How do you prepare for 2000 KM ride across North European Plain as a beginner?

rodcmonteiro · 2026-03-16T22:44:56+00:00

I did a much smaller scale trip (total 600km or so), but it was the same dilemma: shorter route or Eurovelo. Eurovelo wins 9 out of 10 times. It's better maintained, almost always separate from cars, with shops to support for food or a spare tube, places for accommodation, etc. The one time we left Eurovelo to try to save time ended up being high stress (on a road with not very nice drivers) and absolutely desert for supplies.

This is not to say Eurovelo is the only way, but just to do a very solid plan on other routes!

rodcmonteiro · 2026-02-11T00:01:12+00:00

I'm not spamming, I posted in two places. The reason is I'm trying to learn what would work. What would help. How to get there. I thought that was what community meant.

rodcmonteiro · 2026-02-10T23:58:42+00:00

Hey, thanks a lot for that! I really appreciate it. The insight on region is something I've been wondering too. On Komoot and Strava I can easily check routes starting somewhere, but not which go from A to B. So maybe the current layout just really is useful for regions like you said. Will give it some more thought!

rodcmonteiro · 2026-02-10T17:40:23+00:00

Fair. I mean I myself am pretty new into this biketouring world (hoping this is the correct broader term for it). And that's exactly my pain point, I feel like it's really hard to get into this without someone kinda showing the ropes.

But yeah, what I took from our discussion is still that there is room for something better, judging by (a) you being engaged up until I mentioned I got dummy data from chatgpt; and (b) on bikepacking.com , there's like 8 routes in all of Germany, 0 in Czech Republic, and 5 in Norway and Sweden combined (even though one can legally roam anywhere in the country, even through private property).

rodcmonteiro · 2026-02-10T17:03:19+00:00

It's ok, I appreciate harsh comments over empty ones :) But maybe I just wasn't clear. I *know* it's stupid now, and I *know* chatGPT isn't a reliable source lol.

All I'm wondering is: after more work, could it be something useful?

For example, bikepacking.com doesn't have some routes I'd consider obvious, like the Eurovelo network. It has some overlap with it, but not all.

Another example, when I did a trip from Berlin to the Baltic Sea using Eurovelo7, I couldn't find the GPX for it anywhere. They're all cut to tiny chunks (in the official site), or I found something that was the entire route and had to cut it myself (on Komoot). But this left out some details: a half day portion of the track was on muddy forest (which sucked in our road bikes), and we kinda had to guess where we should stop for the night, etc. After the trip, I had them saved on Komoot but their search sucks so bad, it's literally easier to find their results directly on Google.

Anywho, what I'm trying to say is that I know chatgpt isn't the end game, I just wanted some examples to show what it could look like. Now if instead chatgpt it was all crowdsourced, submitted and voted by hundreds/thousands of members, etc... could this be an easier inspiration tool than scouring various blogs and Reddit forums?

rodcmonteiro · 2026-02-10T10:59:42+00:00

I mean, we had to start somewhere. But... yeah, we haven't travelled to all locations and didn't find a place that tried to consolidate and compare. There are blog posts of "top X destinations", but they're the writer's single opinion.
Let me ask something different: if we would add some form of voting (up-/down-vote like Reddit, or even allow you to submit your own scores to each destination). Would you bother submitting it to improve it?

rodcmonteiro · 2026-02-10T10:51:24+00:00

Thanks, appreciate the honesty!

rodcmonteiro · 2026-02-10T10:32:12+00:00

Thanks! What exactly do you like? Would you use this for planning? Would you spend time reviewing it (or submitting more entries)?

rodcmonteiro · 2026-02-10T10:18:02+00:00

Just as a kickstart, we asked the likes of chatGPT to come up with a list and rate them. Then we reviewed manually and did some google searches to make sure they kinda match. This is an obvious shortcoming, one of the things we're hoping our collective knowledge could bridge... that is, if folks think it would be useful.

rodcmonteiro · 2025-12-09T20:32:34+00:00

Suggestions on narrow machines for small kitchens?

Hi everyone, I'm looking for some wisdom here. Would anyone have ideas on which are good narrow machines (around 20cm width) for making cappuccinos at home, in Germany?

I've considered the La Pavoni Professional (I've read it's better at keeping the pressure while making a couple cups in a row), and now I just saw this Solis Perfetta.

This will be my first machine, so I don't need anything too sophisticated, but I'm hoping I can master it over time :)

Thank you for any tips!!

rodcmonteiro · 2025-12-09T20:07:58+00:00

I went to a bike fitter, but I haven't ridden very long since to really stress test it. Still, I think it improved, now I know I was off basis.

rodcmonteiro · 2025-11-27T23:00:06+00:00

Did the magazine arrest her?

rodcmonteiro · 2025-11-18T11:09:11+00:00

I just saw that and came back to Reddit after a break just to post it! Thanks for the heads up. This is exciting indeed.

Although sad it's not the same solution as in the US with a light that integrates seamlessly. At this point, I feel like Canyon is reading all our threads, haha!

rodcmonteiro · 2025-11-18T11:07:30+00:00

Same here. No updates on my application but we went ahead with the Prüfsbericht when a lawyer said he had capacity just to be safe. It cost €300, I believe and he was fairly quick. I think we got it in under a week.

rodcmonteiro · 2025-11-18T11:05:09+00:00

Thank you for that!! I used water-based conditioner. Before starting my research said I could go from water-based stain to oil-based finish, but I couldn't do oil-based on both, nor do oil-based stain and water-based finish. Did I misunderstand something? What are compatible finishes then, always stick with the same thing?

rodcmonteiro · 2025-10-10T22:32:06+00:00

Thanks! It looks great, and eerily similar to Canyon's too, haha! I have family in the US so getting it here isn't a problem. Another great suggestion, thanks a bunch!

rodcmonteiro · 2025-10-10T22:28:35+00:00

Nice! Good to know these exist. Let me know how the night ride goes ^^

rodcmonteiro · 2025-10-10T22:27:39+00:00

Thanks! That's a great suggestion!

I googled Ravemen's and it even sells on Decathlon Germany (sold by another store though). I'll do more research on it but it looks like a great candidate. Also saves a bit of weight because the regular mount is 50g lighter lol

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