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

[Sanjøy]

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.

Few other things to bear in mind. Shug you need to be dressed as Chaos



Ape is going ot need a wig if he is going to play Farrah in the back of the van



And for the life of me I could not find a photo of Compton who wheelies the whole race.

[mckeann]

wow. When i typed that out at 5am on a long boring nightshift, i expected to wake up to about 3 replies all telling me it was a crap idea.

Whats happened infact is that we might need to get a luton van to take 6 bikes

Paul, i got that quote for van rental from the SIXT website. They quote europe is ok, and its unlimited miles.

Donald, ur right that a trailer is a cheaper idea, but i dont have a car to pull it, or a place to store it, so i dismissed it. Didnt cross my mind that someone else might supply them. Tbh, i thought folk would tell me 2 fcuk off. If ur offering tho then count me in as interested, especially for the ring.

I dont see why we couldnt do a trailered trip to the ring, eifel, ardennes,vosges, and black forest in may, then a purely alps based trip in september.

I love it when a plan comes together

[Shug]

I'd be happy to come along to the Ring and take in the atmosphere - but I don't have the stones to ride it. You hear of too many bikers dying weekly and I know public days tend to be a triumph of testosterone over sense - would feel a right tit being killed by a dick in a Mk2 Golf...

Lets have a chat about what'll work best and then start looking at possibilities.

[mckeann]

yeh, happy to throw about crazy ideas for a wee while, not going 2 rush into anything. Realistically, its got to be nxt may/june or september for me anyway, so no rush.

Talking of crazy ideas, i think making this a general SE trip could work well. Cars and bikes together in the mountains. We could share the van with car drivers who wanted luggage /tyres/spares etc moved. Would cut van costs considerably, and would massively increase banter levels. We could maybe even convince someone 2 drive the van for 10 days.

[VXJON]

I'd be happy to come along to the Ring and take in the atmosphere - but I don't have the stones to ride it. You hear of too many bikers dying weekly and I know public days tend to be a triumph of testosterone over sense - would feel a right tit being killed by a dick in a Mk2 Golf...

Lets have a chat about what'll work best and then start looking at possibilities.

Withstupid ^^



tbh I'm not sure I'd feel comfortable with the idea of a mixed run

[mckeann]

u dont actually have to run in convoy with the cars. And u could always just wave them past when the catch u

[Lazydonkey]

Mixed run could be a laugh

I'm with Shug on the ring bit - i'll maybe try it in the car first. Maybe. One day

[DDtB]

Mixed run could be a laugh

I'm with Shug on the ring bit - i'll maybe try it in the car first. Maybe. One day

Yup.. no probs with a mixed run here.... but then again... I like overtaking cars when I'm on the bike...

The ring is another matter though... not sure I'd want to take the bike round there just yet!!

[BigD]

The ring is rideable distance if going via Newcastle. Although possibly not if you want to then go on to other areas. Did it a couple of years back when the Evo was broken so took the bike instead. Went with some other Evo's which was fun. Although I did learn not to try to keep up in the wet when I had to take to an escape road rather than try the bend at the speed I was carrying. Would've been fine in the dry.

Mixed runs are not hugely different to car runs and like has been said you can just go in seperate groups. You're just as likely to crash in a car at the Ring as a bike. It's just the consequences that are different. I wouldn't do it unless I had been round in the car first, though I'm sure some would. It's just a fast B road. The Ring was my first bike trackday.

[Cisco]

BD,

I think the problem for the bikes at the Ring is the dropped fluids from the cars..just causes a twitch in a car as you know..but if you were pushing on with a bike..good chance it will have you off if your turning in on the brakes..think this is a major factor with the biker fatalities on Tourist days...

...anyway..sounds like a trip, I'm pretty keen (I think) to have a go round there on a bike now that I know where some of the corners go..

Take care,

Frank

[greyrigg]

Anybody up for a wee run to Spa next weekend to watch Scotty racing?

Newcastle ferry, blast down to Spa, visit 'ring..............

Malcolm

[meatball]

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.

Nothing like tempting fate!