Planning a bike trip? (page 10 of 37)

I hope your adventure is full of your dreams. Best regards

Maybe we’ll cross paths? I’m also leaving Sunday for the North Cape. My route’s still up in the air—I’m not even sure I’ll make it. Either way, I’m off. Arno

http://www.ouipourquoipas.com

I'm planning a coastal tour of Europe by bike—it's in the works. The catch? No support (family, friends), in fact, it's the opposite.

For a trip I've dreamed of for so long, one I *can* do (physically, financially, mentally), the prep feels like a minefield... It’s really dragging me down—close to rock bottom. 😕

Come on, a year to convince them—especially my mom—that no, it’s not suicidal, and this trip will be something amazing.

don’t let it get you down just take it one day at a time

luc

I'm planning a coastal tour of Europe—still in the preparation phase. The snag? No support (family, friends), in fact, it's the opposite.

For a trip I've dreamed of for so long, one I *can* do (physically, financially, mentally), the prep feels like a minefield... It’s really dragging me down. 😕

Come on, a year to convince them it’s not suicidal—especially my mom—and that this trip will be something amazing.

I was raised by a helicopter mom (whom I love very much, just to be clear), who was terrified whenever I strayed out of her sight and forbade me—until I moved out—from going on vacation alone or even with friends, threatening to "kick me out" if I did. Later, when she couldn’t stop me, I got guilt trips and hysterical scenes, which forced me to cut ties for several years.

Her efforts backfired completely—it only made my wanderlust stronger. I think it even triggered it. Looking back, I can only thank her for that... Now, things are much better on that front, and I’m even the one giving her vacation advice.

All this to say: try explaining to your parents that holding you back won’t work—this is something you *really* want, and all their resistance will do is make you more determined. That said, their advice is still welcome.

Cool! How long are you going for? I only know France and Quebec.

Luc

Hi there, it’s tough—whenever travel plans start to take shape, we always leave despite everything, because there are a million reasons to stay. But you’ve got to push through, and mentally, that’s really hard. Those prep phases where you feel excitement taking over, yet at the same time, you’re worn down by some kind of hostility—it’s so destabilizing, and you end up feeling guilty. But I think you’ve just got to toughen up, easier said than done, right? If family’s against it, it’s because they love you and they’re scared, so don’t hold it against them—just roll with it. I know those "Mexican standoff" vibes all too well. That’s life. Hang in there and chase your dreams, no matter what. Luc

D-20 (one week after my three-day test to check out 7,100m of elevation gain per day)

A kind of anxious fever hit me after those three stormy days around the big green ballon topped with its observatory like a satellite dish on a block in the Croix de Metz district (classified as a priority education zone by the Ministry of National Education before multiple school closures). No matter how much I turned the problem over in my mind, my plan wasn’t doable with my little legs.

So I decided to take the bull by the horns before patting its rump like Jacquot did back in the day at the agricultural fair.

The beast stared at me with its glaucous, glassy, expressionless eye. I realized it wouldn’t change anything to just stand there staring back before going to bed every night dreaming of my personal demon.

“Jean-Luc, you old fool,” I told myself, “you’re no bullfighter! If you claim to be one, at least give yourself the means instead of daydreaming stupidly about the thrill of getting skewered!!!!”

So I went back to the cardiologist: we went over the test results, and he told me a guy who claims to do ultra-distance should be ashamed of hitting anaerobic so quickly while developing such peak power that’s useless to him, and that I’d need to work on that.

Next up was the organic shop owner, caught at opening time in front of her store to study the different compositions of her energy bars, their volume, and weight. Good tactic—I left with her personal phone number.

She called me two days later, and I ordered 105 almond-paste and pineapple energy bars.

The die was cast. Let me explain.

If I start storing energy before the trip, I either have to carry it (300 kg of concentrated calories) or distribute it across each stage. If I distribute it across each stage, I naturally need to book those stages. And if I book those stages, I’m fully committing to completing all of them.

My call to Agnès, the little pineapple-paste vendor, was a kind of quasi-psychopathic, friendly, pathetic, arithmetic, and dogmatic passage into action—too theoretical... In short, it was impulsive, and boom!!

Hotel bookings: five hours of internet surfing, my MasterCard weighing on my conscience, and teary eyes. I’ve always hated playing with my money. I’m naturally stingy, and I hate losing, especially my cash. So let me tell you, the big cow breathing its smoky breath down my neck while I played the Alpine symphony on my keyboard—I wasn’t about to let it skip off to frolic in its green meadow without me. I got back on my bike with the usual rage and did 200 km at 30 km/h through mountains and valleys—no pain, damn it!!

Then at work, I tossed my backpack and its carbon attachment aside. I didn’t need trinkets. I needed something solid and serious: molding the handlebar adaptation from my 10,000 km of riding, plaster casting, reshaping, ergonomic study for hand placement and carpal tunnel relief. (Those who don’t know what a carpal tunnel is can look it up on Wikipedia—I’m not explaining everything all the time.) Studying the mounting to lighten the bike’s load from screws, freeing up the handlebar for extra hand positions. Making pre-preg carbon, layering a cover, thermoforming a waterproof and transparent card reader. That shuts you up, huh??

Not done yet. I went back to my bike shop. Ordered 17 packs of Overstim’s Endurance to drink straight from the bottle. High-protein energy bars, two CO2 cartridges to inflate my tires in a flash if I get a flat. Bought another saddle and a heart-rate altimeter to prove my feat was legit.

Still not done: ordered 105 more nut-based energy bars from the Dauphiné—a kind of paste you shove to the bottom of your stomach when you’re lost in the far north and even the bears have abandoned you because you’re too skinny to eat. A lipid-calorie concentrate with 512 kcal in 40 cubic centimeters: I can fit 35 of them in my little frame bag.

I’m in this up to my neck. I don’t go out in town without walking my bull. It’s hilarious. That idiot has no idea what’s coming...

Jean-Luc Clémençon

Hey Pascal,

We might cross paths somewhere! I’m starting from Guérande (44), then following the coast up to Denmark, looping around to Copenhagen, and heading back to Brittany through the inland route (Hamburg, Bremen, Brussels, Lille...) in 2 months. If I had 3, I’d have gone a bit farther north ;)

Safe travels! !

Hi, Just wanted to say that the site is updated roughly every week in the "On the Road" section under adventures. A little hello from Sweden, Baltic coast. See you soon, Marc

Hi everyone,

For my part, I’ve been wanting for a few years now to take a long-distance bike trip heading toward Europe, Syria, and Jordan initially (since Uzbekistan is closed, this is a temporary solution). Otherwise, I’d really love to do the Silk Road and go all the way to Mongolia. I’m 23, just finished my environmental studies—not exactly fresh as a daisy, lol—and I don’t feel like depending on a bunch of things right now... GOOD GRIEF! I’m currently in the preparation phase, with a "planned" departure in July 2010.

I’m likely setting off "alone," since I haven’t found anyone to join me... For the past few months, I’ve been plagued by doubts about my ability to handle long-term solitude, and that doesn’t exactly reassure my family, among others.

So I’M LOOKING for a travel companion—someone who wants to live their dreams now!

Hoping a ‘bird’ flies over my head at this very moment... Best,

Florian

Hello everyone,

For my part, I’ve wanted for a few years now to take a long-distance bike trip toward Europe, Syria, and Jordan as a first step (since Uzbekistan is closed, this is a temporary solution). Otherwise, I’d really love to do the Silk Road and go all the way to Mongolia. I’m 23, just finished my environmental studies—not exactly fresh as a daisy, lol—and I don’t feel like depending on a ton of things right now... GOOD GRIEF! I’m currently in the preparation phase, with a "planned" departure in July 2010.

I’m likely leaving "alone," since I haven’t found anyone to join me... For the past few months, I’ve been having doubts about my ability to handle being alone long-term, and that doesn’t exactly reassure my family, among other things.

So I’m looking for a travel companion—guy or girl—who wants to live their dreams now!

Hoping a ‘bird’ flies over my head at this very moment... Best,

Florian

Since when has Uzbekistan been closed?

That’s a mistake,

http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/conseils-aux-voyageurs_909/pays_12191/ouzbekistan_12333/index.html

It’d actually be the Uzbek-Kyrgyz border... to be confirmed

Hi!!!!!!! It's so nice to read about everyone's plans;)

On our end, Claire (Laclaire on the forum ;) and I are starting a bike crossing of Africa.

We have a website that will track our cycling adventures: http://voyage.jeremiebt.com

For those interested, there's a newsletter to get updates here: http://voyage.jeremiebt.com/inscription-a-la-newsletter/

Cycling regards, Jerems.

Hi,

That sounds like a pretty intense route!

Safe travels!

Enzo and Corinne

Thanks! :) If we take our time and trust our luck, there’s no reason we won’t come back in one piece! ;)

Hey, good luck with your project!

We’ve got a similar plan: a bike tour around the Mediterranean with our son, but that’s for in 2 or 3 years. For now, we’re heading to Sweden by bike this summer, still with our 3.5-year-old.

Good luck—it’s awesome! If it’s something you really want, don’t let doubts or criticism from others throw you off. It’s totally normal to have questions when you’re planning a trip like this—it’s not just a trip anymore, it becomes a way of life. People who don’t share your love for freedom and discovery will struggle to understand leaving studies, jobs, or an apartment behind for any length of time. Comfort, work, and material things make people feel safe. The unexpected, improvisation, change, mobility, and thirst for adventure always make others wonder, *"What kind of twisted family leaves for a year to live rough on bikes, camping, pedaling all day, and on top of that, brings their kid?!!"*

But the most important thing is to believe in it yourself, to set off well-prepared while still leaving room for surprises...

Don’t put your journey off for reasons outside your control. In life, you’ve got to make your dreams happen—it helps you grow and gives you a goal.

So good luck with the planning, your trip, and keep us posted!

Blandine

Thanks Blandine, this kind of positive message really gives a boost to morale! 😉

Thanks so much, Blandine! Real-life examples are irreplaceable for making progress on a project, and yours is so encouraging! Traveling with kids... Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah... I dream about it... (don’t read this, Claire, okay? ;)) Jerems

I’m planning to leave around March/April 2011 (depending on work contracts and finances) to explore Europe by bike.

Here’s my rough itinerary so far (still just in my head): cross Germany, head to Denmark, then Sweden, maybe Finland or straight to the Baltic countries for a north-to-south route. After that, I’ll cross Romania and Bulgaria, then head to Turkey, Greece, and work my way back up through Albania, Croatia, and finish with a south-to-north ride through Italy.

There are still a few gaps—I might fill them in with trains, boats where there’s water, or even biking if I have the time.