Agustin Zavala Of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico Cycles Across 10 European Countries
Aug
Agustin, where exactly did you go during your bicycle tour and how many days you were on the road for?
It started as a one month trip that extended into five. I began cycling in Zagreb, Croatia and ended up in Capadoccia, Turkey. That was the first part of the trip. I needed to return to Madrid to catch my flight to Mexico afterward and since I wanted to visit some friends I flew from Istanbul to Brussels, Belgium and cycled my way down to Madrid after that. I visited, in this order, the following countries: Croatia, Serbia Bulgaria, Turkey, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, France and Spain.
What was your biggest fear when planning your trip by bike? And how exactly did you overcome that fear?
Where to sleep, what to eat, safety on the road, solitude… I was afraid of everything! I read extensively about bike touring. Your Bicycle Touring Pro website helped me decide I could do it. Then, once on the field, three great friends I met through WarmShowers.org taught me all they knew over three fantastic days and helped me gain confidence and trust myself.
What was the thing you liked most about your bicycle touring experience?
Accomplishing the goal of a lifetime.
What one piece of information inside “The Bicycle Traveler’s Blueprint” helped you the most in planning, preparing for, or executing your bicycle tour?
The information packing and equilibrium among the panniers was specially useful. That helped me a lot!
Do you think you’ll conduct more bicycle tours in the future? If so, where do you want to go?
Maybe. I’d like to cycle from home in Mexico to the tip of Argentina.
What one piece of advice would you give to someone who is planning their first bicycle touring adventure?
Always procure to sleep somewhere you feel safe. If something doesn’t feel quite right, just go a bit further. It’ll be worth it.
Enjoyed your article of Agustin Zavala’s adventures.