For what it's worth here it is.
WRAP-UP & LESSONS LEARNT.
One great thing about cycle touring, you can always improve on the way you do the next one.
GPS/IPHONE.
This is the first tour Greg has used the iPhone to navigate apart from checking his current location occasionally. It was Wendy's
idea and an enormous success. She purchased a local sim with data for her iPhone 5 and used Google Maps. It got us out of many an awkward spot especially when the bike paths just dried up in NE France. It was also
invaluable to find our way in and out of cities and to our hotel each day. It took the stress out of navigation. However, we did find that Google Maps does not differentiate between a good cycle path and a dirt goat-track not fit for cycling and occasionally service is not available on the phone. So in future we will ensure that we have good paper maps of the places we're going as a back-up.
We took a LeFrench Mobile sim card that purported to work all over Europe. It didn't work in Switzerland as it is not part of the EU. A Swiss sim card had to be purchased and worked out to be cheaper than the LeFrench one. Wendy therefore suggests that a sim card relevant to the country you're in be
purchased, even if visiting more than one country.
CYCLE ROUTES
In future we will avoid areas that don't have well defined cycle routes or quiet back roads. More research before each trip will be required. It is
not fun mixing it with trucks and buses with not even a shoulder/verge on the road to ride on. When there's no cycle option we'll catch the train, they are cheap, comfy, safe, fast, efficient and accommodate bicycles easily.
KIT
There's not much we'd change here. Maybe a small, light camping stove with coffee gear to have a brew during the day as decent coffee is often not available. Wendy suggested taking the water heating element stick she bought on her trip to Brazil - stick it in a mug of water and not long after the water is boiling. It means carrying a coffee cup, preferable a plastic/thermal type. They don't weigh much and won't shatter if dropped.
Greg is going to get a pair of SPD sandals like Wendy's as he missed the ability to clip into the pedals this time. We will both ditch our waterproof pants and shoe covers, didn't use them enough to justify the weight and space.
Greg needs to buy a lighter fleece than his current one as it is too bulky for the European summers.
Wendy will buy quick-dry long and short-sleeved shirts. Some evenings can be quite cool and a long-sleeved shirt is preferable than short-sleeves.
Wendy will also ditch the 3/4 pants she took for wearing when off the bike and replace them with the convertible shorts/trousers option. They will
also be quick dry. She found that you need pockets when travelling and the 3/4 pants were not quite suitable.
Wendy took a pair of clip-in cycling sandals and a pair of light walking shoes. She will replace the walking shoes with her other sandals. If it is
cold, a pair of socks works well.
BIKE
Both the Trek 7.4 and Merida T3 were perfect for this tour and took everything the terrain threw at them, including cobbles and rough tracks.
At the same time they were light and fast on the good roads and paths when we were able to push them along. The Schwalbe Marathon 35c puncture protection tyres were great; tough and true to their name not one puncture; can't ask for more than that.
FLYING IN ONE CITY & OUT ANOTHER.
While this gives variety and you can cover greater distances, it is awkward as far as boxing up the bikes go. By flying in and out if the same city you can use sturdy boxes, leave them at the motel and use them and the packing material again to fly home. This is especially important given our recent experience with the Emirates baggage handlers trying to convert Greg's Trek
into a folding bike!
ONE TOUR ONE COUNTRY.
While we rode through many countries on this tour, which added a lot of variety, both of us would prefer to do just one country at a time in future. You can learn a few phases in the language and be more accepted by the locals.
Wendy suggests that 7 weeks is too long and 5 weeks is probably better. She further suggested that the daily length be kept to 60km wherever possible and that at least 2 nights be spent at each stop, except where there is really nothing of interest to see in that town or near it.