The Mrs and I are driving to the Northern Italian Lakes in June. We'll be taking our time, stopping off here and there on the way. Suggestions on where to stop welcome, we'll be going via Amsterdam and then probably follow the German Castles route.
I've got permission to bring one bike (in an attempt to control my inner Tigger - I wake early and need to do something, the Mrs likes to sleep).
Any thoughts on which bike to take? The gravel bike would give me the most options, i.e. road and off road exploring (e.g. forests in the Italian Lakes region). I fancy doing the odd classic road climb if there's chance - gravel not the ideal bike for this but I could get by.
Anything I'm overlooking?
I would 100% take my gravel bike for this kind of trip to not limit myself to the road.
European cycle paths are ace and you'll find some nice gravel forest climbs.
You might be slower and find an alpine climb tougher but you'll still get up it.
Remember to pack lights for any tunnels.
Gravel + set of proper slicks for classic roady climbs.
Gravel. The fact you may be a couple of mph slower on road matters not when you open up all the off road options.
Another vote for the gravel bike from me.
+1 gravel. Perhaps with slicks too.
Definitely gravel. Mine has a lower low gear and if the local low-traffic routes are a bit rough, so what? 🙂
Brilliant, thanks for the responses. Decision made.
Thanks also for the bike light tip, I would have probably overlooked that.
Gravel bike and a second set of road wheels for it if you have the room.
I would take a road bike, because I would be worried about access rights and restrictions of which I wasn't aware in other countries. And there's plenty of absolutely epic road in those areas.
I would take a road bike, because I would be worried about access rights and restrictions of which I wasn’t aware in other countries.
Fair point, but from experience on our six month roadtrip around Europe, where we road bikes on and off road in a LOT of countries, we never had any issues anywhere. England, as ever, is the crappy exception.