ride fast, see the world

Basically just working until I'm able to afford to do it :/ Having to push it back for a couple of months probably until summer starts proper. Been a bit tough recently for my bank account with some unexpected expenses! Getting near but not quite enough £££ just yet.
Still super focused on getting out onto the road. Feels sort of nice to be doing lots of hours at work knowing it's towards a goal.. however slowly that is.
That being said, I've been riding a lot so in pretty good shape at the moment so that is an upside.

Thinking of not going super deep into Italy now. After going through France and Switzerland I probably won't go further south than Florence (although it's a shame not getting to see Rome), rather I might swing back up by the French Riviera and stay there for a week or two with some friends. Then ride back up north.

TBH, some of the places you are planning, an extra month or so might make for better riding anyway I think; particularly further north and crossing the mountains.

If you still have room on the itinerary, I recommend Pistoia. Small-ish city just outside of Florence out of the way of all the tourists. Stumbled upon it many moons ago and was pleasantly surprised, really nice bars and restaurants and great Italian vibe going on after the sun sets.

Put this together for some Richmond/Regent's hamster wheel intervals/training.
Just parts bin, nothing fancy. It needs a 90mm and a touch of setback, and the brake wired up.
Bit anti but pretty functional for its purpose.

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Black cranks with silver chainring gang 😩

Any updates about your plans/ tour?

Things are not going great, is the short version of it. Would like to say 'ups and downs' but it has been pretty much just downs!
I took a job to save the last bit of money I needed to get going, but after a short bit of time there I quit. It was pretty horrible and completely ruined my mental health so I ended up walking out on the job one day. Since then it has been rough financially...
I've had to spend much of the money I saved for the trip on living expenses so I'm sort of back at square one. I've got another job but it's not earning very much at all. I like the work well enough, and get on super well with my co-workers but I didn't really want to end up in this kind of work again so I'm feeling a bit demoralised. If it all went to plan I'd be on the road as we speak!

After letting myself get so excited about the tour, telling all my friends and people I ride with, I feel like a bit of a failure to myself and all those people. And to everyone on the forum who has been so kind and helpful, sharing their knowledge and experiences.
Feeling actually quite upset about it, to be honest.
I've wanted to go do this for so long now, and I've spent so long saving and planning and dreaming about it that it's crushed me a bit.

I think I can scrounge up enough money by the end of summer if nothing else goes wrong, but how likely that is I'm not sure.
Until them I'm just working away trying to save some money and riding lots of my days off. One good thing, I suppose, is that although I spend a lot of my savings while looking for a job I have been able to ride a lot so I'm feeling pretty fast and fit at the moment.

So yeah, that's where I am at the moment. Sorry everyone :( life can be a bit shit

You can get DA9000 cranks in 165mm.

You're not a failure for having to delay a trip! Life shit gets in the way some times. It has to be dealt with, just like a physical injury.

What about doing a short trip somewhere that's within a reduced budget to at least let you test some stuff out, clear your head?

always a shame when plans fall through, especially when they fall through due to the crushing mundanity of general life. it's one thing to have your tour stopped by a broken collar bone, another because of bills and employment. you correctly identify here that there is that extra twist of the knife which comes from the general embarassed feeling of telling everyone about your dream and ambition only to be derailed by something that many people take for granted, good mental health, a good job, and a supportive environment.

i think with the culture of cycling, especially on the preformance end, it can often lead one to over individualise these things, i should be in control of my mental health, i should work at my job and not quit, i should ride up that hill better, if i can put up with a vo2 max test surely i can put up with dave at work, if i can't why in the hell do i think i can crest an alp!?

but i think what you've written here is a particularly wise, earnest and healthy thing, to recognise it is disapointing, it is a little embarassing, on a emotional level, but ultimately not the end. you have your fitness, your health, your bike and oppertunity. whenever it happens is in the end arbitary and achievable

if you fancy a ride (albeit slower than your usual pace) i would be more than happy to keep you company till you escape to the continent

Don't sweat it, there are few people who don't have to compromise in some way about all kinds of things they want to do. Not having the money, not having the time, being ill, loved ones being ill, something else needing to be prioritised. Happens to us all unless we're extremely lucky.

Keep focusing on the positive angle; eventually it'll probably come together, even if its next year or the year after. Even if it doesn't, chances are you have good reasons, so look to those first then worry about the trip.

Sorry to hear that and sorry for asking about it, I didn't mean to be pushy.
Don't be too hard on yourself, my experience is that if you're not really feeling relaxed and youre worrying about things it the trip won't be very enjoyable anyways, so then it's better to postpone it a bit.
I think that Hippy's idea to do a short trip might be a good one if you feel like it.

Just wanted to add that I met quite some cyclist on tours with a budget of 10-15€ a day so you don't even need to save that much really.

Another thing that might be fun is Workaway, it's basically free food and accommodation for a couple hours work each day, you could do this anywhere and still have enough time left to go on rides where ever you are, I have positive experiences with this:)
All the best!!

Thanks everyone for the kind words.

Got a small bit of money saved so - finally - will be on the road in August.
I will be staying a week in Nice so need to begin planning a route down there.
I'm happy to do decent mileage daily.

First thing - what is the best way out of Dieppe, around Paris, for the first couple of days of riding?
I'd like to put a couple bigger days in to get clear of the north, as there isn't anything there right now I'd like to see and am not really fussed about spending anytime near or in Paris.
I'm weary of just sitting on the national cycle routes as they seem a touch boring, as people have mentioned earlier in the thread. But maybe this is the better option for the first couple of days? I imagine it won't be so boring as it'll be the start of the trip and I'm sure I'll be happy just to be riding.

Can easily tailor a super route around paris for you with a mix of fast and scenic bits, i'll message a gpx.
My usual one goes to versailles, i'd be tempted to route you there so the forum gets a baaw pic in front of the Castle

Ideally you don't want to ride on national roads, but departemental ones, some sections are almost like uk A-roads so that is plenty enough.

This would be perfect, might PM you some questions too :)

🥳

Excellent news!

If you're passing through the Dijon area, let me know, I will be down there for a break some time in August (probably riding down from Luxembourg).

Good luck Sam, post pics!

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Would look good with a Crust Clydesdale

thicc down tube

perfect

went full rando

Not totally a fan of this rando-bag so will be switching to something else soon.
Light placement is not optimal but I'm limited by how short the wire has been cut. Still functionally pretty good.

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Excellent patch and rig. I have heard other people complaining about those restrap randos so you're not alone

Caught a glimpse of this being pushed through HHV earlier, really cool. I’m liking what the rando setup adds to to retro/modern vibe