European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 4, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Bikini Europe planning Good gear keys to terrific Tours it by Ken Clauson Bremerhaven Bureau How about a vacation that lets you sit Down All Day eat All the pastry you want see countless panoramic views of Europe and return Home in better shape than when you left no Way you say then get on a Bike for a week or two. Only walking puts you More in touch with the Countryside tharr cruising Down deserted roads on a comfortable Bike. As a Bonus it gives you great legs and lets your spirit soar. A bicycle touring resembles hiking in that you Are going slow enough to feel the Breeze and the Sun smell the Flowers and hear the Birds and animals you pass. Yet it s fast enough so that you feel like you have travelled at the end of the Day. Anyone in reasonably Good physical condition and who rides regularly can ride 50 Miles in a Day and easily cover a few Hundred Miles in a week. And Europe is compact enough that even a we Klong tour can take you from Flat Farmland across rolling Hills through forests and even into several cities. Bike touring is like any Endeavor in that a Little planning and preparation can make the difference Between a pleasant experience and a painful one. Tour preparation includes equipment physical training and attitude. A for someone touring for the first time really almost any Bike will do but it must be equipped and adjusted properly Quot says Wolfgang Reiche of the Al Gemeiner Deutscher Fahr Rad club e.v., a German cycling advocacy organization. Reiche probably knows Cycle touring As Well As anyone. He spent his College vacations on a Bike making two and three month jaunts around Europe Rode More than 45,000 Miles on a four year trip. Around the world and most recently cycled the 3,000 mile length of the great Wall and beyond As part of a 5,500-mile ride through China. Although he says almost any Bike will do for a first tour Reiche says a Good touring Bike has multiple gears like the classic �?o10-speed.&Quot today s tour bikes Likely have 15, 18 or even 21 gears. The wide Range of gearing makes it easier to maintain a steady peddling cadence in a variety of terrain and weather conditions. Mountain bikes Are Fine for off Road touring Reiche says but he does not recommend them for Normal Road touring. The Flat handlebars limit the rider s hand and body positions and the fat tires while giving a softer ride have greater rolling resistance on the Road. Consequently the rider must exert More Energy to travel the same distance on a Mountain Bike than he or she would on a Road Bike. The minimum equipment Reiche says Means Good brakes front and rear lights and a sturdy rack for the bags called panniers that hold your clothing food and incidentals. One very important variable he says is Correct Saddle position. With shoes on and leg extended your Heel should just reach the pedal when it is closest to the ground. This rough measurement is for shoes without heels such As stiff Soled running shoes. _ j a if the Saddle is too Low it s bad because you cannot extend the leg fully a Reiche says. A the thigh muscle has the most Power in the last few centimetres of the pedal stroke. For Long rides it is very bad if the Saddle is too Low j while saddles with a thin layer of gel padding Are very popular Reiche says he prefers a leather one. But he admits it can take a couple thousand Kilometres of. Riding to get it broken in and form fitted to one s rear end. A the first one or two thousand Kilometres can be rough but once it s broken in it s formed to your body. I would rather lose the rest of my Bike than lose the  those mattress thick Spring supported saddles that seem so comfortable for slow rides across town Are not Good for touring. The gentle Bounce softens bumps but also wastes Energy and makes it harder to apply Power to the pedals Over distance. Inexperienced riders in particular should prepare for touring by Riding a lot Reiche says. In addition to Riding at least an hour several Days a week he recommends making several rides of at least three hours to get accustomed to spending a Long time in the Saddle and to get the Bike properly adjusted. Also important he says is a practice ride with the Bike loaded exactly As it will be on the tour. A loaded Bike bridles differently and the rider will get a better sense of the distance that May be reasonably covered in a Day. When packing put heavier items on the Bottom of the panniers and closest to the Bike. Reiche says this helps keep the Center of Gravity lower and makes the Bike easier to handle especially on fast runs Down Hills. Staff sgt. Doug Ide a Soldier with the 2nd army div fwd in Karlstedt Germany is another rider Sticken with touring fever. During 14 Riding Days of a three week vacation last year he Rode l 4 Miles on a trip from near Bremen to Berlin then to Dresden Leipzig Nair Bergand Munich. He later Rode about 400 Miles on a relaxed seven Day tour in the Netherlands and is planning a trip to Scotland. A it s important to understand your limits before you Start Quot he a vips. A ii you be never Ridden More than 50 Miles in your life you can t expect to do that every Day on a tour. A a but a Bike tour should not be based on mileage. It s about enjoying the Countryside and the environment and if you Only hit 10 Miles one Day that s in if you enjoyed the  the two riders uttered a few More tips on equipment Riding technique nutrition and attitude. Tool Don t even think of 1 touring without a minimum tool kit. This includes wrenches to fit every Bolt on the Bike that May need tightening a tire Patch kit tire removal tools a pump Murphy s Law applies hen1 if you Don t have these you la probably get a Flatland Small screwdrivers to adjust derail Lour. Toe clips and straps if you have never used clips and straps thu thought of having your feet fastened to the pedals can be scary. You May think you la tip Over and crash if you have to Stop and can t get your feet free. You probably will. But Ide says Don t worry. You Don t want them cinched Down so tight your feet wont come Loose anyway and he adds you la be amazed at How last your Teet come Irei when Lai de with an emergency Sui h As a dog  just run under your front wheel. The benefits of using dips and straps Are Well Worth the initial tear Ide says. Quot you Don t waste Energy trying to keep your Teet on the pedals Mil you an apply Power through a lot More of the pedal  without them you an Only push onit Nui d on a inc 9 a amps Gus Schmo Tallur bikers plan their trip during a Stop at Loch Ness Scotland. July 4, 1991 stripes Magazine 7