Bike tours of Rome?
 

Has anyone ever done a bike tour of Rome? We are only in Rome for 1-1/2 days, and are young, and thought that a bike tour, either with a guide, or by ourselves, would be a better way to see more of the city in a shorter time period. Enjoy Rome has a 3-1/2 hour bike tour that hits: Villa Borghese, Piazza Del Popolo, Piazza Venezia, the Spanish Steps, the Mouth of Truth, the Colosseum, and the Ara Pacis. We were thinking of doing this, or going on our own for a little longer than 3-1/2 hours and see a few more sights...Forum, Pantheon, etc. Would doing it without a guide be too difficult???

Reminds me of the joke about the Nun on the cobblestones in Rome... but that's a different thread.<BR><BR>I do a lot of cycling and while I agree it would be a great way to get from Point A to Point B in less time, I can't imagine riding a bike in that traffic. I've ridden quite a lot in San Francisco and Rome would be WAY worse. Maybe the guides know some good back routes. I wouldn't try it by myself.

Good Luck with bikes in Rome traffic! A lot of time even walking is tricky because of narrow streets and heavy traffic. Then again, if you would like to be the main feature in a mechanical bull fight, I'm sure all those motor bikes would oblidge you by being the multiple matadors. If you're that energetic why not do it all on foot? Maps make Rome distances look twice as long(short blocks). Get a good map at one of the many info booths that show the central area and sites and hoof it. (How does one only have 1-1/2 days for a major destination like Rome? We spent 2 weeks there, walked our buns off, enjoyed it greatly and still missed half-or more-of it all.) Truly, youth is wasted on the young.

DO NOT attempt to ride a bike through Rome! If the traffic doesn't get to you, the cobble stone streets will!! Unless you really know the city and comfortable with not only the volume of traffic but the flow as well, I wouldn't attempt it.<BR><BR>Have a great time when you go!

For all the reasons others have stated, don't do it. Need another reason? You'll have to wear a gas mask to ward off the fumes from the traffic.<BR><BR>'Bicycle' and 'Rome' shouldn't appear in the same sentence.

Good thing I posted this and got your responses...<BR><BR>I never thought of a bike tour in rome until I saw it on the Enjoy Rome tours site...then got thinking about doing it ourselves instead of with a tour...<BR><BR>Maybe not...