RiDE Guide to Italy
- Thread starter Simon W
- Start date
Excellent guide Si.
I picked up a copy at WH Smith this morning. The boot and heel parts of Italy are largely ignored by British bikers, the Alps - and all that they have to offer - perhaps forming some sort of barrier from going on further. This basic guide should start to address that problem.
Nicely put together, with enough detail to satisfy any potential tourists; the download GPS files being a nice addition. Add in some well directed Google searches of places to stay, things to do (particularly on the two longer tours on page 55) and you'd be good to go.
One question, I couldn't see how to download the guide via the ipad app? The Spain one came in fine.
Richard
Nicely put together, with enough detail to satisfy any potential tourists; the download GPS files being a nice addition. Add in some well directed Google searches of places to stay, things to do (particularly on the two longer tours on page 55) and you'd be good to go.
One question, I couldn't see how to download the guide via the ipad app? The Spain one came in fine.
Richard
sven
Registered user
I bought this the other day and it's nice to see some routes around Tuscany and further south. I'm enquiring about shipping the bike to Pisa next summer via Euro Bike Trans to save 3 days riding in each direction. It should work out slightly cheaper too once the North Sea ferry, fuel and overnight stops have been factored in 
Simon W
Registered user
The Guide to Italy is included in the standard iPad issue... just keep going after the back page of the issue. It's not a separate thing, just free with the issue so if you've bought the issue (the IT people tell me) the Guide is there as well.
The downloadable GPX files include hotels for each location (if you download the "full" file, rather than the individual route ones). For each location I drew up a shortlist of three based on facilities, location and reviews - then stayed in the one where I could get the best deal! I included all the "shortlist" hotels as well as just the ones we used, to give options in case one was full on the dates people wanted. Our hotel budget isn't great, so there may be fancier places available - but all the places we stayed in were good and some were excellent (my favourite being the Cristallino d'Ampezzo in Cortina).
The downloadable GPX files include hotels for each location (if you download the "full" file, rather than the individual route ones). For each location I drew up a shortlist of three based on facilities, location and reviews - then stayed in the one where I could get the best deal! I included all the "shortlist" hotels as well as just the ones we used, to give options in case one was full on the dates people wanted. Our hotel budget isn't great, so there may be fancier places available - but all the places we stayed in were good and some were excellent (my favourite being the Cristallino d'Ampezzo in Cortina).
Think I'll have to get this, I incorporated a lot of the 'Gorges route' from the Ride website into my recent trip. Some excellent riding and with the ability to download as GPX into sat nav took loads of work off the route planning job.
Troppo
Bemused observer
Excellent.
Ride publish a generic, European, version. This includes the Alps. You can find the downloads on the magazine's website.
Failing that, there a lots of Alpine guides, several of them very good.
Failing that, there a lots of Alpine guides, several of them very good.
Get a copy of "Motorcycle Journey's through the Alps and Beyond"
Check out www.alpineroads.com - and if you join the forum you will find loads of knowledgeable folk who are happy to help.
And this map is great for general route planning with many good alpine routes highlighted, the accompanying book is in French, but worth the money for the map.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/2067181491/r ... 71_TE_item
Some of the lesser roads and passes are among the best but often left out of magazine articles, this is not bashing the Ride routes which look great, but they have to take into account the wide variety of bikes being used, or in the case of the UK press assume most folk will be on a sportsbike.
IMO the Splugen Pass from Italy to Switzerland is amazing and the predominantly single lane Gavia pass (and until recently unpaved in parts) is one of the Alps best passes (much better than the Stelvio which it is right next to)
Check out www.alpineroads.com - and if you join the forum you will find loads of knowledgeable folk who are happy to help.
And this map is great for general route planning with many good alpine routes highlighted, the accompanying book is in French, but worth the money for the map.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/2067181491/r ... 71_TE_item
Some of the lesser roads and passes are among the best but often left out of magazine articles, this is not bashing the Ride routes which look great, but they have to take into account the wide variety of bikes being used, or in the case of the UK press assume most folk will be on a sportsbike.
IMO the Splugen Pass from Italy to Switzerland is amazing and the predominantly single lane Gavia pass (and until recently unpaved in parts) is one of the Alps best passes (much better than the Stelvio which it is right next to)
Aswell as Motorcycle journeys through the Alps, I've just bought ''Mountain Higher'' by Daniel Friebe & Pete Goding, aimed at loon cyclists that want to spend hours cycling up impossible slopes, it's also ideal for the motorcyclist 
Oh wow.
The routes around Argentario are awesome. They included almost everything interesting available around there, including SS Maremmana... Good work.
*clicks download*
The routes around Argentario are awesome. They included almost everything interesting available around there, including SS Maremmana... Good work.
*clicks download*
I bought this the other day and it's nice to see some routes around Tuscany and further south. I'm enquiring about shipping the bike to Pisa next summer via Euro Bike Trans to save 3 days riding in each direction. It should work out slightly cheaper too once the North Sea ferry, fuel and overnight stops have been factored in
do let us know how you get on with this and the detail please sven
Guys, check shipping companies also.
There are a few that operate regularly between UK/Italy.
I shipped bikes a few times between UK and Italy for a number of reasons and they'll happily load bikes too. Some do it as a specific service.
Then you can fly and get the bike too.
In September to Rome to stay over a weekend, by bike, to speed things up did part of the leg down by mototrain, but the autozug is no longer (if you want to travel by train at the same time as the bike) and the only option I had, and used, was the good 'ol mototrain from Paris to Nice.
There are a few that operate regularly between UK/Italy.
I shipped bikes a few times between UK and Italy for a number of reasons and they'll happily load bikes too. Some do it as a specific service.
Then you can fly and get the bike too.
In September to Rome to stay over a weekend, by bike, to speed things up did part of the leg down by mototrain, but the autozug is no longer (if you want to travel by train at the same time as the bike) and the only option I had, and used, was the good 'ol mototrain from Paris to Nice.
We are planning next years trip to Misano for the MotoGP. The guide is just in time for me to ponder of flying down or riding down or both. The Shuttle to Geneva looks good. 3 weeks holiday should cover it 
er-minio can you pass me on the info for the bike transport. Would like to have a look at it. Know about flybikefly and the shuttle just outside Northampton, anything else?
er-minio can you pass me on the info for the bike transport. Would like to have a look at it. Know about flybikefly and the shuttle just outside Northampton, anything else?
Will send MP!
I meant:
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