Write, read, ride, eat, sleep, meet, clean, drink.

Pretty much takes up the whole day.

You're kidding, right? Even if you're riding through Kansas (sorry Kansans), the trip IS the entertainment. Smell the roses along the way, there will be plenty if you open your eyes.

I remember you

I'm on tour and in Iowa right now, and so far, the only thing I've wanted to do in my downtime is read or sit around. I know I should update my journal, check my bank balance, answer email, rearrange my gear so my clothes are not in the stinky pannier... but it's just too damn hot and I don't want to sweat into my gear.

Enjoy your tour Tansy!
I've traveled with the best intentions of journalizing and organizing pictures, etc. It just never gets done properly. I'd rather experience it rather than feeling like I need to do an assignment on it at the end of the day.
Others have much better skills at this I guess.

Hi - I'm new here. I just posted a bit about me in the Introductions forum. Next month I plan to cycle (alone) through Bohemia from Prague (Czech Republic) to Bayreuth (Germany). I have 5 or 6 days to do the trip. By road it's about 240km / 150 miles, which I would expect to do in two days, so I can afford to (a) meander and explore quite a bit and/or (b) take my MTB instead of my road bike so that I can maximise the off-road element. (b) of course will reduce my daily average distance, but I'm happy about that because I prefer off-road cycling, on lanes and tracks etc, to road riding. I don't look for the "technical" thrills of jumping over rocks and tree roots, btw, but I enjoy single-track, climbing and descending. I'll have a tent and sleeping bag with me, but not cooking gear etc so I'll be limited to 'proper' campsites or cheap hotels / B&Bs - I'm not into 'wild' camping. I speak German but not Czech.


So where should I go? I know much of Germany well, but not the east end of Bavaria through which my route will pass. And I've read things about the Bayerischer Wald that make it sound very appealing for cycling. But I've never cycled in the Czech Republic before, so I'm thinking I'd like to spend more of my time there. I like most of the usual tourist things - hills, mountains, lakes, forests, castles, quaint old towns and villages. A typical day's touring for me is 8 hours in the saddle and 4 hours out of it, ie a pretty leisurely progress. On the road I rarely average more than 12mph while riding, and am happy if it's 10, especially in the hills.

All suggestions welcomed. I'm not expecting a detailed itinerary (though it's great if you can suggest one!) - even a one-line reply such as "Don't dare to miss Zrabdubice" (I made that name up, btw) is helpful. I'm particularly interested in way-marked MTB trails and road routes, so that I don't have to keep stopping to use map and compass.

Yours hopefully,
camcycad

You take a pervert with you for entertainment? Don't get me wrong, I am sure they can be funny to have around but they seem kinda heavy and bulky to me.

being a family forum, I am forcing, forcing, forcing myself to restraint on all the female midget porn star joke potential here....

ps, when time allows you, I cant wait to read about the details of fistfights with swimming buffalos.
cheers

An 8"x5" 140 grm sketch pad, 6 pencils [hb to b5], putty eraser, pencil sharpener.
Great excuse to lounge around somewhere scenic for an hour or two.

I did have a touring partner who carried one of those tiny water colour outfits. [ Clarification: She still carrys the water-colour outfit, we dont tour together any more.]