700miles London to Berlin SS

I'm riding SS to Berlin over 7 days in May as part of a charity ride.

Has anyone ridden this before, or a similarly intense trip?

I ride long distance with a camelbak, and enough banana's, glucose drinks & snacks to feed....well me...over said distance - usually stuffed in the back of my jersey or bag.

Fully expecting to be destroyed by it, but welcome any ideas to make it as bearable as possible.

Tom

It's pretty flat and you're going when it's lighter longer so you have plenty of time to make the 100/day. You should be fine. Do some long rides on the same bike now to iron out any niggles.

Oh snap, we're cycling back from Berlin in May (between May 5 - 13). We should meet in the middle if you're around then

Good work Shinigami. We're doing 7th to 13th May. I'll dig out the planned stops and post them up here to see if there's any crossover!

Cheers Hippy. I'm based in Norfolk at the moment, so training on the flat is a speciality.

7th: St Pauls, London - Harwich (Overnight ferry)
8th: Hook of Holland - Brummen
9th: Brummen - Harsewinkel
10th: Harsewinkel - Hoxter
11th: Hoxter - Wernigerode
12th: Wernigerode - Coswig
13th: Coswig - Berlin

Here's the route we're taking, there's definitely crossover!

Haven't broken it down into days yet but we leave Berlin on the 5th. We need to arrange a crossover!

Finishing in the 'dam - lecke.

After a quick perusal the Harsewinkel (J) to Wernigerode (G) stretch might be the best opportunity for a crossover!

Lets get on it. You got a baton we can exchange? Maybe a fat joint from the Dutch end, and a bratwurst from the German?

posted this on the other thread but this guy's journey back in December was amazing, he's now doing a series fo talks about it: http://www.bikesberlin.com/discussion/30/schatten-jagen-on-a-singlespeed-from-edinburgh-to-germany

Just ordered 48 mule bars and mad nuun, let me know if you're hungry when we meet.

I'm always hungry, i'm a grazer.

I do need to get tooled up with energy food/drink. Best be getting on it as not long to go now.

Are you based in Berlin or flying out there soon? I'll be down in London this weekend if you fancy a pre-meet meet.

Lets get on it. You got a baton we can exchange? Maybe a fat joint from the Dutch end, and a bratwurst from the German?

This seems like an unfair swap. Unless that's a damn good bratwurst.

I'm always hungry, i'm a grazer.

I do need to get tooled up with energy food/drink. Best be getting on it as not long to go now.

Are you based in Berlin or flying out there soon? I'll be down in London this weekend if you fancy a pre-meet meet.

We're flying out on Monday. I've kept this weekend free, so I'll PM you my number and let me know where you'll be.

Have you got a hostel booked? We could take some of your stuff and leave it at the hostel so you have a clean change of clothes that you don't have to carry.

We've got them all booked. I've got a list somewhere will check it out.

After your advice my mule bars and nuun have arrived. Wiggle were doing BOGOF on piña colada flavour...Now I just need my ginsters pasties, protein drinks, and anti-chaf.

Will give you a buzz over the weekend. Enjoy

Edit: forgot to say thanks for the offer of taking some gear. Thats very kind! I think we may have a support van lugging our shite everywhere. Luxury!

Yeah, I got the BOGOF from Wiggle too.

Can't believe you guys have a support car, what a bunch of ballers!

We're smashing it, how are you guys getting along?

A couple of us are cycling to Berlin in August for charidee (not fixed) so be good to hear your stories/route when you get back. Have fun!

Ah we all got there in the end, though my sitbones are ravaged, as is my right knee. Was on a cocktail of ibuprofen and paracetomol for most of the week. Weather was spot on apart from one day when it lashed it down.

We mostly followed the R1 route, which is pretty good although you do come across the odd sand, gravel, forest track which can make staying upright interesting. And the Dutch/German penchant for cobbled roads doesnt help much either. Like riding a jackhammer.

My calves are looking fairly epic now, as are my tan lines. Sexy.

Mothergirl - happy to forward on some route details. A few guys had Garmins which were pretty damn useful for improvised route making should roads be closed or turn to sand.

Sounds like a great ride. I wouldn't mind seeing the route either.

Toying with the idea of buying a garmin but for touring i'd rather have one that supports AA or AAA batteries.

Please do! Would really help us, our route planning sucks at the minute especially because we're trying to only stop at places beginning with B! Have no idea what a Garmin is....googling....yes, looks very useful!!

Some of the details forwarded on by the ride leader!

The link below is a route guide for the R1 through Germany to Berlin.

http://www.euroroute-r1.de/EN/Introduction/Germany/Details/Route_Germany/K436.htm?RID=430

And this is the route From Hook Van Holland following the River Lek to Zutphen.

http://www.gpsies.com/map.do;jsessionid=C53B7E4A4F7648FE81685482D9BE286B?fileId=ecaylnupkkoqepaa

We followed the R1 for a day and a half then abandoned it. It's better in West Germany than East though (legacy issues perhaps).

I fancy doing New York to San Francisco, I reckon it will take two months

I'm going to be cycling to Berlin in August with a couple of friends. Have done the Holland leg before so pretty familiar with that section, was just wondering if anyone had any knowledge of good campsites/wild camping spots between the dutch border and Berlin? I know the bikeline R1 guide has lots of information so will be buying that soon, but would be nice to have some inside info as it were...

Don't use the R1 in Eastern Germany if you don't have an off-road capable bike. Stay in hotels, live life like a baller.

My tourer is a soma double cross with a triple and 32mm tyres. Do you think that will cope? How rough are the paths? I would love to be a baller but this is going to be a dining at Lidl budget sort of trip (and I prefer to camp).