"The slower I cycle, the more I can see"
"Ju saktare man tar sig fram desto mer tar hinner man ta in"
What is this all about?
The title consists of two words "cycle" and "experiences".
Cycle means that the blog is about my bike tours. I will write about how much, where, when and how the bike ride was. I'll try to refrain from commenting on political, economic issues and other things that angers me. There are others who do it better.
The second part is a bit harder. Experiences, can be anything that I feel when I ride. All of my thoughts to great things. I hope to enjoy meeting people, nature, culture and above all food.
2010 I was in involved in an accident in a roadrace. During my convalescence I was thinking about how it would be to cycle for 24 hours on my race bike. Only stopping for water and food, No extra equipment only a VISA card. At the same time I read about some Swedish cyclists on their way to China.
During that winther a read a lot, made plans and had ideas how and where to cycle. I sold my Time trial bike, bought camping stuff and soon it was time to go out on the road.
Making a long story short, I dropped the 24 hour idea and decided that five week cycle was reasonable. Being in other parts of Ukraine but not at Black Sea I decided that Odessa would be a reasonable distance from Sweden.
Part of this story is my increased tiredness an fatigue. In May 2011 I had to go to hospital because I fainted at my job. 24 hour later I was lying on the operation table and got a Pacemaker.
Ten days after I got my pacemaker I started to cycle to Odessa. Read about that in Cycling east Europe 2011.
"It's a dangerous business Frodo, going out your door.
You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet,
there is no knowing where you might be swept off to."
Bilbo, in Lord of the Rings
Cycle experience Eastern Europe 2011
Eastern Europe has always fascinated me. I have had the privilege to travel to these countries in my profession at Chamber of Commerce. But it has also stoped me from geting outside the capital cities. Now I want to get closer to people and how they live in countryside.
The journey goes from Tallinn Trough Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus and Ukraine to finish in Odessa at the Black Sea. It was a good ride. All countries was interesting, although no mountains I meet many people and saw many interesting places.
Cycle experience Central Europe 2012
My trip to Odessa was a nice first trip and only days after I returned to work I began to plan my nest. Journey. This journey went through middle Europe. Starting in Stockholm ends in Athens.
I can't recall why I decided this but again work duties and vacation time decided how many days I could spend on the road.
Through Poland, Czech Rep, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Kosovo, Albania and Greece. looking for small back roads with little traffic and interesting nature. Staying in Wroclaw and Beograd's, Tirana. You can read about this in Cycling Europe 2012.
Cycle experience South America 2013
I enjoy sitting with my maps and think about all interesting places to cycle. Limitations, weather, time of year, cost. There are many variables to take into concideration.
After some thoughts I think I have decided that it will be South America. I want to cycle in the Andes. Want to see Amazon's before it disappear. My itinerary looks like this. Lima - la Oroya - Huancayo - Ayacucho - Kimbiri - Quillabamba - Cusco - Porto Velho - Manauas, Boa Vista, Ciudad Bolivar, Caraccas. I am leaving Lima on 24th August. (see map in page "cycling south america 2013")
I am loooking for company. If you are thinking about same route maybe we can do it together! Send me a mail from contact page.
