Cycle Touring Through Autumn Storms in Western Poland | Solo Cycling to Częstochowa

Solo cycle touring from Northern Norway to Azerbaijan – Arctic to Asia 7 (Day 104-117):

I’d been cycle touring solo for a month, and was finally getting to grips with being alone on the road. As I was cycling across Poland, Autumn was catching up with me – and the stormier, more challenging conditions that came with it – but my spirits were climbing higher thanks to the kindness I received from the locals I crossed paths with along the way.

This leg of the cycle journey took me from Lubin to Częstochowa, with a stop in Wrocław en route and a two-day trip home to surprise my grandad for his 83rd birthday!

I travelled by bike through the most remote part of Poland, from Upper Silesia to Lower Silesia. Cycling against the wind and rain wasn’t pleasant, and I’ll never forget the pain in my hands and feet on that stormy October day as I made my East to Częstochowa. But Poland by bike is beautiful, even when the weather has a vendetta against you. As I cycled through the Polish countryside, I felt I was seeing a side of Poland not many tourists get to experience.

A big thank you to everyone who appears in this video!
——————
BACKGROUND:
For the last 1.5 years, I’ve been on a cycle tour from Tromsø in Northern Norway to Baku, Azerbaijan, while interviewing locals along the way for my blog. Cycle touring for beginners like me can be intimidating; I’d ridden a bike 4 times in the previous 10 years before this journey, but I decided to jump in at the deep end and learn about bikepacking and touring while I was on the road. After watching a few videos on “how to cycle tour”, I set off, and covered 11 countries by bike (and took detours to another 2).

Long distance cycle touring alone was always a challenge, but one that I got used to after about a month, and eventually started to truly appreciate. I didn’t have much cycling gear or expertise, and I resorted to using an old Trek mountain bike that I got for free, which was frustrating at times, but I found motivation in the locals I met along the way, and the far-flung places I reached off the beaten track.

The adventure by bike introduced me to a new side of travel. Never before had I interacted so much with local people and my surroundings, when I’d been abroad or been so exposed to the kindness of strangers. Travelling so slowly as I pedalled made me feel immersed in the countries and cultures I cycled through, and it forced me to stop in some of the more obscure places the world has to offer. All in all, cycling the world shows you a side of some countries that most travellers never get to appreciate.
Find more from the adventure (cycling across Eurasia, interviewing locals along the way) below:
——————————————-
Website: https://www.placepersonplate.com

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/tieranfreedman.co.uk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tieranfreedman/