Bicycle Touring and Bikepacking

664 readers

1 users here now

For all the pedal pushers out there that love long distance cycling. There are no gear requirements and no 'minimum distances' here.

Have you ridden for a cheeky overnighter or a 3 year global trek? Doesn't matter, you're welcome here.

Have you got panniers, bikepacking bags or just a backpack with the essentials? Doesn't matter, you're welcome here.

Have you got the latest in carbon engineering or your dads old 10 speed from the 70's? Doesn't matter, you're welcome here.

Related Communities

founded 2 years ago

MODERATORS

[email protected]

Bit of an update on my tour and if you want Q&A. (sopuli.xyz)

submitted 5 days ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

7 comments fedilink hide all child comments

First of all sorry I broke my phone and my backup phone can't resize pictures so I can't directly load them here.

So if some of you follow my mastodon account you know that I got to Brussels, damn 2 months not posting here and where I got.

In France I met El and she showed me a bit around the coast, we were riding together for a week there. Each of us wanted to see something bit different so we split in Nantes and I promised that I will join her in CZ to show her around. So that's what's happening now I am in train riding through Germany (not yet) and have spare time pretty much all night (I don't expect that I will get much sleep). If you have any questions about my journey don't hesitate to ask.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Generally the Spain is horrible for that - you can't take your bike assembled even on the slow long trains. The regional lines are ok but no bike racks so you just somehow put it on the spot for disabled people. Still the regional lines are only few hubs and not an network.

Portugal is better in this I didn't personally needed the train but met few people who used it. Still it depends, most trains take the bikes but you can't find much info about the ones that don't take them.

In France it is really ok on shorter routes in regional trains, on the long routes you still have to disassemble the bike.

I haven't been that long in Belgium but I think that it is really ok, I am now taking the DB trains through Germany and as I knew no issue there.

So more north-east you get the better the service.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Very helpful, thanks!

Generally the Spain is horrible for that - you can’t take your bike assembled even on the slow long trains.

Dammit now I'm worried. It said the intercity service (not AVE) was bike-accessible. I assumed that meant no disassembly. I might have to make enquiries now. Can you remember which legs and service you took?

In France it is really ok on shorter routes in regional trains,

Yes much progress there in recent years.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago (1 children)

In the end I didn't take it but I wanted to ride Santiago de Compostela to Irun, it is possible that on other lines they have cars with racks and stuff but don't expect it everywhere. And don't trust that label "bike transport possible" it usually means the disassembled bike.

In the end I took 2 trains in Spain one on the Madrid network and one on the San Sebastian network, it really doesn't matter which lines (I don't remember exact details, would have to look it up) they run pretty much same cars on the network. The Madrid one had bit more space but the train was bit ugly and sterile looking.

Only thing in France is that you need reservation for some trains. I didn't wrote it in my posts.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Useful. Thanks for the tips.

Have a great trip. Post again! Maybe add a photo next time.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago

Yeah that's the issue right now the pictures are massive for this server and my old phone that could downsize them died...

Maybe through catbox or something I may post. If you want to see some pictures I post more on mastodon https://f.cz/@plactagonic