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• #2
No idea about the route. To be honest, I cycle over there off road only. Far too many lorries on B-class roads and no hard shoulder.
If you ever decide to go over there, get in touch for some detailed info about interesting places. Perhaps you can pop in to the Royal Sovereign on Wednesday, Gustav?
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• #3
There are a few information leaflets about bike touring in poland, but I have never looked at them. I get the feeling that they were advertising daytrips on offroad trails rather than a load up your tent and panniers.
I would be a little hesitant to do the latter here. Ok, I am a little chicken, but road conditions and exceptionally inconsiderate drivers make it a gamble I am not willing to take.This site offers a few bits of advice - www.rowery.org.pl/practicalities.html
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• #4
Thanks for advice...will hopefully make the Royal Sovereign on Wednesday if this cold doesn't get the better of me
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• #5
Any of those familiar with Poland able to give an opinions on the following>
Fly to Warsaw, train to Kruszyniany then train to Krakow from Chelm (or some variation)
http://www.exoticpoland.info/pe.php?t=mapa_trasy-2&lang=en
http://www.exoticpoland.info/pe.php?t=route&lang=enFly to Riga cycle to Gdansk then fly back
http://www.bitrot.de/bike_baltic.htmlFeedback gratefully received
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• #6
The second option will take you through a beautiful landscape - proper country side with many lakes, forests and some hills. Roads can be shit over there. I'd check were all the Lithuania TIR lorries go and avoid them to live and tell the story.
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• #7
Actually both options are good. The first route is more rustic. The second will also take you through East Prussia where you can see some fairly impressive gothic castles build by Teutonic Knights.
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• #8
No feedback, Gus, but can I come with you?!! :) I was thinking of doing this during the summer.
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• #9
Give me holland any day ;)
Kidding. Sounds wicked Gus. Do it! Sounds like you might need some big tough tyres.
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• #10
Wools, you'd be welcome to tag along but have a tendency to do travelling without the frills (wild camping rather than luxury b&bs).
Looking at July time for travel although nothing set in stone. Keen to start working out how long each option will take and then start thinking about exploring airfare options.
EEI, think you'll make it to Easts this week? (popped over last week but no sign of your presence)
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• #11
Haha! I can do no frills, dude. Luxury b&bs... Pff! What do you take me for?? :) I'm half-Polish by the way so I could have my uses.
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• #12
Southern Poland.. find some hills.
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• #13
There are few hills right in the north east corner too. Just smaller. And then there's depression between Elblag and Gdansk.
And these
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• #14
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• #15
North is for girl guides and pensioners. Head to the Tatras.
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• #16
One more thing - never ever cycle after dark.
Even if there's a hard shoulder, drivers are often forced into it by the oncoming traffic, when impatient people overtake lorries.
It's very scary if you're not used to it. Even when you're driving, it's very easy for someone to plough right into your front, because you were fiddling with the radio and they assumed you're going to give them way...
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• #17
North is for girl guides and pensioners. Head to the Tatras.
I hate bikes in the mountains. Fucking lazy arse people who can't be bothered to walk ruining all the trails. Here...
And it's steep (apart from it being a national park)
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• #18
Trail damage really depends on how far up you park your bmw..
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• #19
Poland's mountains are pretty heavily walked when there is no snow - I sometimes go running in the Karkonosze and sometimes it is a pain pushing past people all the time. If I was biking I would do it first thing in the morning to avoid the crowds.
It does depend on the routes you choose of course.
I would like to go to the Mazurian lakes - Mainly because I haven't been to that part of Poland but also because I'm too lazy for mountains. -
• #20
Booked ticket out on 24th June looking for somewhere between a week and ten days away with the Riga Gdansk option
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• #21
"Gustav does Gdansk"
Down south in Poland are where the hills man.. just sayin'
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• #22
Well, when one is lugging tent, sleeping bag and other provisions, mountains do tend to loose their appeal somewhat. That's not to say I'm a flatlander (have had some lovely touring experiences in the Austrian/Swiss Alps and around Sardinia) but when looking to cycle into the unkown (Poland is not one of the more well travelled touring corners), I tend to prefer more amenable terrain.
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• #23
Few of people I was in contact with informed me they were touring through Poland towards the Baltic States, bad experience. The moment you show a flashy bike expect some very beefy men to drive up to you in a BMW and nick your bike.
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• #24
Has anyone used the OSM maps for a Garmin in Poland? I'm going to be doing some riding here for a change but don't want to end up too far into another country..
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• #25
Got some: http://www.osmapa.tk/
For other countries see: http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/OSM_Map_On_Garmin/Download
Playing with the idea of touring in Poland and interested in hearing if anyone has any experiences of touring there or has recommendations for routes to spend a week or so in the saddle.