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As of next week I'm buggering off round Europe on my bike. This is a very rough plan, based on where I have relatives, mates and having to be near Zagreb to get a train to Budapest for a stag do, plus a slight obsession with Corsica and the Balkans. Of course it'll all change but it's a start. 50 - 60 miles a day with plenty of scope for days off and changes is the plan. I don't have to be back until September. Also I think I now have shares in Ortlieb.
Shout out to Hugh - I know you did something similar last year. I think I remember that you used MAPS.ME app for navigation? How did that work out? I'm hoping to use that in combination for RWGPS when I need turn by turn.
Pictures on Instagram is anyone has any interest. www.instagram.com/martinoflockwood
Yep. MAPS.ME is what I used along with some paper ones. Didn't really navigate much cause I just pointed myself south and hoped for the best. Download all the offline maps before you leave.
Corsica is fucking beautiful. I did the west coast from Bastia>Calvi>Ajaccio>Bonifacio.
A word of warning: bring some water purification tablets. I got caught out in amidst those endless hills without a regular water supply. You want to be carrying atleast 6 liters. No bus or train service to take advantage of when you get fucked with food poisoning induced dehydration either.
East coast could be different.
Beautiful place though. Lovely people. I think I did 52,000 vertical feet of climbing in 8 days. Felt really accomplished after.
Are you camping?
Any other questions are welcome
Cheers Hugh! I'm in the South of France at the moment heading to Nice where I can get the boat to Corsica. Thanks for the advice, I didn't think Corsica would be that remote. I guess I have to think about which coast to cycle down.
I've been using RidewithGPS/MAPS.ME and paper crib sheets prepared in my tent the night before, seems to be working pretty well.
Awesome. Well it's not that it's remote when you look at a map, just the hills seriously hamper your mileage so it takes a while to get anywhere. Bring a mosquito net if you don't have one already. You can get them in that French superstore Decathalon for like €10.
Careful setting up your tent anywhere obvious too. I was warned that camping in illegal in Corsica and there's a small group of people who don't take kindly to tourists on their island. i never had any problems but i met a Dutch family with 2 young kids bike touring on my first day. On my last day there I got talking to a British motorcycle traveller and he told me the family had a bomb thrown at them when they were sleeping. I don't want to discourage you but just thought I'd tell you to have your wits about you.
You going to Monaco I presume? Do the F1 track on your bike! It's epic fun.
As of next week I'm buggering off round Europe on my bike. This is a very rough plan, based on where I have relatives, mates and having to be near Zagreb to get a train to Budapest for a stag do, plus a slight obsession with Corsica and the Balkans. Of course it'll all change but it's a start. 50 - 60 miles a day with plenty of scope for days off and changes is the plan. I don't have to be back until September. Also I think I now have shares in Ortlieb.
Shout out to Hugh - I know you did something similar last year. I think I remember that you used MAPS.ME app for navigation? How did that work out? I'm hoping to use that in combination for RWGPS when I need turn by turn.
Pictures on Instagram is anyone has any interest. www.instagram.com/martinoflockwood
Yep. MAPS.ME is what I used along with some paper ones. Didn't really navigate much cause I just pointed myself south and hoped for the best. Download all the offline maps before you leave.
Corsica is fucking beautiful. I did the west coast from Bastia>Calvi>Ajaccio>Bonifacio.
A word of warning: bring some water purification tablets. I got caught out in amidst those endless hills without a regular water supply. You want to be carrying atleast 6 liters. No bus or train service to take advantage of when you get fucked with food poisoning induced dehydration either.
East coast could be different.
Beautiful place though. Lovely people. I think I did 52,000 vertical feet of climbing in 8 days. Felt really accomplished after.
Are you camping?
Any other questions are welcome
Gutted I'm away for a mates 40th this weekend, just wanna be out on the thing!
I had a really bad road map that I used for a while but have recently been using an app called maps.me where you download the sections you need and can view them offline.
For the first while before I got to the coast I navigated using the sun and just figured aslong as I was going south I was good. You get pretty lost but it's all an adventure I guess.
Yeah wild camping nearly every night. I've slept in a few pretty crazy places. A graveyard, 2 different caves, under an old rowing boat. I have been using tinder recently but they're usually a bit hesitant to let you stay the night. Good for a shower though!
If I wanted to find a campsite i could every night. They're everywhere. They cost about €5 if you have your own tent. I stayed in one once but only cause it was pissing rain and I was miserable. €5 and I had a spot of land, electric hook up and washing facilities. Got invited into a caravan that was parked up by a french lad and his missus and given a home cooked dinner and was sent on my way in the morning with a pound of cured duck fillet. You meet the nicest people on a bike tour!
If you've anymore questions just ask! I'd love to answer them
Yeah I noticed. Had no troubles though. Fucked off to the outskirts for sleeping. In La Ciotat at the moment. Loads of fucking climbing today. Got 2 new tyres today as well. 26 x 2.0 schwalabe marathons. Should allow me to slay some single track as I see fit
I'm debating getting a hardtail and I have almost no idea what I'm looking at. I'm mainly going to be using it for getting to work and dicking about on the South Downs. Here are my vague requirements:
- 26" or 650b (29" is just too big for my liking)
- 17/18" frame
- Not an absolute tank
- Not shitty forks
- Solid feeling cranks
- Durable drivetrain
- Reasonable brakes (disc) that need minimal maintenance
- Under about £550
- Would prefer to buy new, not second hand
Find me a bike, BG.
P.S. Does remote lockout on forks actually work properly? It would come in handy if it does. Mechanical or hydraulic discs? What brands/components should I definitely avoid?
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