First Time Touring

[chickenstrip]

[smegballs]

Yeah it's good,

its even cool to redo your routes too when you get back.

I've seen loads of places where I could have saved time and effort, but was limited by the maps on my gps. Rather than battling up-and-over across mountain ridges, there are so many places where could have just followed the valley floor instead.

Oh well, it all builds leg-meat I guess

[motobiker]

I can easily see the advantages of joining up with an organised tour.. there are no nasty surprises. if the itinery is fixed then you'll know exactly where you're going. staying.. how you're travelling - daily rides - length and destinations, everything. That removes a lot of the uncertainty that can and does put people off for the first time.

trips i organise aren't exactly 'organised tours' as such all I do is name the date and time of the crossing - in both directions. provide a link to the hotel and leave the 'organising' up to those who are coming - i don't do any of this to make money or subsidise my own costs, I do it to show people how easy it is so that some will do it themselves - maybe go further than the Eifel/Ardennes which is the regular destination. At the end of the day.. I'm going, if people want to come along thats fine. ride with me or do their own thing. frankly I don't care. The only 'itinery' is that at some point we'll visit the 'Ring. if people want to ride a lap - fine. if not - thats fine too.

I often get all the usual questions. about riding on the right. dealing with road signs, legalities and so on and so on. And it has to be said - once we're underway.. and certainly by the end of day 1 everyone is relaxed and in the swing of it all.

Its taking that first step thats the problem for a lot of people - particularly new riders - who might not have a lot of experience or no biking buddies, for whom the idea of going abroad is truly frightening.

If joining up with an organised tour is right for the OP.. I for one am not going to tell him he's wrong. go for it. take it all in and maybe next time you'll be DIYing (or maybe not... its his money after all - to spend exactly as he chooses.)

An organised tour gave me the 'bug' - it was to Lake Garda and the Alps in 1994. I enjoyed it... but it was the only one I ever did. All I needed was the experience - which I learnt from.

As, I'm sure - will the OP.
____________________
1999 R1100GS + 2006 F800S
(Nottingham)
Sooner or later opinions fade and the name on the tank matters not. I think that happens somewhere between 3rd and 4th gear. Enjoy the ride... everything else takes care of itself.

[chickenstrip]

I once walked across Wales, from Chepstow to Conwy. Took me about a month. I spent the winter before planning the route, measuring the route, deciding what I wanted to see, and choosing and buying the kit to do it, backpacking. Spent hours and hours poring over those maps. And I've done 2 extensive tours of the UK on bikes (motorcycle, not cycling) where I planned exactly where I wanted to go and what I wanted to see. Preparing and planning I do love.

I've also spent hours studying the Ardennes and the Alps on the maps. And I've been reading countless books about the Battle of the Bulge (the main reason I want to visit the Ardennes region). Some parts of the routes I want to do are now set in stone. But when I get to the Alps, I'm not going by a plan. Just want a good idea of what's where before I get there, and then I'll just see how I feel from day to day.

[Ali in Austria]

Don't be put off on a guided tour. Yes, you pay a premium, but there is a good reason for that usually.

I'm getting on a bit, have been riding bikes legally for over 37 years and have toured Europe many, many times. As others have said it is very easy to do.

This is a bit long winded but here goes.

I met my current wife later on in life and at the time she had never even considered biking let alone get on one. She adapted very quickly and within a short time had agreed to do a trip to Europe. There was one proviso though, that we went on an organised tour. This went against the grain but I reluctantly agreed and booked one up. We opted for a 10 day trip down to Austria. I had made up my mind before hand that I wasn't going to enjoy it but was pleasantly surprised.

The Tour was meeting up at the Ferry. We happened to be booked in a Travel Lodge the night before with the Tour Guides and another couple on the Tour, purely by coincidence. We got on straight away. However, as with all groups of strangers, not everyone does and the Tour did divide in to a couple of cliques. No serious problems, just preferences over company.

The first morning was blighted by me waking to find some selfish person had parked their bike broadside directly behind mine and it was chained up. They clearly weren't getting up for the early ferry and the only way to get around it was to lay my bike over and drag it out. Unbeknown to me at the time I actually slipped a disc, which did not slip back in to place properly and by the time we were on the ferry I was in considerable pain. This continued throughout the whole trip with me in a lot of pain off the bike but actually tolerable on it.

Our Tour Guides did their best to ensure I had a room with a bath most nights and arranged some treatment for me. Others in the group helped my wife load and unload the luggage and cart it to the rooms. It all really helped apart from the mickey taking.

We had a great time and met some great people, some of whom we still tour with to this day. The routes were very good and took in some sights the uninitiated might easily miss. The hotels were superb and food excellent.

The wife took to it so well that we went every year on self organised tours, often more than once and subsequently moved to Austria to run a Biker Friendly B&B. This was a complete change from our previous professions and something we had no previous experience doing. (Shameless plug) We are currently No 1 B&B in Austria on Trip Advisor so we must be doing something right.

If you have never toured Europe before, you don't have any riding buddies who want to do it or you just don't want the hassle of doing the planning and research then I would highly recommend doing a Guided Tour. You will find many people do them year after year.

Do some research for positive reviews on trips. The biggest companies aren't always the best. See what type of Tour it is and consider the theme, experience level it is pitched at, length of riding days etc. Some will even transport your luggage.

Some riders just like to mile munch and move on each day. No fun in my book as you miss out on so much. We see many here doing that who often regret not having more time to explore the area. Fewer riding Kms allows more time for sight seeing. A trip based in one area for a few days gives you a chance to explore. Special Themes such as Battlefield Tours will take you places you might not know about.

Certainly if you Tour The Alps I would highly recommend choosing a base to go out from each day. There are so many good roads and sights in any one area. Get to see them properly and save other areas for another year. I know a guy who has toured The Alps on motorcycles every year since 1964 and he still hasn't seen it all.

There is nothing against doing your own thing. Accommodation is very easy as you are welcome just about everywhere. As a solo traveller or in a small group it is usually not a problem to find somewhere. There are some exceptions: For example, pitch up in France on Bastille Day and it can be an issue in some areas. Go to the Italian Dolomites or Sud Tirol in August and you may have a problem. The whole of Italy is on holiday in August and it seems like they all go there.

Camping is easy but some countries ban wild camping. Off roading is also generally illegal in some countries such as Germany and Austria. You can access a free Data Base of European Campsites here https://www.archiescampings.eu/eng1/

Some people just cross the channel and go but unless you are familiar with what you are doing you can miss out on so much and even end up not enjoying the trip. We see it often here, Sat Navs set with Toll and Seasonal Road Closure avoidances will never take you over the mountains.

Do some research. https://bestbikingroads.com will give you some ideas for good routes. There are other similar web sites. Have a look on some Touring web sites such as https://www.alpineroads.com and don't be afraid to ask questions.

I used to bring groups out to Europe (not for profit) and would research Tour Companies for where they went and stayed in areas new to me. It wasn't hard to pick out their likely routes and a few photographs enabled me to track down the accommodation they used. Once at accommodation ask for advice from the staff about weather and places to go. It is what they are there for.

There are many web sites that now list Biker Accommodation. Don't just stick to the UK ones. Stick the German ones in to Google Chrome for a good translation.

In the OP's circumstances, doing a Guided Tour might well set him up for many years of future touring. Going it alone might be the end of it.




I don't run a Tour Company (although I do guided days out ) and am just trying to pass on my experiences. I am always open to giving advice on motorcycling in Europe such as routes, accommodation recommendations etc, regardless of whether our place is on the destination list. If anyone wants any help planning a trip just drop me a line.

Here is some information some may find useful. It is not the be all and end all and is not intended to be. Take from it what you will. The Touring Tips I wrote some years ago for the groups I brought out to Europe but it is still pretty much valid today.


Useful Touring info and advice.


If you are travelling abroad don't leave it until the last minute to get your foreign cash. Rates vary and buying while the pound is strong can make a big difference.

At the time of writing the pound had been as strong as it has been for some time peaking at €1,22.41 but has now slid to €1,19.65

Keep an eye on rates here GBP to Euro Exchange Rates: https://www.exchangerates.org.uk/Pounds-to-Euros-currency-conversion-page.html

This is the actual FX Rate and Tourist rates will be lower



For those that haven't ridden or driven abroad before (or even for those that have but in ignorance icon_wink.gif ) here is a link to some useful information.

Road Safety Overseas

https://www.pensionhausmaria.com/location.asp

Scroll down to just below the Google Map. Click on the area nearest where you are going, keep clicking in most cases and areas expand. You will get links to various information & advice.



Not wanting to teach anyone to suck eggs but some may find this useful. I wrote it some years ago for groups I used to take to Europe but most is still valid.

Clueless Touring Tips

1. Make sure your Passports are valid for the period you will be travelling !!!

2. Make sure you have a European Health Insurance Card which replaces the E111. Get one here;
https://www.nhs.uk/nhsengland/healthcareabroad/ehic/pages/about-the-ehic.aspx

It is also worth reading about your entitlements in each country and what you have to do

3. You will need to be in possession of your Driving Licence, Insurance and Registration Document (not copies).

4. Arrange Travel Insurance to cover cancellations, possessions and medical bills. Make sure motorcycling is an approved activity. Cover for repatriation is important.

5. Check your Insurance covers you for riding in all countries we will be travelling through. Do you need to notify them of the dates you are travelling abroad? Do you need a Green Card?

6. Arrange European Breakdown Cover. Repatriation of your bike is important.

7. Make sure you have the correct emergency equipment as required by law in the countries we are travelling in. A reflective vest in the event of motorway breakdown for each person, a First Aid kit and a spare bulb kit are all that is usually needed. The French no longer require 2 x Breath Test Kits - It is still law but officially not acted upon.

8. Arrange for your motorcycle to be suitably serviced prior to setting off and allow for 4000 + miles to be covered during the Tour. Consider Tyres, Chain & Sprocket life etc...

9. Prepare a small tool kit of basic tools and include cable ties, Gaffer Tape, insulation Tape, fuses etc... just for an emergency. Do you have sufficient Scott Oil if applicable. Carry a small bottle of suitable engine oil.

10. Consider filling your tyres with Ultraseal – It can save no end of grief. (Appreciate there are many who disagree but from personal experience I use it and have never had a puncture I knew about)

11. Save your old T-Shirts, socks and undies, clean of course, to wear during the day while riding and then throw them away. Creates space for the presents to bring home. Seamless underwear is more comfortable when in the saddle all day.

12. Save small plastic bottles with tight lids. These are useful to decant shampoo, shower gel etc in to save room and weight.

13. Places like Superdrug and Boots often have small travel packs of washing powder etc on offer like BOGOF.

14. We will experience extremes of temperatures on the Tour. Pack accordingly. Many thin layers are more effective than bulky items. If you have separate waterproofs, pack them so that they are easy to get at. A spare pair of Gloves is useful in case of getting wet through.

15. Save up all those little packets of silicon that you find in all sorts of purchases. They are very handy to place in boots and gloves overnight to assist with drying them out.

16. Are your panniers ect waterproof. Pack items in bin liners.

17. Roll items up when packing to avoid creasing. Share groups of items between panniers / bags in case of an accident so that not all of one thing is ruined.

18. Pack for the travelling days so that you only have to access one pannier, box or bag.

19. Photocopy all documents including drivers licence, insurance, breakdown insurance, travel insurance, EHIC Card, passports, Ferry tickets, booking details and pack them elsewhere than the originals or carry the copies on a USB Stick or Flash Card.

20. Carry a debit & credit card or two of one or the other just in case. Make sure you know the Pin Numbers.

21. Carry a full spare set of keys for your house, motorcycle, luggage and any locks you may be using and store them safely. (Do not lock them in a pannier or top box or under the seat).

22. Carry a spare visor. (The sun can be blinding at times but you can also be in cloud with nil visibility and a dark visor wont help). Wearing sunglasses under your lid can be fraught as mountain tunnels tend to be very dark and often not straight.

23. Dress code is as comfortable as you feel. I just don’t want to see any of the blokes wearing them.

24. Don’t forget some swimwear if you want to take advantage of the pools, sauna, Jacuzzi, sunbathe etc.

25. Carry some Euros. We will almost certainly have to pay some Tolls so make sure you can carry Euros which are easy to get at when at a Toll Booth.

26. If you are taking electrical items such as Mobile Phones, MP3 players, don’t forget the chargers for them and get an adapter for Northern Europe Plug Sockets. Make sure your phone is enabled for European Roaming if required.

27. If you are on medication of any description, ensure you have a sufficient supply for the duration of the Tour. If necessary gets a covering letter from your GP stating that the medication is prescribed to you.

28. Suggested Non Prescription Medication – Sea Sickness tablets, Paracetamol or Aspirin & Ibuprofen & Diarrhoea Treatment. Hand Wipes, Sun cream and after sun, Chap Stick or Lip seal, Hand cream, Plasters, Insect repellent, Antihistamine or Insect Bite relief treatment, tissues, and any other personal toiletries you may need. In Europe many simple medications such as Paracetamol are only available at proper pharmacies. Be aware that certainly in Austria, Aspirin is only available on prescription.

29. If you wear glasses for riding, some countries require you to carry a spare pair.

(Not the be all and end all and not intended to be.)


Very good weather sites. The first is Norwegian used by the local tourist offices out here for skiing information and up to 48 hours ahead is usually very accurate.


https://www.yr.no/place/Austria/Styria/Gemeinde_Ramsau_am_Dachstein/hour_by_hour.html

https://www.xcweather.co.uk/forecast/ramsau_am_dachstein


These are very useful for Traffic and Road & Pass information. Open them in Google Chrome and they translate quite well.


https://www.alpen-journal.de/alpenservice/alpenpaesse.html

https://www.oeamtc.at/?id=2500,,,1934

https://www.oeamtc.at/?id=2500,,,10280

https://www.adac.de

https://alpen-paesse.ch


Toll requirements

https://www.tolltickets.com/country/europe/europe.aspx?lang=en-GB





As I said, long winded but some may find it useful
____________________
A Petrol Head in The Alps
https://www.youtube.com/user/PensionHausMaria
https://facebook.com/pension.haus.maria

[Ali in Austria]

The OP asked about luggage.

You don't need to go to the expense of Hard Luggage. There are many types of soft panniers or throw overs but they have their downsides. Not many (if any) are waterproof and can be difficult to site properly. Rain covers blow off or fill with water holding a nice reservoir to soak the pannier in. Pack items in Bin Liners first.

Roll Top Stuff Sacks and Dry Bags are good, especially for solo riders. They can be strapped to the pillion seat and combined with a half decent tank bag will give you ample luggage capacity. they can be rolled down to suit the amount of contents giving a nice firm bag which is easy to secure. Not that expensive and 100% waterproof. Just be careful using metal hook type bungees. Roc Straps of similar are better for securing them and won't take your eye out when you let go of the end.
____________________
A Petrol Head in The Alps
https://www.youtube.com/user/PensionHausMaria
https://facebook.com/pension.haus.maria

[Enduro Numpty]

Long winded maybe but some great info for people making their first overseas trip.

Great Post

[gmc38609]

Yes loads of tips there thanks. I have been looking at expensive motorbkie luggage but I ve changed my mind that can come later, I think a dry roll bag strapped to the back with some kayak strapsI have will do just fine

[Casper]

[barrkel]

[gmc38609]

Thanks again GPz but Matt has put a link to a bag he recommends for £7.99 that suits me for my first tour that's on the BCF jolly one