Day 1 Istanbul to Kumbag

Yes, there is a place called Kumbag!

I thought I should visit… More seriously, it was the only place with a hotel that I wanted to stay at on the peninsula that was a reasonable distance from Istanbul.

Day of roads

And main roads at that.

I left at about 9am. Cycling out of Istanbul was pretty hectic. These capital cities usually are.

I covered a total of 92 miles, during which my chain snapped. I suspected from the sounds it had been making on cycling excursions around Oxfordshire, it was going to happen. For this reason a packed my chain link breaker. A simple tool which will allow you to take links out of your chain, which is what I had to do in the end.

Again, luckily, I had bought WD40 from the bazaar. It is the greatest stuff for cleaning chain oil off your hands!

In total, from the chain falling off to sorting it out completely knocked possibly an hour of what would have been cycling time. I made this up.

Travelling light

The bike is very light. I packed:

• 1 pair of jeans,
• 2 pairs of shorts.
• Some socks
• Some underwear.
• My tablet.
• A waterproof jacket.
• A warm top.
• 3 t-shirts.
• Some tools, and a puncture repair kit.
• Some trainers (not boots).

Oh yes, and my wash bag! Forgetting your toothbrush would not be a good thing!

This time, I don’t have my cycle bag along with me, it’s at luggage storage at the hotel.

I don’t have a backpack either.

The weight deficit combined with the more streamlined and aerodynamic profile of the bike has made cycling easy.

Today I covered 92 miles and it felt like nothing.

Long may this continue.

Tomorrow

I have a much shorter journey, and it’s all down back roads.

I will be staying at a boutique hotel. It was the best option! (all things considered).

No doubt I’ll have more pictures of this hotel and what I encounter on the way.

Until then.

Adiós