-
• #3
stick to the french belgian and dutch coast and you won't even see a hill, it all depends on where you are heading, the hillier and more undulating it is the slower and less distance per day it'll be
-
• #4
Averaged 120 km/day 2016, across France from St Malo to Liege. Warmshowers/b&b's.
I am 68 so its doable at a higher distance/day as I guess you are younger? -
• #5
I recently finished a European mini-tour last year. What I did was train on a 'more than average ratio' which was 48/15. I later trained on 48/14 to condition my legs for the roughest hills ahead.
But when it came to touring, I swapped to 48/17 which was skid-friendly, and leg friendly. Because I had trained my legs for higher gears, this was too easy and smooth all the way.
Preparation needs to be done before touring fixed. Recovery is very important. i.e.; protein shakes advised w/carb loading.I used to cycle on average between 110 and 140km a day. That's in KILOMETRES.
I was riding a brakeless lo-pro also.
I am planning another month-tour for this summer but doing it on a Omnium Cargo Mini Max bike. Solo.
Doing it fixed, wrecked my knees and it wasn't always pleasant.
-
• #7
Nice picture. Did you stay in hotels all the time?
-
• #8
Only in Morocco as they were like a tenner a night.
Camping and Wild Camping the entire time.
-
• #10
Hey all,
thank you for the replies. The @willsduk 's story really made me laugh but... he has a point :-) (brakeless??? amazing!)
Indeed the post of @mjw1988 has a lot of info.
However, I will need your input (based on your experience) on how you deal with the a long lasting 10% -15% grade. Is it normal to just get off the bike, maybe try walking a bit (text someone along the way and send her a nice picture of the mountains, right @edscoble ? - kidding of course) till the steep part ends?
I am planning to do a week's cycling in Greece this year. Maybe try a few of Greek Islands. Even though the coastal route in most of the places around the world is more or less flat, a steep part cannot always be avoided.
-
• #11
Cycled the Rhine a couple of years back from the Lindau on the German/Austrian border to Rotterdam. That was on a fixed gear surly 1x1 with chunky 29x2" tyres and a 38x(17/19) dingle speed jobby. I took a pannier and stayed mostly in hostels (they are epic along the Rhine old castles etc). and wild camping. There was a tough day between Schaffhaussen and Basel when things got a bit hilly in Switzerland, I think that is only because i lost the main path. But the toughest day was actually the last one to Rotterdam, it was 140km and when riding on top of dykes in Holland the wind can be brutal.
I think I was doing between 100 and 140km per day. It was summer so long and leisurely with pretzels, beer and Black Forest Gateau along the way.
-
• #12
I will need your input (based on your experience) on how you deal with the a long lasting 10% -15% grade. Is it normal to just get off the bike, maybe try walking a bit.
Ride with a flip flop hubs if it's a long lasting 10-15% grade.
I had 48/20 as a touring gear, a touch spinny but work great, I also had a 22t cog on the other side in case, but had never resort to walking.
Shamefully, in the entire 3,000km to Casablanca from London, the only time I have walked is in Guildford!
-
• #13
Black Forest Gateau
Hilarious :-)
1 Attachment
-
• #15
Yeah but surely
Black Forest Gateaux along the way.
Only one isn't really enough.
I have been riding my fixed for one year now and I must say I kind of enjoy it. :-)
However, I do not know if that is going to be wise, but I want to attempt travelling with that abroad.
Might to ask your input or any kind of suggestion on how many miles should I set per day?