Trip to Hungary

[snomag]

Just to give you a bit of a background, a few months ago I've decided I would be moving back to Hungary and to use this opprotunity to do my first bike tour. Shipping back my stuffs is almost fully arranged, so I thought I would start thinking about the journey back home.

Initially my plan was just to get back home as quickly as possible, but then I realized I shouldn't be wasting such a great opportunity and check out some nice places.

So I've booked the ferry from Dover to Calais for the 1st May. My plan is then to stay in Calais and start fresh in the morning on the 2nd.
I still consider getting the first half of the journey done quickly and then taking it easy, but I want to make sure I'm not missing anything that's worth seeing.

Calais -> Budapest

Any input about the road plan is highly appreciated.

Also any general tips are more than welcomed, but just to give you an idea here're the things I've been thinking about:
- Got my EU breakdown cover, and will take all the relevant docs with myself.
- Got myself an European Health Insurance card.
- I'm planning to get a new set of tyres and to do an oilchange in the next couple of weeks. (any recommendations for the tyres would be welcomed. I don't really want to go with a very hard tyre as once I get there I would like to use it for fun riding too)
- Also got a socket, so I can charge my phone while on the road as this's my camera as well.

There're still a few (well, a lot to be honest) things I'm not so sure however. For example, I'm not sure about what map to get. Knowing that I only have a pretty crap Garmin GPS, which only has the UK maps on it, I'm pretty sure I will need one.

Also, I'm not sure what tools to take with myself. Should I be prepared to break down in the middle of nowhere and have the tools ready to try and fix it myself? Or just take something basic (spanners to adjust chain, some lubricant and engine oil?) and if the worst happen, just worry about it then?

So basically if you've any tips, just let me know as I'm trying to gather my thoughts and create a basic plan .

Cheers

[Kickstart]

[alone]

How long have you got to get to Hungary? Your route is pretty direct.. Maybe zig zag around Europe a bit?

As for tools. I took my basic bike tool kit, which would have allowed me to do most basic things - and as I wouldn't feel completely comfortable tinkering with much else, I was happy with the idea. Ensure the bike is in a good state before leaving, and you shouldn't have to worry about brake pads/plugs while travelling. Although knowing how to locate, check and change them is never a negative.
Try get hold of a puncture repair kit too. If you have one, you won't need it, if you don't, you can bet you'll end up cursing yourself one day!
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Bikes; '06 Triumph Sprint ST 1050 (for sale) - '95 BMW R1100GS

[snomag]

[c-m]

Hi,

I think you replied in my thread. I'm leaving the UK Harwich Hook of Holland, ad aiming for Budapest. I
Leaving 11th June should be in Budapest on 14th for 4 nights. Would be cool to meet up and get a few beers.

Also if you know a cheap bike friendly place to stay on the Pest side with easy access or transport to bars and clubs, that would be great.

A couple of years ago a stayed in a cheap hostel that let me store my bike in a secure car park (courtyard)

[snomag]

[snomag]

I had a few recommendations from another forum, so I thought I would update the route plan here too. Maybe it will be useful for someone.

Calais -> Budapest

If I'm taking this route, I'll get the chance to see the Black Forest in Germany. Also, this way, I can visit the Rhine Falls too, which is supposed to be quite nice, and then I can have a nice ride at the lakeside of Konstanz.

[barnhatter]

For the route, get a map and look for interesting sites/destinations then work out a route from their. I look at highlighted roads usually with a green line by them.
think about health insurance, the NH card is only for minimal cover, and not getting you back home if needed. A friend had a fall and had to get an air flight home.
I onlt take the bikke tool kit, able to do adjustments and mimimal work. If anyting breaks I would have to go to a shop for spares etc so it would work out better to get it sorted out there.
I take a puncture kit and the foam sealer can, never touched either.
GPS takes the stress out of trying to stay on track but you should still take maps so you can tell where you are.
Take only ol that you would need on a few thousand mile trip. Does your bike need engine oil normally, if not dont bother. I only take a small amount of scottoiler oil.
Remember you can buy/borrow everything you need so dont overpack.

[c-m]

Everything from Calais to the border will be disgusting.

Northern France is pretty much like, maybe worse than Northern England.

Now you could get the Ferry from Harwich to the Hook of Holland and miss out on France all together. This departs in the evening and arrives at 7am. That means you head up to the port immediately after work, sleep on the ferry that night, then you are fresh and good to go in the morning.

It costs about £80 on way including a cabin. But you will save as there's no toll roads.

The best part about it is that you gain an extra day to tour.

[NickD]

We're actually sat in the Stena Lounge halfway between Harwich and the Hook at this very moment, using their free wi-fi.

It might be worth looking at the Stena Lounge option rather than getting a cabin, as it's cheaper (I think it cost us an extra 11 quid each). It's keypad entry, you're guaranteed a seat and there's free coffee, fruit, etc. All the seats are recliners if you want a bit of a snooze, and blankets are supplied. It's nice and quiet too.. in fact my key tapping is probably the loudest thing in here (I do type like a spaz, mind). If you're a MAG member mention it when you phone to book, and they give you another number to call, we saved 20% on standard prices doing this.

Walking up to the deck for a fag earlier, the cabins that were open looked nice, but it's only 6 and a bit hours, so it's probably not necessary, particularly if you're crossing during the day.
____________________
I was only doing what it said on my licence officer....
Tear along the dotted line!

[snomag]

Cheers for the input guys again, it's all really helpful.

[barnhatter]

I like the AA road map europe series. they are clear and readable on the bike. i dont like the Michelin as I find them harder to read in a rush.
Get past the Calais bit using motorways. Once south of Paris of suitably east or west it gets better. France is good once away fron the paris to calais bit. Once you are on your way you can settle down and enjoy yourself.

[snomag]

[c-m]

I would go for textiles.

No because of heat, as it makes little difference when moving. More for the flexibility, range of motion and comfort.

For example, on one of my trips my route took through Brussels. I thought i'd hop off the bike and have a look around for 30mins.

Never would have been able to do that in leathers in the 35c heat, too restrictive.

But for point A to point B riding it makes little difference.

[barnhatter]

Wear your most comfortable stuff, when you are on the move you should keep at a reasonable temp, if you get too warm undo the zip a bit.
I wear a black leather jacket and black tee shirt, does not show the dirt. I take a couple and rotate them.
I got some kevlar jeans as I like to wear jeans and wanted some protection. One thing is shreddies, sounds strange. I have some with the seams in the wrong place and they rubbed and was painfull, changed to boxers and they did not support me and was uncomfortable. I spent ages looking for some slip type with no bad seams. These are okay and dont rub.
As I wear leather and jeans I also take a thin set of waterproofs so I can slip them on and off if I need to.

[Grazoid]

To add to Barhhatters post about the shreddies. I use wicking runners ones.. bit expensive but stay comfortable for a few days - no seams to rub , very supportive,microfibre/cotton impregnated with microban - and dry quickly , so you can usually go with the rule of three - one on - one in the wash and one spare.

I get mine from Decathlon - a French outdoor sports company with branches all over Europe.

[snomag]

Cheers guys, once again.

In the end I decided to take my jeans with kevlar lining and the leather gear with myself. Everything else seems to be almost fully sorted out already, which is good.

I've one problem at the moment tho.

Apart from taking maps with myself I thought it might be the time to get a GPS as well, to aid me finding exact addresses and things like that. So I went on ebay, bought a TomTom GO 720 supposedly with UK and European maps on it. (used)
Of course when it arrived I could only find the maps on it for the UK and Ireland.

The problem is, I can't do much about it, because I'll be leaving the country in less then a week and don't have the time to send stuffs back and forth.

So could anyone give me some pointers how to make those maps magically appear on the GPS? It would be greatly appreciated.

[snomag]

Tomorrow is the start of the journey, so I'm getting all excited. Unfortunately the weather doesn't seem to be too good at the moment, but I hope it won't be too bad either.

[Clanger]

[Clanger]

Crazy, we have a wet day in the south all day Saturday, then after that the sun comes back!!!
____________________
Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[c-m]

You could try some shock doctor copression shorts, or Primark do some great sports boxers that made of the same sort of stuff as compression shorts/tops. Comfortable and they wick away moisture, should you ever need them too. lol

[Phoenix]

Tesco's I think do some very comfortable boxers, F&F I think they are. There are no significant seems and they're a fairly tight fit so no support issues

[John933]

Done Budapest last year ... Stay here ... We got pay for three night's get four ... I would stay there again ... Nice clean and speaks good English ... Internet connection ... Down side they have a bloody big dog ...

https://www.bikercamp.hu/camping/bikercamp_EN/en1_intro.htm

John933