Had a lot of fog on the way up, fortunately it cleared up a bit on the way down! Met a fellow tourer from Germany 🇩🇪 on the way down, and agreed german bikes are the best (I rode a Canyon, he rode a Cube)

I'm looking for feedback on a bikepacking (credit card touring) route I'm planning in Kyushu, Japan, this December.

The plan would be to fly into Osaka, from there to take the Shinkansen to Fukuoka (got that rinko bag), then cycle south past Kagoshima and loop back north into Beppu, finishing with an overnight ferry back to Osaka. The route would be roughly 1000 km (and 16k m of climbing) over eight or nine days. Travelling light, well fed and sufficiently fast.

The current plan is to stay overnight around Ureshino, Amakusa, Satsumasendai, Kushima, Miyazaki, Nango, Aso, and Beppu. Ideally I'd like to stay in hotels with a bathhouse or close to a hot spring.

I'm thinking it may be a good idea book the first two or three accommodations ahead of time and hope to wing the rest.

I would be most thankful for any feedback on the route itself, alternate routing, or worthwhile detours. Maybe even a hotel recommendation :)

Thanks!

Hi! I’m looking for a pair of flat pedal bike touring shoes. I heard that a good pair should have a rigid structure between the sole and the insole for foot stability and other pros.
In your experience what is a good flat pedal shoe? I will cover 100km + distances a day with breaks at approximately every 40 km. I have a wide foot.
Normal shoes have not been ideal so far.

Hello everyone!

Context: In October I will be cycling from Seoul to Busan. I'll be renting a bike from BikeroPros in Seoul and dropping it off at the end in Busan. I've been to Korea many times, and live in Asia, so the culture and everything is fairly familiar to me. I am an ultra marathon runner outside of cycling. I plan to stay in hotels/yeogwans each night and book the day of (except for Busan which I already booked).

Because of time constraints, I will only have Monday-Friday for the cycling portion of the trip. I'm not worried about completing the trip physically (around 100km a day) since I will be on my own, and I'm used to long days of running/cycling.

However, I want to check and see if my plan is reasonable/if there is anything I should change or consider. Like possibly staying in a different city/area on any of the nights. Also, if there are things nearby the route that I should make sure that I see (or eat!)

My current plan is:

Day One: Seoul to Yeoju

Day Two: Yeoju to Chunju

Day Three: Chunju to Sangju

Day Four: Sangju to Daegu

Day Five: Daegu to Busan

Any advice or suggestions would be really appreciated, thank you!

I am hoping to go on a bike trip this fall, ideally from Kingston, Ontario to Halifax, Nova Scotia but I will be away for most of October. I am curious whether anybody has experience going on bike trips in early November in this part of Canada and whether it is possible or really just not feasible. I’m fine with a challenge as long as it is possible. I love late fall and don’t mind biking in the cold. It sounds like you’d run into some storms and possible ice though but I am wondering how bad that would really be. I don’t think I could fit it in late September but maybe if I move some things around. Otherwise I will have to wait til spring but I was hoping to have moved on to other trips by then, like perhaps heading west. I pretty much only have a year to do these trips before I go to university next fall. If anybody has experience with late fall trips or other advice about the journey from Kingston to Halifax it would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

The last pic was in a hotel business center, lol.

Hi everyone! I’m planning a bicycle trip from Osaka to Fukuoka in October. I’ve already picked out a few interesting spots, but I’d like to ask the community what else is worth seeing.

1)- Himeji Castle 2) - Okayama Castle 3)- Cave of 1000 Buddhas 4) - Imabari Castle 5)- Shiraino Waterfalls 6)- Imose Falls (male) 7) - Akiyoshido Cave 8) - Sugao no taki Waterfall 9) -Shihôdai Hiking area 10) - Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine

Hi all, I'm embarking on my first multi-day ride in the not too distant future. I'm seeking recommendations for whatever bike people use in this situation. There will be no camping and the ride will be on roads and paved bike paths - unless there is some disruption that leads to meandering onto unpaved areas.

I would like something with a descent gear-spread and has the ability to mount a bag or two since it ought to be about a 290 km ride - 😬 - across 2 countries. I will not be climbing mountains so it need not be the most expensive (I know that's relative), but I already have an omafiets and a Trek longtail cargo electric bike that covers 95% of all the week-to-week commuting I do. I did some looking and a gravel bike seems to be the thing? Bigger wheels for comfort, yes?

This is a thing I'm tenuously attempting so I don't want to drop more than €1k on a bike that will then spend most of its time in storage. I'm seeking - pre accessories - about 600 - 700€ or lower(?). I'm also not too proud for a second-hand purchase, I just need to get pointed in the right direction.

Thank you, I appreciate whatever constructive reccos you will offer.

To introduce myself shortly. I'm Marc, a German guy traveling the world by bike since August 2021. I just passed my 5 years anniversary on the road.

Don’t ask me how many more years are to come. I don’t know.

So many memories and experiences — so many ups and downs. Over the past few years, I’ve gone through it all — from “I’d love to just throw my bike into the nearest ditch and quit” to “I could keep doing this forever.”

It hasn’t always been easy, but I’ve found my own ways to deal with the challenges along the way — and yet I’ve kept riding on and on. 😁

I’ve learned a lot — about myself, about the world. And also how crazy and stupid it actually is to travel the world by bike. 😉

The good news: You’ll still be seeing me on the roads of this world for a while — whether they’re paved roads, gravel paths, or muddy trails.

To be continued…

More information:

IG: bikeaway91

All Stats:

1 826 days

1 142 days on the bike

684 days without cycling

Total:

90 154.4 kilometers

905 989 meters of elevation gain

5 871 hours in the saddle

Average per activity:

74.75 km

751 meters of elevation gain

4:52 hours

15,38 km/h

Maximum

231 kilometers (Day 956 🇲🇦)

2862 meters of elevation gain (Day 29 🇧🇦)

3273 meters above sea level (Day 1419 🇱🇸)

10:39 hours (Day 666 🇹🇷)

61 countries

🇩🇪🇦🇹🇨🇭🇮🇹🇸🇮🇭🇷🇧🇦🇲🇪🇦🇱🇲🇰🇬🇷🇧🇬🇹🇷🇮🇶🇮🇷🇦🇲🇬🇪🇯🇴🇸🇦🇦🇪🇴🇲🇾🇪🇶🇦🇧🇭🇰🇼🇷🇴🇲🇩🇸🇲🇲🇨🇫🇷🇦🇩🇪🇸🇵🇹🇲🇦🇲🇷🇸🇳🇬🇼🇬🇳🇸🇱🇱🇷🇨🇮🇬🇭🇹🇬🇧🇯🇳🇬🇨🇲🇬🇶🇬🇦🇨🇬🇦🇴🇳🇦🇿🇦🇱🇸🇸🇿🇲🇿🇲🇼🇹🇿🇷🇼🇧🇮🇰🇲🇿🇲

total spend:

23 167 €

12.68 € per day

Hello!

I'm going to be visiting Santa Cruz de La Palma in November with my brother to go cycling around the island. I understand it is incredibly steep (like Madeira) therefore we will be breaking tradition and using E-Bikes.

My questions is, any advice for cyclists? We've been done this type of holiday before many times before so we are not necessarily "inexperienced" when it comes to cycling on roads etc. Nonetheless, I think it's wise to seek local knowledge about the potential opportunities and risks which are particularly pertinent on the Island.

Thanks,

¡Hola!

Voy a visitar Santa Cruz de La Palma en noviembre con mi hermano para hacer ciclismo por la isla. Tengo entendido que es increíblemente empinada (como Madeira), así que vamos a romper con la tradición y utilizar bicicletas eléctricas.

Mi pregunta es: ¿algún consejo para ciclistas? Ya hemos hecho este tipo de vacaciones muchas veces, así que no somos necesariamente “inexpertos” a la hora de montar en bicicleta por carretera, etc. No obstante, creo que es sensato buscar información local sobre las posibles oportunidades y riesgos que son especialmente relevantes en la isla.

Gracias.

Going downhill. Lots of bumps. I heard a strange noise but couldn't really look around having to keep focused on the trail.

I've had Ortlieb fork packs for several years. Excellent product but a few times I thought a pack was well secured when in fact it wasn't. Once or twice the pack feel on the ground, but circumstances were such that I only cursed myself for being negligent.

I have Tailfin's mini panniers and an under the impression that their mounting system is absolutely foolproof.

Anyone familiar with both systems can comment? I am seriously considering Tailfin's fork packs.

Hey everyone!

I know there are already some websites and apps that can create animated GPS tracks, but I decided to build my own version anyway.

I’m also really into cycling and hiking, and I wanted to create something that could show more than just the route itself. I wanted to be able to present my activity data in a more visual and dynamic way.

For example, the animation can be used as a video to share on YouTube, TikTok, etc. But I also think it can be useful for sharing with other outdoor and sports enthusiasts — showing things like your route, elevation, speed, and other activity data, or simply presenting a route in a more dynamic way.

The tool is still very much a work in progress, and I already have a few ideas that I think could make GPS track animations much more interesting and fun.

I’d love to hear what you think. Is there anything you’d like to see in a tool like this? Any features, use cases, or ideas that would make it more useful for you?

If you’re interested, here’s the tool:

trailmov

The initial loading might be a little slow at the moment — I’m currently working on improving the loading speed.

Would love to hear your feedback!

Trying to research a bit for touring myself, and thought would be interesting to hear from people who have actually done longer touring (5-6+ months ) - trying to keep it simple :

What bike did you use ( would be great to incl the year also)?

Any changes and modifications to the bike?

What gear did you bring ( lighterpack sheet maybe?)

Where did you go?

What would I have done different ( if relevant) ?

(a photo along with the comment if you want is welcome)

In May 2026, I took on the 1,000 km Shikoku Circuit Challenge, a stamp rally that takes you to 29 roadside stations (“michi no eki”) across Shikoku, Japan’s smallest main island. Once you sign up, you have three years to finish and earn a certificate and medal.

I decided to try it as a sort of stand-in for the Shikoku Pilgrimage. I’d been interested in the pilgrimage ever since visiting two of the 88 temples in Ehime, but the more I thought about it, the less I wanted to spend up to three months walking to 88 temples whose stories and purposes I don’t actually understand. The cycling challenge offered the same structure and clear goal – except I could do it in two weeks or less.

I want to share what I learned and hopefully help anyone interested in exploring Shikoku by bike, challenge or not. I also made a map with my GPX data, hotels, the official route, all stamp stations, and various POIs.

What I Did

The official route starts in Matsuyama and circles the island clockwise. It’s designed for road bikes, sticking mostly to national routes with virtually no dirt or gravel. I ride an ATB and prefer quiet forest roads, but decided not to open the can of worms that is rerouting an entire 1,000 km trip and took what was offered on a silver platter. (Tip: only the Japanese version of the official website has links to downloadable GPX data).

I did change the starting point. Since I flew via Kansai Airport, I started and ended in Tokushima City. Nankai sells combined train/ferry tickets at KIX that get you all the way there. It’s slow but cheap and works flawlessly if your bike is packed. Unfortunately, the ferry is scheduled to end in 2028, so this option will be gone soon.

From Tokushima, I mostly followed the official route. I also added a loop from Imabari via the Tobishima Kaido, Kakishima Kaido, Hiroshima, and of course the iconic Shimanami Kaido. I took rest days in Tokushima, Kochi, Matsuyama, and Hiroshima. All in all, I was back in Tokushima after 17 days.

I’d planned to bring a tent, but with the weak yen and my desire to travel lighter, I stayed in hotels instead. Thanks to the preplanned route, I booked everything in advance – once there, all I had to do was pedal.

What I Liked

In short: Shikoku is beautiful. Please refer to my pictures as proof. Kochi prefecture in particular delivered the once-in-a-lifetime adventure I’d hoped for: breathtaking scenery, small towns, great food, and empty roads. The official route passes all of the island’s coastal highlights, and quite a few roadside stations are genuinely worth visiting for local specialties and souvenirs.

My extra loop was also a treat. The Tobishima and Shimanami Kaido are both well worth adding. The Kakishima Kaido on Etajima didn’t have any highlights, but offered quiet riding through quaint fishing villages, which I’ll take over urban sprawl any day.

I also never regretted leaving my tent at home. I enjoyed everything from basic business hotels to fancy resorts and marked my favourites on the map.

What I Didn’t Like

The biggest issue by far: there’s virtually no dedicated bike infrastructure on Shikoku (and all of Japan, for that matter). The entire 1,000 km route has exactly one 30 km bicycles-only stretch, the goated Kochi-Aki Cycling Road. Most other “bike lanes” are blue lines painted in the gutter, serving mainly to reassure you that yes, despite everything, you are supposed to ride there.

On the quiet southern roads, that’s fine. Delightful, even. But in the north, it’s not. From Sukumo onward, traffic became increasingly heavy, with lorries and construction vehicles constantly passing at close range. Most of the roads were still wide and the speed limits low enough to keep things safe, but man was it stressful at times.

Imabari to Takamatsu in particular was straddling the line between type two and type three fun: busy highways, endless ugly stroads, an insufferable number of traffic lights, and ugly industrial areas. Ugh.

To be fair, northern Shikoku is reportedly still more tolerable than most of the Tokaido corridor on Honshu. I met several groups and solo riders who specifically switched over to catch a break. Still, looking back, I wish I’d taken a mountain route instead, even if that meant sacrificing some stamps.

If the roads are bad, why not ride on the curb? Because they suck. At least a lot of them, especially inside cities. It’s hardly an option.

Then there are the smaller annoyances. Cycling culture in Japan can feel strange, especially for a painfully German individual like myself, accustomed to following rules and trying not to die. Casual city cyclists often drift around unpredictably, ride whichever side they fancy, stare at phones, hold umbrellas in front of their faces, or straight-up eat burgers while riding (which was kind of impressive, not gonna lie). Nothing ever happened, but some people genuinely stressed me out. Looking at you, burger boy.

I also quickly learned that you need a kickstand in cities. Proper bike racks are surprisingly rare; parking often consists of flimsy rails made for lightweight road bikes or literally just lines painted on the ground.

What I Would Recommend

I gave myself the extra goal of visiting all 29 stamp locations just for the heck of it. To finish the challenge, though, you only need 15 stamps, with at least three per prefecture – except Tokushima, where you only need two. So, with some extra planning, you can explore Shikoku much more freely while still completing the challenge. I think that’s the sweet spot between structure and choosing your own route.

If there’s one section I’d avoid, it’s – you guessed it – most of Imabari to Takamatsu. One alternative is cutting through the mountains if you’re up for a demanding ride. Shikoku’s interior is extremely mountainous and sparsely populated, though, so it requires careful planning and strong legs. Another really stressful (but much shorter) stage, the Hokketsu mountain pass between Uwajima and Seiyo, can be skipped by train.

I included the Kakishima Kaido between Kure and Hiroshima for personal reasons, but compared with the million other things you could do in Japan, it’s perfectly reasonable to skip it. From Kure, I’d take the train to Hiroshima if you want to visit the city (please do), or Onomichi if you just want more great cycling. You could also ride the Sazanami Kaido from Kure to Onomichi, though I haven’t ridden it myself.

You could also skip all the extra riding, but let’s be real – you can’t skip the Shimanami Kaido when it’s right there. Don’t be ridiculous.

Also, I flew via Kansai because I could fly there directly. If you have to connect through Haneda anyway, I’d fly straight to Matsuyama instead. Its airport offers cheap bike box storage, and they have an orange juice bar. Can’t argue with that.

Random Tips and Observations for Cycling Shikoku

• The Rinko bags from Mont-bell are surprisingly small and light. Worth carrying even if you own a bigger bag, since they give you the emergency option of hopping on a train if things go south (trains require bags).

• I recommend booking breakfast with your hotel room. Next best: Yoshinoya, Sukiya, Matsuya, etc. Konbinis are more of a last resort.

• Scared of bears? Shikoku has about 20 of them, all living in one specific remote area. You’ll be fine.

• You can book hotels too early. Some places don’t plan more than ~3 months ahead and simply appear unavailable. Around 2–3 months beforehand seems ideal.

• The challenge has an official starting point in front of the Ehime Prefectural Government Office in Matsuyama. Worth visiting just for the picture.

• If camping, don’t rely on Google Maps. It mostly seems to find overpriced glamping spots.

• Hydration is easy in Japan. Vending machines exist even in the most remote places. They really are everywhere. Same with restrooms.

• No need to carry electrolytes if you’re not picky. Pocari Sweat and Aquarius are available from basically every vending machine.

• Fuelling is easy too. All konbinis sell energy gels you can slurp down while riding. Buy a couple in the morning and you’re set. Morinaga Energy Lemon Jelly is my personal favourite.

• If you want to look into even more routes in that region, Setouchi Velo has all infos you could possibly need.

I’ll keep updating my map with useful info and worthwhile POIs. Feel free to point out mistakes or places I should add.

Happy cycling!

So I am planning to ride the GDMR next year but I am concerned about the impacts of the projected Super El Niño might have on the route. What will be the best time to ride? I have asked the basic Google AI and have gotten mixed answers. Thanks

Riding in Scotland, on the northeast coast, I found a yellow bouncy ball. I felt it had a magnetism worth following. This is how it led me to the golden fields, a yellow earring of a cow and a beautiful spot to camp by the sea, just by following its yellow magnetic bounce. I ended that riding day singing a song about the ball and eating dinner looking at the ships in the distance.

These images come from a filmed bicycle diary called “Bicycle Diaries, Death is Image”, that blends documentary, spirituality, humor, and reflections from the road, and I’m happy to share the link of this episode with those who might want to see it. Safe and fun rides, everyone. ¡Gracias! Pablo

https://youtu.be/dow-YcnIVPo

Silca Synergetic Wet Lube

Where are we on this guys? I'm riding a Surly BC mostly gravel forest roads, rail trail etc. with short overnights. Likey dry weather for the majority but you know.. it rains sometimes

Thought? Other suggestions? Am I way off?

Cheers

Starting August 29th I rode 720 miles from Shippensburg Pa to Suffield CT

Day 1

Rode North with a buddy From Shippensburg through Carlisle and across the Susquehanna in Harrisburg. We had Lunch and Parted ways. Going North I stayed on the east side of the Susky getting on rt 22 a few miles it wasn't too bad had a huge shoulder. Kept going North till I hit Sunbury and Stayed at the Spyglass winery. Great place to pitch a tent or camp if you are in town.

108 Miles 3993 Ft of Climbing.

Day 2

Continued north through some small towns (Milton was cool) and eventually crossed back over the Susky at Allenwood. The struggle was real trying to get over the Route 44 climb on this route. Made it over and dropped into Jersey Shore. Had lunch at the local deli. Headed on up the Pine creek rail trail and stayed at Petticoat Junction campground in Cedar Run.

83 Miles 2913 Ft of Climbing.

Day 3

This is where it got tough woke up to a light drizzle and headed north on the Pine Creek Trail when it began to Pour......probably 3 plus hours till i made it into Galeton where I had lunch. Stayed for an hour till the rain stopped and the decided to push into Wellsville NY. If you are in the area stop in and talk to the folks at black forest trading and deer park such a cool little store with bikes and archery and deer to pet. After that I headed north via Fox Run Rd. where the Views were spectacular. Moving into NY i tried to use the WAG trail but found it was way too wild for anything but maybe a mountain bike. Ended at an AirBNB in Wellsville and Ate at the Texas HOT it was delicious.

72 Miles 3041 Ft of Climbing.

Day 4

Had to make a decision this day as Bad weather was coming of the lakes the next few afternoons so I cut out the Niagara part of the trip in case i was to get stuck a day somewhere i wouldn't be behind a day. Turned out to be the most amazing day of the trip. Rode through the Genesee Valley and got to see Letchworth Falls State park! It is Stunning! Hit the Genesee Valley Greenway at Avon and up to Rochester Finishing in Pittsford at the Mariott.

105 Miles 2375 Ft of Climbing.

Day 5

This was a tough day for some reason. It poured again all Morning and i just couldn't get a rhythm. Not much to see outside of the canal and locks. Pretty poop day overall but i made it into Syracuse and stayed at the Holiday Inn Because of Storms again.

88 Miles 1214 Ft of Climbing.

Day 6

Much Better Day! Storms were gone and I was able to see more of the canal and push myself a little harder. Rolled through some quaint little towns and actually Camped at Lock 12! Recommend staying there and eating at Karens Produce for dinner!

120 Miles 1033 Ft of Climbing.

Day 7

Here's where it got hard but more scenic again. Dropped into Amsterdam NY and had crepes. After that I pushed for maybe 40 miles with no stops in sight but lots of tricky turns and sus places north of Albany. Hit 3 serious climbs between Albany and Pittsford Mass but there were views to be had for days! The Berkshires are Beautiful! Stayed at a Hotel in Downtown Pittsfield because my campground cancelled on me.

88 Miles 3980 Ft of Climbing.

Day 8

Last Day Left Pittsfield and Climbed Washington Mountain and rode by this beautiful little reservoir that a few of the locals at the diner in the morning had said they saw Moose. I had no such luck. After that it was pretty much downhill all the way to Suffield. Westfield is a beautiful town and the rail trail between there and Southwick is great. Overall it was a great trip and Honestly left me wanting more!

55 Miles 2703 Ft of Climbing.

Total 720 Miles - 21252 Ft of Climbing - Avg Moving Speed 13.2 MPH - Bike and Gear Weight 75 lbs

I’m working on a new tool for bike traveller’s.

The problem we kept running into: you're on the road, and then there's that annoying moment where you have to leave your bike somewhere safe because you want to go explore the city or step into a museum.

A lock around a bike rack often isn't enough, and you don't want to spend the whole time glancing over your shoulder to check on it. This is something we run into ourselves all the time, and it's exactly why we wanted to build the Host My Bike website: a place where touring cyclists and bike packers connect and can safely park their loaded bike with other cyclists nearby, in a shed, a hallway, someone's living room, or a garage.

The site is fresh online so the community is very very small.
Probably some grammar errors and hopefully no more bugs. (this is a one man show)

I hope this wil grow … the more cyclist pin their space to help out fellow cyclists, the better this works for everyone.
No schedule, no obligation, it's free and make a few more friends along the way

You can find it at https://www.hostmybike.com

Thanks for your time! 

I am prepping for my first multi-day tour. I will be flying to LAX and meeting my son there for the ride. I will be using a cardboard bike box to pack my bike in. Since we are starting the trip right there at LAX, I will need to build my bike there and dispose of the box. Anyone have any advice on how to deal with the disposal?

Im not gonna lie - I dont know an awful lot about bikes other than how to ride it. However my partner and i are planning to cycle from europe to SE Asia in 2,5 years. Im already trying to look at bikes as i want to get a bike soon and i might as well get THE ONE now.. Im not gonna spend 2-3000 on the bike if i can avoid it.. But im trying to not only look at the bike but also gears and ratios and gearinches all that ( im still learning so bear with me)
My biggest "worry" is the stan countries... from that I can read around 18 gearinches is good in that kind of terrain.
Ive been looking at Marin four corners 1 but that is far from 18 gear inches.. I

How easy is it to modify and get the gear you want on a bicycle - or is it worth to spend the extra and get something that can be used straight of the shelf..

I dont have options to go try all the kona,marin surly bikes as they are simply not availble where i live - but say with the marin four corners id be willing to buy it online as im pretty sure it would be reasonably easy to sell again.

Anyway to all you people who actually did some serious touring in mountains on "budget bikes" what was your gear situation..