Cycling in Romania

naspa · Cycling in Romania

A company that does cycling holidays in the mountains of Romania.

I've used the company for my own holidays in the mountains and found them to be really good.

The homestays are something else. Great hospitality - although the offer of Plum Brandy at breakfast was a bit much.

http://www.greenmountainholidays.ro/indcycling.html

sabcarrera

Romania is a great and most civilised country. I haven't cycledthere but I would recommend it.

naspa

It's not for the faint hearted. My heart is firmly in Transylvania.

crash48

naspa

many people actually out cycling Romania?

I would have thought that you may have car free roads outside of the city with some good climbs-is this true?

naspa

In the countryside most people ride to get from A to B. The main roads tend to be very busy and pretty dangerous.

There are quite a few cars, plenty of tractors, horses and carts.

The biggest danger is the sheep dogs. Because there are wolves and bears in Romania the sheep dogs are especially vicious. Last time one tried to bite the car I was in.

Once you get off the main roads then you are away. I think that if I were going to ride in Romania I would take a guided tour or at least an organised tour because:

i) Nothing is signed in Romania.
ii) Repairs can be a hassle.
iii) The roads can be in very bad condition

mootaineer

Hey Naspa,

That's interesting about Romania. I've never even considered trying out a cycling trip there.

It also brings my childish side to life...wanting to find out about the Dracula legend (I've already done some research):
http://www.romaniatourism.com/dracula.html
Twisted Evil

The cycling holidays sound nice but looking at what's available all the others (hiking, adventure and donkey) look like a lot of fun too!
The photos are nice...and I suppose that summer is the best time to go?

Thanks for this link. I think I'll definitely go on one of these in the near future! Razz

naspa

It is ironic because most of the Dracula tourism is centred in Bran and there is no evidence that he was ever in Bran. The interesting city is Sighisoara which is where he was born.

I would suggest early or late summer as the best time to go because even in the mountains the temperature gets up to over 35.

The cities in Western Romania are certainly the nicest cities - Cluj, Timisoara.

bbnaz

Curious as to how your interest in Romania came about?

naspa

It is a professional interest.

bbnaz

Okay. Did this mean it developed as an adult or were you fascinated as a youth too?

Just curious as the place sounds interesting.

naspa

It was a professional choice between Hungary and Romania. Romania has an easier language to learn since I already speak French but the material is less physically accessible. Hungary the language is like nothing else on earth but the material I need can be accessed better. Since I am not a linguist I went for Romania.

So really I became a Romanianist by accident. I was more interested in my particular problematic rather than the place itself.

If the cards had been cast differently I might have been a Czechoslovak, Bulgarian or Yugoslav specialist.

sheeponabike

Amazingly, isn't there supposed to be a similarity between Hungarian and Danish?

And why is Romanian easier to learn if you speak French? A common latin base? Be interested to know.

naspa

Hungarian is Finno-Ugric in base - so it is close to Finnish and Estonian

Romanian has a latin base - so the essential structure is similar to French - with the occassional Slavic and Hungarian loan words.

tourmalet

pantanifan

This is more a motorcycling in Romania story, but makes me life whenever I think about it - once when we were on our way to visit the in-laws there (a journey of 10-12 hours) I witnessed a manure-carrying truck that had spilled it's load on the road. Cue one stylish Italian-registered motorbike rider, decked out neatly in all the leathers and probably on some kind of "wicked" machine - can you guess the rest? - slippery surface - oops!
I swear this is a true story and the sight of the motorcyclist covered from head to toe in shit will stay with me for a long time to come! Very Happy

mootaineer

naspa

Images of 'Romania' from a friend of mine in Cluj.

CapeRoadie

I LOVE Granny in the rollar blades! Great shots!

Agent Futura

CapeRoadie

And the Eagles got back together.

thunderthighs

romania is a very poor state..oh well..ciao

70kmph

Bran Castle