Posted from Martellago, Veneto, Italy.
Nürnberg-Kronach was a very hard stage, in spite of the beautiful bike lane along canals and rivers.
Strong wind, rain, cold temperature and just in the middle of our track Daniele’s wheel had another serious problem.
In the middle of the land area after Bamberg the free wheel broke, after the day before the same wheel needed to change “coni and mozzo”.
In this condition a bicycle becomes a piece of steel, with two wheels… nothing else!
The bad words we sent to the mechanic (Filippo!) who prepared the wheel didn’t help to solve the problem.
No other option that Claudio riding for two people, pulling Daniele’s bike, for about 6 km where, at the third attempt, we found someone who was able to save us (And good for us that in Germany bike shops are more common than Kaffeeklatsch).
This place was like a paradise for us. A warm bikeshop with a large bar inside (sofa included).
But once the bike was repaired we still had to ride 70 km to reach our destination.
We rode the last 30 km mainly along a completely dark land bike lane , counting one by one the decreasing number of km.
When we were two km from our hotel in Kronach and our dream of having a long warm shower, food and drinks was coming true… we got lost under a heavy rain.
The indication for bicycles (fantastic in every place and able to guide you to important city sometimes from 50 or more km of distance) failed completely in a crazy cross of rivers, bridges, and large street for cars.
After several turns around the area and the indication of very rare people walking under the rain we found the right way to the place where we could change our clothes and have the deserved dinner after 12 h and more than 150 km on our bikes.
Forsa Presidente Forsa, avanti col solito è mai molare! Il berretto della Trans ti darà la fOrzaaaaa!!!
Come on, boys, the Brandenburg Gate is getting closer, your mission will bring a great sense of responsibility, your efforts will not be in vain, Berlin is an important step ………..
If we help each other, start sharing, and enjoy this marvellous nature, we can make this word a better world, and make us better people.
Daniele, u have showed all of that, especially in the trip u had today. You have been riding with your friend Claudio, fighting together against bad weather and technical problems with the bike, never loosing motivation and allways being able to engage people around you!
I am proud of you guys!
Hi Daniele and Claudio,
Now you know how it is to bike in the Netherlands: almost always windy and raining!
Good luck with the rest of your trip!!
best regards,
Dick Hortensius