safe out there!
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Rubbish. Its safe and people are so kind.
bananaskid
Scrabble
skinny
#20 for the win! :-) Poor old guy had a nightmare with his navigation, I spotted a Control Car 2 going up there to put him on the right track (good job!). Then he blitzed down to near Sarajevo, only to briefly get lost again on the way to Bjelasnica! His persistence is amazing though.
Anyway, he must have told the CC2 about the problem with his route, as they headed to that muddy singletrack road to help out other riders going in that direction but luckily most of the people heading that way had opted for a better road in the end, so they (CC2) seem to have positioned themselves in another spot, to welcome them all.
And #42... oh my! He's now in Montenegro but it looks like he went over an unmarked border crossing - if he didn't get his passport stamped - he might have serious problem on the way out!
But what I really don't get is how people choose these irrational routes? Ultimately the quickest and safest way through a rugged terrain will be along the main automotive roads. Google Maps do not differentiate between asphalt roads and goat tracks marked as road - one should use ViaMichelin for routing, followed by corrections using RideWithGps and satellite imaging. That's how I do it anyway.