Riding to Germany...

[Will]

I'm going to a friend's wedding in Leer (NW Germany) at the end of the month and have been contemplating whether or not to cycle part of the way. I can't make up my mind so thought I would open the idea up for discussion in an attempt to help me decide!

The basic plan would be to travel via public transport to a port (either Calais, Dunkirk, Ostend, or Hook of Holland) and then cycle the remaining distance (between 300 and 200 miles depending on port) to Leer. I would travel lightly and get a friend to take my other luggage (e.g. wedding outfit) in a van. I would probably fly back and so the same friend would take my bike back.

Pros:
- It would be a fun adventure and take me back to my youth of cycling home from Spain
- I've got enough holiday to do it and I'd enjoy the break
- The journey would be pretty easy going as I'd guess it's mostly flat

Cons:
- My only choice of bike is not that suitable as it only has 1 gear (a Condor Pista)
- My bike doesn't have eyelets so may not even be able to take a rack and light luggage
- A multi-day trip would be a lot more expensive than quickly flying there and back (flights £30 each way!)
- I may be less fit than I think and so not make the wedding in time!

So what do you reckon?

[John the old'un]

You can borrow either my winter bike which has lugs for a rack, or Mountain bike if you would like to.
Both set up for my size. i.e. around 57 cm.

[Andrew G]

Would be good fun .

No rack may not be that much of a hindrance as I guess you'd be looking at 2 to 4 days cycling depending on fitness/route, so a small rucksack should be enough. You'd only need spare cycling kit and shorts/t-shirt/flip flops for the evening plus toothbrush etc - probably end up a fairly light weight to carry.

If you wanted to go really lightweight then I have one of those "rocket-booster" bottlecage things that clamps round the seatpin and holds 2 bottles behind the saddle you could borrow. Get a couple of [url=http://www.gbcycles.co.uk/eshop.asp?wci=product&wce=WBPROST75001&desc=PRO+750MIL+STORAGE+BOTTLE]these[/url] and roll your kit up and stuff it in them .

If you didn't want a rucksack then a bar bag could take some stuff, they're not that big but then the kit you'll need will roll up very small, or you could get a Carradice saddle bag with their system that clips to the seatpin (not really possible if you are as short as me as there isn't enough seatpin sticking out ). Might have to weigh up cost of either of those options though against future use.

If it's fixed them I'd look at the route carefully first to check you aren't going to hit either too many, or too steep, hills, and fit 2 fairly differnt sprocket sizes (2 or 3 teeth different) on the wheel - assuming you have a flip-flop hub. Worst case scenario you can always jump on a train for a bit to cut round a nasty lump in the road.

Have a Google about on Credit-card touring. I can't remember any links at the mo but have seen some excellent tips on some sites.

[Will]

Thanks for your replies, and for your kind & agreeable offers

You've pretty much persuaded me that I should ride there, and I think that's definitely the right decision

I'll have a more serious think about the logistics and may well take one or both of you up on the offer(s)

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

Ride - you know it makes sense