Ah! Thank you so much, Andy! This is super helpful! I really want to do a bikepacking trip in Japan next year. I did about a 5 day "backpacking" trip in 2017 where I was able to do some of these tips, but ended up having to stay in hotels or sleep on trains a majority of the time (I tried the manga cafe route one time, but got turned away and was discouraged in trying again). I'm trying to find ways to cut corners in packing and how to handle how much more filthy I'll be at the end of a long bike ride--while also having to hold camping gear. 😆This is super helpful, so thank you for making a video about it--and for doing it so quickly! You rule!
Cool! That sounds like a great idea 👍 Try the manga cafes again, it’s possible that the staff won’t speak English and will try to turn you away but just smile and insist, or try whatever Japanese you can to break the ice. Once you have a membership card they won’t turn you away. My favourite manga cafes are gera gera (their logo is a 🐸) or try Club (they seem to be everywhere). Look for bike parking garages (underground in Tokyo) they will have self service machines and the cost is low for overnight parking. If you leave the bike on the street it might get taken by the city or a fine issued. I really want to visit Japan again too! Hopefully soon!!
Also the city of Tokyo removes bikes that are abandoned or illegally parked then sells them once a month for very cheap prices. Try a google search around this you’ll find good info on what days they operate - a good way to get a bike for very cheap!
One little tip I found useful when “washing” my hands…. Take a gulp of water and hold it in your mouth, then soap your hands and dribble the water slowly over them from your mouthful. You can control the flow of water and also refresh your mouth with a dash of water. Works really well. 😂
When using clothing for several days in a raw investing in clothing made of merino wool is a good idea. It is soft, feel warm in cool temps, feel cool in hot temps and more importantly, it doesn't stink when you are sweating like cotton or synthetic materials do. It is usually expensive but some outdoor department stores such as Decathlon have a few more affordable models in their hiking section. I'd personnally try to grab more water towards the end of my day and clean myself up with a towel than swimming in some rivers/lakes, especially if there are ducks or other waterfowls birds using it, using a filter if I can't find clean water. An hydration bladder or some foldable bottles allows one to carry more and only fill them towards the end of the day before setting up camp.
Yes I agree on the warm weather gear, I use possum merino blend gloves, socks and beanie - considered the best cold weather knit blend, but rather expensive amzn.to/3MHUwIB however its worth the money not to get hypothermia in changeable conditions. keeping feet in good condition is very important to the success of the adventure
I live near the rhine, 100% agree on not swimming there, big ships and many nasty stuff happening there. Also about 10people a year die there, really tragic stories.
Yes the boats are massive! Its a good looking river but so many factories outflow into it. I can admit to swimming in the Mosel, but this also I wont recommend
@@hobocyclist Haha, I remember my friend swimming in the Mosel when we were camping there, I was cringing so hard.. but I should've done it. I was less adventurous back then.
Hey, I find your videos very interesting, have you already made a video telling where did you came from and how you end up travelling the world by bicycle?
Hi mate! Yes I have a bunch of livestreams in the hobo club members area where I talk about lots of stuff, also interviews with some of my friends and more members only videos. Oh also I have a book coming out soon 🔜 telling the hobocyclist origin story 👍🎬🌴⛺️🚲
I always wonder why bikepackers dont take portable shower bags with them. Fill up with river water hook on a tree and shower with some trunks on. It folds down to palm size too
Careful when swimming in ponds, i got some nasty parasites from that. I got rid of them after weeks of extremely hot water. They were burrowing under my skin at night leaving very tiny holes and streaks of red lines where they travelled to the next site on my skin. Maybe beaver parasites or something like that. It was early spring in northern germany. I still am scared of swimming in stagnent water like ponds. And in lake geneva there a duck parasites in summer which dissapear after a few days which is fine.
Thank you. I usually stick to distilled drinking water. Have you noticed if distilled water is consistently available along bike touring routes in general?
I think you could consider a hydration bladder, very efficient way to carry large amounts of water since you can hang it outside your bag, and provide a large source of clean water to wash yourself with
Oh yeah! Especially important when travelling in tropical countries where mosquitos carry dengue or malaria, or in countries with a lot of standing water (the Netherlands!) I take a insect repellent that contains DEET amzn.to/46RzSxc it works really well- but be aware this stuff will melt some plastics so don’t get it on sunglasses etc!
Hi Andy, great video, and thanks for sharing. I have one question hopefully you can help me out. From your folding bike riding experience, is it a good idea to carry a 2-year-old around on a folding bike for short-distance riding? if so what kind of folding bike you would recommend? Thanks in advance
Hi mate, cheers for the comment. I don’t know really how safe it might be, so I can’t recommend anything for that. In Holland lots of families and children ride on bikes however it’s much safer for traffic and the operators are sensible. Here in nz I wouldn’t recommend riding a bike on the roads at all. Be safe out there!
Great advice. Non sugar coated.
Ah! Thank you so much, Andy! This is super helpful!
I really want to do a bikepacking trip in Japan next year. I did about a 5 day "backpacking" trip in 2017 where I was able to do some of these tips, but ended up having to stay in hotels or sleep on trains a majority of the time (I tried the manga cafe route one time, but got turned away and was discouraged in trying again). I'm trying to find ways to cut corners in packing and how to handle how much more filthy I'll be at the end of a long bike ride--while also having to hold camping gear. 😆This is super helpful, so thank you for making a video about it--and for doing it so quickly! You rule!
Cool! That sounds like a great idea 👍 Try the manga cafes again, it’s possible that the staff won’t speak English and will try to turn you away but just smile and insist, or try whatever Japanese you can to break the ice. Once you have a membership card they won’t turn you away. My favourite manga cafes are gera gera (their logo is a 🐸) or try Club (they seem to be everywhere). Look for bike parking garages (underground in Tokyo) they will have self service machines and the cost is low for overnight parking. If you leave the bike on the street it might get taken by the city or a fine issued. I really want to visit Japan again too! Hopefully soon!!
Also the city of Tokyo removes bikes that are abandoned or illegally parked then sells them once a month for very cheap prices. Try a google search around this you’ll find good info on what days they operate - a good way to get a bike for very cheap!
One little tip I found useful when “washing” my hands…. Take a gulp of water and hold it in your mouth, then soap your hands and dribble the water slowly over them from your mouthful. You can control the flow of water and also refresh your mouth with a dash of water. Works really well. 😂
Ahh yes! I use this method to rinse my toothbrush when needing to conserve water!!
Top tips Andy !
Cheers mate!!! 🚲👍🌲
Gold tips!
Cheers mate!
When using clothing for several days in a raw investing in clothing made of merino wool is a good idea. It is soft, feel warm in cool temps, feel cool in hot temps and more importantly, it doesn't stink when you are sweating like cotton or synthetic materials do. It is usually expensive but some outdoor department stores such as Decathlon have a few more affordable models in their hiking section.
I'd personnally try to grab more water towards the end of my day and clean myself up with a towel than swimming in some rivers/lakes, especially if there are ducks or other waterfowls birds using it, using a filter if I can't find clean water. An hydration bladder or some foldable bottles allows one to carry more and only fill them towards the end of the day before setting up camp.
Yes I agree on the warm weather gear, I use possum merino blend gloves, socks and beanie - considered the best cold weather knit blend, but rather expensive amzn.to/3MHUwIB however its worth the money not to get hypothermia in changeable conditions. keeping feet in good condition is very important to the success of the adventure
I live near the rhine, 100% agree on not swimming there, big ships and many nasty stuff happening there. Also about 10people a year die there, really tragic stories.
Yes the boats are massive! Its a good looking river but so many factories outflow into it. I can admit to swimming in the Mosel, but this also I wont recommend
@@hobocyclist Haha, I remember my friend swimming in the Mosel when we were camping there, I was cringing so hard.. but I should've done it. I was less adventurous back then.
Hey, I find your videos very interesting, have you already made a video telling where did you came from and how you end up travelling the world by bicycle?
Hi mate! Yes I have a bunch of livestreams in the hobo club members area where I talk about lots of stuff, also interviews with some of my friends and more members only videos. Oh also I have a book coming out soon 🔜 telling the hobocyclist origin story 👍🎬🌴⛺️🚲
I always wonder why bikepackers dont take portable shower bags with them. Fill up with river water hook on a tree and shower with some trunks on. It folds down to palm size too
One of these things? amzn.to/3Qt5bcm Im always trying to cut down on what I carry & simplify.. not sure im convinced
@@hobocyclist true. I see your point
Hi Andy, any more trips planned for yourself and Mel? I really enjoyed watching you guys travel around Europe. Hope you are well. 😀
Cheers Rick! Summer is starting down here in NZ, hope to get out on those trails soon! 🚲🌲👍
Careful when swimming in ponds, i got some nasty parasites from that. I got rid of them after weeks of extremely hot water. They were burrowing under my skin at night leaving very tiny holes and streaks of red lines where they travelled to the next site on my skin. Maybe beaver parasites or something like that. It was early spring in northern germany. I still am scared of swimming in stagnent water like ponds. And in lake geneva there a duck parasites in summer which dissapear after a few days which is fine.
Good to know 👍 I generally stay away from swimming in ponds & canals. Getting sick on a cycle tour is no fun!
Muy buen video. Felicitaciones!!!
Cheers mate! 👍🚲🌲
Thank you.
I usually stick to distilled drinking water. Have you noticed if distilled water is consistently available along bike touring routes in general?
I think you could consider a hydration bladder, very efficient way to carry large amounts of water since you can hang it outside your bag, and provide a large source of clean water to wash yourself with
A tip I got from one of the very early video on this channel is using the inside of a wine box as one of the
I think it’s just the same thing but a soft drink bottle is cheaper, plus it’s recycling!
Yes, that was a video from a few years back! Maybe I show how to make one of these again, if enough ppl are interested!
Bug spray is the first thing I pack when I go camping.
Oh yeah! Especially important when travelling in tropical countries where mosquitos carry dengue or malaria, or in countries with a lot of standing water (the Netherlands!) I take a insect repellent that contains DEET amzn.to/46RzSxc it works really well- but be aware this stuff will melt some plastics so don’t get it on sunglasses etc!
Subscribed 😉
Cheers mate! Nice to have you along for the ride!!
what's up with the inverted "Join" lol
nioj tsilcycoboh
Hi Andy, great video, and thanks for sharing. I have one question hopefully you can help me out. From your folding bike riding experience, is it a good idea to carry a 2-year-old around on a folding bike for short-distance riding? if so what kind of folding bike you would recommend? Thanks in advance
Hi mate, cheers for the comment. I don’t know really how safe it might be, so I can’t recommend anything for that. In Holland lots of families and children ride on bikes however it’s much safer for traffic and the operators are sensible. Here in nz I wouldn’t recommend riding a bike on the roads at all. Be safe out there!
@@hobocyclist that is a very insightful information, thanks for your time.
How cost effective is staying in hostels?
Depends for how long? For me its too expensive, id rather a hotel once or twice week than a hostel every night
All good :D
McDonalds toilets in the UK are usually disgusting, but in Europe they are OK.
As an older Scotsman, mixed toilets kinda freak me out though.
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