Planning my first abroad ride...help!!

[Thompson]

Right, here's the gist. I'm taking a gap year next year (after my A-Levels) and i'm wanting go cycle abroad for a couple of weeks at least. I've heard of a few people who cycle round the tour de france route and this sounds great! I mean, I watch it each year and would love to pretend to win.

I don't mind doing it on my own, yeah it'll be a bit worrying but still great fun. However my mam seems somewhat nervous about it all to say the least. When I first put this idea across the table she didn't seem convinced at all.

I was wondering if there are any organised rides abroad which take place over a few weeks, are quite fast paced and of rather high mileage. If there isn't a TDF ride then i'll either go it alone, parental permission or not, or find somewhere else to go. I haven't started planning it at all yet as i've still got some time. I know this will cost alot, but in my gap year i'm going to get a job at Asda or somewhere to raise some money for my travels.

Basically, the reason i've posted here is to ask for some advice on some things:

1. Where on earth do you start with the planning business?
2. Are there any reliable and useful websites anyone knows of?
3. What's the average cost of such thing?
4. Are there any good places people could recommend if the France thing doesn't happen?

That is all.

 

[Ticktockmy]

Right, here's the gist. I'm taking a gap year next year (after my A-Levels) and i'm wanting go cycle abroad for a couple of weeks at least. I've heard of a few people who cycle round the tour de france route and this sounds great! I mean, I watch it each year and would love to pretend to win.

I don't mind doing it on my own, yeah it'll be a bit worrying but still great fun. However my mam seems somewhat nervous about it all to say the least. When I first put this idea across the table she didn't seem convinced at all.

I was wondering if there are any organised rides abroad which take place over a few weeks, are quite fast paced and of rather high mileage. If there isn't a TDF ride then i'll either go it alone, parental permission or not, or find somewhere else to go. I haven't started planning it at all yet as i've still got some time. I know this will cost alot, but in my gap year i'm going to get a job at Asda or somewhere to raise some money for my travels.

Basically, the reason i've posted here is to ask for some advice on some things:

1. Where on earth do you start with the planning business?
2. Are there any reliable and useful websites anyone knows of?
3. What's the average cost of such thing?
4. Are there any good places people could recommend if the France thing doesn't happen?

That is all.

Well done, you have already started the planning business, as you have a basic plan, with which to build on.

As to Websites, there so many, I would just search Google, and for sure it will give you so many. I would start at these sites, as you can read what other people have done, you will see the problems they had and mistakes they made, and the good times of course. http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/

http://travellingtwo.com/

http://www.cycletour....uk/index.shtml

What the average cost: how long is a piece of string..LOL that depends on where and how you travel, I normally start my planning at £25 a day, if I am camping, if using basic Hotels or B&Bs I start my planning at £50 a day.

As to good places, it depends how adventours you want to be, but as a newbie at this touring thing, maybe a few short tours around parts of the UK, to gain the experaince which will make your tour more the enjoyable.

For sure on ths forum, there is so much Knowledge about all things touring, you will have a headache after reading all the comments and info given.

Bob G.

 

[vernon]

1. Where on earth do you start with the planning business?
2. Are there any reliable and useful websites anyone knows of?
3. What's the average cost of such thing?
4. Are there any good places people could recommend if the France thing doesn't happen?

That is all.

1. Think about how you want to sleep. In a tent or bed and breakfast. Organised tours tend to be expensive.
2. None spring to mind but there again I have no intentions of attempting to do a clone of a tour. Getting to ride the same route as the pros in the same year might be a tad difficult. The route is released quite late which makes it difficult for operators to get accommodation booked.
3. Google for cycle tour companies and see the eye watering charges. Try the ctc web site first. www.ctc.org.uk
4. Seeing that you are in Peterlee. Get thissen up to Newcastle and catch a Ferry to Amsterdam then a sleeper train to Munich. Catch a train to Passau and pedal and camp westwards along the Danube on the Eurovelo Six route to Beaune. Catch the European Bike Express coach at Beaune and get off at Stokesly and pedal home to Peterlee.

 

[oldfatfool]

I am doing my first cycling tour next year, http://www.cyclechat...bo-she-say-yes/

I have organised several tours in the past on four wheels and usually stopped in hotels and B&B but this time I am just taking a tent and hoping for the best As for cost I am working on 15E per night camping fees and 25E food and drink.

From experience in the car I would say pick the areas/ roads you want to ride then join the dots via things you want to see. I would then take the distance you think you will travel in a day and half it, (this is probably more specific to driving though)

If you are unsure about where you want to ride, biking (motor) site AlpineRoads.com is quite a good resource and there are a couple of good books especially Motorcycle Journeys through the alps by J. Hermann. As the title suggests it isn't aimed at cyclists but does give some fantastic route ideas.

I looked at several organised 'charity' tours but the costs to either the participant or the charity are high. I am traveling on the bike express.

When planning bare in mind the time of year and weather especially if you are planning on the higher passes/ cols. In a car I normally tour mid June to late Sept, but on the bike I am braving the extra heat and going July. (20th June last year and we had a blizzard and had to follow the blowers over the Grimsel pass for instance.)

 

[willem]

I prefer tour guide books like the various Sustrans guides for the UK. For Europe, this Dutch site gives you some idea: http://europafietser.../routes-all.htm In Germany Esterbauer publish many excellent guides: http://www.esterbauer.com/
Such books have the quiet and scenic routes that you want,and often also additional information like campsites.
As for budget and gear, I think the best way to keep it cheap is to camp and cook your own food. Try to save on the transportation part (avoid UK trains) as well. Spend all the money you save on good gear. From your description you will be in a position to earn decent money for a year, before you will be a penniless student again. So invest in gear this year, and you can look forward to many years of cheap holidays.
Here are some suggestions for quality gear at competitive prices, not because these are the only possibilities, but to give you some idea (cheaper is possible):
bike: Surley Long Haul Trucker with 26 inch wheels. Tubus Cargo rear rack (front rack is unnecessary)
panniers: Ortlieb special edition rear panniers http://www.outdoorwo...et_lang&lang=en If you get compact gear, rear panniers will suffice.
mattress: Exped Synmat basic, or the more expensive Thermarest Neoair All season for even lighter and more compact
Sleeping bag: Alpkit Pipedream 400, or the more expensive PHD Minimus 300 in their sale late February or early March
Stove: for France a Trangia 27 UL HA alcohol stove
tent: I would go for a lightish two person tent like the MSR Hubba Hubba HP. If you are planning bad weather, Hilleberg is bombproof, but very expensive.
As you will see, this adds up, but all this stuff will last for ages. Once you have it, your holidays can be cheap.
Oh and for your mum, I think she should not be worried, there are far worse things you could be doing.
Willem

 

[Crankarm]

You don't mention what sort of cycling experience YOU have. Are you a club cyclist even at 16/17? Do you ride regularly and over longer distances? Have you ridden a loaded touring bike before as it really is quite different to riding a light plastic carbon road bike. If you travel light then you are going to have make do with less on the road and correspondingly spend more on food and accommodation whereas if you carry a tent, sleeping bag and cooking stuff, water, with you, you will be more or less self sufficient only being reliant on buying supplies as and when but you will have a heavier load to lug up the cols. On a fully loaded touring bike you ain't going to set a fast pace, more slowly but surely I'd say. What sort of bike do you currently have? Some of the TdF stages are severe especially the mountain stages. There are some good books by Cicerone one of which features routes in the Alps over the major cols. It might be worth getting it. I take it you want to ride the Alps? Rude not to really. Also consider the Pyrenees which are beautiful to ride. Cycling in the mountains offers numerous opportunities for wild camping if you are brave, but maybe not. There are plenty of cheap campsites and camping municipals in France or a la ferme.

Cycling the French Alps by Paul Henderson Pub by Cicerone ISBN 978 1 85284 551 3

Also try and learn some French between now and then if you don't already speak it. One fo your A-levels might be French!

Don't get hung up on all the kit. Whilst it is a good idea to take the lightest smallest etc and Willem always writes a lot of sense, at your time of life for what you want, a cycling holiday after your A-levels, a cheap light 2 man tent (2kg or less) and sleeping bag from Decathlon is going to be as good as any. They also do lots of other very reasonably priced outdoor and camping gear. There are lots of them in France. But above all have fun and don't be too rigid with your plans as things are bound to change.

I would do a few practise rides in the UK once you have decided on what you are taking then work out what would be an achievable daily distance for you at the start. 50 miles would prob be all right then as you get fitter on the hol maybe up it as you see fit. Even if summer in the Alps be sure to take at least one piece of warm clothing and windproof jacket as the summits can suddenly become very cold in a sudden down pour or on a chilly night camping high up.

 

[Scoosh]

This is worth a read too ...

 

[Thompson]

As for the type of riding, I go with three groups. The first is the 'Sunday' group who cover from 18 miles to 50 in a day, and then some three day trips. If the mileage is below 35ish I'll cycle to the meeting point and back which would add an extra 30 miles on. The next is an off-roady type. We go round forests and cover about 30 miles over rough terrain. The third group is a road racing group which I've only just recently joined but I seem to be holding up well and even won a small race after the session. Though lost another for going the wrong way....
I don't have much experience as of yet, but with planning and training I'm sure I can get some experience points in. I did my first C2C a couple of months ago over two days and supported, as I didn't want to push myself too far seeing as it was my first go. But I managed that fine and even kept up with the 5 blokes I was with. I'm busy planning LEJOG for next year over a week which I'm wanting to do unsupported but the mother wants to come and look after me, bless her.
I won't be camping on my gap year trip, as I have absolutely no experience at all, as the family hate it, even though I'd love to try. and I can't speak a word of French either, despite 5 years of being taught it. Languages Re are a great weakness to me. But if it turns out I am going to France, I'll try to learn some of the basic necessary things.
I know this may sound daft as I have next to nothing in experience but I'm after a challenge want something abroad. I know of a lad in the year above me who is going round the world next year to break two records, so I'll get in touch with him for some more advice etc as he has been all over the place.
Thanks for all the advice and websites.

 

[Milemuncher]

Right, here's the gist. I'm taking a gap year next year (after my A-Levels) and i'm wanting go cycle abroad for a couple of weeks at least. I've heard of a few people who cycle round the tour de france route and this sounds great! I mean, I watch it each year and would love to pretend to win.

I don't mind doing it on my own, yeah it'll be a bit worrying but still great fun. However my mam seems somewhat nervous about it all to say the least. When I first put this idea across the table she didn't seem convinced at all.

I was wondering if there are any organised rides abroad which take place over a few weeks, are quite fast paced and of rather high mileage. If there isn't a TDF ride then i'll either go it alone, parental permission or not, or find somewhere else to go. I haven't started planning it at all yet as i've still got some time. I know this will cost alot, but in my gap year i'm going to get a job at Asda or somewhere to raise some money for my travels.

Basically, the reason i've posted here is to ask for some advice on some things:

1. Where on earth do you start with the planning business?
2. Are there any reliable and useful websites anyone knows of?
3. What's the average cost of such thing?
4. Are there any good places people could recommend if the France thing doesn't happen?

That is all.

Your mum is bound to be worried at the thought of your first trip away if she is not a cyclist herself. Promising her a text a day on arrival at your hotel is cheap and will do a lot to reassure her. Or get her into FaceBook or Flickr to follow your posts. Getting a French sim for your phone will keep down web costs and allow you to use it for navigation too.

I am planning a trip for next September/October and have found these sites useful:

http://www.sweatyonion.com/bloggsquad/cycleacrossfrance.php

http://www.climbbybike.com/mountain_range.asp?Mountainchain=Pyrenees&MountainchainID=92

http://susancycling.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2011-10-18T10:40:00-04:00&max-results=1

http://www.viamichelin.co.uk/

Cycle routes and maps Roscoff to Santander.

In my experience France will not be cheap. Nothing like it if you are not going to camp. If you are doing long miles won will need to eat like a horse. Again my my experience Spain or especially Portugal are significantly cheaper. And of course somewhere out of EuroLand would be likely to be cheaper too.

Just some random thoughts. Truth is, with young legs and a winning smile you cannot and will not go far wrong. Go for it!

 

[doog]

Cost wise :Camping is cheap if you stay at a municipal camp site (I paid between 4 and 7 euros a night) and slightly more at private sites.

If you buy your food in supermarkets(whenever you pass them) and take a stove then you can eat super cheap. The trick is to avoid cafe's and restaurants if you want to do things on a budget. I reckon I spent about £150 on food and camping fees over 11 days in France earlier this year.

 

[onlineamiga]

Another thing.. To keep the mam happy. Run a GPS logger thing on your phone where she can click a link to see where you are and how youre progressing. On my last trip I used my blackberry and a piece of software that just updated my GPS position every 30 minutes, so people could see how far up I was going. My own mother found it a great comfort to see that I was OK. It was free software from blackberry app world and I think it was aptely named "GPSTracker"

 

[Thompson]

Thanks again for all the sites, and that GPS thing, would that work on any smart phone?

 

[willem]

http://www.archive.org/stream/cyclinginalpswi00freegoog#page/n9/mode/1up