Riccione Bike Hotels

[nigel w]

when are you thinking of going

[John the old'un]

What happens about the bike Sean?
Do you take it or do they rent you one?
What sort of cost are you looking at?
Cheers,
John.

[Andrew G]

Ditto wow the DVD. Great looking rides they do but some of those 5 star jobbies look a tad testing.
I'm sold, end of May sounds good. I was thinking 5 nights, should be able to get a few of the organised routes in and still have time for a nice chianti or two.
Sean, is everything included in the price as led routes plus all the other services included in the hotel price seems such a great deal?

Question for frequent flyers: Can I trust my nice new bike to Easyjet (in a bike bag and wrapped in a ton of bubble-wrap), or should I take my winter bike? Thanks.

[Ian A4size]

Andrew, do a search on avg weather conditions before you make a choice, but even then its hit or miss, in the past few years in Majorca when we travelled over in Feb ( the first week to see the tour) it has been over 22 deg at 11 o'clock- snow on the beach in palma one year and lots of rain- frosts and brilliant sunshine, plus 20 deg for the Palma crit. In short i would take yuor winter bike if you have any doubt. I have never had a problem with easy jets baggage handlers in over 20 flights to europe. I only took the De rosa in a bike box when we went to Ventoux coz i had only had it for 2 weeks, i specifically got a ti bike so i could use it for everthing, no paint and hard as nails.

[Snoop Doug]

I used skweezyjet when I did Ventoux and they knackered my velo. It was in a bike bag packed strictly in accordance with their requirements. The twiddly bit in the middle of the handlebars that allows you to stere was mushed and I couldnae change gear cos they sheared off the thingies that keep the tension in the gear wires. One day I'll figure out what the hey all these bits on ye bike are called - take yer old bike mate.

Cheers - Snoop

[adrian]

Not a lot of people know this, but Italy is very easy to get to by train. Mrs Adrian and I wouldn't go any other way:

http://seat61.com/Italy.htm

[adrian]

Not a whole lot more than flying, especially if you book well in advance. Fares become available 90 days before the date of travel so put a note to self in your diary and snap up a bargain. Much nicer, less stressful and more glamorous than the beastly plane, easier on your prized steed, and of course no 'hidden' cost to the environment.

[adrian]

Call me crazy, but I might just join you down there myself. It's looking very appealing.

[adrian]

Je hoeft niet gek te zijn om hier te werken, maar het helpt wel.

[adrian]

Are you around on Saturday? I'm not CRing so could swing round and do the switch - the lever for the light

[Andrew G]

Jeez that looks like a b'stard tough event
Was thinking this was just a normal cycling hol, but could be quite nice to take in a proper euro-sportive, although if I did it I think it would have to be the shorter one. I'd have to take crampons, oxygen tank, and a spare set of lungs and legs to get round the long jobbie.

Sean, were you planning on this week specifically to ride this, or do other rides and take in the Novi's atmos?

Adrian, is the train really worth it, don't you lose a day each way travelling?

(I hope you're on commission Sean )

[Ian A4size]

Andrew to be honest where ever you go in europe you seem to lose a day travelling , by the time you have faffed around getting to the airport, 2 hours check in, usual delays sometimes an hour , usually more - this delay is not always just confined to budget airlines- wait for luggage- queue for car hire- screaming kids on flight-aaaaghhhhh.
I am not anti -flight, but adrians train site looks fantastic. Next year its the alps or Pyrenees for me in september- who knows where in spring, thinking of Cyprus/ majorca or both!
Majorca is excellent and Huw says Cyprus is awesome as well. I am hoping not to fly to france- and may well drive.

[adrian]

[quote="Andrew Green"]
Adrian, is the train really worth it, don't you lose a day each way travelling?

[Andrew G]

sorry, didn't mean to sound like I was knocking the train. It's actually the opposite and that it sounds very appealing. It was just to get more of a feel of how well European train travel works, as a Southern user I tend to expect the worst but you have allayed my concerns.

Sitting back with a good book and a nice view Vs minimum 2hr check-in (more if they go nuts with the security checks again) squeezed (yes even at a statuesque 5'6" I feel penned in) on a budget airline doesn't seem like much of a fair contest.

And that's without considering the safety of my stead.

[adrian]

Not at all, Andrew - I only stuck the train link in because, as you suggested, if you use trains in this country at all you're hardly likely to consider it as a viable mode of transport when planning a trip abroad.

But ever since honeymooning to Austria by train a few years back, I've been hooked. Another great thing is you can go first class in Europe for not a great deal more than standard-class fare. On overnight trains this means a two-person compartment and dinner on starched tablecloths in the dining car. Yep, just like in the Bond films (minus the late-night pagga with geezers with hooks or metal teeth, with any luck).