Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 (Fortune) 6/7/84; site rhino.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!decwrl!amd!fortune!foros1!rhino!marcum From: marcum@rhino.UUCP (Alan M. Marcum) Newsgroups: net.bicycle Subject: Re: Europe by bike Message-ID: <216@rhino.UUCP> Date: Wed, 17-Oct-84 21:07:38 EDT Article-I.D.: rhino.216 Posted: Wed Oct 17 21:07:38 1984 Date-Received: Fri, 19-Oct-84 04:47:35 EDT References: <14702@lanl-a.UUCP> Organization: The Fortune Jungle Lines: 30 Posting rather than replying because of probable general interest... I took my bike to Holland when I presented a paper at a conference there a few years ago. I've also camped (backpacking and via train from place to place) a few times, in France, England, Italy, Germany, and Switzerland. I recommend a Hostel card highly (American Youth Hostels [AYH] advertises in many of the bike magazines) -- also rather useful for ID at times. Campgrounds were readily available, as were Hostels, both when backpacking and biking. The water was no problem at all, nor was eating fruit (even unwashed) purchased at open-air markets or stands. Cheese, sausage, and bread made large contributions to my diet (ahh, such wonderful cheese and bread!). Holland is a wonderful bicycling place -- the folks there bicycle quite a bit as a matter of course, and the country is quite flat. There are many bicycle paths that even extend between cities. I found both drivers and cyclists courteous on the road. A "must see" in Switzerland: a city called Saas Fee, one valley east of the Mattertal (the valley -- "tal" -- of the Matterhorn) and Zermatt. Beautiful. One caveat: there are many different "standards" for tube valve size and configuration. Adapters are often unavailable.... -- Alan M. Marcum Fortune Systems, Redwood City, California ...!{ihnp4, ucbvax!amd, hpda, sri-unix, harpo}!fortune!rhino!marcum