Cycling UK Forum

Hi,

Last year, I received some terrific feedback before my trip through Holland, north Germany and Denmark.
This year, I'm hoping for just a little bit of reassurance and maybe to draw on anyone's general experiences of cycling in Cyprus.
I know the island reasonably well, in the south at least, but have never cycled extensively there. The plan is to circuit the island mainly by the coast, which I realise will obviously be busier traffic-wise than the interior.

I'm told the motorways are obviously out-of-bounds but are always skirted by cyclable main roads. Can anyone offer any feedback on just what kind of traffic volume I will encounter and whether any areas of the coast are inadvisable. The sketchy plan is to go from Paphos to Larnaca to the Karpaz peninsula and then back via Kyrenia and Polis within a week. I've no great desire to tackle the Troodos climbs this year.

I've so far not managed to locate a bike hire firm offering touring-type or hybrid bikes, just mountain bikes. If there were any recommendations on this, that would also be very much appreciated.

Thanks in anticipation!
Alasdair

Have just returned from a week in Paphos,mostly spent cycling,but with the assistance of the very cheap local buses.
I took my Brompton folder with easyjet (in a bag as hold luggage) & the front bag as my 'carry on'.
I saw a couple of cycle shops in Paphos & Limasol hiring bikes,but they were not of very good quality.
The roads were fair,but with a few potholes.Most of the local motorists were quite accomodating.
Should probably have tried the Troudos area,where there is good network of cycle routes.
The Akama Peninsular to the west was also good,although better suited to walking.
The Cyprus Tourist Offices all have good small scale local maps & cycle info.
My Brompton created a lot of interest with locals.If I had charged a euro for every time that I demonstrated its fold,I would almost have paid for the trip!
This time of year is fairly quiet,but later in the summer will be very hot.

I cycled in the north last year on a bit of the coast and from Girne to Nicosia. Even on the busiest roads (and this was mid-July) the traffic wasn't anything to worry about. Enjoy!

Hi Alasdair

If you know the island reasonably well and intend to get to the Karpas via Larnarca then I assume you will use the border crossing at Pile? From there you can cut across to Gazimagusa (Famagusta) and take the coast road via Salamis up to Bogaz and into the Karpas. Do you intend to go all the way to the Apostolos Andreas Monastery at the Eastern tip of the island? This is a single track road, not sure whether it is now tarmac and you would need to retrace the same route part of the way before cutting across to Kantara Castle, well worth a visit, and picking up the coast road on the north that goes via Tatlisu and Esentepe to Girne (Kyrenia). West of Girne you can either follow the main road along the coast that then cuts inland to Gezelyurt (Morphou) or just past Karsiyaka take a small detour to the Sadrazmakoy peninsula. At Guzelyurt you have the choice of either crossing back to the south at Bostanci or continuing west via Lefke to the crossing between Yesilmak and Katopirgas. After Katopirgas there is a fairly long climb inland to skirt the Turkish enclave of Erenkoy. The road then drops down to Pasiammon and continues along to coast to Pomos.

It is worth bearing in mind that if you purchase maps of the island in the South all the villages are shown with their Greek names not the names they are given in the north which can be confusing. Traffic intensity away from the major towns is much less than the U.K. however Cypriot drivers on both sides of the island lack patience and are not "cyclist aware".

Thanks all three for the feedback. I managed to arrange a bike hire from Zephynos Adventure Sports in Paphos who were very helpful and seem reputable judging by good Tripadvisor reviews. Sadly, they could only offer a mountain bike, rather than a tourer or hybrid, but I decided to go with it as I'm not out to break any records. Hopefully, the thick tyres will at least offer extra protection on any tracks or poorer roads.

Bertieboy, yes, I'm probably missing out Agia Napa and crossing at Pile. The plan is a night at Pahpos and then early start for Larnaca. After one night there, I'm booked for two nights up on the north coast just beyond Yeni Erenkoy. That way, I can have a relaxed explore to the tip of the 'pan handle' on my rest day. Then I'm two nights in Kyrenia and then one in Polis before home.

Appreciate the wee tips about roads and parts of the route.
Any other feedback would be fantastic

All the best
Alasdair