https://en.mapy.cz/s/lovutojuso
Hey guys, I would like a reality check for my first solo bikepacking trip, these are my conditions:
Physical: Yesterday I did 10km in 40 min, 200m elevation gain, in Bolivia (~3650masl) with a hard tail mountain bike, paved and unpaved roads.
Bike: I have €100-125 to buy a gravel or road bike in Berlin with a rack for my backpack.
Backpack: Clothes, tent, sleeping bag and a small mat. About cooking… I'll make a DIY penny stove on the way and reuse bean cans to cook food.
Budget: I would like to survive those 36 days with €500, that I will use mostly for food.
Navigation: I will use Komoot, Mapy.cz, and I will print maps, just in case.
Do you think it could be possible to achieve 100km per day?
Some recommendations about doing wild camping on the way? It would be my first time doing it, and I am worried about being robbed or being eaten by a bear. I'm not afraid to defend myself but I don't want to get in trouble with the law.
About buying a used bike… Any recommendations? I will use Kleinanzeigen or FB Marketplace. What are the regulations for buying a bike? What If I buy a stolen bike without knowing it?
Thanks everyone!
by ChiriUchu
6 Comments
42 days with buffer
Don’t miss the journey by focusing on the 100km/day.
Also Komoot seems to have more integrated routes for Bikes.
Allt the best
I doubt that 125€ will get you an okay bike in Berlin and 500€ will likely also not be enough for over a month on the road.
About wild camping: it’s definitely doable but it’s mostly forbidden in Europe. For Germany you should consider using the platform one nite tent, where you can sleep on private land for free if you get in contact with the landowners beforehand.
No need to be afraid of bears or being robbed (as for as you are staying in remoteish areas)
100km with a proper setup is 100% doable and not too hard, obviously dependent on your fitness. I would advise you to get a better bike though.
A bike for 125€ will probably not be fun to ride 3600km with.
Wild camping is illegal in most places I think, definitely in germany. So setup your camp late and pack up early (and leave no trace).
Bears only really exist in some parts in eastern europe (but apparently a tiny population exists around the border of spain and france?).
Budget seems a bit tight to my mind. I m sure you can get a bike at that price but whether it’s going to last all the way until Madrid without some parts replaced/maintenance is another matter.
Can you repair your own bike? Do you have a emergency fund? If something happens going through a sparsely populated area it’s either going to take you some money or some time to get back up and running.
Also while biking at altitude is certainly difficult it’s different from the endurance needed for a longer trip. Unless you are also used to doing 100km + a day you probably want some rest days here and there.
For most of the route you ll find forests where you can go in and and hide your tent. You re more likely to run into wild boars than bears, though to me they re pretty scary too! Not sure about hunting season but that’s also something I d keep in mind. Setting up camp and hearing gun shots nearby is unsettling too!
Ultimately it depends on you but to me I think the combo of a strict amount of time + very low budget would be tough.
– for that price, finding a decent bike will be difficult
– If you manage to find a bike for less than € 150, I wouldn’t worry about it getting stolen. Just put a light lock on it and take off your backpack when you hop into a store
– You could use apps like Welcome to my Garden, as wild camping isn’t allowed in most places (doesn’t mean you can’t try, but you risk a fine)
– don’t worry about bears on that route
– I recommend against using a bean can for cooking (lining, coatings, residue, contaminants, … just get a secondhand camping pot)
– € 500 isn’t much for food, but it can be done. Just make sure you have some backup.
I live in Berlin. Unfortunately your budget for a bike is unrealistic, especially if you only have days (I presume?) to source it. You’ll probably need to double it