To conclude:
a) travel by bicycle and train through Europe is possible,
b) it requires some preparations, though, and then some skills in managing risk,
c) it could be made a lot easier and more popular if European policymakers seriously wanted to decarbonize the transport sector.
I enjoyed the entire journey and ended up doing everything I wanted to do.
My main specific choices were,
- to accept (whether I like it or not) that the smartphone is an essential tool (but you need a power bank along with it),
- to buy an interrail ticket (4 days in a month), this may or may not have been the cheapest option, but it provides some flexibility,
- to navigate google-free, that is with OsmAnd~ (the free version, from https://f-droid.org/en/packages/net.osmand.plus/),
- to sleep, when needed, in youth hostels (interesting places, good value for money),
- to make sure the bicycle is not too heavy (ruling out any e-bike).
Thanks for following so far - will try to answer any questions that might come up (and I have some more projects like this next month).
#velotrain2025
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