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-   -   Cycling Nice into Italy along the coast (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/cycling-nice-into-italy-along-the-coast-1323185/)

bilboburgler May 24th, 2017 05:14 AM

Cycling Nice into Italy along the coast
 
Mrs B doesn't like to ride up hills, can anyone put us onto a traffic-light route along the coast?

WoinParis May 24th, 2017 05:32 AM

The coastal road is overcrowded.
The alternative are the corniches... which in french means something high attached to the roof.
Can't help here, when we are in the Var, my wife hates cycling and reminds me she wants to bike an electrical bike.

massimop May 24th, 2017 05:37 AM

There is only one littoral road, visible on the map. It's the playground of daredevil motorcyclists. No bicycling lane or shoulder. Period. More promising is bike routes along Adda river just south of Milan, through lovely towns like Lodi, Crema, Pavia, or try the flat eastern coast, cycling around the Po delta in the vicinity of Comacchio, etc.

Calabria62 May 24th, 2017 06:35 AM

You could start in Sanremo, Italy. The coastal bike path goes for about 20-30k. I haven't done it but saw it on youtube, right along the coast, on what was once rail lines.

Tulips May 24th, 2017 07:21 AM

I see cyclists all the time on the coastal road in Cap d'Antibes - it's a narrow road with lot of turns, cars parked along the road, not a lot of space for 2 cars to pass, and then the cyclists. I wouldn't recommend it in the summer months.

There's good cycling between Villeneuve-Loubet and Nice, though. Not sure about Nice - Italy.

bilboburgler May 24th, 2017 07:27 AM

Thanks, well aware of alternative routes throughout Europe. Your input is kind but I need the specific area I'm asking about.

Tulips, which coastal road, I can see three or four alternatives and found a whole host of ideas on youroute, really looking for the best? Also aware of possible traffic issues, just want the best idea, after all i can always catch the train :-)

frencharmoire May 24th, 2017 09:12 AM

Suggest you on a cycling forum where people discuss cycling routes and experiences. This doesn't appear to be that kind of travel forum.

Tulips May 24th, 2017 09:30 AM

Sorry Bilbo see that you want to do Nice-Italy. I was talking about the road around Cap d'Antibes. Beautiful, but dangerous for cyclists as there is no cycle path. If there is oncoming traffic there's very little room to overtake a cyclist, but people still do it.

From Villeneuve Loubet through Cagnes to Nice there's now a cycle route. Not the most scenic bit of the Cote d'Azur though, but it's flat and runs along the Promenade des Anglais. I think you can take it from Antibes all the way to Nice, actually.

Have to admit that I only see it from my car - I've never cycled it :-)

bilboburgler May 24th, 2017 10:18 AM

Thanks Tulip, I don't normally use a cycle path so not really a problem, just looking for some options.

French, hi, yep trying some of them too.

Palanque may come along and he rides a fair bit

menachem May 24th, 2017 10:30 AM

After Nice, the Moyenne Corniche is better, IMO. You'll have a better view, it's a two lane road and there are sidewalks to escape to. The lower corniche is not my idea of fun.

menachem May 24th, 2017 10:37 AM

Basically it's riding the D6007

annhig May 24th, 2017 12:32 PM

bilbo - a while ago i was reading a book by a cape who cycled all the way round the Med, keeping as close to the sea as possible. He would have to have done this teach, albeit in the other direction. I'll try to remember to look on my Kindle and find the details.

PalenQ May 24th, 2017 12:49 PM

Well as far as I know cyclists can take the littoral coastal footpath (or may not but the paths IME are paved and not that crowded -I've taken the one from Cap d'Ail train station a flat two miles into Monaco and then there is one from there going to Menton I believe -not sure between Nice and the east as there is a big BIG hill separating Nice from the next town Villefranche I believe.

https://translate.google.com/transla...ml&prev=search

Some of the narrow parts you may want to walk the bikes and savor the setting.

This is a gorgeous path - along a pristine part of the Cote d'Azur rarely seen these days - isolated swimming hole -folks were skinny dipping so suit optional!

https://www.google.com/search?q=litt...w=1745&bih=864

can always take a train to Cap d'Ail station of course.

PalenQ May 24th, 2017 01:46 PM

I biked from Nice to Genoa once -where is your ultimate destination. I took the lowest road near the coast - and do not remember any serious climbs (but I was younger then - younger then than now) - once after Monaco I believe it is flat -all the way to Genoa - a string of coastal resorts - slow driving but nice biking.

bilboburgler May 24th, 2017 11:16 PM

Hi P, aiming for Pisa where we fly home, taking lots of time for this relatively short trip (15 days). Yep the big hill is an issue, but you just keep going.

Thanks Ann, every little helps :-)

bilboburgler May 24th, 2017 11:20 PM

I found this site http://italy-cycling-guide.info/ and I've compared his routes with those I've done in Italy (4 long tours) and they make sense, so I'm happy to follow his ideas in Liguria and Tuscany.

frencharmoire May 24th, 2017 11:42 PM

There is no way to bike from Genova to Pisa along the coast without climbing one huge mountain after another. They have constructed some bike paths around Framura, but otherwise you facing daunting terrain. (sorry for the soundtrack)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhslY4n6Gi0


And from the French border to Genova, this is the road

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlXyWUhGqkg

frencharmoire May 24th, 2017 11:53 PM

http://www.bikeitalia.it/2013/01/16/...in-bicicletta/

https://www.piste-ciclabili.com/regi...31,9.414303/11

frencharmoire May 24th, 2017 11:54 PM

http://www.verde-natura.it/viaggio/d...-costa-ligure/

Keren May 25th, 2017 01:27 AM

The pista ciclabile that starts in Ospedaletti and goes all the way to Lorenzo al Mare, is wonderful, I've done it last September. Lots of fantastic views and places to freshen up. The tunnels are wonderfully cool.


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