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"Rough Guide" to Bike Routes "Rough Guide" to Bike Routes
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Europe Topics specific to Western and Eastern Europe, from UK to the Russian border, and south-east to Turkey.
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  #1  
Old 15 Oct 2002
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"Rough Guide" to Bike Routes
I have been travelling Europe on my BMW for just over a year and have realised that there is no dedicated travel book for touring. So, I was wondering if anyone would like to start a project to develop some long distance routes and document the sights and sounds. Where to stay, what routes are the best, who to contact in emergencies. I was thinking of building the guides in a format similar to the Rough Guides, Footprint and Lonely Planet guides.

My first entry would be London to Northern Spain as an entry style tour (my first tour after passing my test) but would be looking for contributors for other routes.

If any one is interested in helping me out then email me.


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[This message has been edited by kholmes1 (edited 21 October 2002).]

[This message has been edited by kholmes1 (edited 21 October 2002).]
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  #2  
Old 18 Oct 2002
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There are quite a few books on the subject.
What is it about the ones that are available that you miss?

For just the Alpine region you can visit
www.alpineroads.com

Tim.
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  #3  
Old 18 Oct 2002
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I agree that there are websites out there detailing journeys and great bits of road, but I'm really looking at producing a printed copy. Something you can actually take on the road and use as a reference guide 'a la' Rough Guide. I have not found anything like this and believe me I have tried.
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  #4  
Old 21 Oct 2002
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wassaname, John Herman's book is ok. Not that I've actually used it much - I use it occasionally for reference.
What sort of thing are you looking for that you can't find in a book?
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  #5  
Old 21 Oct 2002
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Why do you limit it ,only to Europe?
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  #6  
Old 22 Oct 2002
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Europe is a good start. Anything bigger and you've got yourself a pretty big book.
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  #7  
Old 22 Oct 2002
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I'll be riding Europe a fair bit next year, from London to Spain and back, London to Italy about three times as well as a couple of trips to Germany and a trip to France.

I'd love to know some routes that didn't involve the boredom of motorways!

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  #8  
Old 23 Oct 2002
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->kholmes,
To get something in book form is pretty difficult I'd imagine. You'd need to find a publisher etc. Something that, I think only a few people /if any) are willing to do, especially in their spare time. I think it's something that needs to be done either as a group or by someone doing it as their full-time job, more or less.


->rob,
The best way is to get a map and spend an hour pouring over that, looking for the twisty bits on the way you have to go. If you're going to Italy from the UK, then you've got two main options: 1) cut through France and maybe take in the Massif Central if you have time and get over the Alps south of Geneva anywhere, or 2) go via Germany - maybe the Black Forest and across the Alps at Austria or Switzerland. I can suggest: www.alpineroads.com for ideas for getting over the Alps. (shameless plug)
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Old 23 Oct 2002
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Hi there!

I don't know about the English boostores, but there's plenty of stuff in German around here - a new books coming up "From Skandinavia to southern France"...

Anyway - maybe it would be enough to speak to the publishers to translate it - travel books for regions in Europe are VERY popular in Germany and some people kind of go nuts in trying all the good roads - the "Denzel" for the Alps is a good example including some good gravel-roads - the book is well organized, updated every year and a good source - I don't know if you can get it in English, but it'll be a good thing to polish your German if you want ;-)

Anyhow - it'll be easier to find a publisher to translate an existing book, than to do a new one...

The "Denzel" is for the whole Alps - France, Germany, Austria and Italy...

There are different others who describe big regions for motorbiking either...
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Old 24 Oct 2002
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I find the Denzel books just too detailed. I bought one years ago when I did my first trip in the Alps. I don't really want to know the maximum and minimum widths of the hairpins... ;-)
Still they have enough details rather than too little.
kholmes1 (Ken, Kevin kieran, Keith?), getting the publishers to translate one might be a good idea, actually. As onlycookie says, there are loads in German, and the 3 or 4 touring magazines always have articles.

If you are serious about doing one yourself, I'll gladly help with any info I can find in the alps /austria/n Italy/s Germany areas.
Tim.




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  #11  
Old 25 Oct 2002
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I'm (with some friends) working on a guide that will report the Dirt roads of Italy Alps , starting from Liguria and ending at Adriatic .. We've envisioned a "catalog" format, with sheets that may be removed (e.g. to be put on reservoir panner..) with a map of the tour, photos and description and also infos about places to stay, to eat and useful address (Mechanics, Gas stations & tyres , ATM ..)
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