“Europe seems to be better suited for bike touring more than anywhere else in the world. Paved roads clinging to every mountain top, short distances between interesting towns, excellent cycling infrastructure, and an European society that has long supported all types of cycling. European drivers seem to respect and share the road with cyclists, unlike some areas of America; where as the old saying goes: In Europe you are a god, in North America you are road-kill. This attitude is changing but when I think about pedaling a hundred miles of headwind to the nearest stale donut outpost in southern Wyoming (exaggeration), the choice is easy: Euro touring is much more enjoyable and civilizedddddd.

Euro bike touring is not without it’s challenges, especially for cyclists traveling to a very expensive continent. On a trip (2011) to the Valais region of Switzerland, a hotel lunch stop of two small salads and two soft drinks resulted in $60 USD tab and barely enough calories to get me over the next hill after lunch. Staying in European hotels is currently not an option for budget-minded Americans. On top of the high costs, the poor Euro exchange rate and international credit[…]”