Biking 1000 miles in... (Long post - Motorcycle content)

[Ardiem]

I hear what you're saying about the heat. I took a ventilated jacket which acted I had hoped would keep me cool. But riding through the tunnels along the cote d'azur and into Northern Italy was the only thing that allowed me to keep cool. At one stage I was stuck in a traffic jam outside Genoa in 35C heat surrounded by lorries chucking overheated engine gases at me. My 'heat-proof' panniers melted to the exhausts. OK I could've avoided Genoa but the coastal road is magnificent and I was able to stop at a town just after and hurl myself in to the sea (after I got of my bike obviously) - absolute heaven! Made it all worthwhile.

Stay off the toll roads in Europe as not only are they bloody expensive, they're really boring too. Stick to the windy roads, you'll have much better experience. Three countries to visit would be Spain, Switzerland and Italy. France is a bit boring to be honest unless you're near Spain, Switzerland or Italy...

I did my training in Edinburgh at Two Wheels about 11 years ago and they were pretty good then. In Glasgow you could try Jim Harleys in Springburn - he's a nice bloke and I've heard good things about him as an instructor. In Falkirk you could try Jim Allans which also has good remarks.

[pete]

You are all nuts. Would it be wrong tro start a "who ends up in a wheelchair first "sweep?

[VXJON]

Pete I've already got a fiver on you anyone that can injure themselves stepping on a boat from a jetty must be in with a chance.



Btw I was tempted to put my money on Meatball but it's been at least a week since he's ended up in hospital.

[VXJON]

Should get a bike with a full brace of cylinders then... Although I think Ferry from Scotland/Newcastle deffo the way to go. Could not stand riding down the UK just to get to Europe.

"The man your parents warned you about"

[mckeann]

Europe is a definite possibility (although I think it'll definitely get saved until next year when I have a little more experience). I get the impression that the Ape is keen for some of this action!

I have a plan.


10 day van hire for a 3 seater, lwb transit is 400 quid. plus 60 quid for a ferry. 500 quid in diesel to do 3000 miles. So thats £320pp based on 3 sharing. Pikey option is to throw 3 air matresses in the van, slightly less pikey option is to camp, non pikey option is to get cheap accomodation. 9 nights accomodation at £40 a night = £360

so we're at £680 quid for travel and accomodation.

just got to add your beer and food money, fuel for the bike, new tyres and pads.

Trip summary:

day 1 = drive from scotland to vosges mountains. arrive 900 miles later
day 2 = rag bikes around the vosges mountains. 250 miles
day 3 = short hop to black forest then 250 miles on bikes
day 4 = another day in the black forest. 250 miles
day 5 = morning, drive to swiss alps. afternoon, rag up and down the 6 famous passes before police catch us. then prison
day 6 = morning, drive to italian alps. afternoon, 150 miles
day 7 = rag bikes some more in italy. 250 miles
day 8 = morning, drive to france, afternoon, 150 miles
day 9 = rag bikes in french alps some more. 250 miles
day 10 = drive 1100 miles home

i reckon you could do 1550 miles of fun stuff in the time available. You could probably do more, if you went to go less places. Obviously the downside with going in a van is that you have to return to wherever you left the van that morning. The plus side is that the 2000 miles of motorway slog is much less painless. You also have somewhere to store all your crap without carting it around for the whole week. You can just pack a rucksack for the day. Also, you can take spares/tools/tyres/ etc etc etc.

just to whet your appetite:



so, erm, should i start another thread for this?? who's in??

[kenny]

who's in??

If it means sharing an air bed in the back of a transit with a farting ape, I'm out.

/obviously have to get bike first faction

[Lazydonkey]

Van idea would be preferable to doing mcape "this is easy" distances on a bike

[Shug]

McApe, that might just be genius....

We shall chat further next time we get together in leather

[DDtB]

omg... I've actually just read a post by McApe and thought "GENIUS!"....

[BigD]

Make sure your van is on unlimited mileage for travelling abroad... £400 for 10days/3000 miles and they're making a big loss

I was going to say that. The other option is to get a 2 or 3 bike trailer and use a car that is available, i.e. one that someone already has, a diesel passat estate would be perfect, for example

Saves on the van hire charge which is dead money and you have a trailer to use again or sell on after. Cheaper on diesel as better mpg, more comfortable etc. Also means you can spend a bit more and stay in a bed. Add a day at the Nurburgring and that'd be perfect.

p.s. 2 berth cabin and 2 bikes on the Newcastle ferry is working out at under £200 each return and only 3 hours to the ring from there.

[Shug]

I'm still leaning towards van... I know a couple of companies that do unlimited mileage. That means we have somewhere out of sight to store bikes (agreed, not 'secure', but at least more out of sight than on a trailer) Plus, the trailer idea only works for a north Europe trip - preferring the Ape's idea of Italy/Switzerland...

One to mull.

[BigD]

Plus, the trailer idea only works for a north Europe trip - preferring the Ape's idea of Italy/Switzerland...

Fair dos, car and a trailer can go anywhere a van can, can it not? I only mentioned Newcastle as a Bike, (non van'd/trailered route) to the ring.

Was just offering to cheapen the cost a little by using existing vehicles but that's fine I'll go on my own, I can take a hint.

**off to search ebay for a single bike trailer**

[Mike Scib]

Stop it!

[DDtB]

Stop it!

No !

[VXJON]

At this rate it will be a fleet of bikes rather than 3




Time for a new thread- Euro Gimp the Se tour ?