Winter tour ideas?
09-24-08, 08:11 PM
#1
Ho-Jahm
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Manchester, NH
Posts: 4,228
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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.
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.
09-24-08, 08:16 PM
#2
cyclopath
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Victoria, BC
Posts: 5,264
Bikes: Surly Krampus, Surly Straggler, Pivot Mach 6, Bike Friday Tikit, Bike Friday Tandem, Santa Cruz Nomad
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
6 Posts
Baja hands down...great weather, great people, great food, curteous drivers, great scenery, free camping....have a look at my tour photos here. Fly to Cabo and ride back to San Diego a trip of ~1000miles.
Last edited by vik; 09-24-08 at 08:29 PM.
09-24-08, 08:37 PM
#4
dia por dia
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: San Diego
Posts: 300
Bikes: hand built fixie, Lightspeed Sienna D/A
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Baja hands down...great weather, great people, great food, curteous drivers, great scenery, free camping....have a look at my tour photos here. 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.)
09-24-08, 09:40 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 8,546
Mentioned: 83 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 163 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
If you could find an affordable plane ticket I would say New Zealand.
San Diego and Tucson are some other potential starting points.
San Diego and Tucson are some other potential starting points.
09-24-08, 09:51 PM
#6
cyclopath
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Victoria, BC
Posts: 5,264
Bikes: Surly Krampus, Surly Straggler, Pivot Mach 6, Bike Friday Tikit, Bike Friday Tandem, Santa Cruz Nomad
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
6 Posts
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.
09-24-08, 11:35 PM
#7
Training Wheel Graduate
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: San Juan/Gulf Islands
Posts: 499
Bikes: Bridgestone Grand Velo, Evans Randonneur (custom), Moser 51.151, Surly LHT & Pacer, Kona/FreeRadical, Trek 730, Trek 510
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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).
09-25-08, 05:36 AM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 99
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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
https://www.geocities.com/pathebikeguy
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
https://www.geocities.com/pathebikeguy
09-25-08, 02:32 PM
#9
Ho-Jahm
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Manchester, NH
Posts: 4,228
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
What route did you take?
09-25-08, 04:16 PM
#10
sniffin' glue
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Seattle
Posts: 3,177
Bikes: Surly crosscheck ssfg, Custom vintage french racing bike, Bruce Gordon Rock & Road
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Baja hands down...great weather, great people, great food, curteous drivers, great scenery, free camping....have a look at my tour photos here. Fly to Cabo and ride back to San Diego a trip of ~1000miles.
To the OP, go to baja, it looks amazing!
