What is this biketour?
When is this biketour?
What is it’s purpose?
How will we do all these things/methodology?
What does it cost to participate?
Who can come?
What about food?
Where do we sleep?
Do I have to do the whole route?
Visas?......
What if I need a visa for the UK and/or Ireland?
Do I have to carry all my things?
What should I bring?
I haven’t cycled before, can I come?
How far do you cycle each day?
What is Ecotopia?
Where’s Lezsek?

 

What is this biketour?
It is a non-competitive bicycle tour through England, Wales, and Ireland. Participants will be, mostly, young people from all over Europe.

When is this biketour?
Starts July 10th, 2002 in Dover, England. Ends August 13th, 2002 or so at Ecotopia in Kerry, Ireland.

What is its purpose?
1.  To promote grassroots solutions to climate change and sustainable transport.
2.  To bring together young people from all over Europe. Allowing them to: learn from each others campaigns and projects, to appreciate and respect other cultures, to become good friends, to fall in love...(REAL unity, if you know what I’m sayin.)
3.  To provide and ecologically-friendly way to get to Ecotopia 2002.

How will we do all these things/methodology:
1.  By doing actions and event s along the route to educate the public, as well as tour participants. And by hosting workshops on related issues that are open to the public as well as tour participants.
2.  By living together, as a community. Workshops will also be given by participants on the groups/projects in their home country. And by encouraging people to create partnerships between the different groups/projects represented.
3.  By cycling, without using support vehicles, from Dover, England to Ecotopia in Dingle, Ireland.

What does it cost to participate?
There is a 8 "eco" per day per person fee for participants. That's roughly 8 Euros a day for westerners, and 4 Euro a day for participants from EE or CE countries." See what are eco-rates?  http://www.eyfa.org/ecorates.htm

The participation fee pays for 2-3 meals a day, accommodation, events along the route, and possibly some visa/travel reimbursement. Unfortunately, it does not cover alcohol, tobacco, or any other inebriating substances. If anyone knows of anyone who will give funding for such things please contact us.

Who can come?
Anyone motivated who will contribute to the tour is welcome. If you are just coming for a cheap holiday and/or are not really interested in the tour or what we will promote-please don’t come.

What about food?
All food is vegetarian. Food will be bought, and meals cooked by the participants that volunteered for the task that day. Whenever possible, food bought will be locally-grown and organic.

Where do we sleep?
Accommodation is primarily camping-so bring whatever you need to camp. You can expect a shower about once a week. And be sure to bring a tent or something waterproof for your sleeping bag.

Do I have to do the whole route?
No. You can do just parts if you like. Brighton to Oxford, London to Dublin, etc. However, we ask that people who do this SHOW UP WHEN AND WHERE THEY SAY THEY WILL. If people don’t show up when they say they will it’s a pain in the ass for the organisers-and we will track offenders down with our hounds and horses.

Visas?......
No Borders! Now that that’s established, visas are required for the following:
United Kingdom (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland): Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Georgia, Macedonia, Moldova, Morocco, Russia, Romania, Slovakia, Turkey, Ukraine, and Yugoslavia.
Ireland: Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Georgia, Macedonia, Moldova, Morocco, Russia, Romania, Slovakia, Turkey, Ukraine, and Yugoslavia.

What if I need a visa for the UK and/or Ireland?
We will provide you with an invitation for a visa. We are also working hard to try and get funding for visas, and will give you as much reimbursement as we can. Once you fill out an application we will email you once we know how much reimbursement we can give.

Do I have to carry all my things?
Yes. Seeing as biketour is promoting sustainable transport we do not use support vehicles. Just bikes and a few trailers for cooking materials, first-aid kit, etc. So, you carry all your things on your bike.

What should I bring?
We are encouraging all who can to PLEASE BRING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. Essentials that people often forget are: bike lights, a tire pump, waterproof clothes, and this year: a tent or bivy bag! Other wise, if you have no idea what to bring or how to pack visit:
http://tpn.dreamhost.com/biketour/docs/mikesbike.html

I haven’t cycled before, can I come?
You should cycle a bit before hand, as well as come on a bike that you know and are used to. Most people who come aren’t big cyclists and do just fine. However, coming having never ridden for more than an hour or two isn’t a good idea-for you or the rest of the people on the tour.

How far do you cycle each day?
Biketour will cycle an average of 50Km (30 miles) a day. A nice distance. Just long enough to get some cycling in. Just short enough to allow time for actions and/or the occasional hangover.

What is Ecotopia?
Ecotopia is an annual gathering in Europe. Happening in a different country each year, people come for two weeks to learn how to live in an ecologically sustainable manner, through workshops and practical experience. There is also some great fun.

Where’s Lezsek?
Oh, shut up.