Frequently asked questions about cycling around the world

We often get questions about the trips we made, the sort of bikes we use etc. etc. We have collected these questions and the answers on these pages. However, if you have a question about ‘cycling around the world’ you’re always welcome to ask! .

Overview of all questions and answers

What extra clothing did you bring on those cold trips to Alaska and Canada?
It’s essential to have warm fleece clothing and thermal underwear to keep yourself warm. A good Goretex type jacket will keep you dry. We tried to find waterproof and warm gloves but could not find them so we covered our normal gloves with plastic bags to keep them dry. Waterproof shoecovers proved very handy. Nothing worse than cold and wet shoes when you get up the next morning! ( Keyword : alaska )

I would like to go to Alberta & Yukon next summer, and I would like to ask you about the flying bugs. Are they really a problem?
I’m not sure. We did go there in the very late summer / autumn and did not have any problems…. ( Keyword : alaska )

I’m interested in the elevation profile of the Denali Park road from the entrance to Wonder Lake.
We haven’t got the exact elevation profile for this road. As far as we can remember there were no serious climbs. To check out elevations I nowadays mostly use the free Google Earth software. It gives (detailed) sattelite images of the complete globe with all the elevation details…. ( Keyword : alaska )

What would be a suitable route for first time bike tour in Alaska. Ten days in late august.
Starting from Anchorage it could be a good idea to travel up to Denali NP, bike around there, and go back to Anchorage…. In peak season reservation for Denali NP campsites and buses (with bike) are essential. ( Keyword : alaska )

I want to cycle from Darwin to Adelaide using a racingbike. Can this be done or do have to put other tyres and or wheels on my bike?
No worries, when we did our Darwin to Alice Springs trip almost the complete road was in perfect condition. This could be easily done on a racingbike. Before leaving check out a recent travelguide for the condition of the road right now. ( Keyword : australia )

Is it safe to travel alone through Australia by bicycle?
Yes we think it just as safe as travelling alone by public transport. All the normal precautions apply. ( Keyword : australia )

I want to make a long biketrip through Australia, but am unable to find a really good map showing the best roads and stopping places.
Believe it or not, the best maps are available from offices of the Australian Automobile Ass. If you are a member (also of foreign Automobile Ass. ) these maps are for free!. ( Keyword : australia )

What is the distance for a full-circle cycling trip around australia? It’s approx. 19.000 kms. Also have a look at these webpages: http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20060710080510AAPCwlQ

and http://www.mvermeulen.com/oneyear/australia.htm ( Keyword : australia )

What are the prevaling wind directions in the Australian Outback?
“Seasonal variations in wind patterns are controlled by shifts in the position of the high-pressure belt (which forms part of the global sub-tropical ridge), from the southern portions of the continent in summer to the latitudes of central Australia in winter. During the warmer half of the year (October – March), the ridge is located in the south of the area; most of the prevailing winds are from the southeast quadrant. During autumn the mean position of the ridge moves north and remains over the centre of the continent for the cooler months (April to September), and winds tend to be lighter. Gale force winds (in excess of 61kph) are uncommon, being most frequent from October to December when they are observed on average one day per month. From: http://www.diamantina-tour.com.au/outback_info/climate.htm ( Keyword : australia )

Is it possible to take your bike in the bus in Australia?
Yes, most long-distance busses take bicycles. You may have to remove the wheels. ( Keyword : australia )

We are planning a bike trip from Darwin to Alice Springs. Can this be done and what is the best time to go. What about extra drinking water?
We made this trip in october. It’s starting to heat up already. Temperatures of over 40 degrees Celcius were not uncommon. The advantage of this time of year that it’s a lot quieter at the touristspots as June to August is the cooler high season in this part of Australia. We carried a canvas waterbag with 5 liters attached to the frame of the bikes. A recommended way of keeping water cool in hot conditions! ( Keyword : australia )

Do you have any tips on how to cope with the infamous australian bush fly while cycling?
Sorry you’ll just have to get used to them. We can remember that even while cycling at high speed (30 km p/h) flies were still zig-zagging in front of our faces. And it was not unusual to have at least 2 dozen flies riding piggy back on our shoulders and backs. Have fun…:-) ( Keyword : australia )

was just wondering if you could send me some info on the cost of a around Australia trip
A around Australia trip can be done on a very low budget as free camping (outside a campground) is allowed in many places. So, It all depends on where you are staying. ( Keyword : australia )

Do you know where i can gather map routes that allow cyclists on the most direct route from victoria bc to st. john’s nl.
Try to find a good (on-line) travel book shop for maps or have a look at a site like http://www.bikeontours.on.ca/. Alternatively try to post this question in http://groups.google.com/ ( Keyword : canada )

Is it a good idea to travel by bike in British Columbia in the month of October?
Yes it can be done, but there is a major change of snow. Better go at least one month earlier. ( Keyword : canada )

Is the trip you have done a hard trip? Do you think it could be done by someone with not a huge shape and experience?
This is not a difficult trip. The up-hill parts are easy and the road is wide and paved all the way. You can also hop on the bus at several places. ( Keyword : canada )

I’m planning on cycling the Canadian Rockies in september. Could you tell me whether the campsites will be open?
Campsites start to close down from Labour Day see: http://www.vpcalendar.net/Holiday_Dates/2005_2010.html. We also visited in the month of september and found many campsites still open. ( Keyword : canada )

How did you take your money on your trips?
Mostly in travellers cheques and some in cash USD. But nowadays in most countres there are a few ATM’s. The need for taking a lot of travcheques is much less I think. ( Keyword : costs )

Did you ever get money sent out to you during your worldtour?
“Yes, once. We had opened an account with a dutch bank with a lot of overseas offices. We had a friend transfer money to that overseas office. The money was changed into travellers cheques. ( Keyword : costs )

My question concerns the amount of money that is necessary to make a world tour. How did you raise that money? Have you worked a few years before the trip?
Yes we had both fulltime jobs and saved a lot of money before starting on our trip… It’s difficult to say how much you’re going to spent on long rond the world type of bike trips. 500 us$ a month should be enough for two people on a tight budget; depending on the country you are travelling through of course. ( Keyword : costs )

I’m an experienced biker and have taken several tours, but none as exciting as yours. I have been trying to calculate, because I would like to take a 1 to 1.5 year-long bike trip, how much it would cost me. Could you tell me approximately how much it cost you to take your trip?”
How much you’re going to spend depends very much on the country you’re tavelling in. Fot two persons in India, Indonesia and other very cheap countries us$ 200 a month is a good minumum. Going up to 500 a month in the more expensive countries ( even when camping as we did in Australia..) ( Keyword : costs )

Can you do a trip around Ecuador on a regular touring bike?
Yes you bike around Ecuador on a sturdy touring bike. Be aware of the fact that in the Oriente the roads are rough, unpaved and bumpy. Wider tyres (we used 37 mm) are recommended here. ( Keyword : ecuador )

Me and a brother are planning on doing the trip on the icefields parkway from Jasper down towards banff. We are a bit puzzled about camping, did you pack a tent in one of the bags you have on the sides of your bike? I can’t immagine doing so, would be heavy :-).
We didn’t pack our tent inside our bags but carried it on top. What matters is not so much the weight you carry, but the balance between the bags…. ( Keyword : equipment )

I see on your Interactive Checklist a so-called Dazer. How does it work and are there other methods of getting rid of dogs?
A Dazer is an electronic device that emmits an ultrahigh sound that is irritating for the sensitive ears of dogs but can not be heard by humans. In Europe it can probably be purchased from bikeshops or shops selling electronic stuff.

One of the best ways of getting rid of dogs is throwing stones. Just stop, get a few stones and hit them. An other alternative may be the use of pepperspray. Never tried it or heard fron any cyclist using it but we think this should immobilize any dog for minutes. In some countries pepperspray is illegal! ( Keyword : equipment )

This morning i woke up with this mad idea of cycling home from england to south africa done some looking around on the net and cant find any detailed contoured maps of europe could you please halp me out on where i could find then
here are plenty of detailed maps available of alle european countries. Try to locate a good travel-bookstore or a specialised map shop in your area. A on-line map shop based in the UK is http://www.themapshop.co.uk/ ( Keyword : equipment )

Which maps did you use in your trips?
It’s hard to give any specific info about this. Many times we used maps by the Nelle Verlag but also we just bought what was available. When setting out on a biketrip it’s a good idea to purchase your maps already at home. Many countries do not have a wide range of good maps for sale… ( Keyword : equipment )

I’m looking forward to buy a bicycle for touring/onroad. appreciate you could advise me what should I look for and any recommendation from you.
If your’re plannning some some serious biking (long distance, rough roads) it’s a good idea to invest a bit extra in a good quality bike. ( Keyword : equipment )

What is generally speaking a good bike for longer trips?
We recommend a hybrid type of bike. With enough gears to climb steep grades, extra racks to carry your luggage and rims wide enough to fit wider tyres at least 37 mm. Such a bike can be used on any trip we have made so far. ( Keyword : equipment )

How do you protect your camera from dust and bumpy roads?
We carry two Minoltas X700 and an additional telelens 80-200 mm. In exterme wet and dusty conditions we use strong plastic bags. The cameras are stored inside our panniers and protected we custom-cut pieces of an old foam-sleeping matrass. ( Keyword : equipment )

We are planning a round the world trip and are simply planning to pick up maps as we go in places like Europe and Australia. However, we are a bit concerned that it may be difficult to find adequate maps for South India, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Malyasia upon arrival. Should we consider purchasing these maps before we leave and having them shipped to us. Can you recommend maps for such locations? It looks like we are going to be cycling much of the same route us travelled in South India.
In most Asian countries adequate roadmaps are NOT available. Purchase all you can get before you leave and take them with you. On many occasions we have used the maps of the Nelles Verlag. They should be available from travelshops and major bookshops. ( Keyword : equipment )

For many years now it has been my ambition to cycle from the UK to Australia. However there is one minor problem, i have not met anyone with the same ambition. Do you have any suuggestions how I could find a cycling companion?
On the internet a good place to start looking for travelcompanians could be appropriate newsgroups on the USENET. Ttry the Google searchengine at http://groups.google.com/ ( Keyword : general )

I’m planning to do a biketrip through some African countries. How much water should I carry?
In extremely hot climates (over 40 degrees celsius) it’s a good idea to gave at least 5 litres with you. It all depends on the possiblities to get water on the road. Also think of equipment to purify water as most water in Africa cannot be drunk right from the watertap! ( Keyword : general )

It seems many of the countries you visited require visas, proof of travel plans and sufficient funds. Did you experience the need to prove the above in any particular country ?
Of course visas should be ok when entering a country. No immigration official ever asked us for proof (!) of travelplans. But it is a good idea to have the name of a middle class hotel ready when you enter the country through the international airport. Just say you are going to stay at the … hotel and write that down on the immigration form. Then head for the place you actually want to stay. No one is going to check it.

Sufficient funds were never checked. I guess they judge you by your looks. Cyclists are strange people anyway and mostly do not have any problems at borders. We passed the Thai Malaysian border where every touristbus was double-checked for drugs without even being asked to open our bags.… ( Keyword : general )

I’m planning a trip and like to maintain a website about my adventures from the read. I think that phone lines would be a problem. Do you have any suggestions?
“We have no experience with updating out site during our travels. All this work is done back at home. However we think that there are several possibilities. You could take a internet acount with a world wide operating provider. This means you’ll have the possibility to phone local telephonenumbers to connect to the internet. But remember sme providers charge a lot extra for these so called roaming services! Some (free) websiteproviders so give you possibilities for uploading pages with your browser. Cybercafes are now available in almost any country. ( Keyword : general )

What kind of insurance did you have on your world tour?
We had no insurance for lost or damage to bikes and equipment. Most insurance companies do not pay back a lot on any item older than a year or so. We did have a good medical insurance. One that gives optimal medical care in any country and insured return back to home in case of a real (medical) emergency. ( Keyword : general )

On your worldtour, did you meet other cyclists that were cycling around the world?
Yes occasionally we met other cyclists. In the full two years of our travels there must have been about 10-15 other cyclists we met. ( Keyword : general )

What is the average confortable distance one can cycle on a day?
Depending on the terrain, weather etc. any healthy person should be able to cycle 50 – 100 kms (30 – 60 miles) a day. ( Keyword : general )

Is a good idea to insure your bike?
If your bike is new and expensive this could be a good idea. But remember that most insurancecompanies do no pay back a lot on older bikes. ( Keyword : general )

Is it necessary for me to have front luggage?
On longer trips a front rack is recommended….unless you travel very light weight of course. A so called low-rider rack gives most stability. ( Keyword : general )

Do you think a 10 day time span is enough to cover a good area by bike if you haven’t got the same fitness level as you guys?
In 10 days (no rest-days) you should be able to cover approx. 500 – 750 kms. ( Keyword : general )

I am in the process of planning a trip around the world; expecting to leave roughly 2 years from now. At this point I plan to go alone, but am not set on the idea for various reasons(safety, loneliness, etc).What are your feelings about a solo trip?
travelling alone or with other people is a matter of personal preference. We always travelled together and found this very practical when doing shopping, looking for hotelrooms etc. Safety is not major point we think. Most people you’ll meet are friendly and helpful. ( Keyword : general )

Do you have information about cycling in your own country, the Netherlands?
Yes, there a a seperate subsite of Cycling Around The World. Completely dedicated to cycling in the Netherlands. It’s at holland.cyclingaroundtheworld.nl ( Keyword : general )

Have you cycled with a short-wave radio? We are considering taking on along to pick up English-speaking radio for weather, news, music, etc. It is tough to find a reasonable priced, compact, digital one.
Yes we have used a shortwave radio on most of our trips. Not only for weather, news etc but also be able to hear emergency messages from relatives etc. who stayed home. The Dutch World Service includes this kind of messages in it’s programmes. A digital one is recommended as tuning on the busy short wave can be difficult. ( Keyword : general )

We are trying to decide on guidebooks to take or not take. We normally use the Lonely Planet guides for most of our travels by train, car, kayak, etc. Have you found the guides useful while cycling? Most of the guides tend to concentrate the info on large cities and general travel info. Have you found the large volume guides (such as Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia to be adequate? Or would you recommend using the smaller country specific guides?
LP guidebooks are fine be indeed they tend to concentrate on major cities. While cycling in from city to city you are on your own. But we always found the general info also very useful for cyclists. Yes these books can be heavy but that means you’ve got always something to read after a day cycling! Also our experience is that the smaller country specific guides have more detail. ( Keyword : general )

How do your prevent theft of your bike?
When camping we lock our bikes with a steel cable to a tree or any other fixed object. Wen staying in hotels we almost all the time take our bikes with us in our hotelroom. ( Keyword : general )

Do you know of any good websites, or other resources that enable easy calculation of distance between points on a map?
Probably the best option is still the good old printed map pr atlas. Otherwise you could use the free Google Earth program that has a feature for measuring distances. ( Keyword : general )

I would like to travel throughout asia by bike. How realistic is it to be able to camp for the night along the way, as opposed to designated camping grounds, hostels, guesthouses, etc?
I wouldn’t advise camping in Asia. Generally there are in campgrounds (except maybe in some of the national parks) and other accommodation is cheap. I also think free camping is not a good idea (security etc). ( Keyword : general )

I am planning to cycle iceland in July/august, just as you did. i know that weather can be extremely unpredicatable at anytime of year there – how was it for you? also, was it easy enough to camp off the side of the road and not in campsites?? Also – would you recommend cycling iceland, or do you think it would be eaiser and better to see the country hiking and hitchhiking?
The kind of weather we had can be found on this page http://www.cyclingaroundtheworld.nl/iceland/ie_iceland.htm Far away from farms, villages and towns it’s generally easy to find a spot for free camping. Otherwise it can be difficult. Yes, I would really recommend cycling (what other advise would you expect on a cycling website ;-)) ( Keyword : iceland )

Hello, I am planning on biking around iceland, and was hoping you could recommend a bicycle and supplies. I’ve been looking into some foldable/portable bicycles. Are these good for this type of trip, and would you recomend any particular type?
Maybe only a very good quality foldable bike with larger wheels would be usable in Iceland. Once you want to get off the main road, the pavement changes into rough dirt. A normal and strong bike with wider tyres is better here. ( Keyword : iceland )

How did you find the river crossings in the interior route? I will be cycling alone and I’m a little nervous about river crossings with my bike, panniers etc.
On the route we took ( the Kjölur highway) there were no real river crossings… You may get your feet wet but that’s just it. The other inland highway routes are more challenging though…. ( Keyword : iceland )

Can you obtain gas canisters for stoves that screw into the canister with the canister then acting as the stove’s base in iceland?
Yes Camping-gaz and Primus gas (I assume you mean those) is often available at petrol stations and sometimes in the local shop. You can also buy them at the Reykjavik campsite. ( Keyword : iceland )

Did you find most people speak english there? Did you hve to pack quite a large cuisine in bike packs since doesn’t look like many stops along the way..along long gravely roads? I am very interested in this biking in iceland..
Yes almost everybody speaks English It’s not necessary to carry food for more then 2-3 days. All small towns have shops. ( Keyword : iceland )

Is it worth it to cross the dessert as you did? the road is awful I have read.
Yes crossing the interior is worth it. The Kjolur road isn’t really that bad. We did it on hybrid touring bikes. The northern half is even partly paved. ( Keyword : iceland )

I’m not an experienced cyclist. Is it possible for me to visit Iceland by bike?
Cycling in Iceland doesn’t have to be challenging. Most of the roads are paved and not very steep. You can put your bike on a bus at many towns. The interior however is rough to travel by bike. Be prepared for wet and cold weather year round. ( Keyword : iceland )

Did you carry cooking gear or eat at restaurants on your trips through India?
We only carried a stove on our first trip (in 1988). We mostly used it to boil water as safe bottles drinking water was rarely available in this times. On our later visits in 1994 en last year to Sikkim drinking water was widely available. No, we never cooked any meals, as there are plenty of little restaurants everywhere. ( Keyword : india )

Can I buy Primus tanks for my stove in India?
No I don’t think you can buy Primus tanks in India (maybe in Delhi or Mumbai). It;s better to cook on gas (car fuel) or kerosene…. ( Keyword : india )

Next year we want to cycle along the east coast if India to Darjeeling. We have travelled in India before bur never on a bike. Are there sufficient places to stay in between the larger towns?
Everywhere in India there is ample accommodation. In betweem the major towns the best option is to ask for a government resthous, pwd resthouse or circuithouse. Excellent accommodation at very low rates. If they won;t let you stay go to the local police station asd ask for help. The police will often send somebody back with you to convince to caretaker to open up a room. We also stayed several times at the policestations itself, schools and temples. ( Keyword : india )

Is it safe to travel alone through India by bicycle?
Yes we think it just as safe as travelling alone by public transport. All the normal precautions apply. ( Keyword : india )

I’m planning to buy a bike in India but are not sure which one to buy?
Depending on what kind of touring you want to do you probably can either but a no-speed local bike suitable for shorter distances. Or a chinese or local made mountain bike for touring longer distances. Generally you don’t need a lot of gears unless you want to go into the foothills of the Himalayas in Northern India. ( Keyword : india )

Any general tips on India that will make travel more comfortable?
For india it’s best to avoid the main trunk roads. These are very busy with speeding busses and trucks. If you cannot find accommodation in smaller towns or villages go to the police. They will arrange a [place to sleep. ( Keyword : india )

When did you cycle through Delhi and the rest of Northern India? Do you know when it starts to get too cold around there?
Generally from october to feb is the coolest time of year. We did our last trip in October. ( Keyword : india )

We are planning to fly to india next january and cycle from there to south east asia and maybe australia/newzealand. We don’t have bikes for that trip yet, would you buy them before leaving or on arrival in india?
I would buy them before leaving. Good and strong travel bikes may not be available over there. ( Keyword : india )

I want to become a professional cyclist in India? Can you help me?
here’s not much we can do for you. Best try to contact The Cycling Federation of India at : http://www.cyclingfederationofindia.org/ ( Keyword : india )

We were considering not taking a tent and sleeping bags as acommodation is cheap in india/asia, what would you recommend?
No need to take a tent. Cheap accomm is widely available. Alternatives such as policestation, temples, schools, government resthouses maty also be a cheap / free option. ( Keyword : india )

While in national parks, where did you leave your bikes? Did you camp while you were there?
We did not go in NP where bikes are not allowed. It’s good to know that you’ll also see wild animals outside the parks. Most af these parks are not even fenced. ( Keyword : kenya )

Is there anything we can say, do, or have them read to convince our families that we aren’t committing suicide by riding our bikes through Kenya without surrounding ourselves with armed guards?
We had a very pleasant four weeks without armed guards. Just let your families have a look at our website 😉 The main risk issue is the traffic on the main through roads. Try to avoid these roads. ( Keyword : kenya )

Did you bring a water filter with you while traveling through Kenya?
yes, but bottled water is also widely available. ( Keyword : kenya )

How safe was it getting out of Nairobi? Was it difficult to find your way? We don’t like big cities and want to get out of there as soon as possible. Can we get out of the city and to a camp site the same day we arrive if we arrive at noon?
We avoided the city centre; and biked through the southern suburbs such as Karen. In the Karen area are at least two campsites. It all depends on your arrivaltime at the airport… ( Keyword : kenya )

Did you find campsites every night or were there nights you were on your own? Were you safe?
We did one night of free camping in a village north of Nairobi where we camped at an old sawmill. No problem at all. Very hospitable people here! On campsites there is always a guard on duty. ( Keyword : kenya )

Did you get a lot of tire punctures?
Yes, we had more punctures than usual; mostly caused by thorns from acacia trees and smilar. The larger ones are said ti puncture even a car tire. ( Keyword : kenya )

What stove and fuel did you use while travelling in Kenya?
Used a MSR Dragonfly multi fuel stove running on regular gasoline (for cars). Carfuel is widely available and not expensive. ( Keyword : kenya )

Is it possible to rent a good bike somewhere in Myanmar?
Places like als Mandalay, Kalaw, Bagan, Inle Lake may be the best to rent a bike. All the bikes we’ve seen for rent were old and very much used. Check gears and tyres before setting off on a trip. Very basic bikerepair as available along most roads. ( Keyword : myanmar )

Is it possible to cycle with cycleshorts in Myanmar? If not what did you used?
Shorts are no problem here, this is South East Asia and everybody is fairly relaxed about clothing. ( Keyword : myanmar )

Was it possible to pay with FEC in small villages in Myanmar along the small roads?
No this is not the way you pay; you must have the local currency!! FEC and US dollar are only used in official hotels etc. ( Keyword : myanmar )

Did you cycle from the airport to Yangon? Are there police checkpoints on the way? Any problems there?
Yes we did, no there are no checpoints along this road. Never had any problems at the checkpoints we passed further in the country. ( Keyword : myanmar )

Did you bring the mosquito-net from Europe or did you buy it in Myanmar?
Bring your own, no real lightweight stuff available in Yangon. ( Keyword : myanmar )

I’m planning a round the world trip and I would like to travel from Thailand to Bangladesh trough Myanmar, do you think this is possible?
To be short: you can’t travel overland through Myanmar. It seems to be possible to enter from Thailand (with restrictions) but leaving to India or Bangladesh seems to be impossible. ( Keyword : myanmar )

Do you think it is economical to buy cheap bikes in Yangon to cycling between cities?
Cheap moutainbikes or the usual no-gears china-made bikes are available in Yangon. We’ve got no idea about prices.. ( Keyword : myanmar )

we´re planning a trip through myanmar and want to take our bikes with us. we don´t think that we can cycle more than 70 km per day. we want to start in mandlay-myingyan-bagan-chauk-magwa.. but we´re not sure if we can find hotels on the route. is ist really so hard to find a place to sleep? T
Do not worry to much about accommodation. Officially you’re only allowed to stay in licensed hotels but these are not everywhere to find. Every village has at least a monastery for basic accomm. But you may have to get permission from the local authorities first. Generally this is no problem; what else can they do? We had only one accoassion where the police was reluctant to let us stay overnight in a guesthouse. But we simply politely refused to travel further saying we were to tired 😉 ( Keyword : myanmar )

Did you have a rabies vaccination before going to Myanmar? And where the dogs agressive?
No we did no have such a vaccination. As in most Asian countries dogs are not agressive. ( Keyword : myanmar )

I Is it possible to ride your bike into Sossusvlei?
The famous dunes are 60 kms away from Sesriem and no overnighting was allowed in the park. It should be possible to make a return trip (120 km) but that wouldn’t allow a lot of time to look around there. It’s easy to get a ride on a car though from Sesriem. ( Keyword : namibia )

I was wondering where they spoke afrikaans and where they spoke german in Namibia.
many of the natives spoke Afrikaans (and a local language of course) , the white Namibians speak Afrikaans, German and/ or English. So it’s not regionally. ( Keyword : namibia )

I have heard that you can’t take your bikes on trains in Namibia – do you know if this is true (life’s too short to cycle the ugly bits!)? What about buses?
We were able to put our bikes on a train from Windhoek to Keetmanshoop as freight. We travelled by mini-bus from Swakopmund to Windhoek; the bikes were in a traler. Cargo space in long distance busses may be limited. Most minibusses in southern Africa tend to be very full. ( Keyword : namibia )

Do you know if you can readily get spare parts for Hybrid bikes (e.g. 700C tyres etc) in these countries, or is it better to stick to standard 26″ MTB’s with Shimano gearing?
In large cities (J’berg, Windhoek, Cape town etc) it’s probably no big problem getting all kinds of spare parts for both type of bikes. ( Keyword : namibia )

How are road conditions in Namibia. Can a trip be made on regular touringbikes?
Most road are gravel but well maintained. In 1996 we did a 600 km trip through South Namibia and with 37 mm tyres we almost never had problems. ( Keyword : namibia )

I’m planning a trip through Namibia. Do I really need to make reservations for National Park campgrounds at Namib Naukluft, Fish River and Sesriem?
National Park Services in Windhoek will probably say you must make a reservation in advance. But as a cyclist it could be difficult to arrive in time. Our experience is that most campgrounds will have vacant spots at any time. The only exception was the campground at Sesriem. Those arrive woithout reservation did have to camp on the unsheltered overflowarea. It’s possible to already make reservations ( by mail or fax) and pay (by creditcard) from your homecountry. ( Keyword : namibia )

Is there any means of communications in case of emergencies in the Namibian desert? I’ll be travellin alone.
There are no public phones along the roads 😉 but you may be able to use phones at Keetmanshoop, Fish River Canyon, Bethanie, Duwisib, Malta Hoehe, Sesriem, Solitaire and Swakopmund. Do not worry there is a steady flow of cars along al ‘major’ roads. ( Keyword : namibia )

Is it possible to buy food along the route you followed in Namibia?
It is possible to purchase basic supplies in Keetmanshoop, Fish River Canyon, Bethanie, Duwisib, Malta Hoehe, Sesriem, Solitaire and Swakopmund. Some guestfarms along the main roads may aloso have small shops with supplies. ( Keyword : namibia )

What are the prevailing winds in June, particularly from Elizabeth Town to Cape Town and north into Namibia?
Look for data on prevailing winds on websites like http://www.windatlas.dk/ , http://www.windfinder.com/ and http://www.winddata.com/. Or check through meteorological institutes (websites) of the countries you’re going to visit. ( Keyword : namibia )

I represent a travel agency in Cape Town and we have a group of 6 people coming in April. They ask me to quote a program you will find below for a group of 6 pax in April. May be we could make this business together?
Sorry, we cannot help you with this… Cycling Around the World is a 100% non-commercial initiative… ( Keyword : southafrica )

I’m planning a bike tour from durban to lesotho, similar to your tour, only without the sani pass. How long did it take you to do this tour? And how many kilometers were it? Was it a problem to find food and water in lesotho?
It took us approx 4 week to do the complete tour; including days for sightseeing and resting etc. Distance 1000 km Food and water in Lesotho no problem; but facilities limited in smaller towns / villages ( Keyword : southafrica )

My wife and i would like to do our first trip ever(3-6 months)with our 4 children(8-6-4-1 years old) in Sri Lanka. Would you recommend it, if not do you have a suggestion. We wanted to have a place were there’s a cycling path for security but that doesn’t seem to be the case in Sri Lanka..so we are a little bit worried.
There are no bikepaths in Sri Lanka, but as long as you can stay of major roads traffic is relaltively light. Are the older kids cycling themselves? It also depends on your initerary…. If bike lanes are a must, why not visit our home country Holland. We have a car free network of 1000’s km’s of bikelanes and much more. See our other site holland.cyclingaroundtheworld.nl for more info. ( Keyword : srilanka )

How do I get a list of all the sri lanka govt. resthouses?
the sri lankan govt resthouses are listed in some travelguides. Or ask locals. Or try to contact the sri lankan tourist info. ( Keyword : srilanka )

Is it too hot and wet to cycle in Sri Lanka in october?
t’s always hot and humid in Sri Lanka. We did a trip from sept 15 to oct 15 and and occasional rainshowers. But it was not too wet… ( Keyword : srilanka )

Next february I’m going in sri lanka do you have news about the situation after tsunami in order to plan my tour.
Much of Sri Lanka is ok by now. But it’s important to check to current situation on the East coast if you want to go that way. This the aera that suffered most from the tsunami and also an area that is partially under control of the Tamil Tigers rebels. At this moment I wouldn’t go there and my opinion is that the situation is not going to improve in the near future. ( Keyword : srilanka )

My partner and I are planning a trip to Sri Lanka next April. Would you advise us to take our own bikes or rent some once out there. How easy is it transporting bikes, once at the Airport in Colombo, into Colombo? Can you take bikes on Sri Lankan trains?
Take your own bikes; good bikes for a longer trip may not be available. To go from the airport into Colombo city your best option is to take a taxi… But why not cycle to nearby Negombo which is a pleasant place to start your biketour. That is at least what we have done; we did not go to Colombo at all…. Don’t know anything about transporting bikes on trains but have read some report about people doing it without much trouble… ( Keyword : srilanka )

I’m thinking about Thailand in November. Is the road from the Malaysian border up the east coast to Koh Samui a beautiful part worth cycling … or would you recommend an other part of Thailand?
“Cyling is ok here. Scenery is rural. Nothing special. The northern part of Thailand may be more interesting. Chang Mai is a good starting point for this trip. Also the area north of Bangkok has a lot to offer for those who are interested in old ruines cities like Ayuthaya, Sukothai and Lopburi. Worth a visit I would say… ( Keyword : thailand )

I currently live and work in Thailand(Bangkok), and am thinking about riding north to Nong Kai. Could you give me some idea of what equipment i would need. I have a bike and a helmet and that’s about it. I ride on a saturday and sunday around Bangkok but i’ve never attempted anything like this. Do i take cash or bank cards. Is it safe?
1. you’ll need panniers to store your stuff. Check out our interactive checklist to get an idea on what to take : http://www.cyclingaroundtheworld.nl/tipsadvice/checklist/index.html 2. Avoid the main highways (busy) . Get a good map to find the smaller roads 3. yes it’s safe 4. Most towns have atm’s ( Keyword : thailand )

I plan to cycle around Thailand and Laos. I know it is rainy season, I was wondering how bad it will be with the rain and if you have any suggestions of what to bring to deal with the rain? How bad is it biking in the rain?
Cycling during rainy season in the tropics is different from travel on rainy days in moderate climates. It doesn’t cool down a lot and showers may be heavy but are mostly short. It’s generally better to shelter a while than to continue into such a heavy monsoonal shower. ( Keyword : thailand )

How much do you have to pay to get your bike on a plane?
Many airlines have special regulations for oversized luggage like bikes, golf kits, surf boards etc. Ask before booking. Sometimes it’s free to take a bike, sometimes you may have to pay a fixed amount. e.g. we just returned from a trip to Kenya where we had to pay euro 80 one way for a bike. Never agree on paying per kg overweight. We never had to do this. So check in advance and most important tell the airline that you will be taking a bike!!! If any problems, just try another airline… ( Keyword : transport )

What to do to prevent overweight when taking your bike in a plane?
Depending on the class, airline and destination your flying 20 to 30 kgs is the limit. First of all most airlines do not weigh your bike at check-in. Secondly all airlines have inofficial weightlimits that are higher than the official ones. To prevent to much overweight carry as much as you can in your handluggage. ( Keyword : transport )

can you rent or borrow bike boxes from many airlines when flying? what do you do with your box when you & bike arrive at an airport?
Mostly you will have to buy bikeboxes. Either from the airlines at the airport or from a bikeshop. Sometimes you can leave your boxex at a left luggage at the airport. Some hotels are willing to store such boxes untill your return. ( Keyword : transport )

Are there any bikeshops in Zimbabwe where we could buy a mountainbike?
Vic Falls, Harare and Bulawayo are probably the best places to do so. In these town there are also bikes available for rent. ( Keyword : zimbabwe )

Isn´t there a risk to run into wild animals during the night?
The chance of running into a wild animal is not high. Most game can be found in the national parks where cycling is not allowed. In Hwange NP where we camped the canpsite has an electrical fence to keep wild animals out. ( Keyword : zimbabwe )

Generally what were your exeriences regarding entry of Zimbabwes National Parks by bike (particularly Hwange), i.e. can you take them in, or alternatively are there secure places to keep the bikes?
NP are generally off limits to cyclists! I’m not sure this is really enforced by park wardens.. It’s possible to cycle the first miles through Hwange to the Visitors Centre. There are no gates, checkpoints etc. But beware of the fact that elephants, lions and rhinos are often seen along this part of the raod. It’s possible to hire a pickup-truck in one of the villages along the main Bul-Vic Falls road the get to the park VC. Beyond the VC cycling is really not possible and we think not a good idea.

We camped at Hwange and left our bikes locked to a tree on the campsite while touring the park. No problem. Everything is well guarded and fenced. ( Keyword : zimbabwe )

“I’ll be doin some biking in Botswana and Zimbabwe this June. I realise that you guys took the public transport from Bulawayo to Victoria Falls. My intention was to cycle from Francistown across the border to Bulawayo, and then up to Vic Falls……is this advisable? How’s the terrain and route from Bulawayo to Vic Falls? Any advice you can give?
Cycling from Bulawayo to Vic Falls is no problem although places to stay may be few. The road is good but not very wide (no shoulder). But traffic is light…. But also the terrain may be not very exciting; mostly scrubs and small trees. ( Keyword : zimbabwe )

I’m considering an organised biketrip to Zimbabwe but this tour does not visit all the places I want to go. Is Zimbabwe a country where you can plan a trip yourself and can travel safely independent?
Yes, there is really no need to travel in a group if you don’t want. Zimbabwe was probably one of the easiest countries in Africa to cycle! Unfortunately things changed in the last years. It’s wise to enquire about the local situation before setting off on a trip. ( Keyword : zimbabwe )

Did you always have the time to reach a lodge, hotel or camground?
On two ocassions we had to improvise. At Filabusi, on the Masvingo Bulaway road, we camped at the policestation and on the road from Beitbridge ro Masvingo we stayed one night for a small fee at a regional training centre. ( Keyword : zimbabwe )

Your question about ‘cycling around the world’ not here? you’re always welcome to ask! .

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