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Ash-69 |
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Ash-69 Nova Slayer
Joined: 11 Jan 2013 Karma :
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Posted: 01:24 - 26 Jan 2017 Post subject: Need to widen my horizons |
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So I hit the grand age of 48 today - yay for me etc ... bored ....
I need to open up my horizons and see a bit more of the world before I get 'old' whatever / whenever that is, so looking for a bit of, I don't know advice ? Experience? Encouragement ??
Biking is now my only outlet for getting out and doing my own thing, I watch the youtube vids of people going out to Europe and beyond in groups and think fuckin' brill, envious, need to do it, but how do you get started - my mob aren't arsed and are quite content to stay in blighty, if I suggest going abroad on me Todd my other half thinks I'm gonna die in a horrible expensive accident and lose the kids inheritance etc - blah ......
So what to do , do / have you guys just fucked off and done it, joined a previously unknown group with surprisingly great results, paid money to an organiser despite all your mates telling you you're gonna die or get kidnapped, is there a reliable Web site for wanna do this anyone fancy joining me etc ..... ____________________ FZ1-S Fazer (licence killer😢) , CRF1000L - Adventure Sport |
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Pete. |
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Pete. Super Spammer
Joined: 22 Aug 2006 Karma :
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Posted: 06:57 - 26 Jan 2017 Post subject: |
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Realise that you don't need 'a group' to go and get things done. If I had no ties I would damn well do and go as I please and enjoy every moment of it, whether I had a 'riding buddy' or not.
Or just sit on your arse and keep watching other people doing stuff on youtube. ____________________ a.k.a 'Geri'
132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good |
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BTTD |
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BTTD World Chat Champion
Joined: 22 Nov 2012 Karma :
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yen_powell |
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yen_powell World Chat Champion
Joined: 22 Jun 2008 Karma :
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Posted: 08:50 - 26 Jan 2017 Post subject: Re: Need to widen my horizons |
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Ash-69 wrote: | So I hit the grand age of 48 today - yay for me etc ... bored ....
I need to open up my horizons and see a bit more of the world before I get 'old' whatever / whenever that is, so looking for a bit of, I don't know advice ? Experience? Encouragement ??
Biking is now my only outlet for getting out and doing my own thing, I watch the youtube vids of people going out to Europe and beyond in groups and think fuckin' brill, envious, need to do it, but how do you get started - my mob aren't arsed and are quite content to stay in blighty, if I suggest going abroad on me Todd my other half thinks I'm gonna die in a horrible expensive accident and lose the kids inheritance etc - blah ......
So what to do , do / have you guys just fucked off and done it, joined a previously unknown group with surprisingly great results, paid money to an organiser despite all your mates telling you you're gonna die or get kidnapped, is there a reliable Web site for wanna do this anyone fancy joining me etc ..... | Start with the Isle of Wight then work your way up from there. ____________________ Blackmail is a nasty word........but not as nasty as phlegm!
XT1200Z and a DR350 in bits |
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Ericck |
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Ericck Scooby Slapper
Joined: 21 Jul 2011 Karma :
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Posted: 08:59 - 26 Jan 2017 Post subject: Need to widen my horizons |
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OP is right you don't need a riding buddy.
I have toured many times, sometimes on my own and other times in small or large groups.
Maybe I am a miserable bugger but I actually prefer touring alone.
You go at your own pace, stop when you want. see what you want, do what you want.
One thing I have found is that if touring alone, camping is a great way to meet people. I have had some great drunken nights in campsite bars around western Europe.
Hotels etc. are much more impersonal.
So just do it. You can get kiiled just as easily at home.
Have a taster. Why not do a few days in Normandy on your own to see if you like it. Just over the channel, loads to see and do. Although the roads are good and empty, many are straight and the countryside a little bland. That said France is a great biking country.
Or look around different forums and join in with someone else.
There are often group tours looking for more riders.
My first group tour abroad was with a couple of Brits, half a dozen German looneys and 15 or so French. Had never met any of them before and had a great time roaring around the French/Swiss border ____________________ Current Bikes: 2006 Suzuki Bandit 1200, 2008 Suzuki SV650N.
Previous Bikes: Yamaha FS1E, Mobylette Moped Thingy, Suzuki GS125, Kawasaki Zephyr 550, Kawasaki Zephyr 750, Kawasaki ER500, Suzuki Bandit 600, Honda CBR600F, Triumph Street Triple 675, Suzuki V Strom 650. |
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Oldie |
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Oldie Brolly Dolly
Joined: 05 Dec 2010 Karma :
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Posted: 09:23 - 26 Jan 2017 Post subject: |
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European touring is just like when you first get your bike licence - why didn't I do this earlier??
Just book a ferry and don't worry about how you're going to tie the bike down, will the ramp be slippy, and all that stuff - there's absolutely nothing to it and plenty of other bikers willing to help if you need it.
Don't take loads of gear as you won't need it.
Don't get drunk on the ferry.
Don't worry about riding on the wrong side of the road - you will adjust within 5 minutes.
Use booking.com (or similar) to get accommodation in advance, or when you stop for a fag break.
Don't worry about the language - unlikely you'll ever have a problem.
Get some breakdown cover and travel insurance.
Don't ask where the best roads are - just get off the motorways as soon as possible and discover Europe |
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The Shaggy D.A. |
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The Shaggy D.A. Super Spammer
Joined: 12 Sep 2008 Karma :
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Posted: 09:48 - 26 Jan 2017 Post subject: |
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If you walk into a pub with your riding buddies, you end up only talking to your riding buddies. Go in alone, and you start talking to locals.
Or sit in your tent watching porn movies on your iPhone. ____________________ Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5 |
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raesewell |
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raesewell Traffic Copper
Joined: 22 Oct 2012 Karma :
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Ebbs73 |
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Ebbs73 Nova Slayer
Joined: 19 Jul 2015 Karma :
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almostthere |
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almostthere Traffic Copper
Joined: 28 Oct 2013 Karma :
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Posted: 22:15 - 26 Jan 2017 Post subject: |
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I'm going on a biking holiday in Europe on my own, gonna take the car so I don't fall off though ____________________ Beer, It's the reason I get up every afternoon
www.mfairco.uk |
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Enduro Numpty |
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Enduro Numpty Could Be A Chat Bot
Joined: 31 Oct 2012 Karma :
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Posted: 22:25 - 26 Jan 2017 Post subject: |
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I take it that your missus isn't up for it?
I've long since given up on "group touring". Been there, done that and it's just not worth the hassle a lot of the time. You can't keep everyone happy all of the time. There's always someone riding too slow/too fast, someone wants to stop for a fag every 10 minutes. Some people want to do long days, others don't.
Me and the wife do our own thing and have done for decades. There's very few people I'd ever consider going abroad with on a bike trip.
I think if the wife didn't go I'd probably go myself.
Might be worth trying to coax your mates some more - surely there's a bit of life in some of them?
Hope you get something together, I've had some great trips over the years |
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Ash-69 |
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Ash-69 Nova Slayer
Joined: 11 Jan 2013 Karma :
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Posted: 23:40 - 26 Jan 2017 Post subject: |
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Most of my riding is solo, other half not interested in joining me and has an odd hours job which makes planning stuff difficult.
Don't get me wrong I get round the country, love trips up to Scotland, Wales, Peak District, the lakes, Yorkshire, Scarborough & Whitby, and in my yoof some sunny bits of Europe, and finally made it onto the IoM last year for a look round. It just seems a bit harder these days to get my arse in gear and take off somewhere more exotic.
Think the general GET OFF YOURSELF ARSE AND DO IT !!! is bang on ____________________ FZ1-S Fazer (licence killer😢) , CRF1000L - Adventure Sport |
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Omega |
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Omega Crazy Courier
Joined: 07 May 2009 Karma :
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Posted: 12:36 - 27 Jan 2017 Post subject: |
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I'd say fly. It's cheaper, quicker and easier. Especially if you're going to run off on your own for a couple of days. Find out which budget airlines fly from your local airport and find the cheapest destination. Stay in a hostel and you can easily have a few days adventure for less than £100. Some places are convenient for a day out too. I did Manchester-Brussels and back in a day in September for less than £75 including all of the travel and food etc.
I'd like to do a riding tour at some point but I think it would have to be more of a once per year thing rather than the monthly trips to foreign countries I'm doing at the moment.
EDIT:-
https://ridelimousin.com/ might be worth a look. The owners are on here and did a thread of the build when they first got set up. I intend on going in the near future. |
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ThatDippyTwat |
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ThatDippyTwat World Chat Champion
Joined: 07 Aug 2016 Karma :
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derillius24 |
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derillius24 Trackday Trickster
Joined: 08 Aug 2010 Karma :
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Dave V4 |
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Dave V4 Nitrous Nuisance
Joined: 08 Jan 2016 Karma :
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Posted: 20:10 - 27 Jan 2017 Post subject: |
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Oldie wrote: | European touring is just like when you first get your bike licence - why didn't I do this earlier??
Just book a ferry and don't worry about how you're going to tie the bike down, will the ramp be slippy, and all that stuff - there's absolutely nothing to it and plenty of other bikers willing to help if you need it.
Don't take loads of gear as you won't need it.
Don't get drunk on the ferry.
Don't worry about riding on the wrong side of the road - you will adjust within 5 minutes.
Use booking.com (or similar) to get accommodation in advance, or when you stop for a fag break.
Don't worry about the language - unlikely you'll ever have a problem.
Get some breakdown cover and travel insurance.
Don't ask where the best roads are - just get off the motorways as soon as possible and discover Europe |
This pretty much covers everything 👍 |
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waffles |
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waffles World Chat Champion
Joined: 04 Oct 2009 Karma :
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Posted: 20:22 - 27 Jan 2017 Post subject: |
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I did a few weeks in Europe last year, I went up to Norway and the East to Czech Republic and back, just under 3000 miles all in. It really wasnt as scary doing it on my own as I thought it was going to be!
Just go before more commitments head your way and you start to think about the what if's. Do a week. Do a few days. Just go somewhere you have never been before.
Booking.com is your friend ____________________ Theory test - 19/8/09, CBT - 11/10/09, MOD 1 - 16/8/10, MOD 2 - 27/10/10
Past rides Yamaha XT125X, Triumph TT600, Honda XR250
Current rides Suzuki GSXR 600, Honda MSX125 |
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ThatDippyTwat |
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ThatDippyTwat World Chat Champion
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pepperami |
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pepperami Super Spammer
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Fizzer Thou |
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Fizzer Thou World Chat Champion
Joined: 06 Aug 2011 Karma :
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Posted: 16:31 - 29 Jan 2017 Post subject: |
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I first rode abroad back in 1982 and went to the Dutch TT with several other friends.Since then it has been ideal to take in a bike race as a good reason to go.
Back in 2014 I rode around France with a friend with Le Puy-en-Velay as the main place to visit,with the Milau bridge just down the road.It was great fun on the R1 and if Mrs.Fizzer did not want to go abroad one year I would definitely take the same bike again
https://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv23/WiNot_Rhencullen/Biking%20Abroad/Picture023_zpsc5b5ebec.jpg ____________________ Just talk bikes.What else is there?
Always have a 'Plan B' |
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Peirre oBollox |
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Peirre oBollox Could Be A Chat Bot
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waffles |
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waffles World Chat Champion
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myvision |
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myvision Scooby Slapper
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pepperami |
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pepperami Super Spammer
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arthurmo |
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arthurmo Borekit Bruiser
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Old Thread Alert!
The last post was made 7 years, 87 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful? |
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