Although in my life I met few, compared to men, traveling solo women on a bike, with many I am in touch with and I know, even thanks to WOW – Women on wheels, That in Poland and in the world we are plentiful.
Update 2020
Cycling alone is not and hasn't been for me, The act of desperation and the extraordinary courage – simply, I like being the helm and the ship, I have been managing life by myslef and so do on the go. I am aware, however, that for many, beginnings may be difficult – and – although I have been traveling by bike since 12 age – for me they were in many ways.
Because many women, she asks me what it's like to travel alone, albo pyta innych i ma wątpliwości, nie wie jak się do tego zabrać, I thought, with write about their experiences and share proven “patentami” – na temat mężczyzn, noclegów, napraw roweru.
1. Are not you afraid of obnoxious men? Do not get proposals “not from rejection”?
Well, Of course, I fear that. I have no miracle prescription for eliminating such situations, but there are ways, to largely avoid them.
– do not provoke with clothes, appearance and behavior. Adapt your clothes to generally accepted rules in the country you visit (which, of course, does not mean putting on local costumes). It really helps and inspires respect. In Europe it may be less visible, but in many countries tight-fitting cycling clothing or bare shoulders and shorts can be perceived wrongly – as an encouragement, and the woman as “no impressions”. In Southeast Asia, I would feel extremely bad with bare shoulders – women cover the body fairly well – a tanned body is unpopular there. In Muslim countries, the rules are obviously more restrictive (even if the country is considered to be open to newcomers and their customs) arms, legs must be covered at least to the knee, preferably whole. And I don't know if it's a coincidence, but only once, when I put the shirt “on straps”, and it was as if there was no country, where tourists are in bunches, i.e.. Thailand rode up to me on the eye barely a teenager youngster and proposed obściskiwanie in the bushes. Posłałam mu wiązankę a bluzki już więcej nie założyłam.
– nie przyjmować zaproszeń do wspólnego picia alkoholu (gdzieś po drodze, tylko mężczyźni), zdecydowanie odradzam. Podczas ponad 3,5 miesięcznego pobytu na Kaukazie ani razu nie piłam tamtejszego bimberku, that in Polish means: “traps in”, który mi oferowano. Ale wino czasem sobie kupowałam i owszem 🙂
– no i choć to zabrzmi dziwnie, but … keep your distance and even dose smiles sometimes. I have talked to fellow solo travelers about it many times – yes, it is also read as an encouragement. What to do, after all, a smile is necessary everywhere, but here you have to rely on your own sense.
What, however, if such a proposal is received?
To imply strongly, that one is not interested. Scare the police. In addition, there is a fairly common belief in other parts of the world / outside Europe, that a woman is a woman from Europe “liberated”, who want sex any time of day or night, and no matter who does it. In Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan on horseback rode up to me and asked “how is my sex life going”. In the second sentence. In Armenia took advantage of a ride and a pleasant sort of driver, half the way he bragged about his family and grandchildren and then offered a hug “because nobody will see”.
Was there something wrong to me, despite the precaution? Yep, I was twice attacked in Iran sexual. I ended up in Iranian court. Unfortunately, Iran is considered extremely friendly to foreigners, to nie jest kraj dla solo rowerowych podróżniczek. Kobieta na rowerze to tam inna kategoria. My friend also had trouble there. Smaller, typu obłapywanie, cmokanie jak też bardzo poważne.
2. How to organize your accommodation, mainly “sleeping in the wild”? Czyli NOCLEGI w trasie
W kwestii noclegu mamy dostępnych wiele opcji.
1. standardowy czyli kemping, hostel, hotel lub agroturystyka (zależy w jakiej części świata jesteśmy).
Tu rzecz jasna korzystam z powszechnych stron rezerwacyjnych jak booking.com, często szukam na mapach google w okolicy, where I am (w ostatniej chwili), czasem na oficjalnych stronach informacji turystycznej.
2. U kogoś – for example,. “on gospodarza” lub poprzez portale np. Warmshowers / Coachsurfing etc.
You can even try to sleep “on gospodarza”, or ask for the opportunity to spread a tent on someone's yard / field / meadow. If this is someone you should ask area! In Europe, it is unlikely to be a problem, but in Asia. Tam często nie ma po prostu miejsca “under the tent”. I rarely do that. I do not like too much to ask, This first, besides, it is also not a guarantee of peace – sometime in Poland (Formula) I slept in the agritourism area and at night my host and friends came to my tent, after the party, they had fun walking around my tent and shining flashlights and I was thinking, I would die of fear. No, thank you, I'd rather hide somewhere, where no one will know about me.
3. In the wild
This is my favorite way, but for many years it frightened me and it was an insurmountable obstacle for me. Yes, I slept in this way more than once, but always in the company of. Kilak years ago when going solo I spread a tent somewhere on the Bug, even though it was close to a farm, half the night I was shaking with fear and listening to the approaching dangers. Teraz wkładam zatyczki do uszu 🙂
Przed wyruszeniem w podróż do Azji przeszłam “course sleeping in the wild” z nowo poznanym w trasie znajomym – po prostu poprosiłam nie znanego mi rowerzystę, którego spotkałam przed zmrokiem gdzieś w trasie, by pozwolił mi rozbić się z nim na dziko i sprzedał patenty. Wcale nie był zadowolony :), ale jechaliśmy potem razem przez ponad tydzień i dużo się nauczyłam. Wybierałam się w daleką i długą podróż na inny kontynent/kontynenty, ale nie czułam się siłach spać na dziko. Teraz patrzę na to jak na bajkę, ale tak było.
In sum – zgadajcie się z kimś doświadczonym w temacie i wybierzcie gdzieś razem na małe szkolenie live :).
The main rule is – albo się pokazuj (śpisz gdzieś, bo kogoś pytasz o pozwolenie i jesteś tam oficjalnie) albo się ukryj. W praktyce najlepiej:
– find yourself a seat yourself, for example,. entering the side road, not question him about it people
– not to be seen (which is not always possible, of course,). Place you can select a previously, but putting up a tent as late in the day, ie how is the so-called. “dusk”. Wyłączyć lampki (yes, wzrok się przyzwyczaja i się widzi). Select a place like the least visible – choć wielokrotnie rozstawiałam się na środku pola jak nie było gdzie – wtedy rano Cię widać i trzeba się szybciej zebrać. After spreading the tent sort out a ew. necessary things in specific places and do not use a flashlight. Czytanie odkładamy do rana 🙂
– and yet: be somewhere in sight, say 1 some holding that in miles. greater way – if you can go there (but can not be too close, dogs because they smell and they will bark…)
It happened to me several times, that someone already came close to a chosen spots, and he saw me – w takim przypadku najczęściej w 95% zwijałam się i szukałam (unfortunately, because usually I'm tired and it's late) next. You never know what good will come to mind and whether or not he wants us to visit alone or with colleagues in the night.
It all sounds like a survival school, but it really is not so bad. Można się przyzwyczaić 🙂
I would add, that the issue of sleeping in the wild and safety varies by region. While traveling in Asia, I felt much safer than in Europe and also take it easy as never – at times, że sypiałam na widoku, na placach zabaw etc. w Japonii czy Korei Południowej to już w ogóle luz. More liked to hide, to me one “not crawl in the tent”. I have a theory, że azjatyckie (Daleki Wschód) poczucie bezpieczeństwa ma związek z religią (buddyzm) i tego, that there do not drink either so do not drink alcohol. Alkohol zmienia ludzi bardzo i to już jest potencjalnie niebezpieczne.
3. Logistyka w podróży – jak sobie radzić w pojedynkę?
If you do not give yourself, prosić o pomoc, choć… u mnie z tym ciężko, bo nie lubię prosić 🙂 Wiadomo, Coming from someone's safer and easier, However, because the person may be at the luggage while the other goes to the store, etc..
Bike – w większych miejscowościach zawsze zapinam przed wejściem do sklepu, w miastach zamykam tez blokadę tylnego koła. Na wsiach raczej nic z powyższych, tam wszyscy się znają. Gdy chcę coś zwiedzić to już rozglądam się za miejscem, gdzie ktoś jest i może rzucić okiem na (przypięty) - my bike. In other cases, related to such. z przenoszeniem bagaży na stacji kolejowej czy z/ do pociągu, najczęściej też chowam honor do kieszeni i proszę kogoś o pomoc o ile sam się ktoś wcześniej nie zaoferuje. Tylko raz mi odmówiono.
4. How do you cope with bicycle repairs?
Caution, note! NIE RADZĘ SOBIE. Wstyd przyznać, I know. I know how to patch and replace the inner tube, coś podregulować.. I guess all. However, this is not the reason, da which would cancel the trip, ja przejechałam sporą część świata. You can always grab the opportunity and come to some bicycle magician (I mean I hope, that always ..).
PODSUMOWUJĄC
A woman traveling alone arouses most often concern in others, not a desire to hurt. However, use common sense and don't underestimate the fact, that you are a woman. It really makes a difference, the further away from Europe, the more.
If you feel, that a bicycle trip is something for you, it is worth trying. Go somewhere for the day, two and if you like it more. The most important thing is to take the first step.