Physical fitness, I have come to discover, is something of a demanding master … the more you train the more pressure you put on yourself to have to train. With my planned Portugal to The Netherlands cycling tour now just eight weeks away, I am doing everything I can to get my fitness into peak condition. While I have always prided myself on keeping relatively fit, being fit enough to tackle 75 days of cycling through some extremely tough conditions (including going over the Pyrenees with 25 kg of gear on the bike) is definitely more than enough incentive to stay fully motivated. But when is too much training too much? Should I just concentrate on riding the bike, or should I also do weight training, fit ball and other various strength exercises as well? Basically in the end I have just gone for it and done the lot. Time permitting I am cycling 200 to 300km per week, plus I am trying to get in 3 to 4 weight and fit ball sessions per week. The end result is definitely a huge improvement in my fitness, but also in a tendency to get niggling injuries. But then again it's nothing a regular visit to the chiropractor (thanks Lara) and massage therapist (thanks Ashley) can't get right. In the end it's only a small price to pay to be able to put myself in a position to complete such a huge cycling trip. The thought of successfully riding the 4000 km or so from the south of Portugal to Amsterdam certainly keeps me motivated and even looking forward to the next training session – even despite the oppressive Gold Coast humidity over summer. In many ways I guess I have always wanted to have something to train for… I think I have found it!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Welcome to my own little space on the Internet dedicated to my dream to cycle across Europe.
During two short assisted cycling tours in France in 2007 and 2009 a seed of an idea was formed .... how good would it be to do a major long distance cycle tour across Europe??
Like all grand over-the-top ideas there was a definite degree of daydreaming attached, but nonetheless it was an idea that was very firmly planted in my head. Maybe it was my fascination with Europe's history, culture, people and incredible scenery or maybe it was the challenge of pushing myself both physically and mentally .... whatever the case it was an idea that refused to go away.
So what to do? In the end the answer just seemed to crystallise ... "If I don't do it now, I will never do it! Just go for it!"
As it has turned out the decision to do the trip was the easy one, the logistics and the nitty gritty of the whole process of planning more than three months of cycling across Europe has proven the difficult part.
Firstly, where would I cycle from to? What sort of bicycle would I need? What sort of physical training would I need to do? What would I need to take with me? How much would it cost? How could I justify the time off work? So many questions, so many answers to find for both myself and everyone close to me.
As it has turned out some answers have come easily, others have been more elusive.
The route for the trip in my mind seemed to be obvious. I have always wanted to see Portugal and Spain, so why not start in Portugal, ride across Spain, enjoy another French experience, visit Luxembourg, discover more of Germany and Belgium and finish in The Netherlands.
The result is a route that starts at Faro in the south of Portugal, travels north through Portugal, across northern Spain, over the Pyrenees into France, across France via the Loire Valley, travels into Germany to the Rhine River before heading north to Belgium to eventually finish in Amsterdam in The Netherlands.
The estimated distance is 4000km give or take over about 75 days - an average of just 55 or so kilometres per day, but given rest, sightseeing and unforseen circumstances an estimated average of about 75km per day over, at times, very challenging terrain.
The first step was to start a comprehensive fitness program that I am pleased to report with seven weeks to go before departure is going to plan.
The second step was to find a suitable bike. Thanks to Ebay Australia I was lucky enough find a Trek 520 bike designed and built specifically for long distance touring. A radical overhaul of the gearing system, brakes, pannier racks and stem height later and all seems to be ready to carry me and about 25 kilos of equipment across Europe.
When you put it all down on paper it sounds easy, but I am sure there will many challenges ahead - both good and bad.
No matter what, it will be an adventure and I can't wait to start peddaling.
