Hi Julian.
I’m inspired by your achievements and have been wanting to do something similar for a couple of years now. I live in Orpington, Kent and have family in Italy just south of Naples. Every august I go to visit and next year I’m planning on cyclin there. Is the route you took the most suitable and direct for a road bike? Look forward to hearing from you and any advice you may have.
Ciao Angelo!
Cycling from Kent to Naples you could take the same route as me (by following the details given on this website or in my book) and I would certainly recommend it. It combined great scenery & interesting locations but it wasn’t the most direct. The Via Francigena route is a more direct one than the Eurovelo 5 – see this route which was cycled by a couple who wanted to follow the pilgrimage route: http://puglia2010.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/vfcycleroute.jpg .
Don’t get obsessed by the route planning; set off and make it up as you go along. That’s what I did! Full details of my route are of course in the book or on the Bikely.com route that someone has kindly created based upon what I wrote. The links are here: http://cyclingeurope.org/eurovelo-5-2010-2/the-route/
Good luck & keep in touch.
Best wishes
Andrew
Hi Julian
In the end I never followed the canals as I met up with Alain Lenain (see the blog entries) and followed him across country, first to his house somewhere east of Boulogne and then the following day onwards to Lille. I never saw a canal! I’m sure if you look up Alain, he will be happy to give you a similar guided passage through the Pas de Calais.
When are you planning on travelling?
Best wishes
Andrew
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Apologies I mean Andrew!!
๐
Hi Julian.
I’m inspired by your achievements and have been wanting to do something similar for a couple of years now. I live in Orpington, Kent and have family in Italy just south of Naples. Every august I go to visit and next year I’m planning on cyclin there. Is the route you took the most suitable and direct for a road bike? Look forward to hearing from you and any advice you may have.
Regards Angelo
Ciao Angelo!
Cycling from Kent to Naples you could take the same route as me (by following the details given on this website or in my book) and I would certainly recommend it. It combined great scenery & interesting locations but it wasn’t the most direct. The Via Francigena route is a more direct one than the Eurovelo 5 – see this route which was cycled by a couple who wanted to follow the pilgrimage route: http://puglia2010.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/vfcycleroute.jpg .
Don’t get obsessed by the route planning; set off and make it up as you go along. That’s what I did! Full details of my route are of course in the book or on the Bikely.com route that someone has kindly created based upon what I wrote. The links are here: http://cyclingeurope.org/eurovelo-5-2010-2/the-route/
Good luck & keep in touch.
Best wishes
Andrew
Andrew what were the paths along the canal like. Suitable for a road bike or would a hybrid trekking bike be better for the surface?
Hi Julian
In the end I never followed the canals as I met up with Alain Lenain (see the blog entries) and followed him across country, first to his house somewhere east of Boulogne and then the following day onwards to Lille. I never saw a canal! I’m sure if you look up Alain, he will be happy to give you a similar guided passage through the Pas de Calais.
When are you planning on travelling?
Best wishes
Andrew