What tools can I use to help plan an ambitious bicycle trip?
January 21, 2018 3:59 PM Subscribe
I currently have a bicycle in Bucharest, Romania, but I've moved to Milan, Italy. I'm having fantasies of getting the bike to Italy by riding it there this spring. What are some awesome resources that I can use while planning this trip?
I would love to read reports from people who have done sections of my planned route, maybe even talk to them. Is there a forum for people like this that I should know about?
I would love to read reports from people who have done sections of my planned route, maybe even talk to them. Is there a forum for people like this that I should know about?
There is a bicycle touring forum on Reddit, I don’t read it much but it seems to have some contributors from that area and lots of people who like to discuss this stuff.
https://www.reddit.com/r/bicycletouring/
Sounds like an awesome trip, good luck!
posted by SaltySalticid at 4:25 PM on January 21, 2018
https://www.reddit.com/r/bicycletouring/
Sounds like an awesome trip, good luck!
posted by SaltySalticid at 4:25 PM on January 21, 2018
Check out Crazy Guy On A Bike. It's a collection of bike tour journals from all over the world and was very helpful when planning my own bike trips (including in Europe).
posted by Dalton at 4:49 PM on January 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Dalton at 4:49 PM on January 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
Bike touring is the search term.
You can consider me a resource to memail if any general questions come up about bike touring, which I have done in the US.
posted by aniola at 6:14 PM on January 21, 2018
You can consider me a resource to memail if any general questions come up about bike touring, which I have done in the US.
posted by aniola at 6:14 PM on January 21, 2018
+1 to Crazy Guy on a Bike. Also, Warm Showers, which is a couch-surfing organization specifically for cyclotourists. There are hosts all over the place between Bucharest and Milan.
posted by adamrice at 8:06 PM on January 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by adamrice at 8:06 PM on January 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
The Crazy Guy On A Bike fora aren't especially active, but the trip journals are fantastic. It may take a bit to find them, but I guarantee there are a hundred different journals detailing exactly your trip. Some camping, some in cheap guesthouses, some in fancy hotels with the most expensive gear.
There's also a Facebook group, called Bicycle Touring I think. It's very active, but somewhat hit or miss.
Be sure you chat with people about first tours, since they're palpably different than subsequent ones: harder, because you're learning what it feels like to ride 100km day after day. Or less--sometimes lots less, depending on your schedule and fitness and availability of places to stay. But unless you cycle long distances regularly, don't underestimate how hard the first few days are. They're wonderful, but totally exhausting, and then it gets easier.
You probably know to pay attention to elevation gain as you plot your trip route ("pay attention" = know what you're getting into), but you may not realize that prevailing winds can also really affect the intensity/pleasantness of the trip. Riding with a tailwind feels like sailing, helps you up hills, is glorious. A headwind can make 30km feel like 50; don't underestimate how much it'll impact your experience.
posted by tapir-whorf at 8:06 PM on January 21, 2018
There's also a Facebook group, called Bicycle Touring I think. It's very active, but somewhat hit or miss.
Be sure you chat with people about first tours, since they're palpably different than subsequent ones: harder, because you're learning what it feels like to ride 100km day after day. Or less--sometimes lots less, depending on your schedule and fitness and availability of places to stay. But unless you cycle long distances regularly, don't underestimate how hard the first few days are. They're wonderful, but totally exhausting, and then it gets easier.
You probably know to pay attention to elevation gain as you plot your trip route ("pay attention" = know what you're getting into), but you may not realize that prevailing winds can also really affect the intensity/pleasantness of the trip. Riding with a tailwind feels like sailing, helps you up hills, is glorious. A headwind can make 30km feel like 50; don't underestimate how much it'll impact your experience.
posted by tapir-whorf at 8:06 PM on January 21, 2018
I've never toured in Europe, but I have in the US and all over Southeast Asia, and I'd also be glad to talk answer any questions you have (esp. via chat rather than email, if that works for you).
posted by tapir-whorf at 8:39 PM on January 21, 2018
posted by tapir-whorf at 8:39 PM on January 21, 2018
check out the EuroVelo network
these are cross continental cycling routes, and they intersect, so you can go from Romania to Italy.
posted by 15L06 at 1:37 AM on January 22, 2018
these are cross continental cycling routes, and they intersect, so you can go from Romania to Italy.
posted by 15L06 at 1:37 AM on January 22, 2018
Not a forum, but I bet hikebikemap would be really helpful on a trip like this.
posted by mdonley at 4:12 AM on January 22, 2018
posted by mdonley at 4:12 AM on January 22, 2018
I rode a similar distance across Europe years ago, sadly not on any sections of your planned trip. I wholeheartedly recommend it and will ride another similar trip when circumstances allow.
You should have some touring experience before you begin, even if it's just a weekend or two to figure out how your body reacts and to iron out any equipment issues. For example, after my trial rides I had ulnar nerve issues, so I bought better gloves and fitted tri bars.
Depending on your route, there may be a lot of accommodation options, but if not you need to be careful about having back-up plans in case you make poor time and can't reach your first choice. My ride was in the days before widespread mobile data so planning my next campsite was more of an issue, but you don't want to find yourself an hour from the nearest place to stay just as evening falls and it starts to rain. You should also have back-up eating plans - more than once I only just managed to refuel after a frantic search when a restaurant I expected to be open or serving wasn't.
I found paper maps aimed at cyclists really helpful, especially those that clearly showed off-road cycle paths and indicated how steep hills were. There's probably an online equivalent these days. You obviously want to carry as little as possible. If you have a tendency to overpack like me, you will want to repeatedly winnow down your possessions till you really do have only the essentials.
Early starts and steady progress are the way to burn through the kilometres. You don't have to be pushing 30km/h to cover a lot of ground, just start as early as you can and get into a rhythm you can keep up easily. Having said that, the goal is not necessarily to cover huge distances, but to enjoy the journey.
Feel free to drop me a line if there's anything more specific you'd like to know.
posted by Busy Old Fool at 4:51 AM on January 22, 2018
You should have some touring experience before you begin, even if it's just a weekend or two to figure out how your body reacts and to iron out any equipment issues. For example, after my trial rides I had ulnar nerve issues, so I bought better gloves and fitted tri bars.
Depending on your route, there may be a lot of accommodation options, but if not you need to be careful about having back-up plans in case you make poor time and can't reach your first choice. My ride was in the days before widespread mobile data so planning my next campsite was more of an issue, but you don't want to find yourself an hour from the nearest place to stay just as evening falls and it starts to rain. You should also have back-up eating plans - more than once I only just managed to refuel after a frantic search when a restaurant I expected to be open or serving wasn't.
I found paper maps aimed at cyclists really helpful, especially those that clearly showed off-road cycle paths and indicated how steep hills were. There's probably an online equivalent these days. You obviously want to carry as little as possible. If you have a tendency to overpack like me, you will want to repeatedly winnow down your possessions till you really do have only the essentials.
Early starts and steady progress are the way to burn through the kilometres. You don't have to be pushing 30km/h to cover a lot of ground, just start as early as you can and get into a rhythm you can keep up easily. Having said that, the goal is not necessarily to cover huge distances, but to enjoy the journey.
Feel free to drop me a line if there's anything more specific you'd like to know.
posted by Busy Old Fool at 4:51 AM on January 22, 2018
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by ambrosen at 4:18 PM on January 21, 2018 [1 favorite]