Numbers Africa

Belgium

Date: 20th of May – 28th of May 2012
Kilometers: 398.17
Days of cycling: 9
Days of rest: 3
Problems: swollen elbows, stressed muscle in upperleg, arms heavily sunburned
Longest cycle day: first day, 90 km
Nights in tent: 5

French

Date: 29th of May – 2nd July 2012
Kilometers: 1389.83 km
Days of cycling: 35
Days of rest: 11
Problems: shoulders heavily sunburned, puncture in back tire (Paris), rash/irritation between legs
Maintenance: cleaned/oiled chain 4 times
Longest cycle day: 88.98 in 6.3 hours (Rully to Paris)
Nights in tent: 30

Spain

Date: 3th of July – 12th of August 2012
Kilometers: 1556.44
Days of cycling: 41
Days of rest: 13
Problems: puncture in back tire on the way to Conquista Del Guadiana, rash has become little inflammation, bruised left hand
Maintenance: turned the chain, cleaned/oiled chain 3 times
Longest cycle day: 107.4 KM in 6.44 hours (Dos Hermanas to Chipiona)
Highest altitude: around 1200 meters to Plasencia
Nights in tent: 33
Cost of ferry to Ceuta from Tarifa: € 31

Morocco

Visa Mauretania obtained in Rabat: € 61 (multiple entree, 3 months valid)
Date: 13 august 2012 – 1 October 2012
Kilometers: 2634.95 total (1276.71 Morocco, 1358.24 Sahara)
Days of cycling: 27
Days of rest: 23
Problems: little saddle irritation
Maintenance: cleaned/oiled chain three times, tightened it once
Longest cycle day: 10 hours en 7 minutes in Western Sahara (193. 6 kilometer)
Most kilometers in one day: 203.05 kilometer in 9 hours and 20 minutes in Western Sahara
Highest altitude: 640 meter in the Rif
Nights in tent: 1 at a camping
Highest speed: 66.5 kilometer (but without the 10 kilo dry-bag)
Best coverage in one day: 203.05 kilometer in Western Sahara
Remarkable: hopefully saved a baby chicken from death being fallen of a chicken transport truck

Mauritania

Visa: € 61 (multiple entree, 3 months valid) obtained in Rabat, Morocco
Date: 1^st of October to 19^th of October 2012
Kilometers: 769.28 kilometer
Days of cycling: 6
Days of rest: 11
Problems: puncture back tire, changed back tire and inner tube, little saddle irritations, blue calf
Maintenance: turned the chain, new back tire Marathon Mondial and inner tube
Longest cycle day: 9 hours and 40 minutes (see below)
Best coverage in one day: 164.32 kilometer Terjît – Akjoujt
Highest altitude: about 300 meter in Atâr
Highest temperature while cycling: 48 degrees
Nights in tent: 1 in the Sahara (finally!) at police checkpoint
Highest speed: 47 kilometer

Senegal I

Visa at Rosso border for free
Date: 19th of October to 9th of November 2012
Kilometers: 513.89
Days of cycling: 6
Days of rest: 15
Problems: none
Maintenance: turned the chain and cleaned/oiled the chain twice
Longest cycle day:
Best coverage in one day: 131.28 km. Louga to Thiès
Highest altitude: around 100 meters, near Toubab Dialao
Highest temperature while cycling: 37 to 40 degrees
Nights in tent: 2 (free at hotel ground and free at psychiatric clinic)

Gambia

Visa at Karang border for (hassle) free. One month extension 500 dalasi (€12.50)
Date: 9th of November to 21st of December 2012
Kilometers: almost 600
Best coverage in one day: 90 km for visa hunt
Problems: little itching developed into serious infection
Maintenance: cleaned/oiled chain once. Tightened it once. Renewed oil in Rohloff hub, after a total of 8800 km. Renewed the chain after a total of 9250 km. Thorn in front tire removed and inner tube repaired. Back tire kept loosing air, no puncture found, placed new inner tube. Repaired little hole in Ortlieb bag. Tightened the headset well (completely loose).

Senegal II

Visa at Seleti border, totally hassle free
Date: 21th of December to 28th December 2012
Kilometers: 131.26 kilometer
Days of cycling: 2
Days of rest: 5
Problems: infection ankle
Maintenance: none
Longest cycle day: not noticeable
Highest temperature while cycling: around 31 degrees
Nights in tent: none

Guinee Bissau

Visa obtained in Ziguinchor, Senegal CFA 15.000, €24
Date: 28^th of December to 2^nd of January 2013
Kilometers: 378.38
Days of cycling: 6
Days of rest: none
Problems: none
Maintenance: cleaned/oiled chain once
Longest cycle day: 76 kilometer
Highest speed: 44
Highest altitude: 100 meter
Highest temperature while cycling: around 30 degrees
Nights in tent: 1
Remarkable: stayed at a Catholic Mission and Evangelic mission house

Guinnee Conakry

Visa obtained in Serekunda, Gambia for 2100 dalasi (€53)
Date: 2nd of January to 2nd of February 2013
Kilometers: 879 km
Days of cycling: 16
Days of rest: 15
Problems: fixed slow deflating puncture front tire
Maintenance: cleaned/oiled the chain twice
Longest cycle day: 76 km from Gabú into Guinea Conakry (piste)
Highest speed: 54 km on tarmac
Highest altitude: 1120 meter on the track from Labé to Donghol Touma
Highest temperature while cycling: above 40 degrees
Nights in tent: 12
Cycled on tracks: 459 kilometers

Sierra Leone

Visa obtained in Conakry, Guinee $100 (€80)
Date: 3th of February to 14th of February 2013
Kilometers: 724.84 km
Days of cycling: 11
Days of rest: 1
Problems: crashed with bicycle, bloody mess.
Maintenance: tightened chain
Longest cycle day: 108 km from Waterloo to Mile 91
Highest speed: 52 km
Highest altitude: 198 meter
Highest temperature while cycling: always around 35 degrees
Nights in tent: 8
Cycled on tracks: 70 kilometers

Liberia

Visa obtained in Conakry, Guinee GF 720.000 (€80)
Date: 15th of February to 28th of February 2013
Kilometers: 479.69 km
Days of cycling: 6
Days of rest: 8
Problems: Ortlieb bag repaired, chain fell off once
Maintenance: cleaned/oiled the chain twice
Longest cycle day: 119.48 km from Robertsport to Monrovia
Highest speed: 47.5 km
Highest altitude: 342 meter around Kpatewe Waterfall
Highest temperature while cycling: around 38 degrees
Nights in tent: 5
Cycled on tracks: 171 kilometer

Guinee Conakry II

Visa obtained in Monrovia, Liberia $125 (€93)
Date: 28th of February to 4th of March 2013
Kilometers: 167.89 km
Days of cycling: 3
Days of rest: 1
Problems: ear pain problems
Maintenance:
Longest cycle day: 76 km
Highest speed: 60 km
Highest altitude: 575 meter around Mount Nimba
Highest temperature while cycling: around 38 degrees
Nights in tent: 3
Cycled on tracks: 130 kilometers

Thanks to Derek, the brother of Oliver and Brendan, who send stuff to Abidjan, Ivory Coast

Togo

Visa obtained at the border for CFA 10.000/€16
Date: 10th of April to 13th of April 2013
Kilometers: 53.7 km
Days of cycling: 1.5 (2 very short rides)
Days of rest: 1.5
Problems: none
Maintenance: two spokes back snapped at once, changed them for new spokes
Longest cycle day: not noticeable
Highest speed: 36
Highest altitude: pleasantly flat
Highest temperature while cycling: always around 40 degrees
Nights in tent: 3

Benin

Visa obtained in Lomé, Togo for CFA 15.000/€24 (one month)
Date: 13th of April to 5^th of May 2013
Kilometers: 467.43 km
Days of cycling: 6
Days of rest: 16 (obtaining visa for Nigeria took a long time)
Problems: huge sand fly infection above knee (had to visit a clinic)
Maintenance: cleaned/oiled chain once, repaired another hole in Ortlieb bag front
Longest cycle day: 140.88 kilometer in 8 hours and 10 minutes, Cotonou to Abomey
Highest speed: 53.3
Highest altitude: 268 meter
Highest temperature while cycling: always around 40 degrees
Nights in tent: 4

Nigeria

Visa obtained in Cotonou, Benin for CFA 30.000/€48 (one month from date of issue)
Date: 5^th of May to 24^th of May 2013
Kilometers: 1074.74 km
Days of cycling: 12
Days of rest: 7
Problems: two spokes back tire snapped, replaced them for Chinese spokes
Maintenance: cleaned/oiled and tightened chain once good, once quick
Longest cycle day: 109.5 kilometer in 6.5 hour
Highest speed: 58.5
Highest altitude: 412 around Enugu
Highest temperature while cycling: around 32 degrees on cloudy days/40 degrees
Nights in tent: none, unfortunately
Border crossing: by ferry from Calabar (€55)

Cameroon

Visa obtained Calabar for CFA 18.000/€90 (two months)
Date: 24^th of May to 17^th of May 2013
Kilometers: 209.13 km
Days of cycling: 2.5
Days of rest: too many
Problems: mechanic had a try to fix bracket/bearing but did not succeed. Due to his not so careful banging, my back tire showed a huge wobble. I trued the wheel but had to loosen the back brake completely. Eventually bearing broke down, could not cycle anymore!
Maintenance: cleaned/oiled and tightened chain once, replaced brake pads in front
Longest cycle day: 87.30 in 5 hours and 20 minutes, all day rain.
Highest speed: 50
Highest altitude: 300 meter until I reached Yaoundé by minibus at about 700 meter.
Highest temperature while cycling: around 35 degrees, cloudy
Nights in tent: 5 on a field of a ‘resort’