transeurope in fall?

[pedalblimp]

I want to bike from Amsterdam to Istanbul to Barcelona and back to
Amsterdam.  I think the ride will take about three months.  Assuming I
leave in the beginning of September, will the weather be too cold for a
majority of the ride?  I plan on hugging the mediterranean coast on the
way back west.  How does Barcelona feel in December?  

Oh, and anyone want to come along?

[leo]

The answer is that, yes, it will be cold. Too cold for me, anyway. September is the fall and in northern Europe is rarely dependable. After that, the weather will deteriorate as the days pass and as you move into central Europe.

You can do it - this year I rode from Holland to southern France in the first two weeks of January - but I'd pack gloves...

happy days

léo

[jan404]

Hi,

i didnt really understand your route AMS-Istanbul on which route via germany/Balkan or through italy and then with a ferry? And how you want to get back? Along the mediterranean coast?

Well I would say its certainly not the best time of the year. As a matter of fact Paris is on same the latitude as the US canadian border. However, this is more misleading than it helps. Due to the gulf stream (Palm Trees in Ireland) winter is rather mild and even in December you will probably encounter just slight minus degrees (Celsius).
I would be more worried about rain, which you will certainly encounter.

Amsterdam: 20days of rain in each Sept/Okt/Nov/dec and about 100mm/month
Istanbul: 10/11/12/19  30mm in sept 90mm Dec

for compariosn: Seattle in february has also 20 days of rain and 100mm

Those data are from http://www.wetteronline.de
unfortuntaley its in german, you just have to type in the place and then click on "klima" in teh second row below the current forecast. "Diagramm 2" shows rainfall.

Keep me informed about your plannings,

Jan