My first schedule for the world trip included a bike trip to Istanbul and further to Iran as part of the itinerary. I read some travel reports and concluded that it would take me around 3+ months to arrive in Tehran. However going on a partnered trip cycling together more than a day was not a real option. So I postponed the plan until recently.
In the beginning of 2018 the idea worked it’s way from the back of my mind. I don’t remember exactly when it took over. It must have been between one of the days in Tunisia and and an office day in Germany when I consulted my colleague Paul about his experiences and thoughts about longer cycling trips. Cycling to work most of his time he seemed to be a good reference. We shared our ideas and a few minutes later it was settled we’d go on a Trans-Europe adventure together. We researched a trail from Munich to Istanbul. All the way across the Balkans. World trip part two on it’s way.
Find a bike and get ready
Preparations took place and because we work at a fabulous employer we could settle an agreement. This agreement would allow us to travel for 3 weeks, work remotely for 3 weeks and finish after a total of 9 weeks in Istanbul. Due to the length of the tour we split it in Pre- and Post-Albania. Also starting the trip by train seemed not a good start. So we decided to start in Stuttgart and cycle to Munich.
I found a large enough travel bike from a vendor on eBay and prepared myself. As you might have noticed I believe in the church of minimal travel gear. However I haven’t been on a cycling trip that lasted longer than a weekend before. I found valuable advice online. Here is my packing list for roughly 6 weeks of cycling. We start on first September and will arrive back home in the beginning of November. Temperatures will range between 28°C and 6°C.
Packing gear for the bike trip to Istanbul
All my gear for the bike trip to Istanbul went into waterproof pockets from Ortlieb. I bought a handlebar bag and accessory pouch for my camera. A small frame bag for snacks and money and two larger saddlebags to carry laptop, clothing and sleeping bags completed the setup.
| Technical Equipment | |
| Lenovo X1 Carbon 5th Generatiom incl. Freitag Pouch | 1.300 |
| 87W USB-C Multicharger | 300 |
| 65W USB-C PowerBank 20.000 mAh | 520 |
| USB-C Cable, Lightning Cable (short and long), Micro USB Cable, USB SD-Reader | 20 |
| In-Ear Headphones | 20 |
| Headlamp | 80 |
| Camera gear | |
| Fuji X100F – Fixed-lens camera | 420 |
| Tele-Converter lens, Wide-Angle Converter Lens, Tripod, Dual-Charger, SD-Cards | 560 |
| General Clothing | |
| Gore Windstopper Soft-Shell | 400 |
| Short pants | 240 |
| Short cycling pants | 180 |
| Yard T-Shirt | 180 |
| Merino Longsleeve | 180 |
| Merino Pullover | 240 |
| Swimming shorts | 100 |
| Underwear | 60 |
| Spare woolen socks | 60 |
| Long Pants, Merino T-Shirt, Merino Longsleeve, 1 Pair of socks worn on departure | |
| Rain and cold weather clothing | |
| Gore Active Rain-Jacket | 400 |
| Rain pants | 200 |
| Windstopper cycling gloves long | 100 |
| Neoprene shoe covers | 120 |
| Buff and Windstopper headband | 80 |
| Camping gear | |
| Tent including pegs | 1.920 |
| Handlebar pack | 300 |
| Inflating mattress and pillow | 800 |
| Sleeping bag (thanks to Mrs. Mafi) | 1.600 |
| Cup | 120 |
| Travel towel | 280 |
| Bug spray | 120 |
| Knife, Fork, Spoon, Plastic container | 220 |
| Necessities | |
| Basic travel medication and personal hygiene | 600 |
| First aid kit including a rescue cover | 180 |
| Passport, proof of vaccinations, keys | 220 |
| Spare and cycle parts | |
| Replacement spokes, nipples and screws | 80 |
| 2 Ratchet straps, string | 80 |
| Spare brake pads | 20 |
| Spare inner tube, tire levers, air pump | 300 |
| Multi-tool | 120 |
| Duct tape, old cloth | 30 |
| Empty pack | 200 |
