An American en Corse

Just a note to say thanks for your help with my recent Corsica trip. I had an absolute blast out there a lot of it due to your downloadable routes and some research on Google Street view prior to riding - wow, what a place. I’ve ridden Sicily, Majorca and Sardinia but none come close to the cleanliness of the roads and hills and breath-taking scenery of Corsica - a captivating place. I especially loved the fact there was hardly any litter on the roadsides and the car drivers were cycle friendly – I didn’t get an impatient toot all week.
Some tips that might be worth adding to the routes and your awesome website in general: (Ed's notes)

• Easyjet now allows 4 x 16gm CO2 canisters on their flights. They’re best packed in hand luggage so the bike box makes it out there. It meant I didn't need to rush about finding a bike store when I arrived
• There is a great little map shop on Blvd Wilson in Calvi which has pocket size laminated bike maps with topography, elevations and roads marked
• The Calvi, Galeria D81 route is a great route but the D81b coastal road is so badly damaged in some parts that it’s worse than riding cobbles. Still a nice loop though (Still passable with care and worth it for the views)
• I couldn’t see on Street View  whether I could ride from Calvi/Bonifatu to Haute Asco. I  rode up to Bonifatu couldn’t get over. It's definitely not passable by road bike. The maps seems to show a dirt track but its actually a hiking trail (that's a hiking route to the GR20 - not passable other than by foot!)
• When descending you really need to watch out for wildlife- a few times I’d come belting around corners only to confront either wandering cows, a herd of mountain goats or indeed pigs crossing or just standing in the middle of the road (this is normal for Corsica)
• Also on some descents (mostly above 850m) I noticed a lot of grit and gravel which is deadly for cornering.  Especially coming down the Col de Battaglia between Pioggiola and Speloncatu. Riders should take care when descending (again normal for Corsica especially after rain and strong winds)
• I strapped on 25 mm Continental 4 Seasons (pumped to about 95psi)  because I didn’t want to deal with punctures and was thankful I did. I recommend a tougher tyre given the inconsistency in tarmac- some of it was splendid but when it wasn’t I was glad of decent tyres and the 4 seasons stick really well when descending (good idea, I ride 25c's with slime inners - no punctures this year so far...)
• Wear something bright rather than black, grey or green which can get lost against the background. I was wearing coral top and socks and I stood out well against the greenery as people said who saw me out on various roads when I pulled into stops
• Finally I stayed at La Signoria just outside of Calvi would highly recommend them as a very cycle friendly hotel– great storage, set up facilities and starting point for my rides (nice, very nice)

Anyway, great website, great idea and wish you continued success,

Dave Spring

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