Airport Road

[Keith]

Hi all,

Went along the Airport road last week and there were delays due to the road being resurfaced in places, does anyone know if this is finished yet, if not a timescale when it is due to be finished.

It is my normal cycle route to get towards the Troodos from Peyia I do twice a week and greatly missing that route.

Thanks, Keith

[LouiseCastricum]

I used this road Wednesday at around 5pm and it looked finished (no white lines though).

[Robert]

Hi all,

Went along the Airport road last week and there were delays due to the road being resurfaced in places, does anyone know if this is finished yet, if not a timescale when it is due to be finished.

It is my normal cycle route to get towards the Troodos from Peyia I do twice a week and greatly missing that route.

Thanks, Keith

One of the first things I want to do when I soon find myself in Cyprus is get myself back in the saddle. If I could be so cheeky to ask you a couple of questions:
- From what I've seen of the Cyprus landscape I'm thinking a Cyclocross type bike might be my best bet. Less punctures and some ability to go off road/on poor roads. Are you doing your Peyia to Troodos on a road bike or are you using something else?
- Are you a member of a cycling club or are you doing your riding solo?

[Keith]

Thanks Louise.

Hi Robert, I am on a road bike, I also bought a mountain bike for the trails but never used it so sold it on.
You will find a lot of riders use the road over here now, four years ago hardly saw anyone on the road, these days lots of cyclist even going up and down on Timetrial bikes and vet expensive top of the range bikes.

I go out on my own at the minute, when we came over for good in April I met some British and Cypriot cyclists and went out with them a couple of times, loved every minute of it but then they changed the times they went out to 6:00am or even earlier, now I am retired I don't want to be doing early get ups anymore so rode myself in the heat of the day (afternoons).
They should start going out later again soon so can't wait.
There are cycling clubs in the Paphos area but the guy's I go with are not in them now.
I used to race in the UK and was quite good, now got a heart complaint so can't really give 100% but still give it close to it
The guys over here or the ones I went out with are very fit and a very good standard.

I would suggest a road bike but of course then you can't go off road but then if you get a cross bike, then more likely or not you will not be able to keep up with the road bikes.
One of the Cypriot guy's I know is manager of a bike shop and sells top notch bikes, he is also a top bike mechanic.
I bought my bike off him in April and ride a carbon Cipollini Bond.

Where are you going to be based Paphos area or elsewhere?
How old are you and what kind of standard?
If Paphos area we could maybe meet up either for a ride or I could show you the bike shop?

Keith

[Dominic]

If you post the bike shop details I can add it to the directory.

Regarding off-roading, we do occasionally see people mountain biking in the Akamas, and if you are good at it there would certainly be ample opportunity. Outside the Akamas, there are a multitude of tracks and trails criss-crossing the landscape. If you can cope with the hills and the dust you should have a whale of a time. You should also acquaint yourself with the E4 walking route.

[Robert]

Hi Keith, many thanks for the detailed reply. You make a good point about not being able to keep up with road bikes.

Our base is yet to be finally confirmed. We've narrowed it down to Peyia, Tala or somewhere near Polis (we have a soft spot for Argaka). Peyia/Tala very different to Polis/Argaka and we're still not sure exactly which differences we want to prioritise. One of the Polis/Argaka reasons was for cycling reasons as we thought the roads were far less busy making that area a little safer if I rode towards Kato Pyrgos. Fabulous scenery either along the coast and as you climb through the forest. Thought both would give us good access to the Akamas where I though a Cyclocross bike might just about stand up (was thinking about one multi-purpose bike rather than a road and mountain).

I'll be 45 when I "retire" to Cyprus. My standard when I land will be poor. I've had 10 years of brutal hard work with lots of long days/weekends and need to firstly get myself back in shape. I plan to sort my fitness quickly so hopefully in 6 months or so I might be at a reasonable standard. It will be my 100% focus initially. Once I'm not embarrassing myself it would be fantastic to meet up for a ride? If I can't keep up then you or your fellow cyclists you might at least be able to point me to somebody/a group more my standard.

I will need to get a good bike when I land. I was actually initially thinking of something like a Cannondale CAADX but your comments require a rethink I think. Thanks for sharing what you're on. Would you be able to maybe share the bike shop name with me? Dominic has said it's ok to post the details or could you PM me?

[Keith]

Hi both,

The details of the bike shop .

It's called DIKYKLO
and is run by Costas
The address is:- 23, Alexandrou Ypsilanti Str.,
8020 Paphos.

Robert,
This is hard to believe but true.

We bought our house ten years ago and was also looking at Argaka, we now live in Peyia and plan another eight to ten years here then thinking of moving over to the Polis area ourselves.

Myself, I am 58 and retired last year, and as said moved over here April this year.

When you get fit you will have to let me know and we can deffo meet up even if it's only for an easy ride every now and then or a full blown on the rivet effort.

Hope the info helps.
Keith

[Robert]

...
Robert,
This is hard to believe but true.

We bought our house ten years ago and was also looking at Argaka, we now live in Peyia and plan another eight to ten years here then thinking of moving over to the Polis area ourselves.

Myself, I am 58 and retired last year, and as said moved over here April this year.

When you get fit you will have to let me know and we can deffo meet up even if it's only for an easy ride every now and then or a full blown on the rivet effort.

Hope the info helps.
Keith

Many thanks for the contact details Keith.
Also will be sure to reach out once I have a few kilos off and a decent bit of pace.
Interesting that you chose Peyia over the Polis area yet are thinking of eventually heading there. What swayed it for you at the time you made the decision?

[PaphosAL]

Good replies, Keith! Do you wear a safety helmet when out riding?

If yes, consider getting a cheap(ish) HD helmet cam and going viral on YouTube with some of your AV footage cycling around Paphos! Would be amazing to see (and hear)... AL

[Keith]

Long story that Robert, quick reply we put a deposit down on a house in Peyia before we came over, liked what we had and stuck with it.
Polis later in life due to flatter roads so can carry on when I am 100 years old

Al, too much weight on that for me, lightweight bike then adding more weight elsewhere doesn't make sense to me.
Never used an helmet in 30 years of cycling, every time I used one I got a headache probably due to the weight of it, came over here And bought expensive lightweight one and use all the time now.
I did use one when I was timetrialing back from n the U.K. but that was carbon fibre and for aerodynamics only.

Keith

[Robert]

Long story that Robert, quick reply we put a deposit down on a house in Peyia before we came over, liked what we had and stuck with it.
Polis later in life due to flatter roads so can carry on when I am 100 years old
...

Sounds like a good reason to me although once you make it past Pomos on the way to Kato Pyrgos it still seems pretty hilly to somebody currently living in the South East of England. For that matter once you make it a few miles out of Polis on the way to Peyia it also seems to get hilly real quick.

[Poppy]

As there are a few experienced cyclists on this thread can I please ask your advice/opinion?
I now live in Northumberland in a small ex mining vllage about 3 miles from the Coast. It is an extremely popular tourist area and very popular with cyclists.There are many cycle paths along the coastal route but many cyclists seem to prefer to cycle on our very windy country lanes. It can often be when I am driving from the Coast to my house that I meet a few of these cyclists and am unable to overtake them because of the dangerous bends. Not one of them will ever pull over to let you pass and ocasionally, like today I was stuck behind two for a couple of miles. Not funny when you are not even doing 15 miles per hour!
What is the etiquette and would you have pulled over? I have to say that we also often can get stuck behind tractors but they invariably pull over into the nearest gateway.

[PaphosAL]

I think you'll find that cyclists in the UK think that they own the roads, pavements and footpaths, Poppy. Not to mention their appointed Cycle Lanes (which costs the local council a great deal of money to implement)

Their annual input into their chosen travel scheme (and our national infrastructure for them)? Sweet FA... It's about time we had a £20 PA cyclist tax methinks, with a clear plate on the back for the Old Bill to read from their smart cams...

Some idiot cyclists are even taking out pedestrians (as in killing them), to the extent that HMG is currently inventing new laws for this offence!

[Dominic]

They are nothing compared to the idiotic car drivers.

The fact is though, that being an idiot is not a barrier to driving or cycling. But you shouldn't try and label all cyclists, or drivers, as the same. They aren't.

[Keith]

If I ever rode with another person and a car came from behind we would single out and let them pass.
Cyclists really pee me off doing what you said BUT HAVING SAID THAT READ YOUR HIGHWAY CODE, as a cyclist you CAN ride two abreast by law.
In Cyprus I was horrified to find that there is no such thing as a red light, I literally wet myself with some of these guy's going through red lights but if that's what happens in Cyprus so be it and I will do the same.

Al, don't even go on about tax, that really gets my goat, you have cars now that are tax free.
I have two cars I pay tax on, so no way am I starting paying tax on my bicycle.
The idiots you see driving round with their mobile stuck to their ear really really gets my goat, some are young women with kids in the back, are they thick or what.
When it comes down to it, even though I am 58 I am still someone's son and my mother would be devastated if I was killed by some muppet texting on a phone while passing me and not seeing me because of what they were doing.

Keith

[Anarita John]

I haven't been out on my bike yet in Cyprus, but I have bought some hi vis clothing for when I do. I only intend to use quiet roads and first will explore the numerous tracks around Mandria. I want to see if I can find a way of cycling to the harbour without going on the main road, by using the tracks and footpath. Heard a story about a cyclist who was turning right off the airport road in Mandria, and an old guy in a pick up truck ran into him as he was waiting to turn. Also concerned about the number of motorists who are distracted by using their mobiles etc and who do not watch the road.
However, as a car driver I have noticed that the contrast in light conditions can make it difficult to spot cyclists. We were returning from Lady's Mile. Going through the forest at Fassouri, it was very difficult to spot cyclists. One guy had a cycling top which was dark at the back and bright green at the front. I only spotted him at the last minute because a second earlier I had been driving in bright sunshine and now in the low light of the forest. When I looked in my mirror, his bright green top really showed up.

[Keith]

John, I always wear bright colours.

One thing I must say is I have ridden for thirty years in the U.K. and although only lived in Cyprus 6 months I have ridden my bike over here 6 weeks a year for the last ten years.
I ride in all that time UK and Cyprus 6 days a week (it used to be 7) and I feel far safer over here in Cyprus than the U.K.
Yes, they are on their phones in Cyprus but although there are fines in the U.K. they still use them.
Never been abused over here or someone lean out of the window of a car and try and knock you off, or even throw stuff at you from the window (one was a stone) or spit at you, in the UK It was a common occurrence.
I find over here when someone pips you, it's to let you know they are there and coming passed, in the UK it's to get your attention to give you the two finger salute or hurl abuse as they go past.

I know where I would definitely want to ride, and when I do my long rides I have to go on the Tomb of the Kings road (dual carriageway) twice a week.
Probably doesn't bother me because I used to race on them, but I hope you get where I am coming from.

Be safe and be seen and enjoy, I just love riding the bike over here.

Keith

[Kili01]

I don't like cyclists who ride bikes at night. The one which I nearly hit was cycling in the dark on a poorly lit road. The bike had no lights and the only readon that I saw him at the last minure was that he had a red reflector on the back wheel. He was dark haired and wearing black or dark clothes. Seemed like a recipe for disaster when a cyclist makes no effort to see and be seen.
My first reaction was shock at nearly hitting him, my second was a feeling of anger that he had not got any safety equipment, such as reflective clothing and bike lights.

Dee

[Anarita John]

I have been out on my bike here in Wales this afternoon. Cycled from our house to Point of Ayr and then on to Mostyn, and back to Prestatyn where Rosemary picked me up. Did 33 miles but the wind was blowing me in the right direction. We are back in Cyprus in three weeks, so I would like to get the whole of Cycle Route 5, from Chester to Bangor done. In August I walked all of this route. New bits seem to be getting added. A few years ago, when I cycled as far as Prestatyn, it was then road to Mostyn, but now you can cycle a direct route through the golf links and Presthaven Sands Caravan site to Talacre. There is now a really long stretch of around 22 miles where you are on paths or very quiet roads.
I am really looking forward to going out on my new mountain bike in Cyprus and discovering traffic free or quiet routes.
I thought it was bad in Wales for people to be anti cycling. Most people here are quite good with cyclists. I did have a DHL van drive on my tail and he hooted his horn continuously for me to get out of his way on a very narrow land. Also two women with dogs on long leads who insisted that the prom, which had just been renovated and resurfaced, was no longer a cycle track and I had to use the road.

[Yioula]

Some friends come to Cyprus and bring their bikes with them, so far it’s been the eastern side but they have cycled up to Troodos, they love it here.
Anarita John........can you now cycle from Penrhyn Bay to Talacre on the coast on a cycle path?......long time since I cycled on the prom from Old Colwyn to Penrhyn Bay.....