2024 European bicycle tour, in video

This bicycle tour was 3730 miles / 6000km over 11 weeks, from May to August 2024. Bandirma, Turkey to Berlin, Germany.  

This was the first bicycle tour in which I recorded video.  As I put so much effort into producing these videos, this blog post will consist of videos from most of the countries that I cyccled through.

Turkey

I cycled 680 miles in 11 days

Some of the places I visited: Istanbul, Bandirma, Balikesir, Soma, Izmir, Kusadasi, Didum, Bodrum, Marmaris, Dalyan, Gocek, Fethiye, Oludeniz, Kas

I cycled as far south east as I could and still catch a boat back over the Greek Islands. The last climb was 4000ft and took me two hours to ascend.

After 22 years of cycle touring I think I'm finally getting used to it. Not to say my back doesn't hurt or that I'm not sometimes dying climbing steep mountains, but I have not had the day after butt soreness that I have had the previous 20+ years

Cycling on the Greek islands

From Turkey I took ferries to Kastelorizo, Rodos, Symi, and Crete.

I arrived Crete at 7pm but decided to make some progress and cycled up a mountain to a small village before sunset where I was able to eat and find a place to camp on an abandoned rooftop over looking the mountains.

Temps have been well over 100f/38c but I have been able to swim in the Mediterranean every day. The water color here is spectacular.

Peloponnese mountains, Greece

A 30+ minute descent in the Peloponnese mountains to the Carpathian sea in Greece

Greece

I spent 21 days in Greece. Temps were around 100 through the afternoons and winds generally against me.

Cycling in Greece was amazing. Some of the best cycling of my life. The Ionian coast is stunning. My new favorite restaurant to add to your bucket list The scenery is spectacular.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/HWqerQ3zFyU3ih4U9

Albania

My 10th day in a row cycling and my 2nd day in Albania was brutal. After a morning of about 3000' of climbing steep hills, it was another 3000' up Llogara pass with temps up to 44/110f and hardly any shade.

I found Albania quite dirty. With lots of trash and dead animals on the roads.

By far the most common car I saw were (black) Mercedes. Mostly stolen from Germany I'm told.

1 day climb in Montenegro

A one day 1800 meter climb over 85 KM in Montenegro. I ended up camping on the side of the road in the mountains.

Montenegro

Bosnia

Croatia

Austria

I sure do love cycling in the mountains. And the Alps do not disappoint.

Moving north from the Balkans the quality of cycling infrastructure gets so much better. With the bicycle paths it was such a pleasure to cycle in Italy and Austria.

Cycling in Austria is exquisite. Everything is so well cared for- the roads, bike paths, tunnels, bridges, gardens, houses, farms. Everything is neat and tidy and beautiful amongst the mountains.

The ubiquity of fresh, clean water in Austria makes cycling there so much easier. You don't have to think about managing water or even consider buying plastic.

Czech Republic

Poland