Let’s start with some facts and numbers (including this stage).

1850 km ridden
15 riding days (two past half time)
~123 km/day average
13500 height meters

~1400 km to go
=> 12 days to go
=> ETA: 2015-08-30 (probably plus some days for unforeseen stuff, and extra km for using bike-friendly routes)

Material:
– 0 flat tires
– 1 chain replaced
– 1 vent cap lost
– end cap of stand lost
– 1 bungee cord ruined
– chainglider slightly damaged
– Alfine gear hub’s chain guard destroyed
– 1 screw lost and found
– and again: 0 flat tires

So far so good. Today was a deliberately short stage. I had to do major bike maintenance and my legs could use some recovery time.

After packing up the camp, I prepared replacing the chain. Before anyone starts complaining about tensioning the chain by moving back the rear wheel: Nope, that’s just wrong. This only makes sense with back-pedalling breaks. I don’t understand why anyone would construct a bike with this kind of chain-tensioning system and rim brakes. Because the latter must be readjusted after shifting the wheel back. Compared to the price of a new chain, that’s way too much effort, especially in the middle of a trip with reduced tools. Surprisingly, there are a lot of bikes out there, including mine, that have this design flaw.

That’s the old chain, a Shimano CN-HG53, which I put on before starting this trip.

Not very tense any more.

Here’s the new Shimano CN-HG93, with the portable chain tool I use.

New chain: same number of segments, but tense again.

Chainglider back on.

I also re-tightened most screws on the bike, especially those of the front and back carriers.

While working on the bike, I met a nice family from Dresden, who just bought a house in Northern Sweden and was on its way there. They invited me to camp in their garden if my route should passes by, which it does with some kilometres distance.
The father of the family is a singer and songwriter, originally from Sweden. Check out this surprisingly apt song.

The high visibility vest from yesterday has found its permanent place too. Catches too much wind when worn.

Lunch at the Baltic Sea, that means I’ve just crossed Sweden from the west to the east coast.

I also entered bear territory today.

At the camp site.

Every night is laundry night.

Finished the day with a two-person travellunch, that’s 1090 kcal in only 250 g of packing weight.

That should be a good foundation for a long stage tomorrow.