Eastern Europe: Bike Preparation

On Friday night, 9 of us took a boat tour on the Vltava River.  It was a small boat which allowed us to explore areas that a larger boat could not.  The perspective from the river was quite different than on land.  Note that the Charles Bridge looks better from this perspective. And I’m impressed that it was built in 1357.  Compare that to my career as a computer programmer. Not one line of code that I wrote in 38 years survives today, only 16 years after I retired. Well as least I got paid well.

Four of us went back to the restaurant that some had visited on Wednesday. The food and ambience were still great but the service not as good tonight, as was reflected in our tips.

 

 

 

The ride will soon start and we have a detailed plan to organize the bikes and begin the tour:

SATURDAY (TODAY)

- At 9:00 the bikes in cases will be taken from the hotel up the street to a Monastery garden.  Riders who brought their bikes from the US will have all day to assemble them.  There are 5 tandems and 2 road bikes.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

- At 2:00 those of us who are renting bikes will be transported to the local guide company for bike fitting and test rides. Ten people are renting bikes.

- I should explain that two tour companies are involved. I contracted with Pedaltours in New Zealand to organize this tour for us. By “organize” I mean they planned the routes, hotels and meals.  Then, on the ride they will provide support by transporting our luggage, providing guides, etc.  Why hire a company from New Zealand for a tour in Eastern Europe? Good question. The answers are because they do provide tours in Eastern Europe and have  a good reputation.  I’ve personally  known the president of the  company since 2001.  Actually he sold the company this year but it’s pretty much the same company.  For tours in Eastern Europe, Pedaltours subcontracts to a local company, AVE.  So our support staff will consist of 3 AVE staff and one from Pedlatours.

- At 6:00 we have an organizational meeting and at 7:00 have our first group dinner.

SUNDAY

- Early morning, AVE will transport the individually owned bikes and cases from the Monastery  garden to AVE headquarters.

- At 8:30 all riders will be picked up at the hotel and taken to AVE’s headquarters where the bikes are located.  We’ll all get on bus and be taken out of the busy city of Prague.  As soon as we’re  out in the country, we’ll begin riding. First day’s destination is Tabor.