Ideas... Sahara trip
forgotrafe
Posts: 637
I'm 40 next June & want to go on an adventure; I've planted the seed at work that I might be taking an extra month off, money isn't a problem and wifey is okay with it. Only problem is thinking of what to do, so thought I'd seek help...
Having rediscovered a love of cycling in recent years I think it should involve this. In terms of discipline, I love my MTB (MIAS level 2 instructor) but also love riding on the road; not road racing - I like to have a destination, to use the bike to get there & to enjoy the journey. Have done several 200-miles-in-two-days events throughout UK & Europe. So a long-distance tour seems the obvious choice.
One idea is based on a trip I did back in September 2001when I drove my old Land Rover all the way from home in Oxfordshire to the Sahara and back. Now I live nearer Swindon I'm thinking I could do "Swindon to Sahara"...
Ride to Portsmouth, ferry to Bilbao in Northern Spain, cycle the length of Spain to near Gibraltar, ferry to Ceuta (northern tip of Africa), then cycle through Morocco, over the Atlas and down to the edge of the Sahara (Erg Chebi, south east Morocco). Perhaps swapping touring bike for MTB somewhere in Morocco to do the Atlas Mountains with.
Would want to do it self-sufficient (on my 2 day trips I've always had support vehicle), but probably book places to stay en route & hire a guide or tour company to help with the Moroccan section.
What do people think of my idea? Any better ones?
Lots of other questions going round in my head too, but they're "detail"... I've got a Cotic Roadrat maybe that'd be an okay choice? Assuming I like it after I've finished building it
Wheels are the Cotic ones (relatively cheap) so maybe swap them out? Maybe ditch the hydraulic brakes for cable discs for ease of maintenance (though am competent bike mechanic that's happy bleeding hydraulic brakes and the chances of them going wrong are very slim). Panniers or maybe a trailer? But as I say, those are details for another day...
Sorry for the long post!
Having rediscovered a love of cycling in recent years I think it should involve this. In terms of discipline, I love my MTB (MIAS level 2 instructor) but also love riding on the road; not road racing - I like to have a destination, to use the bike to get there & to enjoy the journey. Have done several 200-miles-in-two-days events throughout UK & Europe. So a long-distance tour seems the obvious choice.
One idea is based on a trip I did back in September 2001when I drove my old Land Rover all the way from home in Oxfordshire to the Sahara and back. Now I live nearer Swindon I'm thinking I could do "Swindon to Sahara"...
Ride to Portsmouth, ferry to Bilbao in Northern Spain, cycle the length of Spain to near Gibraltar, ferry to Ceuta (northern tip of Africa), then cycle through Morocco, over the Atlas and down to the edge of the Sahara (Erg Chebi, south east Morocco). Perhaps swapping touring bike for MTB somewhere in Morocco to do the Atlas Mountains with.
Would want to do it self-sufficient (on my 2 day trips I've always had support vehicle), but probably book places to stay en route & hire a guide or tour company to help with the Moroccan section.
What do people think of my idea? Any better ones?
Lots of other questions going round in my head too, but they're "detail"... I've got a Cotic Roadrat maybe that'd be an okay choice? Assuming I like it after I've finished building it
Wheels are the Cotic ones (relatively cheap) so maybe swap them out? Maybe ditch the hydraulic brakes for cable discs for ease of maintenance (though am competent bike mechanic that's happy bleeding hydraulic brakes and the chances of them going wrong are very slim). Panniers or maybe a trailer? But as I say, those are details for another day...Sorry for the long post!
My guide to navigating using the Garmin Edge 800
My guide to navigating using the Garmin Edge 1000
Riding your first Century (100 miles) – a guide for normal people.
My guide to navigating using the Garmin Edge 1000
Riding your first Century (100 miles) – a guide for normal people.
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Comments
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Morrocco in June July Sahara region?High Altas maybe just about bearable..Most Morrocco bike hoildays go November to April...jc0
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Am 40 in June, Morrocco would trip would be Oct/Nov time otherwise I'd die even with my high tolerance for heat! Sorry for the confusion!
Though I've just noticed the London to Istanbul thread which now has my interest... Suspect with lots more countries it'd be a far richer experience than Sahara trip.My guide to navigating using the Garmin Edge 800
My guide to navigating using the Garmin Edge 1000
Riding your first Century (100 miles) – a guide for normal people.0 -
I don't know much about the politics of Morocco but after Tunisia and Egypt I don't think it would be a surprise if there was also unrest there and/or in Libya. So worth having a Plan B in your back pocket.0
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As a plan B, there is a 2000 km mtb route round Andalucia, southern Spain called the Transandalus. The website provides maps, instructions and ideas for places to stay, it's also got an English version even though it's Spanish run.
http://www.transandalus.org/
Just a thought, whatever you do, have fun!
Sarah0 -
garyspain wrote:As a plan B, there is a 2000 km mtb route round Andalucia, southern Spain called the Transandalus. The website provides maps, instructions and ideas for places to stay, it's also got an English version even though it's Spanish run.
http://www.transandalus.org/
Just a thought, whatever you do, have fun!
Sarah
Indeed.
(Unsolicited recommendation) I'd definitely recommend vamoscycling in Cadíar in the Alpujarras as a place to stay on the TransAndalus or go for a road-cycling holiday. (Hope you're both well!).0
