My girlfriend and I are planning a cycle tour of europe next year. We intend to head from amsterdam through berlin to prague and budapest, then along the mediterranean coast to the south of spain, lisbon, bilbao, paris, ghent then home.

We are enthusiastic but naive novices. Happy to jump in the deep end and know that its going to be the hardest thing we've ever done but want the experience so bad.

I am stalling when attempting to begin preparations because I don't know the best way to commence.

any advice would be welcome

thank you in advance

Nick

Planning a bike tour, some advice for you.

The most important thing you need now is experience.

Cycle, start with a few hours and work on through fall and winter till you can do full day tours in spring.

By that time you know how much distance you can do per day.

There is no standard distance, some people do 50 km per day, others do 250 km per day and no shame either way.

The distance for the route you mention is great. Most people will not be able to do it by car in one trip, let alone the more slow cycling.

I just found a planner site, I have not read all of this site, but what I have read is sensible and to the point. I think it might help you: http://sheldonbrown.com/euhansen.html

A good site to find routes is: http://www.fietsrouteplanner.eu/index.ph...

This link is to the English 'how to use' page, the planner has changed since I used it last and is in English and German now as well.

But I guess you will have to cut your tour to a size that is not too big, change your main transport from bike to train or car, or maybe you are rich and have years for your tour.

If you are European and can 'work from home' in your current jobs, you might be able to change your living into cycling and moving on. The people how wrote this site did just that: http://cyclinggypsies.wordpress.com/euro...

If you are not European, you will run into visa problems, no 'long term traveling visa' available.

Good road maps will be essential, but don't you think you are trying a bit too much for a first tour? You are looking at 3000 miles or more. Have you considered bikes on train for some of the longer bits?. A knowledge of bike shop locations will be pretty useful, as you are bound to need new chain or whatever sometime

You need to be aware of the distances you're planning on covering, and the terrain.

Are you and your girlfriend EU citizens?

BEcause if not TIME will be your worst enemy.

You have max. 90 days for this tour.

And i doubt that you can do this in 90 days.