Flat tyre on the motorway – cycling in Turkey.

Flat tires, dirty hands and a lot of food.

Which is the perfect time for a flat tire? In the middle of a highway, late at night or under the rain?

How come those things always happen in the worst moments?

Flat-tyre-energy.

Meanwhile it is very exciting to explore every country eastward by bike, the infrastructure for cyclists get worst with every mile. Cycling lanes get less and eventually cease completely. What choices does one have?

Dusty tracks or highways.

While the tracks leave you an all your gear covered in dust, the highway makes you fear for your life with every car passing. It is on you to choose the bad or the worst.

Mostly we choose tracks on our way through Turkey towards Istanbul. But sometimes we do not have the choice.

If you would have told me I would be cycling on a rescue line a few months ago, I would have never believed you! But here, now it starts to feel normal, almost safe.
Cyclist great us, from the opposite rescue line, we aren’t even the only ones. At some stage a guy is jogging against the traffic flow, waving at us, normal.

Nevertheless, we prefer to take those routes as early as possible in the morning, to get a traffic flow, that is somewhat a bit calmer.

As the wind picks up, I am wondering why I am suddenly that slow. In the middle of a big intersection, we must pass. Very uncomfortable. Traffic left and right, cars parked on our rescue line. Not many gaps and breaks in the constant flow of vehicles. A lot of black smoke coming out of rusty exhausts.

I am having a flat tire.

It is like meditation for your brain. Don’t give in. Anger is not going to change anything. And if, it would only destroy your second tyre as well.
I am not sure how that works. But it does, ever time.

At least I had a great view, while pulling the thorn out.

At this stage we almost made it to the nearest town. Each passage on those busy roads feels like a victory once we overcame it.

A victory asks for some celebration, and what better way to do so, than with some food and coffee.

Turkish bakeries are a delight.

While my dirty hands remind me of all the kilometres we cycled before breakfast. But my goldfish brain already forgot about all the struggles, while I am eating another chocolaty bakery thing...

...the view helps...

...and Istanbul seems to be just around the corner.

Thank you for all your support, have a lovely day!

All photos and words are my own.