Europe - Vacations & cycling in Greece.

My wife and I have having a dilema planning a pending trip to Greece. I am a land person,she loves cruises.. We are doing like 5 days in the Greek Islands. Almost another 5 days on land. How is cycling in Greece. particularily in the Peloponnese ... And driving . I understand it is chaotic? Were bike rental agencies plentiful and bike infrastructure.. 3 days in the Peloponnese . Is that enough time. And should you have driven a car. How about language problems , signs in the Greek countryside. In case driving is crazy is public transit decent. Think our driving will mostly be rural , as will be my cycling. thanks.

My advice is don't take a cruise go island hopping instead (and I've done this myself many times) and then you will actually get to see the islands better and can combine it with some cycling. You could rent a bike in Athens and take it on the ferries with you. Accomodation is usually plentiful and cheap out of season. People with rooms to rent usually meet the ferries. See this website for lots of useful information:
http://www.greektravel.com/islands.htm

I rented from http://www.acropolisbikes.gr/default.asp?id=&lcid=1033 and had a good experience. He is a graphic artist with a bike rental side line. He is also very involved with the bicycling culture in Athens and Greece so email him and he can advise you. You will need your own helmet. I used my own lights. I also had my own multi tool and pump although I did not use them.

How is cycling in Greece. I was only in Athens but enjoyed it. Hill climbing can be challenging. I avoided most traffic by sticking to side streets. It is very important to stay in your lane and if there is any traffic behind you pull over and let it pass. The cars are used to scooters so they are not a problem. I did not have any near misses and spend alot of time on the road.

Things to bike to in Athens:
2 trips, once in the day and once at night:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lycabettus_Hill

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vouliagmeni
Take tram from Syndagma (last door on the last car is for bikes) to Vouliagmeni. Follow the road going in the direction the tram was going until it veers off to the coast.

You can also follow the metro/subway route toward Pireaus. I ended up halfway in Faliron, where there is an 2000 olympic site and a naval museum.

Patentcad was in Greece not so long ago. Try sending him a PM.