Self Defence on the Road

Rather than checking back by email, consider getting pay-as-you-go phone cards and putting them in a mobile phone. It depends enormously on where you are travelling, but (example) in Turkey I can use my phone to send text messages to the UK, Canada and Oman (so far). Easy and simple, and fairly cheap unless you are in a country with daft phone plans.

I don't know if your travels will take you across Spain, but if it does, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised (providing you don't attempt to bike in Madrid!) As a woman who travels a lot by bike by herself, the only trouble (using the term loosely) I've ever had was with cars full of teenagers who yell out the windows (the wit of which is severely diminished by the Doppler effect.) There's something about the vulnerability of someone who travels by bicycle that brings out the generosity of Spaniards; they're not great cyclists themselves, but they can be very generous and friendly with people.

And your bike will be all right, too. If you're not in a huge city, and you're riding on a full touring rig, a cable lock is enough to keep thieves away (after all, they're not exactly making off with anonymous booty.)

I agree with SimonHill. If you have someone who's going to want to know where you are, promise to call when you can, but don't give it a frequency thing. You and the other party will feel better after the second week; you'll realize that the calls are more to make you feel better than anything else.

The one thing I would recommend is that you carry your E111 health form clipped to a piece of paper that contains your "In Case of Emergency" details. For extra peace of mind, you could make a copy of both and put the copy in your panniers, just in case. After all, one never knows...

And oh yes, keep a €50 note in with your bike tools or in a hidden spot in your bags (not in the tubes of your bike frame, or you'll never see it again!)...just in case!

The first trip I ever took by myself, I was totally convinced I was going to end up dead in a ditch somewhere. Four years later, I can say that the worst things that have ever happened were a couple of flats and a brake pad that scorched a groove in a tire. After you're on the road for a while, the good stuff will far outweigh the bad.

Good luck and have a great time!

Dawn
SPANISH CYCLEPATHS

The E111 doesn't exist any more. It's a credit card sized plastic thing now.

lol danelska, i'm sure you'll sweet talk your way out of danger. And hell if you want some company i'll join you for a few days!!!

And of course you wouldn't drink yourself silly would you?...

Not to threadjack but i'm gonna take my new bike over to france for a few days in a month or so. can't wait! Hope to see you at xmas eh?

A Thai cycling couple (named Mou and Wan) were robbed in Ecuador about 2 years ago, they said they were pointed by guns and stopped by a gang of youngsters, everything was gone, including their precious computer. But what can you do if you are pointed by a gun? Better give up something instead of risking your life...

im from sydney and used to cycle there. syd nor aust is very cycle friendly. not sure why? maybe because of distances we need to cover to get about everyone grows up drivign adn so sycling is seen as just fun or somethiung for kids so not really taken seriously, or appreciated by alot of folks. sorry.

Hm. The ony problem ive ever had was caused by me as i got road rage as i was nearly ran over and in response shouted at a turkish guy. He stopped his car and shouted back and threw paperbals at my partner and got his willie out ?? Nothing serious but it did make me think about my own behaviour on a bike. Inever thought anybody took road rage serious but its worth considering that there are indeed some iltempered people out there. But also that one incident and i have travelled on my ike for about 7 years now...