Corsica help

[huw williams]

Excelent cookery programme from there on TV last last night but forget the food - did you see those mountain ranges and traffic-free roads?

Does anyone have any experience of riding there?

[Mike I]

I've driven there. A bit hairy in places, as I recall. Could therefore be interesting and a whole load of fun on a bike.

(Had a particularly agreeable cigalle de mer - or slipper lobster - one July 14 as well. Recommended)

[Maria David]

Been catching up on posts so only just come across this.

Anyway, Corsica - small island but big adventures (and all that).

I was there some years ago - it's basically a mountain that rises out of the sea so there's no shortage of places to exercise your climbing legs.

My cycling there was limited - just hired bikes for a couple of days. (I was actually there for a hiking trip.)

I found the most spectacular scenery to be along the north west section (between Calvi, Ajaccio and Corte), especially along the coast road (near Calanches de Piana and Gorges de Spelunca). Lots of long switchback roads, along the side of the mountain with sea below. Very weird rock formations. On road the altitudes won't be too high - the highest peaks on the island are under 3,000m.
The southern area is quite mountainous too - less dramatic but still pretty. Bonifacio is a delightful fishing town.
The east is flat and green.

In terms of cycling this time of year will still be very hot - especially inland. Also, as there aren't loads of roads traffic can be heavy in summer, especially around the famous areas - note that Corsicans drive like Italians. (On another note knowing Italian will probably help you with the lingo. Corsu is very similar to Italian - some of them take offence to being spoken to in French !)

There is an official circuit of corsica that you can do by bike.
http://www.chez.com/bikeevasion/regle_corse.htm (in french)
You arrange it rather like you would to do the raid pyrenean - (write in to a local bike club, get the card stamped at various points in the island, complete it within a specific time etc).
You'll need time though - it takes in more than 150 cols !

Enjoy !

Maria
http://www.2wheelchick.blogspot.com/

[huw williams]

Thanks Maria - since my post I've done a fair bit of map studying and the North definitely looks favourite - probably staying in Calvi or Bastia (which allows for a circuit of the Cap Corse coast road.

I'm looking at it as a possible destination for a week next spring - temperatures look favourable and apartments are ridiculously cheap out of season.

[Maria David]

Sounds like a good idea for a trip - enjoy !

Maria
http://www.2wheelchick.blogspot.com/