Cycling North After Winter

[richardmorris]

Those cables with a 4 digit combination lock seem to work well.

D lock are best, especially with a steel cable to the extend their reach. I think a deterrent is needed though, not a New York faggedabougit.

https://www.wiggle.co.uk/kryptonite-new-york-fahgettaboudit-chain-and-padlock-150cm/

[Louise2cv]

New York faggedabougit.

https://www.wiggle.co.uk/kryptonite-new-york-fahgettaboudit-chain-and-padlock-150cm/

 

HOW MUCH?!?!

[paulplom]

Exactly. It still wouldn't last 5 seconds with my battery angle grinder. Nice lock though.

[MorrisItalSLX]

What’s wrong with the old fashioned length of chain and padlock? Put the chain through a length of rubber tube for bike protection if so desired.

[Junkman]

With the brandy counting as fruit, that's all the main food groups covered.  Top work.

 

 

Does that mean Brandy counts towards my five a day?

[mercrocker]

Only if the other four are Sloe Gin, Amaretto, Pear Cognac and de Kuypers.   I am guessing you will baulk at one of those.....

[Bucketeer]

I'll update the last couple of days worth of rubbish pictures tomorrow, but in the meantime have a (cold) cycling selfie from this afternoon.

 

How much fun am I having? (I really was trying to smile)

 

[loserone]

Gosh, I hope it's fun on the inside.

[Bucketeer]

Gosh, I hope it's fun on the inside.

Any inside bits that weren't frozen were probably having fun.

On the plus side, I've hammered the last couple of days and I'm not that far off France.

 

[nigel bickle]

I commend what you are doing - I’ve done daft, but nowt like this.

 

What I don’t understand is why you are on the Eastern side of Europe, rather than the West?

 

If I was “ heading south” at this time of year, I’d be hugging the warmer Atlantic side, to get a few extra degrees.

 

You seem, to me, to be suffering unnecessarily?

 

I’m clearly wrong, and apologise as no offence is intended, but I’m old. I like to be warm. This feels like pain.

 

Brave man. One of the few threads here worth reading these days.

[Shirley Knott]

The South of France will ultimately be far warmer than anywhere in the UK, also E.Leclirk (Do they still exist?) or Intermarche will sell good cheeses/breads/meats at a very reasonable prices, *Currently working my way through a jar of rillettes that came in a hamper for Xmas from friends in France, next on the hit list is a tin of Cassoulet*

 

Also the winter solstice has now been and gone, the summer nights are slowly but surely drawing in...

 

Keep the updates/pics coming

[Bucketeer]

What I don’t understand is why you are on the Eastern side of Europe, rather than the West?

 

If I was “ heading south” at this time of year, I’d be hugging the warmer Atlantic side, to get a few extra degrees.

 

You seem, to me, to be suffering unnecessarily?

 

I’m clearly wrong, and apologise as no offence is intended, but I’m old. I like to be warm. This feels like pain.

 

No offence taken at all. It is, by any reasonable thinking, a foolish route South but I am a fool.

The main reasons I'm where I am are -

Ferry to Holland was cheap.

I wanted to visit my friend in Cologne.

 

That's it really. Not a huge amount of thought gone into it. It does feel like an endurance test/battle at times, but I've seen many things/places I would never have done otherwise so I can't complain (much).

[mercrocker]

This is indeed an excellent thread.   Riding a bike further than Asda is, I have to say, bottom of my list of Fun Things to Do in Winter.  Yet I cannot help but swallow a small niggle of wishful thinking at your adventure.   Well, not the being cold bit, maybe.....Good luck and good travels.

[Louise2cv]

I want to do something like this.

 

Alas I am chicken shit.

 

 

(also I can't even do hand signals).

 

Kudos! 

[Bucketeer]

I'm probably the least competent and experienced cyclist to ever don a bit of lycra. TBH I'm quite surprised how far I've got already, it genuinely is a case of 'if I can do it, anyone can'.

[Bucketeer]

It's high time I updated properly from the last few days.

 

I left Ghost Hotel a few days ago in bright (but short lived) sunshine.

 

 

I headed down into Koblenz and got my last views along the Rhein before changing rivers.

 

 

 

 

On the other side of Koblenz I got my first view of the Mosel.

 

 

The sides of the Mosel valley are almost entirely taken over with grape vines.

 

 

The steepness doesn't show on the pictures, but all the way along there are metal tracks heading up the sides with these cool little buggy things which have room for grapes and a little seat. I'm not sure if I'd enjoy riding one though.

 

 

All along the valley are painfully pretty villages and towns. They all appear to consist of one third houses, one third hotels/guesthouses/restaurants and one third wine producers/sellers (all closed for winter).

 

 

 

 

The whole of the first day along the Mosel, I had the river one side and train tracks the other. Where the tracks were raised above road level there were tunnels underneath to get to the wine slopes.

 

 

Places to make camp were scarce, steep slopes one side and river the other. I investigated a few of these tunnels thinking if the worst came to the worst I could just pitch my tent inside one, but I found one that lead to a little old unused path up the hillside and found just enough sort of flat land to camp.

 

Looking down towards the river.

 

 

And looking up to my tent (concealed in the centre of shot).

 

 

It was a squeeze but okay.

 

 

I even had a little waterfall running past to provide relaxing sounds and make me want a wee every hour through the night.

 

 

So that was the day before yesterday. Today and yesterday's update to follow shortly.

[320touring]

That looks stunning Alex !

 

Hope you are enjoying the fruits (and views) of your labour!

 

An excellent trip - keep on taking care and spotting - PM me if anything I can do to help- I have a veg powered Merc and I ain't afraid to use it!

[omegod]

I'd be absolutely terrified of getting bummed in the night so much respect for your endeavors, please stick up a funding link if you find yerself getting tightocasho 

 

Loving the updates as I spent a bit of time in Germany as a kid 

[Bucketeer]

Yesterday morning I forced myself out of the tent and resumed cycling.

 

 

 

 

 

As the day wore on it felt like it was getting colder and colder. I'd been shivering all day and the bitterness was breathtaking. I was struggling inside and had completely lost my spang but still managed to pump out some impressive mileage.

 

 

 

 

It was at this point in the afternoon when I stopped for a cig that I gave up/chickened out and using all the very limited internet I could muster I found a cheap room relatively close by.

 

 

I made it to my destination village just before dark.

 

 

When I arrived at my digs there was no answer at the door and nobody in. Joy.

I left the bike outside and had a wander around the village to keep warm(ish).

 

 

 

Pretty much every other house seems to have one of these old wine tractors on the drive.

 

 

 

When I returned to the bike there was still nobody home, but after trying several phone numbers I eventually got through to someone who came and opened up for me. My bed was up in the attic which hadn't been insulated so was pretty chilly but not as bad as outside. And it was cheap.

This morning I was planning to crack on again but first took a detour without the trailer to stock up on much needed calories at a Lidl.

 

 

It was only 9km each way but I found it surprisingly hard. I was (and still am) pretty shaky and after I took the above picture (on the way to Lidl) I got on the bike and after a short while found myself riding in the wrong direction. I'd completely forgotten where I was supposed to be going. At this point I decided to double chicken out and stay in the attic for tonight also. I should be alright to get a move on tomorrow fingers crossed.

[320touring]

Keep looking after yourself chap! You have no target to beat, so enjoy the breaks as much as the ride:)

[richardmorris]

Perhaps have a couple of nights indoors and a fair few carbohydrates ( pizza! Pasta!, or considering where you are spaetzles).

[Mrs6C]

Fantastic shots of:

 

1. Train & viaduct in chilly valley...

 

2. Maserati Bi-turbo saloon in same colour as mine! Wasn't mine, though...

 

3. Assorted vineyard tractors!

 

As RichardMorris said, carbs and warmth and taking it easy for a bit will help a lot. Sensible decision to stay put for a while. We want you to stay happy and healthy!

[Bucketeer]

1. Train & viaduct in chilly valley...

 

I've been trying to take pictures of the many trains I see for choochoo fans like yourself but by the time I stop the bike, take my mittens off, unzip my pocket, take the camera out of it's case, and turn the camera on, the train is usually long gone.

 

Also, zero Visa or C15 sighting so far FYI.

[Kringle]

Good on you matey, I'm enjoying your updates. Do you have much philosophical thinking time whilst riding? Have you solved war and peace?

[Cavcraft]

Sensible option is the one you're taking. If it's too cold to be out, stay in instead.

 

How many miles ahve you clocked up so far do you reckon? It's seriously impressive stuff.

[Saabnut]

Alex, due to having to detour into London on the 7th or 8th (bloody holidays means they are closed until then) it looks like I will arrive at the French retreat on the 9th ish (if I am lucky the 8th). You have my mobile phone number if it looks like you will get there before me. You are welcome to stay as long as you want, and I might even put the heating on!

[mercrocker]

If I was feeling as wobbly as you evidently were that K70 would have finished me....What a bloody find!

[Luxxo Waftybarger]

Temperature inversion in river valleys plus shading from surroundings means it's probably extra cold following the Rhine. Hopefully you'll warm up once you head west. Keep eating, the cold will burn extra calories.

[Sheefag]

Hope you're somewhere warm this evening.

[The Moog]

Happy new year - may all your paths be down hill