I'm going off in one, two, three, four, 5, 6, 7...21 days (whopee!) to make a tour around Britain and Ireland. I guess I'm one of those who just decided extempore to make a bike tour abroad without too much experience on long distance cycling.

I was first planning an interrail trip or equivalent in Europe, but then decided to concentrate on the British isles since the culture(s)interest me very much and I have only been there when I was a wee baby. First I thought of purchasing a train/bus card, but because they're so expensive and the isles are rather small I opted for a bike. It allows one go where one likes and is a lot cheaper at least on short distances.

I guess I ought to make a couple of longer rides here home before setting out on the big journey, but I only have an old city bike which doesn't quite temp me to go.

I wouldn't worry too much Anttipop - look at it this way: if you are really unfit and ride really slow, say 8 - 10 km/h, and you get up early - you'll still be able to easily ride 60 - 80 km a day.
I'm somebody who prefers short and fast rides in the 20 km/h area (obviously that depends on the topography and is only really possible on tarmac). I always find the biggest issue I have at the end of the day are not my legs...but my back-side. So, I'd rather ride 5-6 hours hard than 8-9 hours slow. But that's me.
I don't think you need to train before your trip. Just make sure your first 2 or 3 days are not too long and plan a break after day three (to me day 3 and 4 are always by far the worst...afterwards it's getting better). Afterward you'll just get strong and will be able to raise the bar.

Are you going to ride alone? Or will you be riding with (a) friend(s)?

Let us know how it is going! Would be cool get a few riders writing here....

A.

quote:

The bike gets more and more appealing to me. Obviously, we will wait till we accomplished our 1000 km Tasmania trip before we'll make any decisions on an extended Asia bike tour. But...for some reason I believe that Tasmania will only support the current tendency.

My only thought on this elAdi is that you could cycle SEA when your 55. And there are many overland routes that you're thinking about doing that you may not be as enticed to do as you get older and older. Overlanding Africa by your own vehicle comes to mind. It's just my opinion

But, I myself have quite a few cycle journeys in mind as well, but I am just way to young to do them yet. And SEA, I'll probably be doing that when I am 70.

Not quite sure I get the logic behind this, halfnine. I do see the basis of your argument. However, to me the things 'I will do when I am old' are more in the line of safaris, sight-seeing, etc. I'm not sure if a 12 - 18 months cycling tour starting in Indonesia is really something I'll consider when I'm 70 (plus, I won't reach 70 anyhow, so there! )
I do see the point that there are other places where we could cycle. But my gf hasn't been to SEA and wants to go...and 'backpacking' through SEA just bores the hell out of me. So, the compromise is a extended cycling tour. Who knows, maybe a cycling tour in Africa will be next on the list. 'One thing after the other, like they do in Paris.' (Strange Swiss German proverb, that I have no clue where it has its origins.)

We have been and are still thinking about actaully starting in PNG and then entering Indonesia in Papua. 99% of people tell me it's impossible - but there is one guy who did it: Cycling Home From Siberia. Would that be hard core enough to warrant the trip?

quote:

But my gf hasn't been to SEA and wants to go...and 'backpacking' through SEA just bores the hell out of me. So, the compromise is a extended cycling tour

I understand now. I'll be checking out the progress on your website either way.

Thanks for the link.

hey, just saw this thread and wanted to encourage anyone here at BnA thinking about doing a bicycle tour for their next adventure. we finished our (first ever) bike tour a couple of months ago. Took us 4 months on the road and almost covered 4000kms in the end. It was definitely the best thing I've ever done!
I would highly recommend the Carretera Austral (Chile) bit in particular for anyone looking for a one month to 6 weeks adventure through stunning scenery.
Here's our Blog anyway if you want to check out our trip.

xpatgeo, thanks for that. Very, very cool. Great pictures! Great tour! Love the pics!

December is approaching (slow, slow, oh so slow) and the trip in Tasmania is drawing closer. Yay!

Nice rack, xpatgeo!

I'm heading off on the ol' bike for another month through the hills of North Thailand soon

Colinm, would like to hear a detailed and extensive report on it! Planning to ride SEA in about a years time...

So, now that I have some specific news, I thought "let's bump the cycling thread".

We just booked our flights to Tasmania. Will head out on 16th December and come back on 13th January. A good four weeks cycling lies ahead of us. We haven't come up with a route yet. Both, me and my girlfriend, like riding/touring off-road, so we would like to ride (part of) The Tasmanian Trail. However, the guide book is out of stock and out of print. Bummer. Well, we'll see if we can pick one up somewhere around Tassie.
A bit of researched showed that Tasmanian accommodation gets pretty scares around the holiday season. Which means, we will spend many nights in our tent. That's cool. I just hope it won't rain every day. Or even snow. (Yes, I was surprised too that it can still be snowing in December on Tasmania.)
What remains now are 15 days of frantic organization. I need to service my bike, including bleeding the break. There are a few modifications to be made as we. I'm also eBaying like crazy to get a few things that will be good to have on this (and especially the big Asian) trip. Water filter, new and light cooking utensils, etc, etc. Hopefully I'll snatch up those cheap Oertlieb panniers as well.

Anyhow, enough of the rambling. You can always follow us around on my website.

Any other cycling tours planned for any of the Booties?

I would love to do a long trip on a bicycle but would want to do it with an expert who can teach me things before the trip and then on the trip take care of things I cannot manage.

Maybe I will join ElAdi :-)

A big tour does not appeal me right now but maybe someday.

There's not that much expertise needed.

a) When it hurts, try to enjoy it.
b) Learn to love your tent (mentally, not physically, please!)
c) Fixing a flat might help. And taking a chain apart - but it's not rocket science.

and most importantly

d) Learn to love the moments when your ass doesn't hurt.

Madhu, we plan to go on a long trip in 2009. You could join us for a week or two over there in Asia.

quote:

Originally posted by elAdi:

Madhu, we plan to go on a long trip in 2009. You could join us for a week or two over there in Asia.

You never know I might :-)

Just came back from a month cycling around Tasmania.

First of all: there are no (NO!) flat bits in Tasmania. There is always a hill around the next bend. Often we would find ourselves in situations where 270 degrees of the panorama was filled with several mountain ranges and we knew we had to climb at least one of them.

But all in all, it was a great trip. Part of the trip, we cycled on the Tasmanian Trail. This is only recommended if you have a mountain bike and at least some mountain biking experience. But it's a good adventure and you end up camping in very remote places, having the bush (and the wildlife) to yourself.
This is one great thing about traveling on a bicycle anyway: because you are slow and fairly silent (except if you are huffing and puffing up yet another steep hill), so you come across a lot of unsuspecting wildlife. We have seen them all in Tasmania: the obvious Wallabies, the shy Enchidnas, the curious Devils, Wombats and even some Tiger Snakes (which is a bit scary really).

Here a few pics:

Ahm....where exactly are we?


Downhiiiiiiiill!


Ouch, cold.


Hiking up to Marion's Lookout, with Cradle Mountain in the background


Now what?


And just an encouragement for all of those out there considering a bike tour but worrying about fitness: if you are half-way fit (i.e. not 20 kilos overweight), you will get to the necessary fitness level with about two weeks. The first few days might be tough and you will be hurtin'. But your body adjusts pretty quickly.

So, pick up your bike and ride like the wind.

a.