Cycling trip for a few months.

[Martin1975]

Hi,

I am thinking of having a few months away cycling and was wondering if anyone would like to come along for the ride. At the moment i have 3 ideas

1) uk to Asia via Turkey and Iran and then keep trying to head east.Setting off sometime around July.
2) uk to Morocco via France ,Spain ,Morocco and maybe back via Portugal and North spain.again around July or August time
3) vietnam,cambodia and Thailand setting off around November

Has anyone else got any cycling ideas they would like to throw in the mix??
I will look to camp it to keep costs down and really just head off to find some sun for once.

I am a 37 year old guy and facy getting out of the uk for a while,if you fancy a few months away please send me a message!!

Martin

 

[Crankarm]

Foreigh office advice for Iran at the moment is to avoid, so 1) is out. Turkey is nice though, especially in the mountains in the middle and east.

2) is a possibility although July/August would be extremely hot definitely in Spain other countries you mention probably the same.
3) Doable although I wouldn't want to camp as accommodation is so cheap. Again could be very hot and sticky.

How about setting off alone and meeting people along the way? How come you appear to have so much available time?

How about riding to Venice on one of the Eurovelo routes over the Alps?

 

[BigonaBianchi]

...go west young man

 

[Martin1975]

Well i have done much of central europe, Italy ,Croatia on other trips although not by bike,i really want to get to see a muslim country for a change.Yeah my Iranian friends are saying its not looking good to get into the country due to elections and we British getting involved in Syria . I have heard some people who have done recently with no problems though.
I have never actually been to western Europe apart from a month cycling in France and Germany so am looking at Spain ,Portugal and a few weeks in Morocco as an alternative. I have to keep costs down as my job finishes around August time and instead of worrying about finding a new one i want to go and enjoy myself in the sun for a change,i won't have much money to spend and the cheaper the accomodation the longer i can be away for.

 

[doog]

I see there are a couple of British cyclists who have just done Syria and Iran on CGOAB, indeed one is still in Iran seemingly taken aback by the hospitality.
I guess us cyclists are are well based to push the edge of adventure, so why not ?

 

[Martin1975]

Yeah i know ,its just a hell of a long way not to be allowed in, sounds like its in a couple of months things will toughen up when the elections take place. Anyway,are you up for it??

 

[doog]

Yeah i know ,its just a hell of a long way not to be allowed in, sounds like its in a couple of months things will toughen up when the elections take place. Anyway,are you up for it??

I would be well up for it in 18 months time . It strikes me with Iran that you have a populace gagging for Westernisation or some kind of half way house ( however I base this rather simplistic view on reading cycling journals )

 

[Martin1975]

yes,i have a few friends in Iran and i must say they all seem great people,quite crazy and try to rebel in their own little ways by drinking and wearing the shortest skirts you ever saw ,and thats just the men they do still have good morals though and sound the friendliest bunch of people you could meet...thats before we start on the history and archetecture of the place. I think it would be a fantastic place to visit!!

 

[Yellow7]

Iran is the country i'm looking forward to going through on my up-n-coming tour. I met some Iranian's on my previous tour and they said their hospitality is second to none.

There’s some impressive architecture to see, both old and new, the [huge] Freedom Monument being the one I’m looking forward to seeing.

 

[Martin1975]

Yeah id love to see it to,have you enquired about Visa's yet??when do you plan to get there? and where are you going? yes i just read on a best places to cycle link that they are the friendliest people you can wish to meet. That sounds brilliant to me as you don't tend to get that so much here,you usually end up with a farmer telling you to get off his land here!!

 

[Yellow7]

Arranging visa's before-hand puts too much of a time-constraint on the trip so [as previously] will arrange as I plod along, so no time frame - makes for more of an adventure!! Final destination is Singapore, departing 11th May.
Tip, If you do cycle across France cemeteries are a great place for water, as there's always a tap!...& every village has one...also, after dusk they make an excellent [dead quiet ] place to camp!!

 

[xilios]

Has anyone else got any cycling ideas they would like to throw in the mix??

Martin

If you would like to keep it in Europe you could ride from the northern most point of Europe (north cape) to the southern most point (Crete).

 

[Martin1975]

i like the idea of getting out of Europe this trip and maybe in to some Muslm countries for a change . Thanks for the idea though

 

[Crankarm]

Iran is the country i'm looking forward to going through on my up-n-coming tour. I met some Iranian's on my previous tour and they said their hospitality is second to none.

There’s some impressive architecture to see, both old and new, the [huge] Freedom Monument being the one I’m looking forward to seeing.

Only the Iranian people aren't free. The regime crushes any dissent and Human rights abuses are frequent and the treatment of women who so much as flap an eyelid toward a man are sentenced to death for comitting adultery, but apart from that eveything is fine and dandy .................

 

[Cycleops]

yes,i have a few friends in Iran and i must say they all seem great people,quite crazy and try to rebel in their own little ways by drinking and wearing the shortest skirts you ever saw ,and thats just the men they do still have good morals though and sound the friendliest bunch of people you could meet...thats before we start on the history and archetecture of the place. I think it would be a fantastic place to visit!!

I would echo crankarms thoughts. Iranians in Iran are different to Iranians out of Iran. Iran is led by a hard line Islamic leadership. The Revolutionary Guard certainly don't wear skirts but they way be laughing and joking with you as they tape electrodes to your intimate parts. Best avoided I'd have thought.