Author Topic: gap year touring  (Read 7232 times)

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Offline martinp

gap year touring
« on: September 10, 2005, 07:41:36 am »
I will be starting my gap year in 2006, i live in the UK and am contimplating cycling accross finland and into and across europe for charity in my gap year. firstly has anyone done this before and have any tips, also if any one else has had the same idea, europe is big and possible boring on your own!!


Offline DaveB

gap year touring
« Reply #1 on: September 10, 2005, 09:15:32 am »
For the benefit of your American readers, what is a "gap year"?


Offline martinp

gap year touring
« Reply #2 on: September 10, 2005, 09:17:14 am »
oh sorry, its a year out after school, before university. many people use it to travel, meet new people or work to pay for university.


Offline RussellSeaton

gap year touring
« Reply #3 on: September 10, 2005, 07:21:49 pm »
I guess I had a gap summer of cycling between graduating from college in May and starting my job in September.  I rode 4000 miles around Europe and did not find it too big or boring on my own.  Compared to the US, Europe, all of Europe, is fairly small and easily ridden in one summer.  If you are going to take a whole year off, you have plenty of time to cover all parts of Europe.  East and West and North and South.

My biking went from Rome to Austria to Switzerland to Munich to Switzerland to Austria to Czekslovakia(sp) to formerly East Germany to formerly West Germany to Hamburg to northern Netherlands to Amsterdam to Belgium.  I saw a lot and met a lot of people.

My main advice is to not get too caught up in planning every day too far ahead.  And don't plan on riding too far each day.  Youth hostels are great in Europe.  Good place to meet people to stay with later in your ride.  Riding solo allows you to meet more locals because one person is more approchable by them.  And you are more likely to talk to locals if you do not have your own group to talk to.