Cycling Flanders or Britain

[Borg-MX5]

I am planning on doing a road cycling tour in Europe in 2006 (6-10 days max). I've never done anything like this before and have never been to Europe either. I would appreciate any advice. I am seeking information on subjects such as:

• Recommended cycling tour companies and packages (good and bad experiences).
• Weather conditions and best times of year.
• Flanders or Britain, which one would rock the most?
• Should I bring my own bike (I am thinking, yes)?
• What is the difference between a 3 star and 4 star hotel in Europe and is it it worth it to upgrade?
• Touristy things.
• Other expenses.

These and many other questions are on my mind.
Any advice or counsel would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Magical_Beast]

What is the difference between a 3 star and 4 star hotel in Europe and is it it worth it to upgrade?

basically no

 

[Borg-MX5]

basically no

Thanks for the reply. There is a substantial price difference in tour packages which book 3 star as opposed to 4 star hotels. Since I am not loaded with tons of money and am focusing on this as a cycling experience, I would prefer to keep other expenses down. Except for good wine, I am a sucker for good wine. Maybe some cheese and awesome bread too.

 

[KnoxGardner]

I was in Flanders last year on the bike. It is quite nice, gentle rolling hills, farm country. It took just a quick day to get used to being on the roads again with no shoulders after a week of bike paths in Holland, but folks are great. The tourists things to do in Flanders are go to old towns like Brugge (actually, I don't know if this is "really" Flanders, but I'd be surpirsed if your trip would not go there anyhow as it is the major tourist destination) and to spend time in the First War battlefields, such as Ypres. It felt like I was in cemetaries everyday for about a week. Which was fine though somber.

http://bikenerd.blogspot.com/2004/07/in-flanders-fields.html

Belgium is beer country. If you like beer and mussels & french fries, you'll be golden. I regret I did not spend more time in Brugge drinking and trying to figure out the intricasies of which beer goes in which glass.

If you are really into your wine and cheese, why not France? You could go on a 2 or 3 week bike tour to a wine region there for the next decade and still not get in every wine region. I had a swell time and a bottle of inexpensive wine nearly every night when I hit the wine regions. But then don't forget the FLAT AS A PANCAKE for biking wine region on the Mosel or the tasty new wine and "beirgartens" along the Danube Trail in Austria. Both have plenty of bed and breakfasts for cyclist and well-marked paths, so you could probably do either without hiring a company to take you.

Have fun planning.

Knox Gardner

 

[ovenchips]

Hmmm ... not too sure how to reply to this as you don't say what part of Britain you're thinking of (??). But as i've a bit of experience in Holland and live in eastern England it seemed reasonable to say something.


In general terms ...

scotland = mountains
midlands = hills of varying sizes
south western England & Wales = fairly big hills
Eastern England = flat


In topographical terms you'll find very little difference between Flanders and eastern england; they are both good cycling destinations, both flat with occasional (but not many) rolling low hills, largely of open countryside. In holland you will find many more dedicated cycle paths than in England, though heavy traffic isn't really ever a problem here in the east and driving standards are generally good. I'd also consider the dutch people some of the friendliest on earth, all that i've spoken to happily & fluently speak English, and cycling there is a real treat.

There may be some stuff that won't interest you, but it might still be worth your while looking through some of the previous posts at the pics & route details on my ''cycling & birdwatching blog'' from around here .... http://birdingandbiking.blogspot.com/ ..

The best time of the year in my opinion is late May -June, though it may rain you won't have the energy sapping heat of July & August to contend with.

Hope that helps

 

[ovenchips]

I am planning on doing a road cycling tour in Europe in 2006 (6-10 days max). I've never done anything like this before and have never been to Europe either. I would appreciate any advice. I am seeking information on subjects such as:

• Recommended cycling tour companies and packages (good and bad experiences).
• Weather conditions and best times of year.
• Flanders or Britain, which one would rock the most?
• Should I bring my own bike (I am thinking, yes)?
• What is the difference between a 3 star and 4 star hotel in Europe and is it it worth it to upgrade?
• Touristy things.
• Other expenses.

These and many other questions are on my mind.
Any advice or counsel would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Might also be worth you joining the Vrienden Op De Fiets (friends of the cyclist)... http://www.vriendenopdefiets.nl/ ... we joined andused them last year to ride round holland and a bit of Belgium. On average we gote charged about 10 Euro's which (i think?) is about $12 pp / night

 

[Borg-MX5]

Thanks for all the input. I am really leaning toward Flanders at the moment. I was considering Northern Britain, but I also notice the costs in Britain seem a bit higher. I found a tour package for Flanders that included 8 days 7 nights, airfare, 3-4 star hotels, luggage tranportation, and breakfasts for around US $1200.00. Does that seem reasonable? Also, would early September be a bad time to tour?

 

[ovenchips]

Thanks for all the input. I am really leaning toward Flanders at the moment. I was considering Northern Britain, but I also notice the costs in Britain seem a bit higher. I found a tour package for Flanders that included 8 days 7 nights, airfare, 3-4 star hotels, luggage tranportation, and breakfasts for around US $1200.00. Does that seem reasonable? Also, would early September be a bad time to tour?

Hi again, sorry i don't really know about the cost of packages from the US but in general i think your assumption of UK being more expensive is correct.

Generally speaking the Low Countries weather in September can be ok, can be unpredictable, can be wet. Shouldn't be too cold though

Dunno if you've come across this website .... http://www.cycletourer.co.uk/ .. but it's well worth a look; loads of Europe tour type info from a guy who lives in the UK