[tico cervantes]

Taking a trip round Europe on me bike in may for about 8-9 weeks starting in mid may. Been working hard for a couple of years now wouthout anymore than the odd couple of days to the dam and just been payed off so think I deserve it.

Im carrying everything I need to survive on the bike with me and will be camping rough each night leaving no foot-print behind.

The route is down through britton to,

Stonehenge then the ferry from
Portsmouth to
Santander
Then across the north of Spain through
Zaragossa
Vic
Then directly west to the coast
Follow the med coast north to
Montpellier
Avignon and join the Rhône and follow it's banks upto
Lyon
Djon
Then east to Basel and follow the Rhine all the way to Holland
Then onto Haarlem and then stop in Zandivoort for for a week before heading home via
Brugge and Calais.

Not that I have ever done anything like this before, I am a well seasoned cycle camper and am more than confident in my ability and fitness. All the same any advice is welcome.

Plus I'm getting work done in the house (crop 2 weeks before it starts) and I need to stop growing until it's all done, so the timing is good.

Cheers Tico

[rubbabudbud]

Sounds like a great trip Tico. I've always wanted to do a cycle tour. Are you taking spare tyres, chains, brake pads etc? And when you say camping rough does that mean kipping in ditches and hedgerows?!

Best o luck with your adventure and hope you meet some lovely people along the way.

[tico cervantes]

Hi rubba cheers for taking an interest.

I will be taking spare chain, tubes, cables, brake blocks and rear derailer.
These are the things that are the most vital. Without them the bike is either stationary or dangourous.
Also a bike tool with a chain spliter and spoke tesioner are a must.
Things like tires are to awkward to carry so I just spend a bit of money on new good tour tires before leaving and hope for the best.
As for camping I use a hammock, tarp and mosquito net for a "leave no trace" style of camping. Also it's quicker and more comfortable than tent camping.
This gives me total freedom to go where I like when I like (hence the "roll yer own" title.

Cheers an have no fears Tico.

[Degsy]

Nice one tico , have you read Thunder & Sunshine by Alastair Humphreys , that a good book about long distance cycling

What bike are you using ? No problem with spares in Europe

[Lake Palmer]

Nice one Tico. Wishing you all the best dude, good luck to you

Only advice I can give is for you to put a playing card between the brake callipers so it makes a motorbike noise on the tyre tread. This will scare the locals into thinking you are a bit of a hard nut so expect free food, drugs and plenty of big breasted young ladies.

[tico cervantes]

Thanks for the heads up on the book degsy. I've never heard of it before and I was looking for something to read on the trip. I'm not big on fiction so it sounds perfect.

The bike is a 14 gear hybrid, aluminium frame with 700c wheels.

It will be fitted with Front and back panniers,
New front and back wheels, derailers, chain, cables, brake blocks, 700c x 32c tour tyres and a nice big soft tour saddle.

Oh and of course a couple of playing cards (red backed ones are my fav).

Cheers Tico

[HailCannabis]

Hi mate, have you left yet? I'm planning a trip like this myself in a few weeks and I'd like to ask you a few questions as I'm a complete novice in this area. Anyhow, have a great trip. HC.

[The Villan]

Wouldn't mind seeing your sleeping set up m8.

Good look and Bon Voyage

Vill

[wildbill]

Brilliant idea, cycle touring around europe has been one of my best experiences.

Not sure I would bother with a spare derailler, but you need to be comfortable with the spares that you take.

A Dynamo can be very handy ime, with a focused front light it can illuminate the ground ahead well enough to cycle through woods at night. Maybe a spare tyre too.

A "Camping Carnet" is good investment imo, dutch N&K (Naturen & Kamperen?) campsites will usually let you stay if you have one. There is an excellent one in Velsen Zuid (Driehaus), just north of Haarlem (much bettter than Zandvoort imo). Just don't smoke in front of the owner (!).

I also carry a tin of (petrol) lighter fuel to clean rust from the chain, just dribble it on whilst back peddling & wipe it off.

Hmmm, getting slightly jealous. Have a great trip tico cervantes

e2a: aah, just seen the date, ees already gone probably -allez.

This post has been edited by b.wild: 17 May 2012 - 06:32 AM

[soto]

Donw a couple of cycle tours myself but found thema bit of q struggle qt first due to never getting a good nights sleep.

Btw are you using any slime to stop punctures. Never used it myself as its just a bit of extra weight could prove useful on a long trek.

[soto]

Lastly i'd also recommend buying some high powered torches off dealextreme etc. You can mount them on the bike to light up the road at night. There are some really good mounts there too.

The nic3 thing about torches is firstly ghey're cheap i. Comparison to high powered bike lights and s3condly you can use them as actual torches when walking arohnd.

[HailCannabis]

I'v never cycled more than 30 miles in a day before so it's gonna be quite a challenge, but I'm up for it.

I've a few questions tho, as I want to go as lightly and cheaply as possible.

Cycling through hot countries like France, how much water would you expect to drink per day? How many miles would a reasonably fit person expect to cover in a day without over-exerting themselves?

I ordered a new bike a few days ago and trying to get a kit together now. Sleeping will be hammock and tarp. Other than repair kit, pump, spare tube and spokes and a multitool gadget is there anything else you'd recommend not to leave home without?

Thanks.

[wildbill]

HailCannabis, on 17 May 2012 - 09:06 AM, said:

I'v never cycled more than 30 miles in a day before so it's gonna be quite a challenge, but I'm up for it.

I've a few questions tho, as I want to go as lightly and cheaply as possible.

Cycling through hot countries like France, how much water would you expect to drink per day? How many miles would a reasonably fit person expect to cover in a day without over-exerting themselves?

I ordered a new bike a few days ago and trying to get a kit together now. Sleeping will be hammock and tarp. Other than repair kit, pump, spare tube and spokes and a multitool gadget is there anything else you'd recommend not to leave home without?

Thanks.

Hard to say about the water, depends a lot on the individual & what they are doing. Maybe 10L, a complete guess.

I used 3 x 850ml bottles on my tourer, one vertical, one above & below the 45degree tube behind the front wheel. I also carried a collapsible 10L water container so I could stay in my tent as long as I like.

Most handy things I had were calor gas stove, pans & trianga mini kettle. Mini maglite on my keyring (1 x AAA battery). Swiss Army knife. Thermarest mat & decent sleeping bag.

As for distance, perhaps try 50 miles a day preferably in 2 rides. you really need to watch your knees if you are cycling much more than you are used to. Once they "go" they wont improve for a long time. My method is to cycle lots of short distances in preparation.

Before I left I would cycle 20mins every other day & 1 hr on sunday. Build up to 1hr evetry other day & maybe 2 or 3 on sunday. When I start a tour I go slow for 2 or 3 weeks, keep gears low (pedalling fast).

I could go on all evening, but I wont .

One last thing is that it is quite stressful to actually leave, so many excuses for delaying. You need to sort out what you can before you leave & the rest as you go. Lots of time is a big help, you can just slow down when you are struggling -or if you are having the time of your life & don't want to leave .

[Robbo]

How many sets of cloths would you typically take b wild. Please feel free to write anything you think of. I really want to do this next year (I need to get some serious exercise). Most I have cycled in a day was 45 miles and I was destroyed the next day!

Really want to do something which mixes camping but also a few nights kip in hotels along the way. Would like to start in holland then go through France, Spain and finish up in Portugal.

Is having some good quality hash a bad idea. How do customs operate on European borders? I was thinking that maybe 5/10 g of good quality ice hash cold easily see me through France and I can source more goodies when in spain.

[Themadhippy]

Quote

How do customs operate on European borders

what borders? once your on mainland europe its border free.

Quote

Most handy things I had were calor gas stove, pans & trianga mini kettle

mentioned it in the camping food thread,but worth a repeat.Have a look online at pot cosys,piece of piss to make,weights nothing and saves loads of fuel.