Bicycling Europe-2018

Via Claudia Augusta

Via Claudia Augusta is a 700 kilometer cycling route from the Danube River in Germany, south through the alps to Ostiglia, Italy.

The route is largely based on the course of the historic Via Claudia Augusta , a Roman road that the Roman Emperor Augustus had built from around 15 BC. Wikipedia

We had been cycling from Slovenia to Romania. from June through early August. Now, we had a full 90 days left to cycle in the Shengen countries before going home. We planned a route following the beautiful designated bike route from the Danube River to Italy called Via Claudia Augusta. We found a bus that took Romanian workers to Germany and got a ride directly to Augsburg, Germany. We started riding August 23 and arrived in Verona September 10.

Via Claudia Augusta ends in Ostiglia or in Venice, Italy.

Our intention was to continue riding south to the Mediteranean Sea. 

There was no particular route to guide us there so we plotted our way using Komoot.

Augsburg to Denklingen via Landsberg am Lech-Germany

We began our tour down the Via Claudia Augusta in Augsburg, Germany. Since we arrived there from Romania at 3am, we were unable to find a place to lay our head down for some sleep, so we got a warm breakfast at a gas station and started riding.

We rode fully loaded with camping gear and warm clothing for possible cold weather in the mountains.

Anne rides an Azub TriCon trike made in the Czech Republic.

Mike rides a Safari sold by REI. 

We electrified both bikes with Bafang BBS02 motors and 500 watt batteries we purchased from China. We each carried two batteries. The Via Claudia starts out in rolling country but there will be plety of big climbs over passes in our future. We decided to electrify so we could keep riding in the mountain. On this trip, Mike is  77 and Anne is 74. We first switched to electric in 2015 and have gone through a few different systems since the first time. We are exceedingly happy with Bafang.

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Denklingen to Fussen on Forggensee, Germany

This is a spectacular day. The alps are looming up in front of us as we meander through rolling hills of Bavaria.

The paths are far removed from roads with traffic.

It is stunning.

Forggensee is a big, beautiful lake with plentiful camping grounds.

What a perfect combination.

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Seewang Forggensee to Schwangau, Germany

Don’t leave this area too fast.

It is filled with lakes, mountains and rolling countryside.

We took a short ride to a nearby lake called Schwangau and camped there for a night.

Splendid experience.

Fussen to Ehrwald, Germany

Heading south from Schwanganau, we head towards Austria

So far, we have been riding small roads and bike paths.

The ride to Ehrwald is truely beautiful.

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Ehrwald to Landeck, crossing Fern Pass to Austria

 To cross Fern Pass, the route follows the main road which is narrow and busy with traffic.

Guide books suggest not riding this section by taking a shuttle or riding the mountain bike route across the pass.

The reputation of the mountain bike route dictated we take the schuttle. Anne’s trike could not navigate through the narrow, steep track.

Seek out current information about the shuttle for Fern Pass  before you go south from Forggensee. Where it starts and ends, reservations etc seem to change frequently as it is not a particularly profitable business.

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Landeck to Nauders, Austria

A rainy day but filled beautiful scenery and excellent, dedicated bike paths.

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Nauders to Schlanders

Over Reschen Pass to Italy

This is a fun day.

Reschen Pass is a perfect climb, not too long, not too steep.

On this day, we cycled with many other cyclists, mostly all day riders, along with one French lady and her 3 children carrying heavy luggage.

After the pass, the route follows along the shore of the beautiful Reschen am See.

After a long descent, we come to the junction to the infamous Stelvio Pass.

Also, on this day, be sure to visit the Medieval towns of Glurns and Laas. 

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Glurns, Italy

Schlanders to Bozen via Merano

This is a big downhill day all the way to Merano on a beautiful paved, dedicated bike path.

The path makes a final, steep, winding, dramatic descent to the valley bottom and Merano.

Once past Merano, a downhill course follows a wider valley surrounded by mountains.

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Bozen to Trento

This is a magical day riding on beautiful dedicated path through stunning mountain scenery.

Excuse the video meandering too high at times as I never can see what I am filming!

There are rest stops and restaurants along the route that service the bike path. 

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Trento is definitely worth visiting.

Trento to Torbole on Lake Guarda

We continued south from Trento on the via Claudia Augusta towards Verona but left the designated track after Ravazzone and took a small, regular road to Lake Guarda.

The scenery around Lake Guarda is superb.

There are plentiful day rides in the area and many more routes from there through the mountains of Italy.

We wanted to explore so much more, but it was late fall and the mountain weather was getting colder and less stable.

So, after a few days in Torbole, at the north end of the lake, we took the Guarda Lake ferry part of the way south to avoid tunnels.

Then, we rode the rest of the way to Verona.

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Day ride from Torbole

Torbole to Lazise, Italy 

We rode the ferry from Torbole to Maicesine because other cyclists had said the road was narrow through tunnels and carried heavy traffic. The ferry ride was a highlight.

After Maicesine, we rode to Lasize. Thtraffic was not an issue and the charming Italian towns called for frequent stops.

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Maicesine to Lazise

Lazise to Verona, Italy

We really did not know the best route to get from Lake Guarda to Verona, so we just picked one.

We left the Lake at Lazise and just followed our noses.

We did not have any bike paths.

We just rode with the traffic although it was not really bad.

It was only 15 miles.

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Verona is the prize after a short ride. We spent five days exploring Verona.

The campground was on the top of a hill on the castle grounds. We took a funicular to the top but one can also ride there.

Don’t forget to visit the amazing Roman Coliseum in Verona. They have live performances there.

 Verona to the Mediterranean

It is 159 miles from Verona to La Spezia on the Mediterranean Sea.

Other than the Po Valley route, we used public roads.

We created a route through Parma and then through the chain of mountains to the Sea. There are places to camp but best to locate them as they are far apart.

The Po River valley is flat as a pancake and quite boring for us, so we quickly changed direction and headed for Parma. South of Parma, the mountains created challenging climbs. The final descent into La Spezia was thrilling.

Recommend avoiding La Spezia and heading directly for the scenic route along the coast called Cinque Terre.

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