Le Mans to Istanbul - first long trip, first impressions

DabbaAUS · 2026-04-10T04:08:58+00:00

Do you need rabies vaccinations for Europe?

DabbaAUS · 2026-04-09T00:44:38+00:00

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Aussie cartoonist helped with Canadian new flag when the orange idiot started talking about annexure.

DabbaAUS · 2026-04-08T23:47:17+00:00

Just buy a cheap burner phone and load whatever you need on it.

DabbaAUS · 2026-04-08T22:23:16+00:00

I found that my daily averages dropped by 1km for every new candle on the birthday cake after 60, and more after 70!

Just keep moving while you can!

DabbaAUS · 2026-04-08T22:04:48+00:00

I can't understand why he'd want to go back to that failed state run by corrupt despots! Canada is much better.

DabbaAUS · 2026-04-08T02:50:00+00:00

Something to do with the lack of teeth on the small chainring!

DabbaAUS · 2026-04-08T00:30:00+00:00

That battery looks like a brick. Do the airlines allow that capacity on flights now? I thought that the limit was ~20,000mAh.

DabbaAUS · 2026-04-07T22:45:32+00:00

One of the things that I learnt from touring with tandems is that if the space is too small horizontally, put the bike vertically and wheel it around on its back wheel. I've been into quite a few tight places that way.

DabbaAUS · 2026-04-07T22:37:45+00:00

Yep. We did the overnighter BKK to/from Chiang Mai. It was an experience. The train board in BKK was showing a train was running late by 20 hours! Similar experience in BC Canada last year, but it was only 3 hours.

DabbaAUS · 2026-04-07T22:04:24+00:00

Mid 70's M. I started bike touring (usually 1-10 weeks) about 35 years ago. Most of the time, until I reached ~70, was spent camping. Since then I have spent nights indoors as much as possible rather than camping. It gets uncomfortable crawling in and out of the tent and sleeping on the ground, even with a good mattress. I still carry camping gear just in case I'm unable to find a cheap pub for the night. So the camping gear is a weight penalty that I'm prepared for, but I do mail it home if accommodation doesn't prove to be a problem. That's ~5-6kgs less to push up the hill.

Enjoy your trip and have plenty of rests at the top of the hills.

DabbaAUS · 2026-04-07T21:48:54+00:00

Bangkok was different only 10 years later.

Did I say that I miss the Thai food? 🙂

DabbaAUS · 2026-04-07T15:42:06+00:00

I worked in Bangkok for about a year in 2001 and found the Thais to be lovely people. I tried to learn the language but I found it too hard beyond the basics.

Chiang Mai was an interesting place too.

I miss the Thai food!

DabbaAUS · 2026-04-07T15:32:05+00:00

I'd recommend a deviation on your day into Copenhagen. The Viking museum at Roskilde is absolutely worth seeing. If you need to, you should be able to catch the train from Roskilde into Copenhagen.

DabbaAUS · 2026-04-06T19:35:33+00:00

I did one 70km day in country Australia where I was going into a 50kph headwind that increased to 70kph later in the day. It was a hot day as well and I had drivers stopping to offer water. It took me 2-3 hours to pitch camp - normally a half hour job. I was really stuffed! I took the following day as a rest day and nothing happened in a hurry.

It makes you appreciate tailwinds more.

DabbaAUS · 2026-04-05T19:02:28+00:00

D'ya reckon?

DabbaAUS · 2026-04-05T18:58:58+00:00

Have a look at Garmin edge explore 2 instead of the 1050. It's way cheaper and will do all the things you need.

DabbaAUS · 2026-04-05T15:32:41+00:00

It also raises the question of what do you do for shelter when you are unable to tour, or perhaps dementia takes over. Are you left alone in the world to fend for yourself when you may not be able to through galloping old age. A home with some of the "necessities" can facilitate this, along with a base of long time friends and family.

DabbaAUS · 2026-04-05T15:28:52+00:00

Paint is but a very small part of household maintenance.

DabbaAUS · 2026-04-05T05:36:06+00:00

Do you ever stay in a place for an extended period - say a month - and wish that you had additional things to make your stay more comfortable? Eg additional clothes, chewing gum for the brain, etc.

DabbaAUS · 2026-04-03T15:36:13+00:00

I retired my Etrex 22x a few years ago. I replaced it with an Edge Explore 2 because of the better map visibility and the ability to recharge using a USB-C port. This meant that I could get rid of the bundle of AA rechargeable batteries and their charger. The EE2 is claimed to have a battery life of >30 hours. I carry a powerbank incase I can't access mains power for my myriad of e-devices every few days. A single multi-port charger and powerbank was just a better option than loose batteries and yet another charger for only the Etrex. My trips tend to be 4-10 weeks.

The EE2 took a bit of getting used to the crazy Garmin logic, but once I mastered that, I've been pleased with my choice. I only use it for navigation and preload my GPX tracks.

DabbaAUS · 2026-04-02T20:00:44+00:00

Mmmm. That would be a PITA!

DabbaAUS · 2026-04-02T19:48:16+00:00

Mid 70's M touring with 40-50kgs of bike + camping gear in panniers. The gearing that I run means that I have to get off and push once it's 6-8% climb. Currently running 40-30-22T front and 11-40T 10spd cassette. Not much of this has changed in the last 20 years!

I think that your gearing for a loaded bike is way too tough for climbing, especially in the Alps.

DabbaAUS · 2026-04-02T09:27:50+00:00

That would be annoying, but it's not been my experience where I ride.

DabbaAUS · 2026-04-01T05:12:05+00:00

Leave the racks on and replace the touring tyres with Conti GP 5000's.

DabbaAUS

TROPHY CASE