Generic Touring Thread

Flew to Rome, flixbus from the airport straight to L’Aquila, think it was about 25 quid including the oversized luggage, but they didn’t really check that on the ticket when we turned up. I’ve had more annoying transfers to wales to be honest.

Although, the 40 minute wait for the bike boxes upon landing in Rome was testing to say the least.

Few more photos

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the 40 minute wait for the bike boxes

I hate that.
1h30m when we arrived in Italy for ALPI4000... while our transfer guy waited outside.

Did the East Devon Trail last week (95% of it with a couple of edits) - excellent fun and a lovely route, albeit HILLY. No camping, we went 'luxury' and did 5 stages in 4 days riding. It's doable in 2 or 3 days if you push harder - we were taking it quite easy.

Would recommend though. Decent amount of off-road linked by a quite a bit of quiet back lanes. We were on hardtails but a wide-tyred gravel bike might be alright - I'm not really a fan of pebbly descents/rutted descents etc. on drop bars.

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Looks awesome. Everything Italy Divide isn't, IE good.

Did an end-of-summer tour in the Italo-French-Swiss border region two weeks ago. Took the Flixbus in Brussels to Aosta (won't do it a second time...), than went for a 450 km ride over Petit St Bernard, Iseran, Mont Cenis and climbed Colle di Nivolet on my resting day (i.c.: a day without bags on the bike). Weather was great but next time I'll take a sleeping bag that feels comfy when temperatures drop below zero. Almost froze to death in my tent when sleeping on 1600 m above sea level.

Some pics

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More

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Going to be in Machynlleth for a work thing soon and have a few days off after. Would like to ride back to Bristol (or at least to Cardiff for the train), and wondered if there are any recommendations for gravel routes I could link together?

People will debate the suitability of the Trans Cambrian Way for gravel bikes vs MTBs. Suspect it might be down to your appetite for underbiking and/or the vagaries of recent weather conditions a lot of the time. I rode the section between Llangurig and Rhayader as part of a tour and really enjoyed it, especially Cwmystwyth.

Either works, it's a nightmare on both.

I am in need to escape grey & cold weather in January or February - I am thinking Malaga could be a good point of the warm-ish sun at that point. If anybody toured around that area in similar time of year, would love your input. Sierra Nevada looks lovely, but it's going to be cold in the high altitude. Also, I would prefer to wild camp most of the time.

Malaga can be ok that time of year. I went to Ronda (Xmas till New Year) and the weather was ok most of the time. But as soon as the sun disappears, temperatures drop significantly and you need warmer clothes. Sierra Nevada is rather risky, IMO. Went to Alpujarras (Órgiva and Trevelez) in April and Orgiva was sunny and mild but Trevelez (1600 m) was freezingly cold with snow above 2000 m. And that was April so january could be even more cold. In Januay, I'd stay south of Malaga if I were you.

Can anyone recommend a bike friendly hotel in Brussels that they've stayed at recently? Just for one night.

Last august i went for three days at the ibis Styles Brussels Centre Stephanie and they were very accomodating, letting me keep the bike inside the garage and escorting me there everytime i needed to take it. I recommend it!

I’m planning on riding Munich- Venice on something called the Via Claudia Augusta. Apparently majestic and well signed.
I’m then considering riding home to London from Munich or doing bits on the bike and bits on local trains. I initially arrive in Munich on the 18 april to set off asap. I have a date in venice five days later.
If anyone can join me for some fast touring I would be delighted!

Great, thank you!

Has anyone been cycling round Sicily? Vague 5 day plan here. Will be there from the 9th to the 16th of March, planning to camp/airbnb if we can't be arsed. Hopefully we don't freeze or burn up Etna, depending on conditions.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45642337

Never been there, but i'm italian and multiple people have told me how there are many stray dogs in that area. I don't think there's any need to worry, but consider bringing some protective equipment with you that you feel comfortable with.

Some generic info translated from the Sicily divide page:

The advice when you spot a stray dog is to slow down, get off the bike and walk with the bike between you and him without ever looking at him. He will bark and get angry but don't look at him. Exit his zone by walking slowly and he will stop when he reaches the border of his zone. Then jump on the saddle and set off again. This is my method: is it foolproof? No. But it's pretty safe. There are those who carry pepper spray or other things with them, I don't know them so I can't comment. But in any case, pay attention, especially when you pass near a flock which takes a moment to find the sheperd dog lurking.

Not cycling, but I did a similar route in a Fiat 500 on my honeymoon many years ago. Syracuse, Noto and Ragusa all really beautiful. I'd say it may be a little ambitious to cover all that including the Etna climb in 5 days, but you may be considerably more energetic than me and better able to resist all the food opportunities :) Very envious!

Thanks for that context and advice, I'll have a frame pump on me so I can wield that as a bit of a swinging mace device to keep them a bit distanced. Not sure what the protocol for wild camping will be with equally wild dogs roaming around...

Camping will be fine. The stray dogs will be hanging around the bins on the outskirts of town, looking for food, starting fights with each other. We'll be kms away at some moonlit beauty spot.

And unlike out Balkan trip - no chance of rabies!

Yes I did a loop of it a few years back. Awesome place, want to go back. PM me if you need.

What's the forum-approved method of preventing damage from frame/top tube etc. bag rub? I'm hiring a bike in a couple of weeks and am slightly concerned about damaging it through attaching bags to it.

Or should I relax; it'll be fine?

Take some Gorilla tape and apply where there may be bag rub? Easy to remove and shouldn't damage the paint.

Is that likely to leave a load of residue when I come to peel it off? Looks kinda like gaffer tape (I've never used Gorilla tape, as you can tell), which I'm fearful would mark the paintwork or take ages to get off before I return the bike.