Netherlands to Italy

Over the summer, I rode from the Netherlands to Italy, crossing seven different countries in seven days.

Due to limited time and a hard deadline upon arrival in Italy, I had to cover 180 km per day and stayed in ho(s)tels or with friends along the way.

The first few days were mostly flat and peaceful, following canals and rivers through Belgium, Germany, and France. After that, the Swiss lakes and Alps brought quite a bit of elevation gain each day. The final days in Italy were especially tough due to high temperatures and limited access to water and proper food.

Since the final days were more mountainous, I pushed the kilometers early on, hence the amount of food I brought. It was a very fortunate ride without any punctures, bad weather, or other setbacks. I did realize I ate too little for the amount of energy I burned over the week, but I managed to make up for it once I arrived in Italy!

Upfront I wasn’t sure if going solo would suit me, but it turned out to be a beautiful experience, and I met wonderful people along the way.

I’m now planning my first bike camping trip and would love advice on making the jump to camping. I’m considering a different bike, are there any other things I should take into account?

Thanks in advance!