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I am bored of work at the moment and going to take a couple of months to cycle from London to Istanbul (or maybe from Istanbul to London is best?). Always meant to do it, and never got round to it... so off I go...
I'm wondering if mid-april or early may might be a good starting point. Thining of completing it over a couple of months.
Does anyone have any thoughts. Not too interested in cycling in the driving rain, but of course will do it where necessary.
What you said - go the other way so it's warmer this end when you get back ?
I'd do it going toward Istanbul, imagine how disappointed you'll be finishing in bloody London?....
All the best sir, sounds fantastic.
What will your route be?
I was working in Edirne on the Greek/Bulgarian boarder last February, it was 26degrees, I wouldn't want to go any later in the year as it will be scorching. In contrast I was also in Istanbul the previous December. minus 2 and snow.
I don't like headwinds so would be much keener on Istanbul London. Doing it this way you could start in say early April with likelihood of good weather and get spring in the Balkans. But on the other hand it would then take a hell of a tailwind to dislodge me from southern France.
Hard man way would be to start from London, north to Hull, ferry to Zeebrugger, then loads of cobbles. In February.
[url= https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Time_of_Gifts ]Sounds like a great trip![/url]
Do it. I planned on the same when I was about 30 but a few personal things went wrong and my confidence was lost.
I think it would be nicer to do Istanbul to London in terms of weather and logistics as you would not need to source a bike box in Istanbul, but more exciting to finish in a foreign land!
No help but stoked for you!
Worth looking at the Transcontinental Race routes over the last few years, until this last years additions they all finished in Istanbul
I rode to Istanbul in 2008 through Eastern Europe, didn't really enjoy the trip. I think France/Italy etc would be better - quieter roads, more of a cycling culture.
[url= https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pedaller-Peking-Christopher-Hough/dp/0747231117 ]Good reading prep[/url]...laugh out loud funny in places, usually at the expense of Johnny Foreigner.
Good stuff, May to June sounds good. It'll be hot when you get there but you'll be acclimatised by then.
An easy route would be down the Rhine and then down the Danube (possibly via the Mainz). The Rhine section is easy and the upper Danube is touring heaven. I did the lower Danube a couple of years ago, blogged [url= https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?doc_id=17469 ]here.[/url]
I believe cycling down the black sea coast through Bulgaria is problematic so best to go cross country once you get to Bulgaria.
Of course if you don't want an easy time of it then take another route 🙂
Day time bump for the op
Montgomery - why didn't you enjoy it? Too many fast roads? I've done quite a lot of cycle touring in europe, and would join up the tiny roads and go point to point.
Donald - thanks i'll take a look at your blog.
Scud- also a good idea. Will do.
TheBrick- that is my fear also. Have been threatening it for years, but just never seem to get round to it.
Nobeerinthefridge - yes. That is kind of my fear. That I will get bored when I get back to newhaven and never quite make it home. There is also something deeply wonderful about setting off on a trip from your own house.
All the other posters - thanks very much. Keep any more ideas coming. Trying to use the internet less and only check the forum once a day or so, so won't be back and forward too much to find messages.
BearGrease- I'll get myself a copy of that. Have found Patrick Leigh-F a little bit of a bore in the past...but will give it a go.