Cycle touring

Byrdie says to everyone we meet "It's a great way to travel". And generally I'd have to agree. I threw myself in the deep end with this trip, having done no cycle touring previously (does one overnight trip of 180km count?) and not that much cycling for years. I enjoyed commuting by bike as a student in Auckland...

THE NOT SO GOOD
some times when the weather is terrible and we just keep going up and up a hill, I think "I'm paying to do this?". At these times I avoid looking at my bike computer as the km are passing too slowly... Fortunately this situation is rare. Weather plays a huge factor.... If it is windy, cycling is difficult and I find myself getting irritable. If I am freezing on a downhill, I think what a waste of a downhill if i can't enjoy it....

THE AVERAGE
These are times when I'm not completely enthused to be cycling but ok with it. I daydream alot and find myself calculating the km until our next rest (we try to stop for a food and sunscreen break at least every 20km)

THE GOOD
Coming over the crest of a hill, downhill, beaut weather, well deserved views of some of Greece and Italy's most amazing scenery. I think "It doesn't get better than this" and might only glance at the computer to see how fast I'm flying down the hill.... incredible how quickly one forgets how hard the uphill was... Fortunately these occassions happen often enough to make it all worth while...

Having a huge appetite is great. I LOVE eating!

NAVIGATING
In Greece, we just picked the smaller roads and/or the roads with scenic markings on them and it worked well. In Italy we have been guided by Lonely Planet's guide book. Byrdie enjoys the planning and navigating. I like to know where we are and where we are going but a bit nonplussed about whether I have the map or not. I think Byrdie tries to get me more involved by giving me the map and saying "right, you're navigating today". I have noticed that she learns the route and knows exactly where all the turn offs are before trusting me entirely though...

I don't know if I ever be as passionate about cycle touring as Byrdie. She is all over other cycle tourists - "oooh, you have disc breaks too"....

We got our bikes serviced on the way to Assisi. My breaks were barely working and it was getting a bit dangerous on wet downhills. break cable replaced and working brilliantly. Byrdie asked " do you get really excited every time you use them now?" umm... no. She also said she was keen to a blog post dedicated to her bike because she was getting very attached to it....

I must be getting fitter as hills don't seem as daunting....