bike touring europe

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11 Mar 2004
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Still contemplating my future and possibly accepting voluntary redundancy at work.
Has anyone toured Europe or bike touring in general?
Keeping kit price to a minimum what would you want to carry. I already have my hiking gear(ultra light weight) which covers most aspects, but have no bike gear.

and if staying in campsites what would you expect to budget per day.

seems to be a fair few second hand touring bikes with rear rack for around the £300 mark.

and just any experiences kit lists, etc would be handy.
been looking at the eurovelo routes down to rome.
 
The combination of your hiking kit + touring bike + bike luggage (pannier bags, etc - do not take your hiking backpack!) should cover everything you'll need.

I'd also want a dynamo hub for charging devices+lights as well as a bike computer which can show maps. (I prefer just seeing a map rather than one that does routing)

this is exactly what i was thinking, except using a phone as the map computer being charged by the hub.
I've done a fair bit of cycle touring, mainly in Holland, Germany and Belgium, as well as the UK. Tons of info on the ctc forum including kitlists and other info, there's also a camping sub forum too.
thanks, will go have a look.
 
You might not generate enough power to keep a phone charged while using it with GPS or anything. Plus I don't trust any of the phone mounts, tried a few and kept the best but still managed to have my phone come off and go under the front tire == smashed. A bike computer is the way to go, phone packed safely away for emergencies.


Which computers, and how are the maps on them?
Also which hubs are good?
Trying to get a sense of cost.
 
yeah i've been keeping my eye on ebay and there's been a fair few touring bikes, steel frame drop bars etc. Also been doing some reading up, and seems 700x35c seem a good option if i'm not going to far off places. Seems to be a good payoff between rolling resistant and not getting pinch flats on rougher cycle routes that aren't tar mac'd.
I was thinking mechanical disc, easy to repair and mud/buckled wheels aren't so much of an issue. Also probably just rear panniers, my hiking kit + food, fits under 60L. ]
didn't think of a solar panel. Although hub seems cheap enough.

Also building it might be a good option if i keep costs under control, i would want to make sure it has good rims on it, and probably play about with handlebar height and stem length.

been watching some youtube etc, and Iran looks so tempting, but so far away from UK-Sicily route. But that is something that has really caught my attention.

Meeting at work tomorrow, should get a much better idea of where this is all heading, will also express my interest in voluntary redundancy and see what their reaction is.
 
another question when does the weather start changing on the routes through the alps? Euro velo 5 and 7 pass through them, i'm assuming that it would be pretty miserable at height in the winter.
 
well, i still no further along at work. they have mentioned two possible jobs i'm interested in, but have zero faith in them getting me in there. but we see. But i don't want this to drag on for months and then decide to go anyway.
so im going to continue to research and plan this, doing ll the overtime i can and putting money aside from that as well. and see what happens. Also got a couple of other semi ideas. So what will happen i have no idea.

but this arrived today
aokjz5.jpg


if anyone knows of any good online route planning software, or good sites/apps to find cheap camping spots near certain routes then that would be good. I don't mind wild camping, but i massively miss having a shower i get so salt encrusted when hiking. I really need a campsite with shower, or a nice fresh water lake to camp by.
Or any good sites on great scenery, free tourist attractions, things of the beaten track, abnormal and unusual etc.
 
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