-- Take copies of passports and other important documents
(if possible put scanned copies on a secured web source)

-- Get a health insurance for foreign countries

-- Take necessary tools and spare parts with you
(compact cycle tool, pliers,scissors and a knife are sufficient)

-- A light cycle steel frame can be weldered in case of a frame crack (apart from that make sure your frame has brazons for a rack)

-- Bring good Maps (scale of 1:300.000 if possible)

-- A water filter (with ceramic filter against bacteria etc.) is extremely helpful. It also reduces plastiv Waste!

-- Cleats (a mechanism that locks shoes onto the pedals) give a better force transmission

-- Having a front suspension is definitely worth considering. And we would never again go without one

-- A cooker makes you more independent from availability (and tastes) of food

-- Hygienic goods apart from Tampons were available in all countries we travelled through so do not bother to take all with you

-- Be prepared for wild dogs!!! (have a stick or stone at hand)

-- Camping especially rough or with permission from private people was easy in all countries apart from Pakistan and India

-- Cleaning your bike especially your chain makes cycling much easier and enlarges lifetime

How was cycling in…

-- Romantic, but not a big adventure.

Slovakia:+++ Very nice for cycling.
Many lonely roads with good surface. Can be quite mountainous in the central and northern part, forests, meadows, agricultural land, lakes etc. It is o.k. to cycle in big cities.

-- Romantic and but not a big adventure.

Hungary:++ Nice and very easy for cycling.
Very flat area (The Puzsta). Lonely roads with good surface. It is o.k. to cycle in big cities.

-- Not a big adventure and a bit flat landscape.

Romania:+++ Is very nice for cycling and a real discovery!!!
Very lonely streets and gorgeous nature. The terrain can be very mountainous but is manageable. In the south-west it is less mountainous. More adventurous

-- The surface of roads is very often a little bit bumpy.

Bulgaria:++ Is nice for cycling.
Mostly mountainous area. Beautiful nature.
-- We heard some stories about theft problems, but had none personally.

Turkey:+++ Has gorgeous areas for cycling and is ideal for rough camping.
Scenic coastal roads which connect ancient sites. Greatnature, mountainous landscape (the highest passes we had so far), pine forests, olive grooves, rocky hills, huge lakes, picturesque volcanic landscape (eastern Turkey). The best part we had was from Side (at the coast) inlands up the mountains to Behsehir (wrong written).

-- The surface of roads has sometimes very much friction and the tarmac is not smooth. Trucks and dolmus (public minibuses) are quite dangerous and do not take care of cyclists or keep any safety distance. The horning is also a nuisance. Big cities can be discouraging. Women may likely face sexual harassment.

Iran:++ Lonely rides through deserts with the opportunity to camp rough.
Iran had the best road surfaces we had on our tour. The ideal country for a racing bike. Straight desert roads made for the longest distances, but you have to come in the right season (approx. Okt-Jan), otherwise you get roasted.

--- Women need to be covered with a scarf, trousers and long sleeves. When off the bike a coat is needed. After some days in the desert it can get a little boring (but keep going). Big cities can be discouraging. Enough water and food needs to be carried, because in some desert parts there are very few supplies. Women may face sexual harassment (more seldom than in Turkey).

Pakistan: +++ Fantastic in the north. The Karakoram Highway (KKH) is one of the best routes to cycle. THE trip for the adventurous cyclist. Amazing mountain scenery hospitable and also wild people.

-- Women should wear a scarf, trousers and long sleeves or better a shalwar-kamiz (traditional Punjabi dress). The stretch on the KKH before Gilgit (Indus Kohistan) is quite conservative and only safe on the KKH itself. Do not do side trips in the adjoining valleys without reliable local information. Try to avoid travelling during Ramadan. Pollution can be a severe problem. In bigger cities (e.g. Lahore) cycling is no fun at all because of the traffic and the very polluted air.
Pakistan is a safety problem and following the news and looking into the Lonelyplanet Thorntree to get the latest info is advisable.

India:+ Cycling in remote or rural areas and around the hill stations of the Western Ghats can be marvellous. Cycling in and around Auroville is fantastic (apart from to much dust and exhaust on the main roads because of motorised vehicles).

--- Pollution is a severe problem. In bigger cities and on most of the streets cycling is no fun because of dangerous traffic and very polluted and dusty air. In the seventies it must have been a great adventure to cycle through India, but the amount of motorised vehicles increased tremendously. Now 70-80% of the traffic in India takes place on motorbikes. Furthermore uncounted numbers maniac bus and truck drivers are a serious threat to all other traffic participants. Because of this we cannot really say that the Indian plains are our most beloved place to cycle on.

Kirgistan: +++ A cyclists dreamland!!! Soft green mountains and high altitude meadows, snow capped peaks, and alpine forest scenery are just glipses of this beatiful country. Rough camping on vast meadows or around high altitude lakes will be unforgetable memories. Very little traffic, even Bishkek, the capital is pleasent to cycle in.

- Transport with a cycle is not as easy as in countries like Pakistan, India or Turkey. Buses have no roof carrier and are normally to small to put bikes in the luggage compartment. It is still possible to transport a bicycle but you have to be prepared to discuss a lot, pay more or even take a taxi. What is neither very chaep nor environmentally friendly. Sometimes people try to cheat you with prices for accommodation the morning you will leave. Agree on a price prior to lodging and do not take anything you did not order, because it will create extra costs.