Touring 1

Touring 1

Touring is a wonderful aspect of cycling.  Apart from walking, there is no better way to explore, and enjoy, any countryside, and even many towns.   Walking doesn’t cover so much ground, and it is harder work.  Also, even many disabled people who may not be able to walk that well, are able to cycle.  

It is not essential to have a very expensive bike, but advisable to have one with a wide range of gears. 

The golden rule is: don’t carry too much luggage.

Camping keeps the costs down, but it involves carrying more luggage, and it takes a lot longer to pack up and get away in the morning.  The man's trailer opened up to make a table.

 It is what lies just around the corner that makes cycle-touring so fascinating.

 Sometimes, what lies ahead might appear to be a bit daunting.  The prospect of crossing the mountains ahead, to get us from the Rhone Valley in France and on into Switzerland was viewed with some trepidation, although it turned out the gradients were not as severe as all that, not as steep many of our local climbs over the North Downs; just a lot longer, and to a somewhat higher altitude.

   People we met, were keen to tell us that a Tour-de-France had used much of our route earlier, but not with any luggage on board, carrying their own spares, cooking equipment, nor were any of the participants OAPs, and that is for sure.

   In the winter months, many pleasurable hours can be spent planning a route for the next tour.   

There are plenty of notice boards stationed alongside the numerous long-distance cycle-routes, in Germany and elsewhere; these display tourist information (though generally much better than this example), such as Bett & Bike, Straw Hotels, Velo Hotels, places to eat, Bike repair shops, etc.  There might even be a bike repair stop, such as this one by Bodensee (Lake Constance).

There is a different tool attached to this bike by cables, there was even a large pump. But I don’t think there were any puncture repair patches

     The ‘Tankstella’ (along the road) was in fact a café and restaurant/internet cafe.

  

     But along the Baltic Coast we came across one B & B which we stayed at, that  had a complete, secure, indoor bicycle store, plus a fully equipped  D I Y  repair workshop, with a proper maintenance stand, and yes; it had patches.

This orange bike stood out side.

The advent of the Euro and The EU open borders policy operated by most countries, has proved to be a blessing for Continental Touring.  Generally one only needs to carry one currency, i.e.: the Euro.  We found that when circumnavigating Bodensee, Swiss B & Bs were more than happy to accept payment for accommodation with Euros, in fact they said that they preferred Euros.  

Keep an eye open for the next stage of Cycle Touring.