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Time for some best/worst lists for the Lille to Rome bike trip. Here is the best and worst thing* about bike touring in each of the countries.
*this reflects our limited exprience, which was very limited in a few cases, and may not be generally true.
*this reflects our limited exprience, which was very limited in a few cases, and may not be generally true.
Belgium
Best: Friteries and beer make for generally good biking food
Worst: At least on our route, the least scenic country of the trip (exception: Namur was really nice, might revisit)
Notes: Generally good biking, grey weather, must love canals and hills to bike in the south.
Best: Friteries and beer make for generally good biking food
Worst: At least on our route, the least scenic country of the trip (exception: Namur was really nice, might revisit)
Notes: Generally good biking, grey weather, must love canals and hills to bike in the south.
Luxembourg
Best: Bike routes were great - separated bike roads, good surfaces, not too hilly, scenic, well-marked.
Worst: Coronavirus outbreak there made us very cautious
Notes: We were only here for 2 days, but it was nice by bike. The city also had interesting things to see.
Best: Bike routes were great - separated bike roads, good surfaces, not too hilly, scenic, well-marked.
Worst: Coronavirus outbreak there made us very cautious
Notes: We were only here for 2 days, but it was nice by bike. The city also had interesting things to see.
Germany
Best: German bakeries are the best one-stop food source for bike touring I've ever seen
Worst: you gotta remember to follow the rules, many of which I don't know
Notes: we were only in Germany for 1 day on this trip, so I'm also borrowing from my trip there last year.
Best: German bakeries are the best one-stop food source for bike touring I've ever seen
Worst: you gotta remember to follow the rules, many of which I don't know
Notes: we were only in Germany for 1 day on this trip, so I'm also borrowing from my trip there last year.
France
Best: the system of canals with trails alongside are quite nice and well-developed (and flat!)
Worst: Outside of popular routes, the density can be quite low, making it hard to find food/camping/whatever
Notes: Except for canal trails, expect to be on low-traffic roads.
Best: the system of canals with trails alongside are quite nice and well-developed (and flat!)
Worst: Outside of popular routes, the density can be quite low, making it hard to find food/camping/whatever
Notes: Except for canal trails, expect to be on low-traffic roads.
Switzerland
Best: Infrastructure. Trails when possible, quality roads otherwise, good signage.
Worst: Everything costs 1.5 to 2X of France/Italy.
Notes: The hills are considerable, even with best efforts from engineers. The weather in the North was also quite bad for us.
Best: Infrastructure. Trails when possible, quality roads otherwise, good signage.
Worst: Everything costs 1.5 to 2X of France/Italy.
Notes: The hills are considerable, even with best efforts from engineers. The weather in the North was also quite bad for us.
Italy
Best: Availability of snacks - every little village has a bar/gelateria/bakery/cafe or some combination. Very convenient
Worst: Lack of camping, except in high-tourism areas
Notes: In Italy, you need to be comfortable with the let's-work-together-to-share-the-road driving
Best: Availability of snacks - every little village has a bar/gelateria/bakery/cafe or some combination. Very convenient
Worst: Lack of camping, except in high-tourism areas
Notes: In Italy, you need to be comfortable with the let's-work-together-to-share-the-road driving
