Transfagarasan, Romania in May
 

I've been reading about this road which I want to ride this summer on my bicycle as part of a London to Istanbul offensive I am planning.


I will arrive in Romania in May time and am hoping to ride over the transfagarasan. I know the road is closed officially often until early-July, but I am a keen bike-pusher... and the road only sits at around 2000m at the peak.


Does anyone have experience in the area, and is it likely I am going to be stopped by over zealous officials or stopped by the sheer amount of snow?


I have always found roads like these in the alps/Pyrenees a real pleasure to pedal down before the barriers are taken off and the road is officially opened!

Romania is not exactly the land of ordnung. If it says "the road is closed", it probably means "you can't get through, and we sure as hell aren't sending anyone in to rescue you".

It may not be incredibly high, but it's a continental climate and right in the middle of a mountain range. I was there with a car in September, and the weather was such that I would not have been surprised to still find snow at the top of the pass at that time. It's entirely possible that the road just won't be there in May.

Back in 2015, we deliberately delayed riding over the Carpathian Mountains - the Transalpina Pass [2,145 m - 7,037 ft] and the Transfagarasan Highway [2,042 m - 6,699 ft] in particular - until mid-June, the 16th & 17th of the month to be precise.

I'm glad we did, as even a week or two earlier might have proved very difficult indeed. There was still plenty of snow hanging around the summits during mid-June, despite the fact it was 'technically' nearly mid-summer, with the Solstice only a week away.

To see some pics I snapped at the time, then click-on this link and scroll about halfway down the page.

Had we attempted these high roads a whole month earlier - e.g. during mid-May - then it almost certainly would have been a non-starter.

Hi,

We were there last summer, may 23rd, and could not get through due to snow.
See the picture here: https://savonsurauttelijat.wordpress...3/bst-2017-d6/

It was almost no snow until that point around 1850m above sea level so we were optimistic but when we saw this it was evident we can't make it.

Sami

Lähetetty minun SM-G955F laitteesta Tapatalkilla

Looks like it might it be an interesting hike a bike/portage over the last few hundred meters of the pass weather dependent.

No portage - rather bring a shovel. Coming from the north (Sibiu) you won't even get near the tunnel. Coming from the south you'll get to the tunnel entrance, but that will be it.

Google some images, you'll see what your up against!

I did it a few years back, July I think, there was snow around but the road was clear.I think in may it might be a struggle but it really just depends on luck with the weather

Did it in 2014, first week of June.
Both Transalpina and Transfagarason were officially still closed but many ppl (cars + motorcycles) ignored that and did it anyway)
pdvsecondblog: Transfagarasan in pictures

There was still a whiff of snow at the top of TFGS, but it was do-able.

I would just go, and ask locally.
But be prepared to turn around if you hit real obstacles.
The whole area is Nice, so you will enjoy anyway.
But the Valley from Ramnicu Valcea to Sibiu can be a bit congested, even on early Mornings.

Edit: I notice you want to go London to Istanbul.
On that Balkan-part (Romania / Bulgaria), and especially if the weather (or forecast) for Carpatians is snow:
you might try to follow the Danube valley from Belgrade to Djerdap and cross into Romania.
Google: Iron Gates, a very nice ride, did it in 2017,
documented here : https://myadventure.bike/Trips/390 - you need to zoom in.

I read you like to "push the bike" but just in case you get tired:
the Bulgarian mountains are slightly lower (less snow) and have generally (much) better quality roads (Google : Freedom Arc, Shipka pass, Buzludzha, or further south: Rila, Bansko, Sandanski, Gotse Delchev, soo many nice places. If you find him you can even go visit Graham Field, he lives on a beautiful hillside down in Bg when he is not on the road)

Edit2:
I'll be in Borovets (S of Sofia) on 6-10June, and in Bucharest on 12June myself.
I might re-do some of those roads if time permits.
And there is a place called moto-camp just East of Veliko Tarnovo where HU had a rally once. Noteworthy and Recommended.