Start: 03:58 on Saturday, 3 August 2024, Orhangazi, TurkeyElapsed time: 21:53:39Moving time: 16:52:37Distance: 354.61 kmElevation: 4810 m This was it—the final day. Setting Out No gravel today (or so I thought), and I was full of motivation. I’d picked a…
Start: 05:51 on Friday, 2 August 2024, Biga, TurkeyElapsed time: 16:58:00Moving time: 12:14:06Distance: 254.69 kmElevation: 3425 m This was a rough day, no way around it. For the first time on this ride, my legs felt tired right from the…
Start: 04:29 on Thursday, 1 August 2024, Keşan, TurkeyElapsed time: 17:54:43Moving time: 15:24:47Distance: 287.75 kmElevation: 3798 m Routing choices have a way of backfiring. Despite prioritizing distance and elevation over gravel, I ended up with all three—extra distance, more climbing,…
Start: 04:11 on Wednesday, 31 July 2024, Serres Municipality, GreeceElapsed time: 17:48:41Moving time: 14:24:31Distance: 343.72 kmElevation: 2578 m Checked out of the hotel at 4 in the morning, and the receptionist refused to charge me for the Coke I had…
Start: 05:32 on Tuesday, 30 July 2024, Kumanovo, MacedoniaElapsed time: 14:07:04Moving time: 10:33:56Distance: 291.14 kmElevation: 2066 m When the sun rose, I finally identified the strange smell from the night before: forest fires. They were burning on the hills in…
Start: 05:37 on Monday, 29 July 2024, Bijelo Polje Municipality, MontenegroElapsed time: 20:35:37Moving time: 14:57:51Distance: 327.07 kmElevation: 4452 m I woke up after a mediocre few hours of sleep. I’d camped by the side of the road, but it wasn’t…
Start: 06:25 on Sunday, 28 July 2024, Foča Municipality (RS), Bosnia & HerzegovinaElapsed time: 14:48:44Moving time: 10:48:21Distance: 200.44 kmElevation: 3269 m The day started off well. Everything seemed to be going smoothly, and I was optimistic about having a good…
Start: 04:44 on Saturday, 27 July 2024, City of Zenica, Bosnia & HerzegovinaElapsed time: 17:42:26Moving time: 14:22:08Distance: 247.19 kmElevation: 4022 m I woke up after a few hours of decent sleep near the graveyard, got on the bike, and headed…
Start: 04:38 on Friday, 26 July 2024, Samobor, CroatiaElapsed time: 19:00:01Moving time: 13:36:41Distance: 337.65 kmElevation: 1928 m The day started off well, riding through Croatia. While the roads weren’t as good as Slovenia’s, they were decent enough. There were no…
Start: 04:08 on Thursday, 25 July 2024, Villach, AustriaElapsed time: 18:03:46Moving time: 14:53:39Distance: 333.75 kmElevantion: 4270 m The route started in Villach, taking me through Italy for a few kilometers before crossing into Slovenia. The first challenge, Parcours 1, began…