I could use some suggestions if anyone has any good input.
Towards the end of May if everything goes well I am planning on a Tour of Europe. First flying into London, staying a few days in Wales with friends, then across the channel to Calais. From there to Paris, Zurich, Liechtenstein, Innsbruck, Munich, Leipzig, Sommerschenburg {really tiny village where my father was born}, Hanover, Dusseldorf, Eindhoven, Antwerpen, Brussels, Dunkirk, back to Wales, then back to London and fly back to Canada. {All this subject to serious modifications before trip and during trip depending on time, money, mood, breakdown, premature death, PMS...} Roughly 2,225 mi.
I have a bit of a bad heart so can't pedal for long periods without a motor {actually heart is great shape but have nerve damage {From breaking my back} going to heart so really annoying and limiting but not dangerous}. I have built a china lady and then modded it a fair bit. Needless to say, riding a china lady has convinced me not to use that motor {ya think?}.
I am almost finished building a pusher using predator 99cc but recently found that the best way I can find to ship it to UK would cost over $1000-00. {Is there no slow boat service from Canada to UK anymore???} Okay so next option...
I just ordered from Thatsdax. TitanXC50S, REAR MOUNT CHAIN DRIVE KIT, with a few spare parts like clutch, master-links etc. Before breaking my back {15 years ago} I bicycled up to 40 miles a day. I am extremely mechanical so hopefully should be able to handle any breakdowns although parts I hope will not be too much of an issue.
I don't speak any language other than English but have put a translation app on my smart phone. {Prepaid Sim cards for Europe are dead easy to pick up and cheap}.
I am currently trying to find an airline that will ship my motorized bike but most seem to have an issue with the motor, but I have emails out on the subject and am hoping to hear from them soon.
Although I lived in the UK for a few years 27 years ago I have never been to the continent. From the research I have done, Europeans are very friendly to bicyclers and overall motorists are really considerate of them. Germany and France and many other countries are supposed to be very good for bike routes etc.
Being a long time bicycler, and backpacker I am very aware of weight limitations etc.
Over the past month I have dropped 20 lbs and plan on dropping another 20 in the next few months. I am starting what training I can handle which, so long as my motor does not entirely die {both self and bike motor <lol>}, should be adequate.
I am planning on hostels and camping. Maybe even some couchsurfing.
So does anyone have specific tips regarding this trip?
My time frame is about a month, but that can be adjusted on the fly as I will have a one way ticket there and will not book my flight back until I know when I will be coming back.
One concern I have is luggage. I am not sure if I will be able to quickly get a cheapish used trailer {would prefer to make one before I leave, but shipping prevents it} and really don't want to spend hundreds on something I am going to have leave behind, but failing that I will be decked out with panniers, frame bag etc. The issue I see with that is, when I stop to go up the Eiffel tower or whatever, where do I put my stuff. I really don't want to leave it on my bike all alone, but carrying 3 panniers, frame bag, handlebar bag etc seems really inconvenient and I can't think of a way to secure them to the bike in a way that anyone could still not easily steal in less than 5 seconds.
So does anyone have any suggestions or can point out anything I am not thinking about. Does anyone know if I need to do anything ahead of time to plan to go through all the different boarders or do I just show my Canadian passport and smile?
Towards the end of May if everything goes well I am planning on a Tour of Europe. First flying into London, staying a few days in Wales with friends, then across the channel to Calais. From there to Paris, Zurich, Liechtenstein, Innsbruck, Munich, Leipzig, Sommerschenburg {really tiny village where my father was born}, Hanover, Dusseldorf, Eindhoven, Antwerpen, Brussels, Dunkirk, back to Wales, then back to London and fly back to Canada. {All this subject to serious modifications before trip and during trip depending on time, money, mood, breakdown, premature death, PMS...} Roughly 2,225 mi.
I have a bit of a bad heart so can't pedal for long periods without a motor {actually heart is great shape but have nerve damage {From breaking my back} going to heart so really annoying and limiting but not dangerous}. I have built a china lady and then modded it a fair bit. Needless to say, riding a china lady has convinced me not to use that motor {ya think?}.
I am almost finished building a pusher using predator 99cc but recently found that the best way I can find to ship it to UK would cost over $1000-00. {Is there no slow boat service from Canada to UK anymore???} Okay so next option...
I just ordered from Thatsdax. TitanXC50S, REAR MOUNT CHAIN DRIVE KIT, with a few spare parts like clutch, master-links etc. Before breaking my back {15 years ago} I bicycled up to 40 miles a day. I am extremely mechanical so hopefully should be able to handle any breakdowns although parts I hope will not be too much of an issue.
I don't speak any language other than English but have put a translation app on my smart phone. {Prepaid Sim cards for Europe are dead easy to pick up and cheap}.
I am currently trying to find an airline that will ship my motorized bike but most seem to have an issue with the motor, but I have emails out on the subject and am hoping to hear from them soon.
Although I lived in the UK for a few years 27 years ago I have never been to the continent. From the research I have done, Europeans are very friendly to bicyclers and overall motorists are really considerate of them. Germany and France and many other countries are supposed to be very good for bike routes etc.
Being a long time bicycler, and backpacker I am very aware of weight limitations etc.
Over the past month I have dropped 20 lbs and plan on dropping another 20 in the next few months. I am starting what training I can handle which, so long as my motor does not entirely die {both self and bike motor <lol>}, should be adequate.
I am planning on hostels and camping. Maybe even some couchsurfing.
So does anyone have specific tips regarding this trip?
My time frame is about a month, but that can be adjusted on the fly as I will have a one way ticket there and will not book my flight back until I know when I will be coming back.
One concern I have is luggage. I am not sure if I will be able to quickly get a cheapish used trailer {would prefer to make one before I leave, but shipping prevents it} and really don't want to spend hundreds on something I am going to have leave behind, but failing that I will be decked out with panniers, frame bag etc. The issue I see with that is, when I stop to go up the Eiffel tower or whatever, where do I put my stuff. I really don't want to leave it on my bike all alone, but carrying 3 panniers, frame bag, handlebar bag etc seems really inconvenient and I can't think of a way to secure them to the bike in a way that anyone could still not easily steal in less than 5 seconds.
So does anyone have any suggestions or can point out anything I am not thinking about. Does anyone know if I need to do anything ahead of time to plan to go through all the different boarders or do I just show my Canadian passport and smile?
