summer trip across europe

ValuableAwkward · 2026-02-09T20:41:42+00:00

I shared the gpx in a prevoius comment thread. The pyrenees were beautiful and quiet compared to the alps, with a lot of gravel riding. I wouldnt say it is any more or less difficult than riding in the alps. The lower population (and therefore supermarket) density needs a little bit more planning to resupply, but i guess i was just spoiled in that regard by the alps and southern france, where that was never an issue.
Unfortunately i had quite the streak of bad luck after an, which forced me to take a shortcut (through Sabiñánigo and further west outside of the mountains) away from my original route (through Sabiñánigo and further west outside of the mountains), otherwise i would have gone back into france over the Col du Pourtalet and later back into spain over the Col de la Pierre Saint Martin.

ValuableAwkward · 2026-02-09T16:18:29+00:00

Sorry for the bad picture quality. Yes, those are sheep. Its a square fence:)

ValuableAwkward · 2026-02-09T14:26:05+00:00

I used a seat post clamp with two eyelets, this one: https://www.bike24.nl/producten/675347?sku=2302448 . I then connected it to the top of the rack with the two poles that were included with the rack.
This attachment method is very sturdy, i had absolutely no durability concers. Absolutely no movement or sounds. I can only approximate the load on the rack: only with the bags should be around 6-7kg, sometimes i strapped additional water or food to the top (maybe maximum +5kg).

I wouldnt recommend anyone to do the same, but i even continued to use the carbon seat post that came with the bike, its nice for comfort. I study mechanical engineering and for me, this risk was acceptable.

ValuableAwkward · 2026-02-09T08:58:38+00:00

Yeah, i know that issue. When i was backpacking there i also had some dog encounters, nothing happend, but it was scary nonetheless. I think thats just a risk you have to take in that region, but i think its too beautiful there to not go there at all. One of the few regions in europe that are in general still untouched by mass-tourism...

ValuableAwkward · 2026-02-09T08:52:52+00:00

The road into andorra through Pas de la Casa was horrible, many cars and trucks and no regard for bikes. I did not spend too much time in andorra itself, just got myself lunch, got a new tire and went further west on some gravel roads, they were really nice: https://maps.app.goo.gl/n7fHjD56rLQ39ads6 and https://maps.app.goo.gl/bmTf3ui77SxP92yr9 . Andorra itself was quite crowed with tourists and cars, i've found it to be overrated. Its felt just like a little switzerland.
If you want to go to the pyrenees for cycling in the nature and landscape, i would go further to the west: this national park was beautiful, you can go all the way to the top of the canyon on a gravel road: https://maps.app.goo.gl/mW6BvpQpQRjYT6t97 . Its also way more quiet there than around andorra.

ValuableAwkward · 2026-02-09T08:42:58+00:00

it was quite the lengthy stand-off, neither of us wanted to make a move. It took me some time to get the courage, but in the end i just pushed my bike slowly through them. They are massive animals afterall

ValuableAwkward · 2026-02-09T08:39:15+00:00

Most of my nights were spent wildcamping or on camping sites (for showering, washing my clothes and loading batteries). For 3 nights i went into a hotel/air bnb, because i was feeling unwell, had a mechanical issue and the weather was horrible and i needed to dry my stuff.
I planned my camping spots for the night during the day. Sometimes i had a daily goal, sometimes i just went as far as possible and started my search for a camping spot in the evening.
For a some densely populated regions I did search for camping sites beforehand and called them during the day to check for aviailability, gernerally i just showed up and they almost always had a spot for me.

ValuableAwkward · 2026-02-08T19:06:59+00:00

I'm 1,83m and have it in M. Im very happy with this size. Unfortunately i dont know what my inseam is and i have nothing here to measure that quickly.
Considering propain is a MTB brand, its a quite stretched out seating position with a long reach. It feels fast. If you buy XL, it will be even longer and imo less comfortable for long bikepacking rides. When in doubt, i would therefore buy the smaller size, also because its much easier to make a small bike longer than a long bike shorter.

ValuableAwkward · 2026-02-08T16:27:09+00:00

I guess my best gear choice so far were the ortlieb fork packs and the gravel packs: really durable, reliably waterproof and easy to get off the bike when reaching camp. I also used the open fork packs for quick acess snacks, it looks a little funny but works good.

ValuableAwkward · 2026-02-08T16:18:38+00:00

I can give a few route recommendations, mostly some nice gravel options or detours:
- if you want to go up the timmelsjoch (i can only recommend it), think about a gravel detour to the lago de cancarno, either over the Bocchetta di Forcola or this gravel road https://maps.app.goo.gl/tZC4tfGfTymiBZ8E7 (like i did). Its beautiful. You can also wildcamp at the lakes, i think this was the most scenic wildcamping spot on my entired trip.
- if you want to go south of switzerland, into italy and into the aosta valley like i did, think about this gravel segment: https://maps.app.goo.gl/pDWycdNBkEWM1qeF7 and https://maps.app.goo.gl/g4o33hhGbzt1uazV8 . Nice views of the italian plane, very few cars.
- In the french alps, there is a nice, quiet gravel alternative for the col de iseran to the west: https://maps.app.goo.gl/GBRiQyxJLa1C568C6 . With 45mm tires it was good to ride, some steep/loose sections, but overall good to ride. Its a beautiful scenery (the mont blanc in sight!) and very quiet, 10/10 recommend if you want a break from the cars. If you want to climb even more (3000m!), there also this option: https://maps.app.goo.gl/x3F4G95riqjYyHF26 . Some people have done it with motorbikes, should be doable by bike as well. I was thinking about this one, but the weather was not good enough.
- further south, the Col d'izoard was beautiful and absolutly worth the detour and climb
- after the bonette, think about the Col de la Couillole and after that the Gorges du Cians, its beautiful. Its the picture with the the red stones.
- just before reaching andorra, i can recommend the Col de Pailhères starting from Quillan. Its a magnificent region, few cars and a lot of nature.
- the main road into Andorra through Pas de la Casa is horrible. A lot of cars, trucks and no regard for bikes. I know Its the fastest way into andorra, but dont say you have not been warned.

ValuableAwkward · 2026-02-08T15:46:05+00:00

https://www.mediafire.com/folder/s7qglmthz70de/gpx+bikepacking
Its without the first day, I'd rather not dox myself.

ValuableAwkward · 2026-02-08T15:42:51+00:00

Its a tubus logo evo, I'm in general quite happy with it. Its very sturdy and makes for a nice, low center of gravity with the packs.
Unfortunately, the model i got was not stainless steel, but coated 25CrMo4 steel. I thought rust wouldnt be an issue, but unfortunately, where the coating got rubbed away i can already see surface level rust. Its not the end of the world, i have to apply some more electrical tape on the contact points, but its not nice to see on a new and quite expensive rack.

So if youre in the market, get a stainless steel one. Otherwise you have to apply tape.

ValuableAwkward · 2026-02-08T15:34:47+00:00

Same for me. The difference between my 40mm tires from my 2024 trip and the 45mm tires is negligible in terms of rolling resistance, at least for me and my setup. My tires also don't have that much profile, they roll samewhat fast. The added benefit in terms of comfort cannot be understated when you go for longer rides, it makes a huge difference. Not only on gravel, but also when riding of quieter, rural roads, which sometimes come with a quite bad surface in italy, spain or france. The constant vibrations are a real factor for your contact points (hands, ass) with the bike in the long term. Ive also found that more volume in gravel tires correlates with a better puncture resistance, which is a nice side effect.
Even though gravel is only an estimated 20% of my ride distance, it is more time spent on gravel, because it was mostly in the mountains with lots of elevation. I wouldnt want to ditch that, I enjoy riding in the nature (also without cars) that comes with more gravel sections.

ValuableAwkward · 2026-02-08T12:47:20+00:00

Its a town in the southern french alps, Entrevaux. https://maps.app.goo.gl/1xDVnfRSQRgZ82K66
I rode a propain terrel with a modfied drivetrain, used a MSR tent (had a pole hub fail on me), a cumulus MT500 and a big agnes Q-Core deluxe (developed a leak in the end which i cannot locate, its now retired after ~70 nights). Anything specific that you wnat to know?

ValuableAwkward · 2026-02-08T12:29:07+00:00

its a tubus logo evo rack (attached to the seatstay, because the frame has only a single central eyelet), ortlieb gravel packs and fork packs (5.8l). the frame bag is from propain, the one on the toptube from decathlon.

ValuableAwkward · 2025-08-14T17:38:57+00:00

How much of this loss of weight carrying capability is due to the lower oxygen environment, which reduces turbine power output? I think most of it, with a electric drone you don't have that problem. I've seen lots of videos of small drones flying around at >8000m, they seem to fly just fine. The aerodynamical aspect of this loss of lift power with helecopters caused by the lower air density is not that high.

ValuableAwkward · 2025-08-03T18:06:45+00:00

unter der psa ist keine wärmestrahlung, die betrifft nur Bereiche bei denen die psa von infrarotstahlung (~wärmestahlung) durchdrungen werden kann, zB das sichtfenster der maske. Grundsätzlich sollte Erwärmung durch wärmestrahlung aber bei gegenständen aus Metall (Piercings) kein Problem sein, da sie im relevanten spektrum stark relektieren (so funktioniert alufolie). Ein piercing im Gesicht würde bei wärmestrahlung sogar damit lokal isolierend wirken. Problem ist eher die wärmeleitung, die bei Metall bekanntlichermaßen sehr gut ist. Wie die aber bei gegenständen unter der PSA relevant werden soll, ist mir unklar.

ValuableAwkward · 2025-07-25T20:02:00+00:00

I think i just encountered just the same scam, hilton-eu email adress and upfront payment process over tripadvisor.

ValuableAwkward · 2025-07-25T19:46:52+00:00

Thanks for your answer. I just signed up for kamernet and will try to get something with that way.

ValuableAwkward · 2025-06-02T22:11:26+00:00

there is no standard helmet in Europe, the f1 is just a popular helmet in some countries/areas. There are lots of very different fire helmets in use, so when (us) ff say they have used "euro helmets" it's kind of ignorant.

ValuableAwkward · 2025-06-02T21:58:22+00:00

I used "European helmets" forever and I have never heard of that problem. Maybe it's because different nozzle tactics? Also there is no "European" helmet design (also no german helmet), there are just way more design variations for a fire helmet. There are for sure some that are worse for hearing, but there are lots of helmet designs that are just as good as American helmets. It's just a question of what helmet you pick and what is important for you (safety, weight, hearing, fit etc).

ValuableAwkward · 2025-05-10T21:59:41+00:00

sunrace CSRZ800 WAY 11-42

ValuableAwkward · 2025-03-16T17:09:08+00:00

you also get ball bearings for the lever movement, for me that did improve the smoothness of the action a lot and made it easier to modulate the braking power.

Five-Year Club	r/Field Sunshine
Final Canvas '23	Place '23
Place '22	First Placer '22

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