Touring - Cycling in Dolomites

Hello everyone,

My name is Andreas Standaert, I'm 16 years old and I'm living in Belgium. This summer (in August) me and a friend of me are going to bike in the Dolomites (Northen Italy).

We are planning to go packed, so that means that we will have all our bagage on our bikes. I have never done this before, and that's why I like to ask you guys for some advice.

Has anyone been there before by bike? We're planning to sleep on campings, but everyday we want to visit another camping.

Has anyone good experience with a fullloaded bike? I have a good belgian bike, with a roster at the end. Are their some good products to put on your bike to put your bagage in? Any tips for bagage?

We will climb some very known "cols", like Passo Pordoi, Passo Gardena, etc. My condition won't be a problem, because a week before my vacantion in the Dolomites, I'm going to bike to Lourdes from here. It's 6 days and everyday 200 km. I will be trained I guess.

So that were my questions, I apologize that my english isn't that good, but I Think you can understand it.

Greetz

Andreas Standaert
(you can mail me, andreas.standaert@gmail.com)

http://www.evl.uic.edu/tomk/dolemite/dol1/dol7.jpeg

I cycled the Dolomites three years ago. My journal is here: http://www.roundtheworld.ca/other/alp.htm

Hi,
I cycled through the Dolomite in 2001: http://bikerlee.home.comcast.net/italy/page1.html
Good riding and beautiful.
Regards,
Lee

I would say bring as little as possible. But if this is your first trip you dont want to leave out any imporntant tools. Make sure you know how to repair your bike. (bring a chain tool a few allen (hex) wrenches, screw drivers (or a swiss army knife with standard (flat), and phillips blades), maby a pair of Vice grip pliers (they make small ones) I would get a titanium pot and the lighest stove you can (search pepsi can stoves on google.com) then all you need is a good rack (s) and bags. I have no idea, but you man incounter winds. Being as areodinamic as possible is a good idea. I would suggest bringing wool (meriano) and silk because they pack very small and insolate when they are wet (dont smell when sweated in all day), save your self and dont bring any cotton. A good rack is easy to find, panniers will be most difficult, (sleeping as well). Get as light of a two person tent you can, and make sure it can protect you if you get stuck high on a mountian. It looks like alot to buy, but if you stick to buying less, you will have a much better time. And you will use the stuff again on your next tour. You can never train enough. 1 week isnt a lot of time. you dont want to burn out before your trip. I would suggest getting your heart rate up as much as you can before the trip. Ride any bike you can get your hands on, or run, kayak, go to a gym and run on a tread mill if you have to. The air gets pretty thin up there. Good luck, let us know how it turns out! Ty Rilleau