Cycling tour of the Balkans

[wendy rose]

Hi fellow cyclists

I am wondering if anyone can tell me what to do and what not to do when cycling through the Balkans. We propose
visiting Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo and Albania. Are there:-
1) any special places to visit
2) any places to avoid
3) any roads to avoid
4) steep climbs
5) where camping gas(with screw tops, click type) and meths can be bought
6) places to avoid late on in our trip that suffer with bad weather, eg snow/sleet

My hubby travelled these places in 2009 and knows of the threat of land mines and possibly bandits. Are there particular areas where these are a problem .

Thanks guys, your input would be valued greatly.

[raybo]

If you can fit it in, spend a day at Plitvice National Park in Croatia. Truly amazing.

I also liked riding over Cres island.

Hard to believe that any other place in the Balkans is as pretty as Slovenia. I’d recommend rearranging your itinerary to ride through Slovenia. The Vrsic Pass and Soca Valley are real highlights, as are Lakes Bled and Bohinj.

[mjr]

I've not cycled there but I've watched the roads wondering what it would be like. Slovenia has more cycle routes and better drivers (although drivers used to take their cars for church blessings, so bad were casualty rates), and Zagreb looks OK give or take tram lines and cobbles, while close passes, left crossing and failure to yield are widespread in Dalmatia and Montenegro.

[Kernowboy]

Checkout this journal on CGOAB
https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o= ... 0688&v=2Vx

[wendy rose]

Many thanks for your suggestion raybo. This area of Slovenia sounds like a good option and well worth visiting.

[wendy rose]

Hi to MJR and Kernowboy, Many thanks for responding to my recent post on the Balkans. Very much appreciated. I will let you know in time how we get on together with any survival techniques! Wendy Rose.

[raybo]

Wendy —check out my recent journal of riding in Croatia and Slovenia for hundreds of pictures and a link to the actual route I rode and the planning I did.

[pq]

My favourites were Albania and Montenegro. Kosovo not great because the roads are busy and narrow. I wrote up my trip here: http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/balkanised

[wendy rose]

Hi PQ
Thanks a lot for posting your informative journal on the Balkans in 2010. As we are hoping to cycle there in October we are unsure about where to buy gas, screw top or piercing canisters. How available is it?
We imagine the roads can be an issue, how is it best to avoid busy main roads without ending up on a dirt track?
By the way, we are intrigued to know about the bike Charlie was using. Wendy Rose

[MarcusT]

The standard gas canisters (pierce type) are available every where. If you go for the resealable types, you'll need to go to a specialized sporting goods store.
Your biggest challenge will be narrow roads, especially the further south you go.

[wendy rose]

Many thanks Marcus. That has put our minds at ease. Did you have first hand experience? Roads will be a problem. Wish us luck!

[Mike_Ayling]

Go to Cycleblaze.

This author has had a number of rides in that area.

https://www.cycleblaze.com/journals/dubrovnik2018/

Mike

[Rob D]

Rather late in the day, we meant to write up Wendy's and my ride many months ago. There's lots to write but limited time.
We started in Dubrovnik, went up coast into Bosnia, Mostar (fab), nearly wiped out by truck in tunnel on way to Sarajevo. From then we walked all tunnels unless zero traffic.
Then into Serbia. Foreign Office advised avoiding NW Kosovo so into Montenegro then Kosovo further south, to Peja. Lovely! Then Albania where we took the Komani Lake ferry - well worth it. Then Shkoder (fabulous) and back to Dubrovnik. Mostly wild camped, sometimes knocking on doors and asking if we could camp there, dodging the mines as necessary. Some b&b and hotels, dirt cheap. Incredible weather (November) and lovely people. Scenery awesome, everywhere. Bosnia was sobering. Very few/no cyclist apart from Shkoder.
It was an incredible trip, hard-hitting but fantastic. If anyone wants any advice from our experience of the trip, let us know.
Rob and Wendy

[willswitchengage]

The Adriatic coast of Croatia is stunning and was largely devoid of traffic other than German motorcycle tourists when I visited. Basically this for 100 miles:



Bosnia's main roads are pretty terrifying for cycling - a lot of unlit tunnels filled with trucks. Not for the feint hearted, but the country is spectacular. I think these were all taken on the road from Mostar to Sarajevo.









This was a brilliant disused railway that ran east from Sarajevo, well worth a minor detour. Crazily it was used as a road - I came across lorries squeezing through these tunnels!

[raybo]

The Adriatic coast of Croatia is stunning and was largely devoid of traffic other than German motorcycle tourists when I visited. Basically this for 100 miles:

When were you riding on the coast?

Also, what roads did you ride in Bosnia? It isn't possible to use Google streetview in Bosnia.

I'm planning a ride in this region and would like more information.