Drawing from my experience on my road trip last year, I have learned that attention to detail is critical when it comes to planning. It's essential to ensure that the entire planning process is complete and nothing is forgotten. 😅
My planning process includes:
Developing a route idea that avoids major roads and highways
Adding stops and shops to the plan
Reviewing the route and making adjustments where necessary
Checking the surface and rerouting as needed
Booking hotels
Creating a packing list
Double-checking everything
Embarking on the adventure!
I am always open to feedback and suggestions on how to improve this process and plan.
Route
Travel time based on 18km/h
*Fika = Coffee break with something small to eat
*1km = 0.62 miles
Packing
Packing is also an art. You need to pack as slim and light as possible while ensuring that you bring everything you need for a week on the bike. Last time I did this, I created a spreadsheet with all the items I needed, including their weight. Initially, I had about 20kg, but cycling with that much extra weight is challenging. A 4% uphill slope feels like 10%, so it's important to minimize weight. I suggest cutting down on unnecessary items and investing in lightweight gear such as tents and sleeping bags.
The Bike
Regarding the bike, we will be mainly riding on paved roads. Two of us have racing bikes, so that's what we'll be using. However, I will also bring my Gravel bike, a Canyon Grail CF SL with the hover bar cockpit. On the bike, I will have a bag in the front between the handlebars, one frame bag, a larger saddle bag, and a snacks bag on the handlebars. I plan to keep the saddlebag as small as possible to prevent it from wiggling when standing up and going uphill.
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