2idocs

Would like to spend an afternoon biking the Appian Way, maybe stopping at one of the catacombs.
Would like to just rent the bikes, not join a guided tour. Maybe electric-assist bikes?
Wondering if there is bike rental right near it that wouldn't require riding through busy city traffic to get there?

suec1

Quite a few years ago we did this so the details are very fuzzy to me. We had seen Rick Steves doing it and thought it sounded great. I know we did not go thru city traffic so the rental must have been nearby. BUT we hated it! The Appian Way is built from very large stones and then there are deep grooves, I guess from years of steel chariot wheels? At any rate, we found it very difficult to ride on, maybe electrical bikes would be better! Maybe we were in the wrong part of it? I hope others chime in that have had a better experience but we did not enjoy it at all!

But we did visit one of the catacombs - got there by bus - we did like that!

janisj

I haven't ridden it but have walked parts of it. I can't imagine it would be a great idea -- perhaps you don't know what it is like.

This photo is pretty typical - though some sections are a little smoother.

https://www.charmingitaly.net/foto/Rome-appian-way.JPG

Jackie44

We did this last September. It is not for the faint of heart and I am faint of heart. But it is great fun as long as no one gets hurt. I did start a trip report that I never posted so here is the Appian Way exert:

Set out earlyish - put on my sandals with the blackstrap. (This would prove to be a mistake). Husband had reserved ebikes at the Appian Way. Brilliant idea. The Appian Way is closed to most traffic on Sundays. It's a beautiful ride into the countryside outside the busier parts of Rome on the ancient road that goes all the way to Brindisi. We did not go that far. But because we had ebikes we did do 28 km round trip. There are many sites and monuments along the way so it's a really lovely outing. However parts of the road are cobblestones and parts are actual boulders. If your bike gets caught in the grooves between the stones you will probably fall. And I did. Spectacularly. As I went over my handlebars my sandal strap caught on one and I hit those ancient stones chest first (see sandals with a back-strap were a mistake). I'm pretty sure I looked like a baseball player sliding for home plate with a bike attached to one foot. The lovely young Italian man who offered assistance told me that I fell very gracefully. So sweet. I am still laughing. And luckily I wasn't actually hurt.

Ebikes help but they are very heavy and if you are anything like me you will tip over once or twice. Also, we probably rode a little faster than we should because of the electric assist. When you hit the boulder section there is sometimes a smooth shoulder at the side of the road but if you are going fast you will hit those boulders before you know it. It's an adventure!

Jackie44

Sorry I didn't answer your question: yes, the bike rental is just before the gate into the Appian Way. You do not ride through Rome at all.