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Photo by George Guille, It's going to be a long 300km... Bolivian Amazon

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by George Guille
It's going to be a long 300km...
Bolivian Amazon



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  #1  
Old 2 Apr 2014
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Romania.
Hello everybody!

This coming summer its time again for a new bike trip, this time it will be Romania. First time in Romania, will be going down from Sweden through Poland, Slovakia, hungary and then enter Romania and heading for the coast. Any POI thats its a must in Romania, dont really know so much about the country, yet.
How is the road condition, im driving a BMW r1100rt..

Cheers
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  #2  
Old 3 Apr 2014
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Hi,
Roads are improving all the time - some of the back roads are interesting but perfectly accessible with an rt.
Places to visit - Maramures in the north - include Sapanta (the merry cemetery). Saxon Transylvania - Sighisoara and the Saxon Villages (Viscri), Brasov ( I live just outside) , Trans Fagarasian Highway , Trans Alpina
Castles - Corvina Castle (Huneadoara - used in lots of movies), the real Dracula/Vlad castle - Cetatea Poenari on south of transfag (1480 steps up to it!) , Bran ( not anything to do with Dracula - but ok - in fact the guides are having english lessons in my kitchen at this moment!).
The Black sea coast in Romania is actually crap...

Hope that is useful ....

Gavin
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  #3  
Old 3 Apr 2014
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Have a look at this post that I wrote about a trip I made through Romania a few years ago, it might answer some of your questions.

Notes from a September 2011 ride through Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, and Greece

It's generally a pleasant country. Just keep your wits about you in the larger cities, that's all.
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  #4  
Old 5 Apr 2014
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Thanks for the info.
How is the saftey for the bikes? is it necessery to have saftey parking during the nigths?
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  #5  
Old 5 Apr 2014
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Safety - as with anywhere - it is always good to ensure your bike is safe. Most small guesthouses have courtyards - so simply park in there. Hotels have guarded parking.
Heard more bad tales for Hungary and Poland than Romania. In Hungary - BIKERCAMP Camping in the center of BUDAPEST. - close to centre of Budapest. Magyar Route 66 stayed here once - entertaining night as the Hungarian women's bike club turned up ! Fun in the pool with a bunch of scary ladies!
For Romania - when you have a rough plan of a route - give me a shout and can recommend a few places. Though these days Booking.com is pretty good for finding cheap hotels.
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  #6  
Old 6 Apr 2014
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Absolutley, will do that Gavin when i got the rough plan.
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  #7  
Old 10 Apr 2014
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pontnus View Post
How is the safety for the bikes? is it necessary to have safety parking during the nights?
I stayed at hotels all the time. My choice of hotels varies all the way from little guest-houses in small towns to 5 star palaces in the big cities. I was satisfied to just park the bike on the hotel property, usually close to the front door of the hotel. At smaller places, I'd park it around back, out of sight of the main roadway.

I paid attention to where I parked the bike - in other words, I took a few moments to think carefully about where the safest parking spot would be, and often asked permission to park it near the front door - but beyond doing that, I didn't worry too much.

Michael
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  #8  
Old 10 Apr 2014
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PanEuropean View Post
I stayed at hotels all the time. My choice of hotels varies all the way from little guest-houses in small towns to 5 star palaces in the big cities. I was satisfied to just park the bike on the hotel property, usually close to the front door of the hotel. At smaller places, I'd park it around back, out of sight of the main roadway.

I paid attention to where I parked the bike - in other words, I took a few moments to think carefully about where the safest parking spot would be, and often asked permission to park it near the front door - but beyond doing that, I didn't worry too much.

Michael
A little care - don't be paranoid - its not the UK!
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Old 27 Jul 2014
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Ok.
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  #10  
Old 27 Jul 2014
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Having just come back from Romania I can say that the transfergarian pass isn't that good to be honest , nice scenery but the road surface is very poor - personally I wouldn't waste my time . Sibiu was fantastic as was cluj . The a driving is very dangerous to say the least , they overtake at high speed on blind bends and don't care what's in the way , this includes the lorry drivers . Most hotels have secure parking , so use that . The police generally put the radar at the entrance to towns / villages , didn't see any on the main roads . Fuel is cheap , about a pound a litre . Beautiful country and nice people - enjoy but beware the drivers
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Old 27 Jul 2014
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Thanks for that Chris. I'm on my way to Romania at the moment. Should be there in a week. Will go slow and let all the idiots overtake. I'm in no rush! sorry to hear the Transfag... wasn't good. guess I'll have to do it anyway but I'm more interested in just exploring he place.
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  #12  
Old 27 Jul 2014
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Originally Posted by chris gale View Post
Having just come back from Romania I can say that the transfergarian pass isn't that good to be honest , nice scenery but the road surface is very poor - personally I wouldn't waste my time . Sibiu was fantastic as was cluj . The a driving is very dangerous to say the least , they overtake at high speed on blind bends and don't care what's in the way , this includes the lorry drivers . Most hotels have secure parking , so use that . The police generally put the radar at the entrance to towns / villages , didn't see any on the main roads . Fuel is cheap , about a pound a litre . Beautiful country and nice people - enjoy but beware the drivers
Depends on what your on, the road surface isn't that bad.
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Old 28 Jul 2014
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Saying the surface of the Transfagarasan isn't good is completely subjective. I have seen bigger potholes and shittier roads in Ohio... I just drove the Transfagarasan Saturday in my car on my way to Sibiu. The conditions were ok, and I can't wait to get there on my V-Strom next week.

I have heard from locals the Transalpina isn't so nice. It's supposedly maintained by a private company that ran out of money. I saw a video online with rocks, landslides and boulders strewn across the road. I heard the Transbucegi is more enjoyable, there are some nice videos on YouTube.

The driving style in Romania is hectic to outsiders and first timers. However, it's chaotic in a very predictable way. I feel safer here than in the states where most drivers are on autopilot while texting on their phone.

Just pay attention to your surroundings, as you should anywhere in this world! Romania is safe and free of violent crime. Your bike will be safe. What I like here is that no one says anything about riding your bike through the pedestrian areas to park in the old center of Bucharest. I can sit at an outdoor terasa close to my bike and enjoy my (lemonade).
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  #14  
Old 30 Jul 2014
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Drove the Transfagarasan today, well worth doing IMO it's an experience and driving in Romania is far easier than many other places.
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  #15  
Old 1 Aug 2014
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this might be a good place to start

Le tour de la ROUMANIE

I did the transfag a couple of years ago in a tranny van supporting a group of bikers, the southern end is a really bad surface, but it becomes much better.

we also did the Stelvio and numerous other Alpine passes on the way, but everyone agreed, the transfag was the best. Stelvio is crap for bikes, too tight on the turns. transfag has wonderful sweeping curves



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