Touring - preparing to travel accros the europe ALONE!!!!

hello guys i am from republic of Georgia and i have decided to travel though Europe just me and my bicycle. from Georgia by ship i am going to Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, Poland, Germany Netherlands, France, Switzerland and Italy. i have never done long tour before and would love to read any advices from you....

Check out this site:

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/?o=1

Many tour journals by many riders.

Bon voyage.

thank you very much :))))))))

Wouldn't be a bad idea to keep a updated journal on "Crazy Guy" so in case of trouble one of us can help, we are all a world wide community here.

Wouldn't be a bad idea to keep a updated journal on "Crazy Guy" so in case of trouble one of us can help, we are all a world wide community here.

Great advice!

thank u guys... never knew that website like this existed...

I landed at the airport, next town I got a Map, at a Bookseller,
and went until i got off the edge of that map , then Bought another .

Bene Sugg: take some short multi day tours at/ around, home, first,
to sort things out, a bit .

I landed at the airport, next town I got a Map, at a Bookseller,
and went until i got off the edge of that map , then Bought another .

Bene Sugg: take some short multi day tours at/ around, home, first,
to sort things out, a bit .

lol :)

all my trips were pre computer , now I have a nice box of souvenir maps

all my trips were pre computer , now I have a nice box of souvenir maps

i was thinking to use my iphone as a navigator what u think? but sure i will have papers for make sure

Good luck, you'll have a great time.

You should look around and see if there is an internet group for cyclists touring in that area. If not, maybe start one? Last year when I was riding through South America a friend pointed me to this great google group for pan am riders.

http://groups.google.com/group/panam-riders?pli=1

It was really helpful, a ton of specific information about routes, places to stay, etc. It also allowed me to meet up at certain points with fellow tourists.

i was thinking to use my iphone as a navigator what u think? but sure i will have papers for make sure

You should go with a non-phone gps. Iphones are dependent on cell service, which will vary from place to place, AFAIK. Also battery life is much better on a stand alone unit. I really like my Garmin Vista cx

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=8703&ra=true

A paper map will often show bike paths that you cant find on other systems (or at least thats' been my experience here in NL) Google maps is really bad about showing bike paths.

Have fun!

A paper map will often show bike paths that you cant find on other systems (or at least thats' been my experience here in NL) Google maps is really bad about showing bike paths.

Have fun!
thank u...i know google maps suck...i was thinking to buy tomtom application

I second or third paper maps with a compass. And don't forget the best free source for cycling paths, campings, etc... (the local tourist office) in Germany, Netherlands, France, Switzerland and Italy. Don't know about the rest we haven't cycled through them (yet;-)
enjoy your tour

I second or third paper maps with a compass. And don't forget the best free source for cycling paths, campings, etc... (the local tourist office) in Germany, Netherlands, France, Switzerland and Italy. Don't know about the rest we haven't cycled through them (yet;-)
enjoy your tour

thank u bro...u cycled with tent or hotels?

We camped most of the time. Check our page below.
cheers

thank u...i know google maps suck...i was thinking to buy tomtom application

Whatever application you use be aware that it's only as good as the maps.

I use the OpenStreetMaps to navigate around the UK and every once in a while someone has loaded a path on it that is marked as being suitable for cyclists but it turns out to be two inches of water on top of six inches of mud. I'm not sure what kind of cyclist they had in mind, that's more than I'd be willing to attempt and with that much mud it's not as if you'd want to walk through either.

Google Street View is good, and for all you need to check over a proposed route I do find the routing at www.bikeroutetoaster.com to be generally good, even if only as a baseline that you can subsequently adjust.

cool bro what tents u had...i spent so many hours to find a perfect tent.... i was looking with enough vestibule place to storage my bicycle and trailer but could not find it.....time has passed and i preferred to spend more money but sleep with more protection and comfort....i am taking with me some expensive things, photo camera, laptop and etc so if i would like to walk around and go to bar or club i wont be able to be calm since i know i left my belongings in tent.....or my my thoughts are leading me in wrong direction?????

cool bro what tents u had...i spent so many hours to find a perfect tent.... i was looking with enough vestibule place to storage my bicycle and trailer but could not find it.....time has passed and i preferred to spend more money but sleep with more protection and comfort....i am taking with me some expensive things, photo camera, laptop and etc so if i would like to walk around and go to bar or club i wont be able to be calm since i know i left my belongings in tent.....or my my thoughts are leading me in wrong direction?????

I would bring anything of value with me. Either find a way to hang one of your panniers over your shoulder or just get a small (lightweight) backpack to carry everything.
For more comfort we use a 3 person tunnel tent, mainly for the large vastilube where we cook in during bad weather and don't feel crampt spending a day or two. It's really a personal choice. It's size vs weight vs comfort vs price (not perticularly in that order). Bikes stay outside locked up. And it's always a good idea to talk to the neighbours with a big smile, you'll have someone watching your stuff for free ;-)

I would bring anything of value with me. Either find a way to hang one of your panniers over your shoulder or just get a small (lightweight) backpack to carry everything.
For more comfort we use a 3 person tunnel tent, mainly for the large vastilube where we cook in during bad weather and don't feel crampt spending a day or two. It's really a personal choice. It's size vs weight vs comfort vs price (not perticularly in that order). Bikes stay outside locked up. And it's always a good idea to talk to the neighbours with a big smile, you'll have someone watching your stuff for free ;-)

yes i agree smile on ur face helps in many occasions..but i am traveling alone and one of my interests of traveling is take some pics........also if i get bored laptop could do a job....anywayif i had only clothes with me i would do camping....maybe in future :)

Travelling solo with lots of electronic gear can be a problem. You have to manage the batteries, security etc. At busy campsites you cant leave valuable in your tent even when you go to the bathroom.
The old netbook style portables were good for travelling, cheap, small, long battery life and you really don't need much computing power. Can you do all your computing stuff on the iphone?
I use paper maps and write on them to record extra information. A large paper map of Europe will also help in route planning.
With your camera, take lots of memory cards and swap them regularly so if one fails you still have enough pics. I kept my SD cards with my passport, around my neck. Everything else can be replaced on insurance.

I would suggest a solo tent and a small tarp just big enough to cover your bike. You can use the tarp as an extra raincover for cooking. Solo tents have room to store your luggage but not to cook.
You could carry a 2 man tent but the temptation to carry more, bigger stuff will add to your luggage.
I used a Hilleberg Akto, very tough and strong for the storms I was expecting. Summer Euro touring doesn't need a tent of this grade and you will be more comfortable with a well ventilated tent.

Travelling solo with lots of electronic gear can be a problem. You have to manage the batteries, security etc. At busy campsites you cant leave valuable in your tent even when you go to the bathroom.
The old netbook style portables were good for travelling, cheap, small, long battery life and you really don't need much computing power. Can you do all your computing stuff on the iphone?
I use paper maps and write on them to record extra information. A large paper map of Europe will also help in route planning.
With your camera, take lots of memory cards and swap them regularly so if one fails you still have enough pics. I kept my SD cards with my passport, around my neck. Everything else can be replaced on insurance.

I would suggest a solo tent and a small tarp just big enough to cover your bike. You can use the tarp as an extra raincover for cooking. Solo tents have room to store your luggage but not to cook.
You could carry a 2 man tent but the temptation to carry more, bigger stuff will add to your luggage.
I used a Hilleberg Akto, very tough and strong for the storms I was expecting. Summer Euro touring doesn't need a tent of this grade and you will be more comfortable with a well ventilated tent.

i agree with u...so thats reason i have decided to stay in hotels.....which map u used? i have bough Michelin map but its too huge and looks like A book...i want one big paper map to put on handlebar bag....

Bears would smell any spilled food in your tent, so best to not eat anything in it.

.. after riding off the edges of maps I occasionally Posted them back home.

But I was raised using map and compass, film cameras .. and I'm not a writer.

now people seem compelled to bring laptop computers
to write complete blogs on their trips, with pictures..

Bears would smell any spilled food in your tent, so best to not eat anything in it.

.. after riding off the edges of maps I occasionally Posted them back home.

But I was raised using map and compass, film cameras .. and I'm not a writer.

now people seem compelled to bring laptop computers
to write complete blogs on their trips, with pictures..

lol i imagine in the middle of night when bear will knock on ur tent door :) .......'hey dude give me some breakfast'

They don't ask, just claw away at what they smell as potential food.

BTW, have you ever seen a North American Grizzly Bear. they grow to 8 feet + ,
if standing .
and can chase you at 30mph..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grizzly_bear

They don't ask, just claw away at what they smell as potential food.

BTW, have you ever seen a North American Grizzly Bear. they grow to 8 feet + ,
if standing .
and can chase you at 30mph..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grizzly_bear

i know ......they seem to be clumsy but are very fast.... watched at discovery several weeks ago

You should go with a non-phone gps. Iphones are dependent on cell service, which will vary from place to place, AFAIK. Also battery life is much better on a stand alone unit. I really like my Garmin Vista cx

It depends on how you are going to use the device. If you want turn-by-turn, constant position updates, you will probably run into battery issues with an iPhone. If you want to check your position occasionally to get your bearings, I think an iPhone will do the trick. If there's any chance that you won't be able to charge it up at the end of the day, some kind of supplemental battery might be good as well.

The issue with iPhones being dependent on cell service can be overcome with the right app. You just need something that downloads maps to your phone. I use MotionX GPS, which lets you save maps to your iOS device so that they're accessible even when you are not connected to the internet. Of course no matter what device you choose, a paper map is a good thing to have. I've ridden through areas with no cell service using only my iPad. I ended up beyond the edge of my downloaded maps at one point, due to poor planning on my part (and poor directions on Google's part), but finding my way was not difficult with a paper map and stopping to ask directions.

If GPS is the primary way you plan on getting around and your primary reason for bringing an iPhone, then a GPS unit might be a better way to go. But if you can overcome battery life issues and remember to save maps to your phone, then I don't think there's need for a separate device.

It depends on how you are going to use the device. If you want turn-by-turn, constant position updates, you will probably run into battery issues with an iPhone. If you want to check your position occasionally to get your bearings, I think an iPhone will do the trick. If there's any chance that you won't be able to charge it up at the end of the day, some kind of supplemental battery might be good as well.

The issue with iPhones being dependent on cell service can be overcome with the right app. You just need something that downloads maps to your phone. I use MotionX GPS, which lets you save maps to your iOS device so that they're accessible even when you are not connected to the internet. Of course no matter what device you choose, a paper map is a good thing to have. I've ridden through areas with no cell service using only my iPad. I ended up beyond the edge of my downloaded maps at one point, due to poor planning on my part (and poor directions on Google's part), but finding my way was not difficult with a paper map and stopping to ask directions.

If GPS is the primary way you plan on getting around and your primary reason for bringing an iPhone, then a GPS unit might be a better way to go. But if you can overcome battery life issues and remember to save maps to your phone, then I don't think there's need for a separate device.
oh sure i though about battery issue and i did what..........bought these two thing.....http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00439G3WS/ref=oh_o03_s00_i01_details...i am thiking to put it on handlebar bag and connect it with extra long iphone cable....http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/2060002818/ref=oh_o06_s00_i00_details this is my paper map.......but i also need one big map that i can fold and put in front of me...any ideas?

Can you just rip pages out of the Michelin as you go? Use the current page as your map in front of you, and keep the book in the pannier.

When we did our Sweden tour we brought a map book & photocopied it in advance, using the photocopies for our daily maps and having the book as backup. That was a bike-specific book that we wouldn't have been able to replace along the way so we felt the need for the backup. But in your case, it's just a Michelin map so you could easily replace it at any gas station along the way - so I'd just do the ripping method. It's coil-bound so it should be easy to rip.

Can you just rip pages out of the Michelin as you go? Use the current page as your map in front of you, and keep the book in the pannier.

When we did our Sweden tour we brought a map book & photocopied it in advance, using the photocopies for our daily maps and having the book as backup. That was a bike-specific book that we wouldn't have been able to replace along the way so we felt the need for the backup. But in your case, it's just a Michelin map so you could easily replace it at any gas station along the way - so I'd just do the ripping method. It's coil-bound so it should be easy to rip.
lol brutal but perfect advice...anyway i bough it used one for 20 $...good that i did not buy new one(120$ or something)