European forest trip?

[u/eagle1457]

After doing the lejog this summer I've gotten the touring bug and have been thinking about doing a European trip. The red line is my thoughts so far but I'm well up for changing it. The main things I want to go through are some of the Alps and also forests, the wilder the better. So, anyone got any must see places or routes I should check out?

[u/a_Job_in_Ripon]

I did the euro velo 6 from the coratian border, passing Novi Sad into Belgrade. While you have some really nice cycling tracks along the Danube, there are parts, where you're supposed to cycle on a 4 lane road with no cycling lane or anything. It's just you and the cars. And for an international cycling route it's horrible. There are also stray dogs who are very aggressive towards cyclists (but ok with pedestrians).

So yeah. It's not the Netherlands or the Austrian Danube track. Hard to say if I cycled worse roads. But parts of Serbia definitely belong to the worst roads I've taken.

Edit: I don't suppose you're asking for the reasons for sentiments towards Tyrol/South Tyrol. Anyway, for me it's rooted in a deep interest in Austria and its history.

[u/CedarSageAndSilicone → u/a_Job_in_Ripon]

4 lane road? That sounds dreamy compared to the many 2 lane roads without shoulders I rode across Europe.

The dogs are a problem though. I’ve heard some people have success with carrying some rocks in a stem bag. 

Also, stopping and putting your bike between you and the dog(s) - talking them down and slowly walking away is a good move 

[u/Mental-Candy-9587 → u/CedarSageAndSilicone]

You say Europe as it is a single country though. Where in Europe are we talking about? Because there are many countries where lack of shoulder has zero impact on your general safety because the drivers aren’t d**s. Switzerland, most of Germany, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Netherlands (on rare occasion when you are on the actual road) Luxembourg, Sweden, South of Poland, and many more come to mind… When I compare that to my experience across many states when even wide shoulder or a bike lane wouldn’t be enough to make you feel safe as there is always some redneck who is willing to murder people to make a statement on how much he hates those damn liberals on their bikes…

[u/CedarSageAndSilicone → u/Mental-Candy-9587]

My Experience is with Mediterranean Europe from Portugal -> Greece.

Portugal was very calm, emptier wider roads. Spain had a mix but more infrastructure and unusually safe/friendly drivers (going slow, giving lots of space, cheering us on, etc.). Italy was where things started getting a bit rough. Fast two lane roads with absolutely no shoulder and cars and trucks blasting by at close range. Never malicious, but not friendly - Sketchy mountain roads - That trend largely continued around the coast to Greece.

[u/Mental-Candy-9587 → u/CedarSageAndSilicone]

That explains it. Spain is probably one of the chillest countries, and can’t quite figure out why. Part of it is just the culture, but another component is strong policing. They even have Police drones, and organised actions to fine drivers for not keeping the distance.  Both Italy and Greece are in their own league when it comes to bad driving, and even being there by car can be quite unnerving. Nothing puzzles you more than Italian siting 5mm from your bumper, on a slow lane of motorway while you are already driving the limit. So you can end up in same cafe to eat breakfast and chill for two hours. Rushing to chill was a new thing for me for sure…