Touring - Italy Trip Questions

In October I am going to be taking my bike over to Italy and Cycling from Genoa to the Amalfi Coast. This is my tentative route:

http://g.co/maps/a2tpt

Does anyone have any recommendations on places to stop or cities to visit?

Also, one of my big hangups is that I will be flying into one city and out of another. How do you all recommend transporting my bike? Being that I cannot take my travel case with me on the ride.

Any tips or any information would be very helpful. Thanks!!

Aaron

Hi,

I think you have picked the right time of year. The weather should be mild and the number of vacationing tourist should be low.

Visiting the Cinque Terre should be a highpoint. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinque_Terre

I would consider taking a passenger ferry and return to you starting point. It's an easy and economical way to return to Genoa.

I'm also concerned that cycling the Amalfi coast might be hazardous. It's a beautiful area but the road between Sorrento and Amalfi is death-defying in a car and a bigger concern on a bike.

I think I will be taking a day trip from Naples down to that area and will not be biking. I have heard that from multiple people.

I would take a side trip to Lucca. It is a very nice town. A walled city. There is a bike path on top of the wall.

Be warned that there is a tunnel or two between Genoa and La Spezia that prohibits bicycles. Though I have heard people have gone through them.

Getting out of Genoa might be difficult. It is not exactly a bike friendly city. You might consider taking a train to the next town.

I recommend the Hotel Bellvue in Genoa. It is across from the train station and up on the hillside. I would avoid hostels in the really big cities.

Don't miss Porto Fino.

There is a hostel somewhere north of Viareggio. Sorry I can't remember where.

Watch S1 between Viareggio and Pisa. It is very busy. Check your map, there is a back farm road that I saw but was unsure of how far it went so I stayed on S1.

My bike has S&S couplers and I put it in a hard-sided case that is like a big suitcase. When I fly into one city and out of another, I ship my case via either UPS or FedEx after assembling my bike to my destination. I either use a hotel where I've booked a night at the end of the trip or I find someone on couchsurfing.org or warmshowers.org who will take delivery of it and hold it until I get there.

Also, there was some damage to the Cinque Terre area in October due to heavy storms (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/8850032/Villages-all-but-wiped-out-as-storms-batter-Italys-Cinque-Terre.html). Just so you know.

You might find this previous discussion of biking in the Cinque Terre (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/635809-Anyone-ever-ride-Cinque-Terre-area-in-Itay?p=10653536&viewfull=1#post10653536) of interest.

Have a great time.