It was time to test my setup and bags for the biketouring season. For this year, I downgraded my larger panniers to smaller ones and fork packs. Bike is my Kona Sutra SE 2024 with Shimano GRX group set.
Set off on Saturday morning with destination De Veluwe and a campground in Wenum-Wiesel.
I took it easy with coffee stops, a lunch stop at Radio Kootwijk (a huge building in the middle of a nature area, once used as a radio transmission base) and many photo stops.
Komoot (setting: gravel bike) made a pretty good route and after 110km and some very nice gravel roads I arrived at the campground.
The night was fine (not cold thanks to my Enlightened Equipment quilt and some thermo clothes) and with no problems I switched into my morning routine of taking down the tent, organizing my stuff and packing the bike.
After an oatmeal-banana breakfast and coffee I started the 75 km ride back to my hometown.
The first 35km were fantastic; De Veluwe nature area is vast and has many great gravel roads to choose from. After the quiet forest roads I arrived at Harderwijk and entered the Flevopolder. The typical Dutch lowland, where the wind always blows and the views are endless.
This stretch of the route was familiar to me so it was just easy peddling. A quick leftover banana-yoghurt-stroopwafel lunch and early afternoon I arrived back home.
All gear was still perfectly fine and the smaller volume of my bags forced me to pack more wise and minimal. So this turned out to be a good test weekend with some nice cycling.
Next up: 4 days in the South of The Netherlands from May 28th!
by Boskakkalobbes