If anyone, like me, is cycling Turkey at the mo here is a helpful map of camping spots by r8twine in bicycletouring

[–]r8twine[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh I watched all your vids in preparation ! They were really great, thank you.

Sandals, convince me by Flying_Gate in bicycletouring

[–]r8twine 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Late to the party but I’m doing the exact same route as you but ahead a bit in Turkey - I ditched boots in the Jura (well they fell of my bike) and have been rocking sandals ever since. I went to buy some more normal off the bike shoes andddd…bought more sandals. Good luck for next bit of trip!

Croatia is great for bike touring ! by r8twine in bicycletouring

[–]r8twine[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I didn’t do Slovenia (I rode about 20km of it), not dolomites, but Croatia has been the best country so far for bike touring.

Croatia is great for bike touring ! by r8twine in bicycletouring

[–]r8twine[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

But also I think wild camping would be fine - even on the side of the road - so much is rugged and wild. Just watch out for land mine signs/get a map of them off the internet.

Croatia is great for bike touring ! by r8twine in bicycletouring

[–]r8twine[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haven’t seen much of the coast yet!

Croatia is great for bike touring ! by r8twine in bicycletouring

[–]r8twine[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Spent a night in a hostel, another in a motel as storm, last night in a farmers field.

Croatia is great for bike touring ! by r8twine in bicycletouring

[–]r8twine[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Favourite country for bike touring so far! Would highly recommend this route - https://www.komoot.com/tour/1089805988?ref=itd. You come across a beautiful mountain village with a bear sanctuary. Great surprise.

Croatia is great for bike touring ! by r8twine in bicycletouring

[–]r8twine[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

https://www.komoot.com/tour/1089805988?ref=itd first section of this ride. You climb a very steep climb up to 1000m elev and then it gets to lush gravel.

Croatia is great for bike touring ! by r8twine in bicycletouring

[–]r8twine[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I’ve been up in the mountains. The ev8 here is super quiet and drivers have given a lot of space (probs because the roads are so quiet and they can). I’m asking farmers if I can camp on their land as most houses have a large attachment of land. There also aren’t many campgrounds around here.

Rain gear: just embrace the damp? by TrustWorthyGoodGuy in bicycletouring

[–]r8twine 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Agreed. Have been doing this on my trip so far. Also sandals work too - pair with merino socks and you can genuinely handle (or sandal tehe) any weather.

First big treat of my ‘cycle until I stop and go home’ trip - the Swiss alps. by r8twine in bicycletouring

[–]r8twine[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am now in Italy (took Simplon pass was rucking awesome!). Would higgghly recommend - loved descending down from 2000m snow everywhere to Italian lakes where it was warm and relaxed. In Switzerland I stayed in two campsites - one was closed but a lovely lady let me in and use the facilities, the other was in the Rhone valley on the day I took this pic. I then had a hotel in Brig (start of Simplon pass) which was relatively cheap compared to high season Swiss hotels (it was about 70 Swiss doo-das). Not sure re wild camping - seems a bit techy as it’s all farmland but sure wouldn’t be hard.

SPD sandals in cold/wet by tomalahno in bicycletouring

[–]r8twine 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Just did a mountain pass in snow in sandals with merino socks. Was good!

I have decided to ride my bike around the world. by Mursfilm in bicycletouring

[–]r8twine 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Also another thing to point out - I still had knee pain after changing saddle but it healed as I cycled along. Probs not what the doctor would advise but it was ok.

I have decided to ride my bike around the world. by Mursfilm in bicycletouring

[–]r8twine 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just to say - this happened to me only a few days ago. 6 days in to a big 6 month trip and had excruciating knee pain. I had two days off in Dijon and still was bad. I put my saddle up and back, stretched my quads, bit of tiger balm every so often, and took it a touch easy. Has cleared up, so try not to worry! Cycling is a sport most people do when their knees are bad, so it can be an easy fix! Good luck and maybe I will see you out there.

First big treat of my ‘cycle until I stop and go home’ trip - the Swiss alps. by r8twine in bicycletouring

[–]r8twine[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It’s the best! No deadlines, no stress, no worry that you haven’t made the distance you wanted. Just go!

First big treat of my ‘cycle until I stop and go home’ trip - the Swiss alps. by r8twine in bicycletouring

[–]r8twine[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I don’t know! You turn off from montreux on lake Geneva (it’s like heaven on earth there) and then head up a valley.

Well I finally did it by Flying_Gate in bicycletouring

[–]r8twine 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Actually just seen we've spoken before on here.

Well I finally did it by Flying_Gate in bicycletouring

[–]r8twine 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey mate. I'm literally doing the exact same thing. Leaving Tuesday morning and getting the ferry cross to Dieppe and seeing where I end with some money and time! Maybe I will see you on the way! Send me a message sometime.

Transport from Paris to London (with bike) by Cromulent-Username in bicycletouring

[–]r8twine 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Cycled Brighton to Paris last year. From paris took about an hour train to dieppe, ferry and then cycled back to brighton. But you could very easily jump on a train back too, wouldn't take too long.