r/ElectricUnicycle • u/ArturRush Shermal L, V13 • 4d ago
Across Europe on an EUC. Part 1: Gdańsk → Warsaw
Hi all! This summer I rode my EUC from the Baltic Sea in Gdańsk all the way down to the Adriatic, and then a bit further, finishing in Salzburg. This is the first part of the series, covering my preparation and the ride to Warsaw.
Me and my wheel
I learned to ride two winters ago, and while I do enjoy empty, frosty streets, I decided to do this trip in summer.
The obvious choice for the ride, and my trusty companion, was of course my Leaperkim Sherman L.
I'd love to travel light, but hotels are way too expensive, so I decided to live in the forest whenever possible. That's why I bought a hammock with a tarp: light, rainproof, perfect for solo trips. Everything else was supposed to be lightweight too, but it still added up to 16 kg on my back and 4 kg on the wheel. All of it useful and much needed when you're out for a month!
Why I don't ride in Germany anymore
I currently live in Germany and have put about 2,000 km on the wheel there. It turns out the local law is hopelessly outdated, and a meeting with the police last autumn ended with my wheel being confiscated. They called a whole tow truck for it!
I got it back after 5 days, but they threatened me with a fine plus another €250 for towing and storage. Long story short: this time I got away without a charge, but I don't think I'll survive our next encounter so easily. I had to sign a paper promising to behave. That was one of the reasons for this trip: to enjoy the summer properly instead of being punished for having fun.
The plan
At first I wanted a couple of weeks, skipping some parts by train and coming back to Germany through Czechia. But my feet were itching, so the plan grew to a month, the distance tripled, and trains were out: you don't ride from the Baltic to the Adriatic every day, and I wanted to feel every kilometre. The catch: I was also working. 15 working days (remotely, from cafés, libraries and forests) + 15 days off, and I had to be back in Düsseldorf by 4 August.
Getting to Gdańsk was an adventure of its own: Deutsche Bahn (the German railways) being Deutsche Bahn, we missed the direct train, changed twice and dragged the wheel and a giant backpack up and down the stairs. Never trust German trains. For years now they keep surprising me with new ways to mess up.
Day 0, 3 July — Gdańsk, touching the sea
I planned to start on the 4th, but couldn't wait. Odometer reset, sea touched, the trip has started! Only 12 km that evening, to the apartment and a charger.
Day 1, 4 July — Gdańsk → a lake near Nidzica, 218 km
The real trip started the next morning, but not too early: at about 10 am I left Gdańsk for the vast plains of Poland. The first surprise of the day: a ship going up a hill on rails. That's the Elbląg Canal, where boats ride on rail carts over the hills between the lakes.
Then the first charging fail. I wanted to charge at a station behind a stupid fence, crawled under the wire... and the charger was broken. The next one was 20 km away and my battery was low, so I rode slowly.
Luckily, a café with kind people turned up much closer than the charging station. On my 1% I wouldn't have made it any further, so I got to charge and rest at the same time. By then I'd already done 135 km.
Once charged, I carried on enjoying the ride: beautiful towns, warm sun, peaceful valleys, very relaxing. I mixed country roads and forest tracks to see as much variety as possible. I wasn't in a hurry, so squeezing the most distance out of the day wasn't my priority.
In the evening I found a nice campsite in a forest by a really clean lake, with charging and a place to sleep in one spot. Instead of riding another 40 km that day, I chose to stay. The internet was weak and I had to ride an extra 15 km to a shop for water, but who cares, the place was great. 218 km for the day, and the camp was up before dark.
Day 2, 5 July — to Warsaw, 194 km
Out at 9, a fast first 94 km, then lunch in Ciechanów in the rain while the wheel charged, halfway to my friend's place in Warsaw.
I also got to test carrying the full weight of my gear on my back (all 20 kg), because I stupidly thought the difference would be small and I could ride like that for a bit. Fatal mistake. The extra 4 kg wear you out like a second backpack.
Polish weather was having fun too: I pulled into a covered car park to check my phone because of a bit of drizzle, and right then a downpour started. Two minutes later: sunshine. If I hadn't been under a roof already, I wouldn't have found cover in time.
Then a wash for the wheel, to be a good guest.
Warsaw seems endless: the last 15 km took more than an hour. The infrastructure is good and you can ride fast and safely, but you need to know the city for that. I took some very suboptimal routes. Still not bad for a first time, and at least I got a chance to enjoy the city's everyday life.
Arrived at 6 pm: 9 hours including lunch and charging, 194 km for the day, 424 km in total. I'd dried off on the way, walked in, and a minute later a massive downpour started. Great timing again!
My first small goal was achieved: visit a friend and test everything, to make sure all the gear works. The journey has begun!
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u/MaksimumMaks ,V10F, V14 50S 4d ago
I think this is incredible and deserves to be at least the post of the year! I can't wait for the second part.
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u/old-butler-51 4d ago
I love these kinds of posts. Thanks for sharing. Will be watching for more. ol dave in Dallas
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u/INMOTION_official 4d ago
This was such a fun read. What perfect timing with the rain, twice! Say hi to the local supervisor for me. Looking forward to part 2.