11/11/08 Here's an email I recently wrote to a friend who is planning a similar trip:

Sorry for the delayed response but I could probably write a book on this topic.

The first thing I would suggest is to take a look at my blog from when I went on the trip: http://www.hhhyde.com/bikes/euro.html

Then familiarize yourself with Sheldon Brown's site (lots of great bike and touring info): http://sheldonbrown.com/

The first thing to do is decide where you want to ride. I'd recommend anywhere in Western Europe for your first ride because the bike paths are safe, well-signed, and well-separated from automobiles and you can normally find someone that speaks English if you get in a serious bind. You'll also want a relatively flat ride because you will be carrying alot of stuff (~60lbs in my case). Following a major river like the Rhine, Danube, or Elbe will keep your route flat and obvious (in case you get lost, which you will).

Once you've decided where you want to ride, you'll want to get the maps way ahead of time so you can make a general tour plan. I found my maps here: http://www.omnimap.com/. They were written in German, but still the most important part of my setup (besides the bike of course). I rode about 40-80km per day, averaging around 60km. I did a little over 700 miles in 13 days. When I made my tour plan I picked cities along the Rhine that were about 50km apart and just connected the dots. Things went almost entirely to plan. The maps showed whether or not the cities had a hostel in them. Sometimes finding the hostel was a bit of a challenge, but I brought a laptop with me. I was normally able to find a wireless signal once I got into town to google for the hostel location.

You'll also need to decide when to travel. I would recommend the early fall (I rode in October). You DO NOT want to be touring during any of the major European holidays. Since I rode in the off season, I got away without planning anything ahead of time. I just strolled into a town and found a cheap bed without any problems (I mostly stayed in hostels, but the occasional cheap hotel as well). You can also camp, but if you're riding in Europe, it's much more interesting to stay in the old cities and mingle with the common folk and see the sites. The camp sites are generally located far outside the cities and they cost 2/3 as much as a night in a hostel anyway. However, for my next long bike trip (I'm thinking across northern Africa) I will probably try camping instead.

After you decide when, where, and how, then you'll need to pick your equipment. I recommend a steel framed bike (more comfortable for longer distances than aluminum or carbon fiber - I was on an aluminum frame and it was a bit harsh). Take a look at the Surly lineup for inexpensive options, like the Crosscheck and Long Haul Trucker (http://www.surlybikes.com/bikes.html). You'll want a triple chainring in the front (not a double) to maximize gearing options. Other necessary touring accessories: a map holder that clamps onto your handlebars, front and rear fenders, a Brooks saddle (http://www.brooksengland.com/), a rear light, maybe inline brake levers (so you can sit upright and have brake levers), and maybe adjustable touring handlebars (again so you can have more sitting options for those long days - just clamping some old bar ends on your handlebars can provide the same functionality). You'll definitely want to be using clipless pedals as well.

You'll also need to decide whether you want to use panniers or a trailer for carrying your stuff (I don't support and won't talk about "credit card touring", that is, having someone drive your stuff from place to place - you will be "self-supported" tourer or not a tourer at all). My opinion is that panniers suck (but they're cheaper). Panniers make your bike top heavy and are more difficult to pack and unpack. With a trailer, you can just roll into a city, disconnect the trailer at your hostel, and then easily go "normal biking" around the town. There are two trailers that I would recommend: the Bob Yak (http://www.bobgear.com/trailers/trailer.php?product_id=10) or the Koolstop Wilderbeast (http://www.koolstop.com/trailers/beast.html). The Wilderbeast is less expensive, has a higher load rating, and folds up for easy storage and transportation. The Bob Yak has better craftsmanship, is lighter, and has a superior system for attaching to your frame. I used the Wilderbeast because I found one cheap on Craigslist. I would definitely like to try the Yak at some point though (it looks like they've also increased the load rating). A load of anything more than 50lbs is pretty unwieldy so that's the max load I'd shoot for.

Once you have the equipment, you need to figure out what to bring. The temperature and weather in October was absolutely perfect for riding. I biked in shorts and a long sleeved t-shirt. I also had my fleece, gloves, a water proof jacket and pants, a hat, one or two pairs of underwear, one regular pair of shoes and pants, one or two regular shirts, one pair of sandals, riding shoes, helmet, cable lock, two pairs of riding socks, a sleeping bag, my bike bag (more on that later), a multi-tool, chain lube (I lubed every day in the morning), an extra tube, a tube patch kit, and some other horseshit I didn't need. I think that's mostly what I brought. It adds up though. You'll also be carrying water (I used a camelbak, but water bottles would've been easier) and food for lunch and snacks (I'd eat breakfast and dinner in the cities where I stayed.

Now, you get to worry about travel. Carrying a bike around airports and public transportation absolutely sucks, but there's nothing than can be done. People will make nasty faces when you get in their way or hold up the train, but, whatever, they're harmless Euro's. I used a Rome bike bag (http://www.bikebags.com/travelbag.html) because it could be folded up and carried with me (I was doing a point to point, not round trip). My bike did get scratched and slightly dented (I saw the French baggage man drop the whole thing of out the airplane 10 feet down onto the concrete runway when he couldn't fit it down the conveyor belt). There's nothing you can do about the damage. You can get one of those hard travel cases (very expensive), but then what do you do with it once you get to your starting point? You can also try shipping your bike over (also expensive), but where do you ship it to? You can also rent a bike over there, but I didn't have much luck figuring out how to do that from the US. All the airlines have their own special fee for taking a bike with you. International flights are anywhere from $free-250 just for your bike. You'll want to check ahead of time with whatever airline you're flying. It's highway robbery. I didn't pay anything on the way over, but spent ~$100 on the way back.

Man, I think that's about all for now. I'd recommend getting travel insurance as well. I think I paid $50 for the month I was traveling and that covered all my equipment and any medical expenses.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Tripp

Sunday, September 30, 2007

Tuesday, October 02, 2007

Friday, October 05, 2007

Saturday, October 06, 2007

Sunday, October 07, 2007