WARNING: What’s below (German language) is my comment from earlier times. In the meanwhile I got one picture report (bear) from a person who traveled there by car. Now (July 2022) I received a personal report (mouth to ear) from a reliable traveler who was there, hitchhiking or similar, just about two weeks ago. Several bears and puppies were on the road so a cyclist had to get an escort by a car, separating the bears from the bike. Downhill this might work, but uphill? I would definitely not go on that pass again! Transalpina about 100km west may still be ok, but I preferred the scenery of Transfagarasan ☹️.
Von Süd nach Nord scheint mir angenehmer zu sein, als umgekehrt. Der KFZ-Verkehr auf der Südseite ist aufgrund der dünneren Besiedlung geringer. Feiertage/Wochenende bei gutem Wetter wegen des starken Ausflugsverkehrs aus Sibiu möglichst meiden!