Cycling Destination

Why not something completly different - Albania....

I grew up there and left in my 20s - didnt cycle then, but got into cycling while in UK. I few years ago a took a bike back there (which leave there) and go out there about 2-3 times a year...

In the north (Shkoder) you can cycle to the Alps, the lake, the beach or go into montenegro.... roads are quiter and there is lots to see...

South is great too - but havent done it yet.

Best time to visit mid-October or late April - temperatures are around 20 and some of the roads are virtually traffic free.

Also, food is great and very inexpensive...

Highly recomended...

+1 for Rothenburg - though I would prefer to stay somewhere near it rather than in it, it is a very touristy town. Dinkelsbuehl might be better.

Other area in Germany I would consider is the Mosel valley, the valley itself should tick most of the boxes and there's good climbing in the Eifel and Hunsrueck.

I can't answer this question at all (unless you're looking at a trip to New Zealand, which probably isn't at the top of the list for cycling destinations) but I'm dead keen to hear your thoughts on Girona – my wife and I are looking at heading there for a month or so in September. Would you recommend it?

Cheers,

Stephen

Agreed on the Ariege. Stunning peaks, valleys, rivers and woodland. Plenty of beautiful cols around 1500m packed into a small area, and rolling roads in the foothills if you don't feel like climbing everyday. Plus the tour comes to this region pretty much every year. Last climb on stage 13 this year is the col de Peguere, which is one of the hardest stretches of road in the Pyrenees . If you want to explore further we stayed near St Girons and the Hautes Pyrenees are a 50 minute drive, or include some of the giant climbs (Peyresourde, Port de Bales) in a 160k loop 

Foix in the Ariege, France is great.

Not the high Pyrenees of TdF fame but plenty of 1000m+ mostly empty roads. I spent a week there one June. Could easily have spent three or four weeks there and not get bored. It sits right on the cusp of the Pyrenees. Lots of mountains south, east and west but lovely rolling countryside starting 10 miles to the north. Foix has everything you need too; train station connecting to Toulouse, loads of restaurants, shops, cafes, various castles and monastries etc to look around. Would go back in a shot. 

Somewhere near Mont Blanc - St Gervais les Bains, Megeve, Morzine etc.

If you are prepared to go a bit further afield, somewhere in the Dolomites.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber:

http://cycleseven.org/cycling-around-rothenburg-ob-der-tauber