Im going to be spending most of my summer in milan.


and was wondering what riding in milan is like (i really want to take a bike, but i dont want to get killed riding there). also if there is any friendly italians who wouldn't mind showing me around (safe bike routes, nogo places, you know the usual)


sadly when it comes to italian, i speak it like the typical american tourist (just yell in english :P), but im willing to give it a go :D



thanks
Stuart

I'm not Italian but I live here. Milan is flat and bug ridden. Most of the serious cyclists put the bike in the back of their cars and drive to the lakes and/or mountains. I have heard that some groups meet in Monza on weekend mornings.

I can show you a safe bike route - I'm pretty sure you could probably ride it to lake Maggiore if you were keen.

More rides here (including some in English): http://www.turbolento.net

Do you know where you'll be staying in Milan? You might also be able to buy a reasonable second-hand bike here.

You can PM me if you want any more specific info.

I just got here in Milano from a tour and the whole trip was great but this is by far the worst city to ride a bike in (at least in the center). I'm one that gets off on the traffic and weaving in and out beating the lights and the cars, and there is no chance for that here since most roads are either older weathered paved roads or cobblestone. Both do a number on you. As for the area around Milan beautiful if you can find yourself a safe route that has a good stretch of bicycle safe road. The drivers are nice however don't worry about getting hit. Since Italy I have had nothing but good expierences with the drivers, they have always either given me enough space or passed in a safe manner. I came in through Como and would recomend doing weekends or whatever there. Amazing riding along the lake with the Apls in the background. As for an information point in Doumo, Look at the church, turn 90 degrees left and the info point is just left of the arch entrence of the 'Galerie' took me some three hours to find if after doing my best to ask everyone that passed me in italian.

Good luck!

Der Evan

Yeah the pave and the tram tracks are a pain. I avoid cycling on them as much as possible.