

I am debating wether or not this route is out of my depths. I mean it clearly is, I already know that, at this point I‘m just debating if, with enough time, I could be able to pull this one off.
So the whole year I was/am debating about buying a new bike, omnium mini max adventure version by sentient work, to be exact. I guess I finally convinced myself to that expense. Now that this decision is out of the way, I am playing with the thought of inaugurating the bike the way it deserves: buying it in the uk and riding it back home. I‘ve got an absurd amount of overtime at my job and still some vacation time left. I should be able to pull myself out of my job for like 1,5 months. The route I am looking at is London-Vienna.
There‘s 2 possibilities that I am considering, whereby i like the second one better.
1. option, through france, belgium and germany and then straight to vienna, which I think would be doable for me. Shorter route, avoid the alps
—> less altitude to cover. Seems not too exciting though.
2. option, which sounds way more exciting.
Follow via Francigena through France and switzerland until Northern Italy. Then get on Eurovelo8 and follow until Grado. From there taking the Alpe Adria Trail back home.
Much longer and much more altitude to cover.
Realistically I could get 45 maybe Even 50 days off work. Biggest distance I have covered so far was 1.400km‘s in 20 days, with rest days. I do have experience and am quite resilient.
Thoughts towards the 2nd option: 147hrs of active riding (komoot), let‘s say 180hrs of active riding. Maximum time of riding per day 6hrs. 180:6=30 days of riding. With that calculation I‘d have 15 puffer days which sounds to good to be true (considering calculating with 180hrs instead of 147hrs)
2500km divided through a max of 70km/day, 2500:70=35 days of riding. So I guess I will be somewhere in between and still have plenty of recovery and puffer days.
I‘m not gonna be fast nor lightweight which I don‘t mind at all, and I also want it to be a chill tour without too much of a hussle in regards to time management. I‘m doubting/am indecure because of the amount of altitude I’d have to cover, with a heavy bike like the mini max (20kg) + gear and everything.
I‘d be hoping to get some experienced help/thoughts into assesing this plan. Thanks to everyone who took their time to read all this!
I‘m not gonna be fast nor lightweight whi
Cheers
by johnny_baukran
4 Comments
Definitely doable as you have an insane amount of time
I personakky can say that the route along the rheine and then the danube from the netherlands to vienna is super beautiful, so you should not feel bad about choosing the first option either
Take the route that excites you more. You’ll get fitter as you go so a distance of c. 2,500km shouldn’t be too bad, especially since you’ve already got experience.
French trains are also very easy to take with bikes so bear that in mind too!
Ive not ridden this route, but I have ridden extensively in western Belgium. It was pretty boring unless you have a reason to go. I’d much rather ride through France until the Ardenne.
Just saw your 2nd pic. That looks way more exciting to me haha
Route 3:
Go via Luxembourg, then down via Vogesen to Mülheim then cross alps on the main road
Hell yeah