What one piece of advice would you give to a noob off on a first cycle tour.

[iLB]

Be aware that a lot of shops, pretty much all in Germany, will close on a Sunday. Buy extra food in advance .

 

[Brandane]

IME, Europe is full of shops, bars,

Be aware that a lot of shops, pretty much all in Germany, will close on a Sunday. Buy extra food in advance .

In France it can be a challenge to find anywhere open on a Sunday, or a public holiday (of which there seem to be many in summer!), so even trying to find water can be next to impossible, especially in rural areas.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Double the amount of money you think you'll need...

When you get to the Nordics... quadruple it!

 

[doog]

so even trying to find water can be next to impossible, especially in rural areas.

A decent tip in France for water is to find the local graveyard..they always have a tap.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

My advice would be sell one of your child's kidneys... that should get you a beer on the first night.

I know a bar you can get a Tuborg in for £2.50 but you have to get down with the local biker gang. And the OP will be on the wrong kind of bike.

 

[jay clock]

I have done a lot of touring, most recently a trip across France . see www.jmhr.com

If I had to give just one tip it would be to be ruthless about weight. But within that work out through trial an error what works for you. Eg, I value my Exped Synmat and would not be without it.

 

[PaulSB]

Carry a small notebook which fits in your jersey pocket. Note the key points for the next day's ride including distance between each point. As you approach a key point check your notes while riding. Saves constant stops to check the map.

Abroad I like to run two computers. One in kilometres for local distances etc. plus my Garmin in mph to record the trip - no directions. I use both as mph means more to me but kms are obviously the local currency and helps to spot turns etc.

 

[Blue Hills]

Well more than one bit of advice but i can thoroughly recommend

the bike touring survival guide,

As plugged here

http://travellingtwo.com/resources

Lots of useful practical info and tips to answer all those questions you will have.

Some guides to touring end up, maybe without the author intending it to, padded with too much travelogue stuff. This doesn't - very high info content. If you buy direct from them (do check this) i think you are entitled to free updates in its various handy formats.

Best of luck with the trip.

 

[MichaelW2]

Even if you are cooking, take the trouble to seek out and sample local food.
Take time out to enjoy any local festivities.
Take photos of the people you meet, yourself, the pretty scenery, events: good and bad, information boards, signposts for location. Rotate your memory cards so a failure of one is not a disaster.

 

[clockworksimon]

Allow yourself some rest days and don't feel guilty about taking them. This will help avoid the trip being a never ending toil. This is particularly important if you have a few continuous days of headwinds & rain. Use the spare days to explore a local area with an unladen bike even!

Pack some noodles or other emergency meal for if the shops aren't open

If taking a stove be sure you can get fuel for it wherever you are going.

Have a great trip!

 

[robing]

Don't take too many gadgets - just more things to try and keep charged up. The two biggest hassles touring imo are charging your gadgets and laundry.

 

[slug56]

Do a minimum one night dry run first !

Make a kit list
Load up all the kit you will be taking,.
Cycle 30 miles to a camp site, cook a meal, spend the night
Cycle home again via a different route
Mark all the items you did not use, most of them will not be coming on your trip.
Repeat above the following weekend (to a different camp site)

Once you get going, make sure you know where that post office is on day six to send home half your kit.

Oh this is so true!

 

[Gravity Aided]

Don't take too many gadgets - just more things to try and keep charged up. The two biggest hassles touring imo are charging your gadgets and laundry.

Or try a solar charger.

 

[Blue Hills]

Or try a solar charger.

another gadget?

 

[Ajax Bay]

Or try a solar charger.

Recommend not, in climates generally experienced by CycleChat readers. See this thread.