Preparation

CROSSING EUROPE

So, I’m off again to complete the journey that I set out on last year i.e crossing all Europe…west to east.

In Sept 2014, I rode from the west coast of Ireland (Cliffs of Moher) to Vienna (Austria) a distance of 2674 km.

It is all documented and illustrated in my blog (www.cycleacrosseurope.blogspot.com ) under the title “ Halfway Across Europe”

Now in August 2015, I intend to complete crossing the rest of Europe by riding from Vienna right on to Istanbul in Turkey (The Gateway to the Orient) a distance of 2009 km.

And again I’ll keep readers informed of the adventure and of progress on this blog from now till September.

This year’s route starts in the centre of Vienna and follows the Danube to Bratislava (Slovakia) and on downstream to Budapest (Hungary). Leaving the Dabube, the route proceeds on eastwards and over the Transylvanian Alps to Bucharest; then southwards across Bulgaria , into Turkey and finishing in Istanbul.

For last year’s trip (Ireland to Vienna) I cycled solo for the most part (with a group of 11 from London to Paris) and carried all requisites in panniers on the bike. I designed my own route and booked all accommodation ahead before I left home. I enjoyed that aspect of any trip. Accommodation was varied .....hotels, B&B, student accommodation, with relatives, in a shepherd’s wagon, youth hostels, in a restored mill, on a ferry and in a ‘cleverhotel’ (no people at reception)

But for this section through the far end of Europe, I was influenced by many cycling blogs that I read and opted to cycle with a group. So luggage will be transported forward each day, mechanical assistance, group support, no route planning for me but we will be camping most nights as far as Bucharest.

Searching the internet I found Tour d’Afrique (www.tourdafrique.com ), a Canadian company who organises a cycle including my route. Actually they cycle from Paris to Istanbul …The Orient Express.  I registered with them and will join them in Vienna for the 2009 km trek to Istanbul. I enjoy cycling solo but look forward to the company on this stage.

GROUP

There are 31 in the group leaving Vienna ranging in age from 19 to 70,  5 married couples, cyclists from Australia, Canada, USA, England, New Zealand, Slovakia, South Africa, Norway, Netherlands and two other cyclists from Ireland (don’t know their names yet) It’ll be a varying mix of people and all with different levels of cycling experience.

PREPARATION: Since the end of 2014, I knew that this cycle was coming up and so I continued clocking up the miles over the winter months. Nothing very adventurous or arduous….just keeping the body in shape and used to spending time on the saddle. Between road-bike and mountain-bike I aimed at 100 km each week. Didn't actually achieve that but not far off.

As the weather improved (or was expected to improve) around May I was out more regularly and set my aim at 200 km per week. Did a few enjoyable spins with the club (Tipperary Wheelers). Then my two sons organised that I accompany them on the Ring of Kerry on July 4 (a celebrated day charity cycle of 170 km around the scenic Ring with over 11,000 cyclist taking part). Was a most enjoyable event and weekend.

ROUTE: 

  Our group leaves Vienna on Aug 4 and will follow the Danube through Bratislava, into Hungary and after 3 days reach Budapest for the 1^st Rest day.

 Then 11 more cycling days bring us into Romania over the fearsome Transylvanian Alps and down into Bucharest (another Rest day). Another 6 cycling days southwards through Romania and across Bulgaria. 

TRANSYLVANIAN ALPS

Finally 2 days cycling through Turkey and into the less busy northern side of Istanbul on Sunday Aug 30.

The average daily distance for the 22 days cycling is 91 km/day with 10 days over the 100 km mostly in Hungary and Bulgaria. There are a few short steep days in theTransylvanian Alps.

In total there are 22 cycling days and 5 rest days… a rest day every 4 days on average.

I’ll have a few new situations to deal with in comparison to last year. Turkey is not yet in the EU so a visa needs to be obtained for entry….an e-visa somewhat like the ESTA for the USA. I’ll have different currencies to deal with…the forint in Hungary, the leu in Romania, the lev in Bulgaria and the lira in Turkey. All part of the experience

The organisers (Tour d’Afrique) will transport all luggage but the amount still needs to be curtailed. All the gear (including tent, sleeping bag, clothes etc must fit into two 90 litre duffel bags. That shouldn't present any great problem as I'm used to packing the bare essentials for such a trip. (For the Australian trip the limit was 15 kg per person)

I’ll box the bike for transport to Vienna and reconstruct it on arrival ….it will have a good thorough overhaul before then. This is the same bike that I have since 2007 (with parts renewed) and we have covered many a mile together…..around 60,000 km I’d reckon.

I’ll arrive in Vienna on Saturday, rest up, meet with the group for a briefing on Monday (they left Paris on July 12) and be ready to hit the road on Tuesday morning Aug 4.

Next post from Vienna before the off.

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