We used the Cycle Tourist Itineraries (CTI) map provided by the Province of Rimini and the Riccione Bike Hotels Consortium. We also used the Euro Cart 'Rimini Provincia' 1:100,000 map published by Studio F.M.B Bologna.
Our first day of cycling followed CTI Route 17 along the coast from Rimini to Fano via Riccione, Cattolica, Gabicce Mare and Pesaro. We arrived at 5pm as it was just getting dark.
This route has big contrasts. The first section from Rimini to Cattolica is purely beach resorts - sandy beaches concealed from view by endless beach huts and hotels on the other side of the road.
There are cycle paths beside the beach for most of the way between Rimini and Riccione, with a few more near Cattolica. The rest of the time, you cycle along the coast road which isn't that busy in November.
The second section of this route is from Gabicce Mare to Pesaro. Here there are no beaches, as the cliffs rise steeply from the sea. The route follows a panoramic road high above the cliffs - often on a ridge with pine trees.
We passed several small villages, including Casteldimezzo which is small and enclosed.
We cycled through Pesaro, completely missing the old town. The last section of the route has beach, then a railway, a main road and then a cliff. We managed to avoid the main road by taking a smaller road at the top of the cliff, until the last few kms into Fano, where we arrived just as darkness fell.
We followed CTI route 12. It goes from Fano via Urbino where we stopped. The road out of Fano is the roman via Flaminia. We followed it for a long way. It is built up and busy for the first hour. Gradually more countryside and less cars. A good road from Fossombrione to Canavaccio. We then took our own variation of the route from the village of S. Marino di Urbino - a very nice lane, but very steep. We cycled up past some vineyards.
After a big struggle we finally got a fine view of Urbino on its hill.
We descended a bit and then pushed our bikes up into the town of Urbino, where we spent 3 enjoyable days sightseeing.
We followed route CTI 13 from Urbino via Montelabbate and Tavullia then down to the coast near Misano Adriatico. There was little traffic on this road and nice countryside. It was a fine day and we found a nice cafe right on the beach for lunch before riding back along the coast to Rimini.
We had left our bikes at the hotel in Rimini and took the train to Ravenna. We were surprised by the number of cycles and cyclists in Ravenna - it reminded us of Beijing. The tourist office provides free bikes for tourists - yellow with stands, big baskets, locks, adjustable seats - we used them.
The city appears to provide similar red bikes for locals - parked here and there.
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