deilenberger
A bozo on the bus
A few friends and I are planning on a 15-16 day trip to ride Europe - and I just picked the start and turn-around points out my head (places I've always wanted to see..)
So the plan is - rent bikes in Barcelona (there appear to be a lot of Spanish bike rental places - most with BMWs) - spend a few days there, then head for Prague. Spend a few days in Prague, then back to Barcelona.
We are avoiding the packaged tour deal since my trips often result in diversions from the plans made - if I see something interesting, I'll go see it, and if it isn't on the original route, it becomes the new route. Makes for a more spontaneous trip - plus if we run into crappy weather and can find an interesting place to stop for a day or so - we do. I usually plan 1-2 extra days into my trips just for that reason.
So - I understand there are some hills between the two cities. Something called the Alps and Dolomites I think (have to dig out the Michelin map SWMBO got me for Christmas - which was tacit approval of the trip.) While I can't go hog wild on expenses - this is a bucket-list trip for all of us, so we are not staying in the European equivalent of Motel-6. We generally like to find decent lodging with a restaurant/bar within easy walking distance. One of the riders will be our interpreter - he was born and raised in Germany...
Suggestions on routes, places not to miss, places to avoid like the plague. That sort of info would be hugely useful - especially since it appears I won't get to ride for another week or two given the deep freeze NJ is in at the moment.
So the plan is - rent bikes in Barcelona (there appear to be a lot of Spanish bike rental places - most with BMWs) - spend a few days there, then head for Prague. Spend a few days in Prague, then back to Barcelona.
We are avoiding the packaged tour deal since my trips often result in diversions from the plans made - if I see something interesting, I'll go see it, and if it isn't on the original route, it becomes the new route. Makes for a more spontaneous trip - plus if we run into crappy weather and can find an interesting place to stop for a day or so - we do. I usually plan 1-2 extra days into my trips just for that reason.
So - I understand there are some hills between the two cities. Something called the Alps and Dolomites I think (have to dig out the Michelin map SWMBO got me for Christmas - which was tacit approval of the trip.) While I can't go hog wild on expenses - this is a bucket-list trip for all of us, so we are not staying in the European equivalent of Motel-6. We generally like to find decent lodging with a restaurant/bar within easy walking distance. One of the riders will be our interpreter - he was born and raised in Germany...
Suggestions on routes, places not to miss, places to avoid like the plague. That sort of info would be hugely useful - especially since it appears I won't get to ride for another week or two given the deep freeze NJ is in at the moment.