My first Bike tour Help

[dsutherland]

Hi
I am brand new to this site and fairly new to biking. I am a 54 year old man from northern Canada. I have done a fair amount of traveling in my day (backpacking) , but I am planing my first bike tour in Jan 2016. I was thinking about going to southern europe (maybe over to africa also) if I have the time, or south america becasue it would be warmer there than europe.. My trip will be for at least two months and maybe three. I currently own two used bikes a 2010 Mountin Bike Giant Sedona dx 19 in with 26 inch tires. and a 2013 Kona Dew hybrid with 700 35cc tires. Both will need a few repairs and extras to get them ready to go on a long trip. or I guess I could buy another bike for the trip (maybe an actuall touring bike?) However I don't really want to spend too much money as I am currently out of work for bit and using the trip as a way to relax and enjoy life until the economy picks up in my cold northern canadian town. Can anyone give me some advice as to what I could do, what bike to take (I will spend the $ if it is required), other items I will need to camp with ect, and off course where you think I should go on my first bike tour. I'm not afriad to go to new and different places, and a I do speak a little spanish. Perhaps I can join up with some fellow bikers along the way. thanks very much in advance for ANY help you can offer. cheers Dale

 

[steveindenmark]

Hi Dale,

To start with, there is plenty to see in Southern Europe for 3 months without having to go over to Africa. Dont worry about the language, I travel all over Europe and never have a problem with sign language and English.

As for which bike? My first consideration would be how much it costs to get your bike across and back. But I think I am right in saying that touring bikes are not that popular in Southern Europe so may be hard to come by. Having said that you can tour on anything as long as you can get a rear rack on it.

I would advise a 2 man tent, especially for a trip of that length. I also use Airbnb because the price of a nice room in Southern Europe can be the same price as a campsite in the summer.

I am sure you will get plenty of advice on here.

There are some great places to ride in Southern Europe.

 

[mjr]

As another multiday tour novice, I can't really help on what to take, but I'd heartily recommend a route including the Via Verde northwest from Tortosa in Catalonia based on the little bit of it I explored in a couple of daytrips a few years ago. I was riding a mountain bike (rigid I think but might have been hardtail) but I think it'd be OK on a touring bike (28+mm tyres). I'd probably hire locally but that's more because I'm fearful of bending my bike in transit.

People in that area do tend to speak Catalan rather than Spanish but if you're foreign, they'll usually allow Spanish

 

[MichaelW2]

Either bike will work, but the Dew is probably a better model. You don't need a special touring bike. 700cx35, or 38mm can tour on tracks and trails.
Make sure the wheels are OK, the rims not worn too thin from braking.
Check out some way of creating alt handholds, either bar-ends or a trekking-style butterfly bar.
If $$ are a concern, which is the cheapest flight ?

 

[dsutherland]

Thanks everyone for your input. The idea of using a bike I currently have as opposed to buying an addtional bike really appeals to me.

 

[User16625]

That sounds really interesting. Update us on your progress if you can.

 

[sidevalve]

Not done too much touring [not for a looong time anyhow] but here are a couple of points
1 - load up and take a trip locally [and I mean very locally] first. You will soon discover what you have to carry and what you can forget camping wise.
2 - plan for he bad things - tent pole breaking - punctures - all the silly things that can ruin a day - and DO NOT plan to cover too many miles in a day - you are on holiday not some insane iron man contest.
Remember a little planning turns total disasters into minor inconveniences - plan for the worst and it almost never happens.
PS if you are heading a bit 'into the sticks' take a packet of water purifying tablets, you drink a lot when cycling and not everywhere is perfect. As above it's simply a precaution
Above all HAVE FUN.

 

[Gravity Aided]

Would the cost of taking a bicycle on an airplane be more than the value of the bicycle? I'd look into the costs involved, hopefully not too much. Latin America or Cuba might be quite nice this time of year.

 

[sidevalve]

Just a thought you do seem a bit stuck on south America and if that's what you want fine but southern Europe is pretty warm and most of Europe is 'bike friendly' - France and Italy especially and if you speak a little spanish then Spain is an obvious choice - if you know a bit of the language you can get well away from the overpriced over crowded 'touristy' bits and explore the real Spain.
Anyhow just something to think about.

 

[Gravity Aided]

Nice folks in South America.

 

[dsutherland]

Just a thought you do seem a bit stuck on south America and if that's what you want fine but southern Europe is pretty warm and most of Europe is 'bike friendly' - France and Italy especially and if you speak a little spanish then Spain is an obvious choice - if you know a bit of the language you can get well away from the overpriced over crowded 'touristy' bits and explore the real Spain.
Anyhow just something to think about.

Yes, I am currently learning a bit of spanish and that is the main reason I was thinking south america, to keep learning spanish. Secondly, I am out of work in Canada (I have saved some money for this trip though) so I can't afford a too expensive of a trip, so europe scares me a bit in that way. I'm not from a big city so rural areas are fine with me. I will start my trip at the end of Jan 2016 and go until end of April I figure. So yes I have a few concerns and questions. 1. $ is first (is europe too expensive for me?), 2. I want to continue to learn some spanish 3. Is it too cold to camp out on a reguar basis in south europe at this time of year?, since I will probably not be able to afford getting a room for the night very often. i'm also thinking, if I go to europe a hybrid bike would be the way to go, where south america would be mountian bike territory! Am I correct with these assumptions? thanks