jlaeret

Hey!

This is my first post on this forum, I've been visiting for a little short of a year now. I figured it was about time to make a post and get some feedback on my touring plans.

This summer I hope to have around 60 days off that I can use for a long bike trip through Europe. It will be my first bike tour, and I realize I'm jumping into the deep end of the pool by starting off with a long journey like this for my first proper bike trip. However, I hope that with the right attitude and some well made preparations it is possible.

My plan is to start off in the Netherlands and bike south-west. The idea is to bike as far as I can and fly back again. My end objective, if everything goes according to plan and I'm a bit lucky is to reach Marrakech in Morocco. However, I'm keeping everything open-ended.

I'm riding an old (15 years, or something) Koga Miyata Randonneur bike that I bought a brooks flyer saddle for. The other day I mounted some new brake pads, and I plan on using the time up to the summer learning how to maintain the bike while I swap old, worn parts.

For camping I hope to get this tent: https://www.quechua.com/EN/1-second-simple-33683812/
What do you think of that? It collapses to a disc 21.5 inches (55 cm) in diameter. Can I fit this next to my wheel? Can I mount panniers outside of this again?

Now, for my biggest concern: HEAT! I'll be riding south through Europe in the middle of the summer, hopefully reaching Morocco. It will be very hot, but I reckon somewhat dry. Does anyone have experience with touring in this kind of weather? How much water should I carry per day? Is it completely reckless?

I'll round off here, before I make it too long winded, but rest assured I'll be back with more questions soon!

Cyclebum

Don't make this your first bike tour. Do a couple of overnight camping trips to check out yourself and your gear.

Flexibility on a bike tour will likely mean more fun and less frustration. Too much tho and you may never reach your goal.

That concept for a tent has been around long enough that it should have caught on better by now if it was all that great. But, it is intriguing , and priced low enough to indulge curiosity without too much damage to the pocket book. Looks like a potential oven on warm nights and a condensation machine on cold nights. Where's the ventilation?

How much water depends on how frequently you'll be in range of fresh supply and how hot it is. Minimum of 2 liters. For every 50 miles in 95(35) degree heat and no resupply, at least 6 liters, plus 1 for camping/cooking.

jlaeret

Thanks!
Yeah, I forgot to mention that I will do several weekend tours before the summer. That way I'll get an idea of what range I can expect per day.

Good tip on the flexibility. To put it this way; my dream is to make it all the way to Morocco, but since I might run out of time or something might come up underway I won't set a date and location for my return trip. As a precaution (and a dose of reality).

I'm curious about the tent. What specifications should I look for to determine whether the tent will ventilate well? According to the site:

With that amount of water, I will probably design my route so that I can refill regularly. After all carrying around 10 liters of water would be equal to 10 kg plus the weight of the containers.

Juha

It's pretty hard to tell from the picture, but it seems their fly sheet is a "bag" and the "bedroom" part of the tent and the poles are inside that bag. That would also make it easier to come up with the 2 second set up mechanism they advertise. In that case, only openings in the bag would be the door and whatever special "ventilation flaps" they've built into it. Furthermore, it could be tricky to fix a broken pole.

In a well ventilated two wall tent, fly sheet goes on top of the tent but does not close at the bottom (it attaches to the inner tent structure in several points to keep it in place). That way there's a continuous "low side flap" around the entire tent. Even that design is uncomfortable in hot and humid conditions. Of course, if it's just hot and no rain, you can take the rain fly off completely. Not sure if you can do that in the tent you linked to.

I also find it curious they use their own "laboratory" method to measure waterproofness, instead of the standard water column test. They do mention they think their method simulates real life better. But at that price point, I cannot help but to wonder if their fabrics and seams don't do particularly well in the standard test.

One more thing, I think the packed shape and size of the thing (a round disc, 55cm diameter) isn't particularly handy for bike touring. I have to admit, I'm not impressed by that tent, if you couldn't tell it already.

--J

Metzinger

When I'm ready for it, I'd like my coffin to be about that size.

robi

Well, NL is much rainier than ES and M. so make sure you do a few short trips in the NL, if you are in A'dam do a weekend up to Groningen and around there, try the tent in the rain. I have taken kids on weekend trips. Some of them had that tent but it was carried in a car and held up ok in the rain. I personally just use a tarp, not a tarp tent, a plain old tarp sg like 1.5 m x 2.5 m. works in the rain, wind etc.

I think your trip will be fun.


Robi

takeonafrica

Re. water: This should be no problem. I cycled through France and Spain and into Morocco last summer. Central Spain in August reached temperatures exceeding 40C. There are plenty of villages where you can refill your bottles. I think the most I ever carried was 2-3 litres.
In central Spain, I found I preferred to get up early and be on the bike just as it was getting light (about 6.45am) and then would cycle until about 11-12pm when I came to a nice town and would spend the afternoon there relaxing (eat, drink, sleep, read, internet etc) until later on, about 5-6pm when I would cycle again until dusk and find somewhere to camp. The midday sun I found too much for cycling in. You'll find a routine that suits you though.

Happy to provide details of route I took if you're interested. My blog for the trip is on my Take On Africa site.

jlaeret

Thanks guys, some great advice so far!

I think you're right, Juha, when you say that the fly sheet is a bag containing the 'bedroom' part. The stuff you point out makes me want to consider getting a different tent instead. After all ventilation will be very important. Do any of you have any recommendations for a budget tent for one person and some gear?

Robi, I'm actually in Delft. I might still do a tour up to Groningen, though. Never been there before.

takeonafrica: I'm glad to hear that. Biking in the morning and afternoon with a siesta at midday was what I was planning to do as well. Glad that it worked out well for you! How did you find the ferry ride crossing Gibraltar? Was it convenient to cross with your bike and gear? Where did you get a ticket, and was it expensive?

takeonafrica

I took the ferry from Algeciras to Ceuta. I just walked into one of the many travel offices in Algeciras and bought the ticket through them... the ferry left a couple of hours later. I cycled over to the port and waited to board. Very simple. Walked on with the bike, left it on the car loading level by the side and went up to the deck. Really can't remember the cost though - it is what it is.
I love siestas! Continuing them here!