As many European Countries in 1ride - 10days

[Coolie]

Hi

I'm planning my first european trip this coming year, something to mark my 40th with (got my bike licence for my 30th!). The plan is to arrive at the Motogp in the Netherlands, but enroute to travel through as many European countires as sensible in a 7 /10 day period.

The plan, such as it is my mind - is noted on this google maps link. Uk > France > Belgium > Luxembourg > France > Switzerland > Germany > Austria> Czech > Poland > Germany > Netherlands.


https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=...bB6NWt4ABA&oq=Gorlitz&t=h&dirflg=t&mra=ls&z=6

My question at this stage is a) has anyone on here done anything similar, and do have advice to share, b) how best to plan the route to the next stage - is it a buy paper maps and route it out manually, so i find roads which are likely to give some good riding and views etc.

Nay help and comments would be gratefully recv'd

 

[JayC]

I did 11 countries in 9 days in 2009, but in a Land Rover. Whilst the experience was enjoyable I would never do it again. It was enjoyable because it was a first for me, but in hindsight I regret how little we really got to see. All the time was taken up by long miles to get from one place to another with the occasional stops for food, but minimal sightseeing. If this is your bag then good luck to you.

Because it was an 'organised' rally we had to be at certain places by certain times, probably a little more strict than you will need to be, and so paper maps were essential - besides, I prefer paper maps and only use sat nav as a back up or for killing high miles at a good pace.

My advice would be to limit the number of countries you visit, unless you like to show your mates where you have been by plastering your bike in the relevant 'been there done that' stickers. You are still young and have plenty years ahead of you to visit the countries at a more leisurely pace, year after year.

What's the hurry/challenge to achieve this goal or is it an idea you just plucked out of the sky?

Seriously, take your time and enjoy the experience , either that or blat along and have next to nothing to remember of your travels.

Don't get me wrong, we enjoyed our how many countries in as few days tour, but...it could have and should have been so much better!


Edit: After looking at your proposed route and time away (based on 10 days, not 7), you can probably ignore much of what I said if only because we are talking car vs bike. You should be able to do it quite comfortably actually, though I still maintain that some off the bike time is pretty precious and you WILL still miss many sights.

 

[Wal2]

I have friends in Basel (Switz) so I go down there regular, sometimes I only have a week sometimes longer, I do lots of variations of this route......I like the little buzz of being in a few different countries in as many days, but (as JayC says) I also sometimes enjoy taking a week )or longer) just to get down there....the Eifel/Moselle regions alone are well worth the time (and many others) but if you want a taster, its fun the 1st time, as long as you're not doing 3-400 mile days, stick to around 200 and you'll get the best of both....and no doubt you'll want to go back......


this route is about 1300 mls...I used a very similar route about 3 weeks ago..as i'm in the North I sometimes use Newcastle/Ijmuiden ferry, and sometimes the Channel ports, or Zebbrugge/Hull.......there are loads of ways you could go once off the ferry


https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?sadd...AYQSZO3Q&oq=ijmuiden&doflg=ptm&mra=ls&t=m&z=6

 

[Wapping]

I have done something pretty similar or almost exactly the same.

I too did it on my own because I could; you'll have a great time.

Now, as to what to do...

(1) Do what YOU think is best and what YOU can do. If you can ride 350 miles in a day every day down every goat track and minor road, do it. If you can't, don't. If you think 100 miles in a day is a long way in the UK, it's no shorter across the water.

(2) Take some decent maps; they are dirt cheap. You may need to make changes, depending on a whole host of imponderables. The great thing about maps is that they are very reliable, don't become too out of date (towns don't move) and even the most stupid local can understand them. They will not let you down, whilst your GPS might.... and you won't have your PC to easy hand.

(3) Book a hotel for your first night, after that take pot luck. Why? Having a hotel booked for night one gives you something definite to aim at; after that you want to be flexible.

(4) Don't worry. You will never be far from western civilisation. Don't skimp on Travel and Breakdown insurance. Don't take anything beyond a simple set of tools and a puncture repair kit... KNOW HOW TO USE THEM, or don't bother to take them.

(5) Prepare for the worst, expect the best is always my motto. There are lots of threads on what to take. Read through them, but don't get carried away and DON'T TAKE TOO MUCH, you'll not be meeting royalty, trust me. If you do, they won't mind if you look like a hardened knarly adventurer.

(6) Keep a diary / simple journey notes / scribble on your map. it will help you remember when you come back where you went, what you enjoyed and what you hated.

 

[RUS25R]

I'm not by any means the most expereianced but in any trip I've planned for myself I've always found myself trying to do too many miles each day. When you get on the bike each morning feeling completely shoot to bits and struggle not to fall asleep in your evening meal you know you planned too bigger days. As has been said, around 200mls is enough.

 

[Exile]

We have (pillion wife) done multi country euro trips a couple of times now, France, Switzerland, Austria, Italy (including the Stelvio and other passes), Slovenia, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Czech, Germany, Holland, Belgium, France, home! all in a two week window.
It worked for us because we mixed long and short days, and doing plenty of research re hotels (this site has been great), but to be honest having done it a couple of times, I'm now thinking of reducing the number and spending more time in the ones we really liked.
Eastern Europe is great, and so much better value for money, the Czech GP at Brno is brilliant, and they really look after bikers, but find a hotel away from Brno if you can, (my wife is Slovakian so booking and finding hotels is not an issue), Slovenia is amazing.
Most places have WiFi so booking ahead is easy if you take a smart phone.
A few obvious ones, make sure your bike is tip top, five star cover, don't pack the kitchen sink! do a bit of research (nothing worse than getting back having missed some of the sights), always carry original documents (V5, Insurance Etc).
I promise you will be converted, we are back to Spain in 2014, another great destination, hope you enjoy it!

 

[Fanum]

In Germany, every mile feels and takes the equivalent only 2/3rds of a mile, IYSWIM
In Poland, that drops to every being 1.5 or more miles.....there's a huge difference.

By the way, if it's only knocking off numbers, Lichtenstein is a country as well....personally, I think I'd take the shortest route across Germany and hit the Czech Republic, then you can bag Hungary by nipping off a corner and then Slovakia before getting back to Austria......It's a long trek across to Poland and unless you do Autobahns all the way which is tedious and not pleasant, it's a slow one as well......Knocking Poland off your route gives you 2 or three extras as bonuses....you could even catch the tip of Italy on the way across Austria into Switzerland

I can't remember exactly now, but I think Rosie and I did 13 or 14 in 10 days a while back, and that was pretty much unscripted, just getting up, riding and running away from the weather more than following a particular strict route

 

[grumpy]

Last june I covered 3990 miles in 7 days down as far as turin, in and out of switzerland a couple of times then swung around from the bottom of the stelvio up into austria and back into switzerland I did big mileages but actually enjoyed them, took toll roads out of the satnav, and took in the high
passes non of which were busy, the reason of seven days was all of a sudden I was sick of my own company and I had done what I intended, my vehicle a Smart fortwo car.

 

[Boxed-in]

Ferry from Plymouth to Santander, two hours you're back into France, then it's just one massive circular tour back.

Did that a good few years ago now, and the distance did not feel that big, but the actual distance was a lot of miles covered.

 

[Rasher]

(1) Do what YOU think is best and what YOU can do. If you can ride 350 miles in a day every day down every goat track and minor road, do it. If you can't, don't. If you think 100 miles in a day is a long way in the UK, it's no shorter across the water.

Motorways in France Germany are easy to maintain a 60-70mph moving average.

The A Road equivalents can be fairly quick as long as your not going through too many towns / villages and are happy to "make progress", many rural limits are lower than the UK's 60mph, but if you ride at a brisk pace and use the limits as more of a guideline you can average 50+ mph, I tend to watch the road rather than the speedo, especially on deserted road in the middle of nowhere.

(2) Take some decent maps; they are dirt cheap. You may need to make changes, depending on a whole host of imponderables. The great thing about maps is that they are very reliable, don't become too out of date (towns don't move) and even the most stupid local can understand them.

I take maps but use a GPS as it speeds progress quite considerably when not having to stop and check where you are etc.

(3) Book a hotel for your first night, after that take pot luck. Why? Having a hotel booked for night one gives you something definite to aim at; after that you want to be flexible.

My favourite way of travel, flexible and fun.

(5) Prepare for the worst, expect the best is always my motto. There are lots of threads on what to take. Read through them, but don't get carried away and DON'T TAKE TOO MUCH, you'll not be meeting royalty, trust me. If you do, they won't mind if you look like a hardened knarly adventurer.

We fill the space we have, that is a pannier each, waterproofs in tank bag and visor cleaner / earplugs / spare gloves / jumper in top box, solo two panniers is plenty and an empty top box is handy for locking your stuff in if you want to wander around.

We never pile stuff on, if we cannot fit it into one pannier it stays at home.

What's the hurry/challenge to achieve this goal or is it an idea you just plucked out of the sky?

Seriously, take your time and enjoy the experience , either that or blat along and have next to nothing to remember of your travels.

I would ask why the obsession with "visiting" lots of countries, this is likely to lead to lots of motorways - these tend to look the same the world over, and are not much fun to ride.

I personally would look at something like Route Des Grand Alpes, you could easily pass through some nice places on the way there and back (Vosges, Vercours, Black Forest, Ardennes) and cover a good selection of countries (France, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, Italy, Switzerland) but spend most of your time on great roads - or instead of RDGA just go across the more central Alps region and take in Austria and Lichenstein as well - 8 countries and all great roads.

There are enough great roads in just the French part of the Alps alone to keep you riding for a few weeks, but 10 days can give you a good taste of the region and creative routes In and Out could make for a fantastic trip - as long as your happy to unpack / pack every night to cover the ground.

Allow for 30-35 mph averages in the Mountains, this makes 175 - 200 miles a good days ride with stops factored in, cross country out of the mountains 250 - 275 miles is fairly easy, and motorways make easy work of 400 - 450 miles if you can handle the boredom.

 

[Wreford Miles]

Google maps says 32 hours... Gotta be worth trying to do it in 48!

If you are just doing it to knock of countries that would be my choice and as you've got more days Id add in some more countries - Does anyone know how many could be included in say a 4000 mile loop?

I've done a couple of long day big mile trips, for me the attraction comes from doing stuff outside of what you normally ask of yourself

 

[karlp]

It is possible

I have done
France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Lichtenstein, Austria, Italy, Slovenia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Germany, Netherlands in two weeks with a two day stop in Budapest.

I have done Basel to Southampton in one go. - not as many miles as some on here but still a long way

Ok so what did I achieve - just the ability to bullshit down the pub

Ask yourself what do you want to achieve.

Seeing the countries or sitting on a bike for two weeks

You are celebrating something so your choice

I am not trying to be a pain in the arse just an alternative thought process

 

[Steptoe]

Forget countries - Do continents. Europe, Africa (morroco) and Asia (Turkey and pop over the bosphorus ). Easily do-able in 7 days.

Beats spending days cooped up in some old european town looking for culture.

 

[Wal2]

Google maps says 32 hours... Gotta be worth trying to do it in 48!

If you are just doing it to knock of countries that would be my choice and as you've got more days Id add in some more countries - Does anyone know how many could be included in say a 4000 mile loop?

I've done a couple of long day big mile trips, for me the attraction comes from doing stuff outside of what you normally ask of yourself

4000, inc UK miles for me......maybe 12-14 days at 200 miles a day, or...if you like big miles or pushing yourself just to see............who knows.....something to work out and savour on cold winter days.

personally, I don't do much planned sightseeing or culture, if I happen to pass , that's fine.....I just like being on the bike and meandering anywhere in any country. 200 mile day seems to hit a sweet spot for me.

ive ridden from home to Basel in 1 go to see if I could do it....and enjoyed it, just a different frame of mind needed I suppose


https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?sadd...ptm&mra=dpe&mrsp=10&sz=8&via=10,11,12&t=m&z=6

 

[Wreford Miles]

Forget countries - Do continents. Europe, Africa (morroco) and Asia (Turkey and pop over the bosphorus ). Easily do-able in 7 days.

Beats spending days cooped up in some old european town looking for culture.

I like that...

 

[woodman]

Hi

I'm planning my first european trip this coming year, something to mark my 40th with (got my bike licence for my 30th!). The plan is to arrive at the Motogp in the Netherlands, but enroute to travel through as many European countires as sensible in a 7 /10 day period.

The plan, such as it is my mind - is noted on this google maps link. Uk > France > Belgium > Luxembourg > France > Switzerland > Germany > Austria> Czech > Poland > Germany > Netherlands.


https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=...bB6NWt4ABA&oq=Gorlitz&t=h&dirflg=t&mra=ls&z=6

My question at this stage is a) has anyone on here done anything similar, and do have advice to share, b) how best to plan the route to the next stage - is it a buy paper maps and route it out manually, so i find roads which are likely to give some good riding and views etc.

Nay help and comments would be gratefully recv'd

OK so it's your first trip, and great that you are doing it.
Please take some advise.
If it's just about ticking off countries so that you can say you have "done" them, you are going to spend all your time
sitting on motorways and major roads.
Motorways and service stations are the same all over Europe.
You will come back with very few memories and square tyres.
My suggestion.
Get out of northern France quick, it's crap.
Then use the smaller roads and just get lost.
If you must use hotels, (I always camp) use small hotels in small towns / villages and meet the locals in the Bar Tabacs.
After about 5 days start to head back by a different route.
You will miss a great adventure if you just "tick off the countries".
You will have a lot more tales to tell if you just meander.
Your choice I suppose.

 

[Deleted account Cooperman]

Your route misses out the Alps

I would swap Czech and Poland for Italy/Slovenia/Croatia

You can get back up through Germany very quickly on the autobahns, this investment gives you more time to play in the enjoyable areas

 

[Pablo1]

if its your first trip I would aim to spend most of the time in Black Forrest Germany, Czech, Austria. Great Roads and 10 days would be ideal to do some of the best.
Blast up to Bavaria and then a blast back to the netherlands, in between a liesurely ride on some great roads.
have a look on here for route ideas http://www.bestbikingroads.com/
if you aint got sat nav, get one
Enjoy

 

[Fanum]

Here's a THREAD I did on a very similar trip in 2008, with my better half Rosie.

Unplanned, ad-hoc, random but many countries in the same way that you're talking about doing......If I was setting out on a similar trip next month, I'd do it in almost EXACTLY the same way (a brief idea of a couple of key target points, then be totally flexible and just enjoy)

My summary from that trip:

The words of William;

You don't have to plan things, you can just go and do them-sometimes the best times come from that and it gets rid of so much stress being able to just go where you want when you want.

Unless alone, You do need a pillion and partner who is totally at ease with that though or you need to listen carefully and do what they need as well or it'll end in tears.

You have to let go of the worry of breaking down- plan for it and cover your arse up to a point, but know that every stranger you haven't met yet is a potential friend and that whatever comes will come.

Accept that the chances of a breakdown ending in anything other than new friends made under the mostly unlikely of circumstances is rare and you can relax- there are no cannibals in Europe anymore folks

Even packing as a reasonably experienced traveller, I overpacked- I had three pairs of clean socks left at the end and a pair of unworn pants

Spare dry bags, pockets and well placed storage on the bike make the world of difference.

Set your standards and enjoy your luxuries- we camped all but one night but we only cooked an evening meal once, the rest of the time we eat locally and cheaply to offset the fact that we were camping

Europe is clean and that's nice, England is dirty and that's not.

USe GPS Waypoint lists but don't forget your common sense or you'll end up frustrated.

Making a cup of coffee and walking 100 yards away from your bike, your tent and your sleeping partner in the mornings is a great way to start the day, ,looking back at what you have and looking forwards to the day you're going to give them.

You can never have too many spare tie downs, unless they're wire hooked bungees in which case one is too many.

Midges suck.

Macdonalds Europe wide are great places for a McShit

The museum is worth a visit, but I wouldn't ride all that way just to go there.

Try and take a camera that isn't broken

Rosie is a nearly perfect pillion.

An 1150GSA is a nearly perfect touring bike, but you have to break it in and mould it to you.

Noddy is a stalker.

Oompah bands can be fun and firemen in lederhosen aren't just for wessie.

The best moments on a trip are the unplanned, off-route ones.





That's enough bullshit from me.....seeyas

(PS Only joking- was genuinely happy to see Graham out there and a shame we didn't get to have a night out )

 

[Coolie]

Thanks for all your comments and observations. At this stage, these are really useful. The point of this journey is stretch my legs, test my endurance a bit, and enjoy some decent roads. The main point is to spend 7/10 days on the bike, covering some great roads, and getting a sense of achievement under my belt (taken too long to get this started proper). I'd like to feel like I've travelled a fair distance on some great roads, before arriving at the the Motogp in the Netherlands. The how many counties thing was a start point to stimulate a plan. I'm seeing from this a couple of things, if I did my plan - I'd spend a sh!t load of time on the m-way, not the plan, although accept there will be some gap hopping to do - particularly to get to the Netherlands bit quickly near the end. Second, if I plan my first night in Europe (accommodation) and then accommodation for the Motogp, then leave the rest a bit loser. Do you have a plan to get to a certain town each day, from the off? And find accommodation on the fly, or is the overall route kept unplanned apart from the start and end.

Sorry to be a numpty, but the info people have provided have provided seems to answer some of questions I had. Hopefully the above will help what I want from this. I just need to clarify the start point of planning and how best to achieve the very best experience.

There are some indicators about getting prepped before travel, presume that info is in the depth of the forum here, where abouts on here chaps?

What's is nice about all this, it's not all about the technical side of the bike, which is what I've used forums for before, but much more about the important bit - using the damn thing. Can wait to get this underway in 2014, got a week in March planned to do miles in the UK, which I'm hoping will be a 5dayer into Scotland.

All help, gratefully rev'd, cheers