Touring - Winter tour ideas?

So a friend is graduating with his MS at the end of this term (December 15th ish) and I've got nearly all of January before class starts up again with very little to do. He's never toured before, or really biked more than 20 minutes but is extremely fit (runner, long distance hiker and weight lifter) so the transition shouldn't be too slow. I did a self supported x-country tour last summer so I feel pretty ready.

Anyhow, we're looking for ideas for a self supported tour this January. Right now Venice to Athens is plan A but I'm worried about the weather, sounds cold and rainy which doesn't make for good tours.

Does anyone have any ideas? We're willing to spend under $1000 on airfare round trip and about 4 weeks of time.

Baja hands down...great weather, great people, great food, curteous drivers, great scenery, free camping....have a look at my tour photos here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/vikapproved/sets/72157603997077952/). Fly to Cabo and ride back to San Diego a trip of ~1000miles.

Baja is an excellent idea, i'll run it by my bud and see what happens.

Baja hands down...great weather, great people, great food, curteous drivers, great scenery, free camping....have a look at my tour photos here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/vikapproved/sets/72157603997077952/). Fly to Cabo and ride back to San Diego a trip of ~1000miles.


It is a great ride! However, I would recommend flying to San Diego, and riding to Cabo. The prevailing winds blow to the south east, and it makes for a tough return. (I've done it. Won't do it again.)

If you could find an affordable plane ticket I would say New Zealand.

San Diego and Tucson are some other potential starting points.

It is a great ride! However, I would recommend flying to San Diego, and riding to Cabo. The prevailing winds blow to the south east, and it makes for a tough return. (I've done it. Won't do it again.)

Good point. I haven't ridden South to North yet, but will my next trip to Baja as I need to fly back out of LA for non-tour related reasons. I'm trying to recall what the winds were like my last trip....I don't seem to remember a ton of tailwinds heading South , but it's been a couple years.

My wife and I are planing a New Zealand tour next winter, as it is their summer (away of escaping the rainy cold winter here).

I like to get away between January and March.
I've been to Mexico, Cuba, Morocco during the winter and the weather has been ideal for cycling.
I wouldn't go to Italy in January.
Check out my routes at
http://www.geocities.com/pathebikeguy

It is a great ride! However, I would recommend flying to San Diego, and riding to Cabo. The prevailing winds blow to the south east, and it makes for a tough return. (I've done it. Won't do it again.)

We were just talking about doing this, there must be buses back to the border, right?

What route did you take?

Baja hands down...great weather, great people, great food, curteous drivers, great scenery, free camping....have a look at my tour photos here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/vikapproved/sets/72157603997077952/). Fly to Cabo and ride back to San Diego a trip of ~1000miles.

Why oh why did i look at your pictures?!?! I have been itching to go to baja for a tour, but can't get the time off now, and can't see when i can in the future. Your pictures make me very very jealous. Hopefully i can work out something next year.

To the OP, go to baja, it looks amazing!