Preparing at home

Practising packing the bike to to meet airline requirements. Got down to about 30 minutes by the 4th attempt.
Trip starts for real on Monday 9th May. Ryanair Manchester to Stuttgart, then 3 trains toLes mer
Practising packing the bike to to meet airline requirements. Got down to about 30 minutes by the 4th attempt.
Trip starts for real on Monday 9th May. Ryanair Manchester to Stuttgart, then 3 trains toLes mer
The journey started proper at 8.11 from Huddersfield to Manchester airport. The practice breaking the bike down paid off and it was delivered promptly at Stuttgart airport apparently unharmed.Les mer
A hard day's cycling. 80 km may not sound a lot but the first 12 km was mostly uphill - patches of snow still around. Half the distance has been on gravel paths so the bike, panniers and presumably meLes mer
88 km into a head wind today,feeling the weather is on the turn. More gravel paths - like cyclocross with luggage.
Delightful lunchtime stop at Sigmarinen and final stop in Riedlingen. Small butLes mer
A disappointing breakfast (how do they think I can cycle 90 km on Cornflakes?) so had brunch in Ehingen. Cheese and tomato omelette with a roll and coffee for €5.40 - bargain.
Then the rainLes mer
After 18 hours of rain it finally abated at around 11am today and I even rode without any waterproofs this afternoon. I had a slow start due to getting hopelessly lost for the first hour.
BreakfastLes mer
Today was about as packed as I can handle, in a good way.
Target of 110 km meant an early start and keeping pedalling.
Coffee break was taken from a small village shop (a cyclist gave meLes mer
After a good breakfast at the youth hostel (choice of muesli ) I was quickly onto the route (22% downhill). Weather has been very cool but dry all day. I've been wearing my merino wool top plusLes mer
After the worst breakfast to date, things didn't get easier as it was freezing cold and wet. In 30 minutes my hands were so cold I couldn't brake (travelling light - no gloves).
All shops shut -Les mer
A cool but dry day with an almost flat route on good surfaces.
Austrian border was reached in 4 km and it differs from Germany in many ways. Sparsely populated initially but with many gasthauses enLes mer