Cycle Touring In Kosovo: A Disputed Nation Filled With Barbed Wire, Land Mines And Germans Soldiers

After nearly an hour of cycling on an abandoned Albanian freeway, I reached the country’s border and prepared myself to cross into Kosovo, a tiny landlocked country of 2.2 million in the middle of the Balkans. Kosovo, for those who don’t know, borders Macedonia to the south, Albania to the west, Montenegro to the northwest, [...]

Jim Dirlam’s Complete Bicycle Touring Gear Checklist

In response to my recent post on the 10 Important Items You Should Have, But Might Not Think Of Bringing On Your Bike Tour, BicycleTouringPro.com reader, Jim Dirlam sent me a checklist that he created to help bicycle travelers pack for their upcoming bicycle touring adventures. The list is incredibly detailed and I’ve decided to [...]

How Old Are BicycleTouringPro.com Readers?

Over the past six months I’ve been conducting a survey here at Bicycle Touring Pro where I asked readers to answer a series of questions about bicycle touring, travel, their age, interests and more.  Now that hundreds of readers have weighed in, I thought it would be interesting to share some of the results of [...]

Bicycling Albania: Europe’s Most Dangerous Country?

After leaving my apartment in Tivat, Montenegro on the 24th of June, I cycled for two days down the country’s mountainous coast before cutting inland, passing through dozens of dark tunnels and flat country back roads. Less than 20 kilometers from the border, it started to rain and I slipped on my jacket for the [...]

Barend Dronkers – First Time Solo Cycle Tourist: A Macedonian Encounter

Walking back from Skopje’s Turkish bazaar, I crossed the old stone bridge that seperates the old and new regions of this impressive Macedonian capital city. And there, at the end of the famous stone structure, I spotted a man with a fully-loaded bicycle. He was writing in his journal and doing his best to ignore [...]

July 2009 – Website Update From Macedonia

Greetings from Strumica, Macedonia! I’m currently circling an area near the border of Macedonia, Bulgaria and Greece… and while it’s blistering hot here, it’s also incredibly beautiful. I’m killing a few days by exploring this little-traveled area of the Balkans before heading with my bike to Athens, Greece – the final destination for my 2009 [...]

Grab A Free Membership From The Adventure Cycling Association (A $40 Value)

NOTE: The 50 free Adventure Cycling memberships mentioned in this article have already been given away. I’m sorry, but there are no more available free memberships. Today is a great day for BicycleTouringPro.com readers. “Why is it a great day?” you ask. It’s a great day because the Adventure Cycling Association has given me permission [...]

Travel Expenses From Montenegro, Albania And Kosovo

For the past six months I’ve been sharing my expenses with you as I slowly make my way by bike from Switzerland to Greece. This month is no different. However, the landscape and locations visited on my travels over the past four weeks were unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before. After having spent the first [...]

Skopje, Macedonia’s Old Bazaar Video Walkthrough

As you walk northeast, away from Skopje, Macedonia’s modern center, you cross the city’s famous old stone bridge and enter its hustling and bustling Turkish quarter. Here, the streets are lined with small shops selling clothing, jewelry, antiques, food and souvenirs. The streets twist and turn in a number of different directions, but as you [...]

Life In Montenegro

Just a few short months ago I would have been completely unable to tell you where Montenegro was on a map. But after having spent 43 days in this small Adriatic country south of Croatia and north of Albania on the Adriatic coast, I’ve a raving fan. I cycled into Montenegro from Croatia on the [...]

CycleNow Video Interview About Bike Travel In Europe

While in Montenegro last month, I had the great pleasure of speaking with Rick Owens. Rick is the director of CycleNow.us, a Texas based web show all about bicycling… and we sat down for a few minutes to talk about my bicycle touring adventures in Europe and beyond. For those who may not know, I’m [...]

10 Important Items You Should Have, But Might Not Think Of Bringing On Your Bike Tour

For the most part, packing for a trip by bike is really a simple process. If you plan to camp, bring a tent and a sleeping bag. If you plan to cook, bring a stove and a fuel canister. And no matter where you plan on going, be sure to pack a few extra pairs [...]