The adventurer's base camp
Gerd Vets is a solo cyclist. But that’s not how it all began. 20 years ago, Gerd and a friend were busy preparing for their trip to Germany. As archaeologists, they planned to visit archaeological sites and museums along the former Roman frontier (known as the Limes). They agreed to travel the route by bicycle. Gerd thoroughly enjoyed the experience, unlike his friend. After this first experience, cycling became a major goal for Gerd, and his adventure as a solo cyclist began.
All my cycling trips since that first experience have been solo. And for me, that’s the most enjoyable way to travel. Alone.
Gerd’s first solo cycling trips were shorter routes. These helped him prepare for longer journeys. His first major trip came in 2010. Destination: Rome. In the years that followed, he travelled to destinations including Prague, Gibraltar, the North Cape, Scotland and Iceland. In between, Gerd also enjoyed cycling routes closer to home, in Flanders.
“Of all my cycling trips, the one I would most like to do again is the journey to the North Cape. Arriving there gave me a truly euphoric feeling.”
Gerd: “The journey to the North Cape took fifty days. In the first few days, I cycled more than a hundred kilometres a day, but I covered less distance towards the end. I also started seeking the comfort of a hotel more often. The fatigue really caught up with me during that trip. I had underestimated how exhausting it would be to cycle up and down every day. But I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. It was that beautiful.”
Gerd takes everything he needs on his bike, from camping equipment and cooking gear to clothing. However, it took him a while to find the right balance. “At first, I carried too much equipment and a tent that was far too heavy. I learned something new on every cycling trip. Now I have a good idea of what I need and what is better left at home. Ever since my first major cycling trip, I have had the same faithful companion: my tent, an Akto by Hilleberg. I bought it at Base Camp.”
A cycling trip like this requires preparation not only in terms of physical fitness, but also when it comes to practical matters such as route planning. Gerd maps out his routes based on books and other literature he finds about his destination. He then looks for campsites and points of interest on the map, adjusting his route accordingly. The finished route serves as a guideline, because things often turn out differently once he is on the road…
“I have a final destination in mind, but I never know for sure where I will end up each day. Will I cover 50 kilometres today, or 100 kilometres, …? It depends on various factors, such as the weather and the terrain. That is what makes touring so enjoyable: you never know exactly what the next day will bring. I love that freedom!”
Gerd discovered Base Camp at a cycling travel fair 20 years ago, while looking for the right equipment for his first cycling trip. He was impressed by the catalogue and its extensive background information. He has been a regular customer ever since. Everything he owns, from his underwear to his tent, comes from Base Camp.
Photo: Gerd proudly celebrating the achievement of his goal: reaching the North Cape.
Marc from Base Camp asks me the right questions and thinks things through with me. Over the years, my travels have taught me a great deal, so it’s great to be able to exchange ideas with someone who really knows their stuff. Marc is always open to feedback from adventurers who use his (new) products. He genuinely asks for it, and he’s very grateful for it.
“I appreciate the selection of brands and products at Base Camp. Marc selects products based on quality. This makes it easier for me to choose and helps avoid disappointment later on. For example, I bought my backpack there ten years ago for my first hiking trip. The metal components of the backpack were customised and adjusted to fit the contours of my back.”
Since his last cycling trip, Gerd has experienced a few setbacks, and it has now been six years since he last travelled by bike. In 2023, he started travelling again, this time on foot, exploring Sweden with his backpack. In the coming years, he will mainly be undertaking trips of this kind. But his love of cycling remains. He intends to go on another cycling trip in the future. We’ll be cheering him on!
Photo: Gerd out and about in the Ardennes.
For this outing, he is wearing a small 17-litre cycling backpack by Deuter. For multi-day hiking trips with overnight stays in a tent (the Hilleberg Akto, of course), Gerd opts for the Deuter Aircontact (65+10). His cap and trousers are by Fjällräven, and his T-shirt is by Schöffel. His shoes were purchased recently: the Hanwag Ancash II GTX. He put them to the test on this outing to see how they would perform on more demanding terrain ahead of his planned trekking trip to Sweden in September.
Gerd: “All the clothing in this photo was bought at Base Camp, even the items you can’t see, namely my Icebreaker boxer shorts!”
Other products I have bought at Base Camp in recent years and have been very happy with include cycling and other bags by Ortlieb, the Fjällräven Bergtagen Eco-Shell rain jacket, the Valandré Swing Neo 650 sleeping bag, the MSR Reactor gas stove, the Suunto MC-2/NH mirror compass and the Garmin GPSMAP 66sr.
