I've been traveling through Europe now for the past few months and here's what I've been doing. This has been through Germany, Belgium, France and Spain so far...



This is my bike loaded. The top black bag is my backpack with all important items in there. The grey bag is my clothing, toiletries etc. Whenever I enter a new city, I park my bike among the other bikes parked on the sidewalks and lock it up. I take my backpack with me and the rest is under my half cover, which covers the tank bag and rear duffel as well as my license plate. (NY plate I don't want to be a souvenir for some local) I have yet to have any issues. Oh and I have a Kryponite disk lock that also locks me to something nearby with my chain.

You will realize that every city, atleast the more southern ones are infested with bikes. No one will pay attention to yours.

In gas stations/markets or at rest stops, I leave everything in place. Never a problem. And smaller towns and villages crime is so seldom I rarely worry.

I highly suggest doing it. Taking my bike through Europe so far has been one of the greatest adventures of my life. The other day I was traveling down the A5 from Madrid to La Alberca, Spain and saw this wonderful little castle village. I swung off the highway, drove up to the castle wall and ate lunch with my feet swinging over the edge. Can't do that from a traincar.

I'm just slightly curious about touring Europe in winter: how have you found it to be, what sort of accommodation have you been using (camping??!) and how have you "liked" the lack of daylight hours - improving by the week now?

Cheers,

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Dave

The Beemer blends in nicely with the wheelybins!

The beginning was tough. Munich to Cologne, Germany was +1 and raining...for 500km. I was frozen solid. But the further south I went, the daytime riding temps have been mostly been around +10. Which for me is fine, I prefer the cooler days. I'll take +10 or +30 any day.

For accommodations I have been mostly couchsurfing. And when I couldn't find a couch, I would hit a hostel. My camping gear is with me, but I didn't bring a winter bag so the colder nights would be hell for me. I figure by April I'll be mostly camping. The lack of daylight hasn't been an issue. I actually get more daylight than I would this time of year in NY, so to me it's a bonus.

Hi wile e. Thumbs up for the nice tour you're having.
As I will be going through Europe this year as well, please enlighten me on what you mean by "couch-surfing". As I will leave in late spring and travel trough the summer, although I am heading north (Scandinavian peninsula), I will probably be able to camp most of the time. Nonetheless I am very interested about finding out other alternative means for accommodation.

Thanks a lot and keep on having a great ride.

Virgil

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Give it a glance

virco
"As I will be going through Europe this year as well, please enlighten me on what you mean by "couch-surfing""

CouchSurfing

have a look at the link. You fill out a basic profile of yourself, and search for a couch in the area you need accom. look though the list, find someone who seems to be "on your page" or the sort of person you normally get on with, send them an email. they will (or not always) reply if they will be home/have a couch available for you to crash on for a night. easy! free accom and maybe even a local guide!

You get a higher "secuirty rating if an existing member vouches for you.... my user name is stevesawol, look me up, i'll vouch for you - make it easier to get a spare couch!

best of luck!

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'99 R1100GS - In a suitable shade of black

It's not that life is so short, It's just that we're dead for so long....
"The world is a book, those who do not travel read only one page." ~ Saint Augustin