Biking Backpacks
Posted on Wednesday, April 14th, 2010 at 10:42 pm
Biking/backpacking in Europe?
This certainly isn’t a question a lot of people would know the answer to, but is it a viable option to backpack through Europe on a bike? I’ve been to Germany once and saw loads of people riding on bikes. Also, I know trains are really popular there. If I wanted to take a train do they have like a cargo area where I could put my bike up for the ride?
No problem at all. Taking bikes full of camping kit on a train is a lot easier in France, Germany,Austria,Slovenia, etc than in UK. The railway staff are far more outdoor-conscious than British railway staff, although I have had some good journeys in Britain too. My first ever holiday alone, at 17, was a cycling trip round Scotland and the bike travelled well in the Guard’s van from London to Glasgow.
I was posted to Germany for a few years and our family had cycling holidays twice a year around Europe with no problems. Just two more bikes with child seats to go with the dozen or so others in the van, and an admiring smile from the loader, especially when our ‘Schone Dank’s and ‘Alles Gute’s gave away our Englishness. Great! A ‘proper’ English family instead of football drunks. They love it.
Many towns have extensive systems of cycle lanes, there are long-distance cycle trails all over Europe, hundreds of brilliant camp-sites,and loads of bike shops for spares. Cycling camping is a joy in Europe.
A lot of the backpacker hostels hire bikes for a day or week and have good storage for them. Cycling is very popular activity and the towns are far more geared up for cyclists than most British ones are. I cycled eight miles to work every day from a village outside Osnabruch and nearly the same in Munster, and loved it every time. When I was posted from Hanover to Munster I cycled it overnight. Great trip. All my kit came in the house-moving truck.
The only speeding caution I ever had in my life was on a bike in Austria, clocked doing 82KPH in a 50KPH zone through a mountain village (all nine houses of it) on a twelve-kilometer downhill dream of a road in the Stubai Alps. I just let the bike run when I saw the brilliant vista ahead of me, no braking,no pedalling. Soon going too fast to pedal anyway. Let off, after a worried and disappointing stop – the copper was a keen cyclist and climber who admired that an Englishman could be in so remote a place on a bicycle and actually enjoy it. Showing him my life membership card for the Austrian Alpine Club may have helped, when he asked for ID. His face glowed. An Englishman who lives like us! We had a good chat about our favourite mountain huts and we parted good friends.
A ‘Bergfreund’ is in good company in the Alps.
Wild camping is not allowed in some areas, of Europe in the Black Forest for example and in all of Slovenia. Bears and wolves roam the forested hills of Slovenia. Rabies is always something to keep in mind. Be more careful in wild areas anywhere in Europe than in similar areas in UK.
The backpacker hostels are safe and very good.
If you get as far as Slovenia, you’ll be in Paradise.
Have a great time.
Mobile Adventures Biking – biking holidays with backpack
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Backpack-pet Carrier with Shoulder Straps – 14 in Orange Pet Carrier with Shoulder Straps – 14″ Pet Carrier with Shoulder Straps in Orange: Extremely versatile carrier. Folds flat into convenient carry case (included). Main side cover. 2 shoulder straps that leave the owner’s hands free when traveling with a pet. Mesh sides provide great ventilation for your pet. Available in black, pink, orange and yellow. Size: 13″w x 7.5″d x 11″h Inches… |
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High Sierra Wave 70 Hydration Pack $40.00 The High Sierra® Wave 70 hydration pack offers you a sleek and simple design that makes it easy to take along up to 2-liters and your smaller essential gear. Vapel mesh Airflow material on the back and shoulder straps makes it comfortable to carry…. |
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High Sierra Wave 50 Hydration Pack $30.00 A simple way to carry water with you on active trips, or around town. Use for outings on your bike, or hiking. External water fill and additional outside pocket for keys, energy bar or other small items makes this hydration back pack easy to use and ideal for your active lifestyle…. |
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K-Cliffs Navy Outdoor Backpack/ Biking Backpack/ Messenger Backpack/ Cross Shoulder Backpack $12.50 This stylish shoulder backpack is good for using outdoor, hiking, travel and cycling. Small accessoy pocket in the front to organize your small stuffs…. |
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K-Cliffs Black Outdoor Backpack/ Biking Backpack/ Messenger Backpack/ Cross Shoulder Backpack $15.50 This stylish shoulder backpack is good for using outdoor, hiking, travel and cycling. Small accessoy pocket in the front to organize your small stuffs…. |
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K-Cliffs Gray Outdoor Backpack/ Biking Backpack/ Messenger Backpack/ Cross Shoulder Backpack – Grey $12.50 This stylish shoulder backpack is good for using outdoor, hiking, travel and cycling. Small accessoy pocket in the front to organize your small stuffs…. |
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CamelBak BPA-Free Better Bottle with Bite Valve $12.95 CamelBak Better Bottle with Bite Valve The CamelBak Better Bottle with Big Bite Valve makes it easy to stay hydrated when you’re on the go. This reusable, spill-proof companion is 100% BPA-free, simple to carry and dishwasher safe. Features: .75 liter (24 ounces) capacity Stain resistant and taste-free… |
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CamelBak Omega HydroTanium Replacement Reservoir $25.00 Item Specifications: Reservoir Size 72fl oz… |
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CamelBak Rogue 70-Ounce Hydration Pack $50.00 70 oz. OMEGA HydroTanium reservoir with easy, external access gives the right amount of hydration for 2-3 hours in the saddle. External zip pocket includes a key clip and organizer. Lower zip pocket provides enough room for some small tools, extra tubes and an energy bar. Handy pump port fits any size mini-pump. Air Mesh back panel and shoulder straps will keep comfortably ventilated. Reflect… |
