Touring - Anyone thinking of Europe/Asia next year ?

I'm new here. made 2 trips thru S America on a moto but now have touring setup and am tentatively planning a Europe and beyond tour next spring...no time frame or limits that I know of now. I like to just go where the road goes and avoid big cities

anyone game ??

james

Welcome.

Sounds wonderful. Are you in reasonable shape? Other than riding up to what you need slowly (you have plenty of time to train), read all the previous posts here and at crazyguyonabike.com and enjoy.

Would love to do what you are doing! Kids, work, etc, etc - same ol' story. Still, I am jealous ;) Let us know what you need to know after you browse the existing posts using the search function on the upper right corner.

Unless money is no problem for you, you might want to wait to see what the dollar is going to do. All signs say it is going to be extremely ugly for the dollar next year.

I will be going the other way in 2012...

z

I was in Europe when the Euro was 1.35 to the buck. It hurts, but one adapts. Shopping at markets, staying outside big cities, camping, etc. All the tried and true methods. The real killer is when you need to stay in a hotel or buy gas for a rental car, both of which bike tourers avoid. Another plus for bicycle touring in 2011!

A handy currency calculator: http://www.oanda.com/currency/converter/

I was in Europe when the Euro was 1.35 to the buck. It hurts, but one adapts. Shopping at markets, staying outside big cities, camping, etc. All the tried and true methods. The real killer is when you need to stay in a hotel or buy gas for a rental car, both of which bike tourers avoid. Another plus for bicycle touring in 2011!

A handy currency calculator: http://www.oanda.com/currency/converter/

I try to avoid hotels but not always successful. I try to use warmshowers, couchsurfing and hostels all in that order but not always succesful so then I go to hotels. The last think I want to do is to drag a bunch of camping equipment to Europe. Of course most of my tours are short term 2 weeks or less.

i'm on gov't pension...and I live on dirt and beans like the old cowboys....

I will be going the other way in 2012...

I may be doing Kunming to Tehran in summer 2012. It all depends on the Tibet permit situation.

I am riding from my Seoul to Cairo in the Spring. Sounds like I am going the opposite way. Go to crazyguyonabike.com and post an add under the companions wanted section. Lots of people do that ride each year so you should find someone.

As for the state of the dollar... I am living in Seoul for the timing being and haven't decided if I should convert my Won to Dollars yet. The Won is heavily dependent on the Dollar, like many East Asian currencies, so any change will have a ripple effect for me. Although, I do have to worry about North Korea getting aggressive again which tends to sink the South Korean currency.

I may be doing Kunming to Tehran in summer 2012. It all depends on the Tibet permit situation.

I am not sure which way I will be going yet, it will also depend on the political situation. Tehran is on the route though :)

Let's keep in touch.

z

love to see Iran...maybe a fluid travelling band of nomadic bike herders.....

Dear Jamerseon2wheels:

I am thinking of doing somewhere in Eastern Europe next summer. This summer I toured Hungary and Romania and had a blast. I am thinking about doing the Ukraine next summer, but I can be persuaded to visit almost anywhere. Most of Eastern European is cheap and they treat their tourists well. Give me a shout about what you might be doing.

John

Planning to go from Amsterdam to Rome in August, via the Alps. Not a super long tour, but I can't wait!

We haven't firmed it up yet, but we are planning 3 weeks in the Netherlands in July/August on our tandem . I've been there before, riding alone. I look forward to it, the area is fantastic for bikes, and so very clean as well