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Ash-69
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PostPosted: 01:24 - 26 Jan 2017    Post subject: Need to widen my horizons Reply with quote

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 .....
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Pete.
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PostPosted: 06:57 - 26 Jan 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

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.
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BTTD
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PostPosted: 08:36 - 26 Jan 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Have a look at a some organised group tours / biker holidays if you don't want to solo it. They won't be the cheapest option, but you'll get a bit of support through the trip and a few other people to meet up with at stops.
I remember my dad riding up to Scotland to visit a mate and then tagging on a few days with an organised group around the highlands. Said it rained full on throughout, but there was an interesting mix of people, and a decent guide / interesting stops which made it a trip he really enjoyed.
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yen_powell
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PostPosted: 08:50 - 26 Jan 2017    Post subject: Re: Need to widen my horizons Reply with quote

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.
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Ericck
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PostPosted: 08:59 - 26 Jan 2017    Post subject: Need to widen my horizons Reply with quote

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 Smile
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Oldie
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PostPosted: 09:23 - 26 Jan 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

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 Cool
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The Shaggy D.A.
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PostPosted: 09:48 - 26 Jan 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

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.
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raesewell
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PostPosted: 13:41 - 26 Jan 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

I organise a French trip every year in April. I started by being prepared to go alone. I posted it in several forums to see if anyone was interested and the rest is history. This year I have a group of six going to France for three nights and one night when back in the UK.

Keep your eye out for anyone announcing a trip or looking for company and Bob is your Dads brother.
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Ebbs73
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PostPosted: 21:53 - 26 Jan 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

My friends are always up for trips and days out , always welcome to join us or us you .

I've done a couple of short trips on my own , deco talk to more people and join in .
The first tour is always a bit easier with others .

I'm going to Elephant rally on Feb 10th , that could be a good one to join us on .

We also have a French trip ( 4 days ) in April , wales in summer , 5 days and France again in sept .

Post some ideas and see who would join you .

Chris
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almostthere
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PostPosted: 22:15 - 26 Jan 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm going on a biking holiday in Europe on my own, gonna take the car so I don't fall off though Thumbs Up
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Enduro Numpty
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PostPosted: 22:25 - 26 Jan 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

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 Wink
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Ash-69
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PostPosted: 23:40 - 26 Jan 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

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 Thumbs Up
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Omega
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PostPosted: 12:36 - 27 Jan 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

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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PostPosted: 15:47 - 27 Jan 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

I did Faro, via Germany (New to me ZZR1100, Autobahn, rude not to despite adding 2 days onto the trip), solo. Had never ridden on the continent before (Although I had in the US).

Had such a giggle that a load came with me the next year.

If the planets n shit align properly, I'm planning on a bit of continental bimbling next year, but farther north.

Just go do it. It's fun. SPanish drivers are fucking terrible, German ones have fantastic lane discipline (you'll need it as well).
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derillius24
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PostPosted: 16:49 - 27 Jan 2017    Post subject: Re: Need to widen my horizons Reply with quote

Ash-69 wrote:
if I suggest going abroad on me Todd my other half thinks I'm gonna die in a horrible expensive accident


Clealry I don't speak for everyone, but I definitely ride at a more sedate pace when solo. Tell your other half that your pals will be blowing big gusts of red mist out of their zorst pipes which would make things far more dangerous.

However, I imagine friends are reasonably likely to inform somebody if you kamikaze yourself off an Alpine pass. A solo jaunt off a mountain may see you left to liquify in a crevice.

Meh. Comme ci comme ça.
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Dave V4
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PostPosted: 20:10 - 27 Jan 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

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 Cool

This pretty much covers everything 👍
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waffles
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PostPosted: 20:22 - 27 Jan 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

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 Thumbs Up
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ThatDippyTwat
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PostPosted: 21:20 - 27 Jan 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

waffles wrote:
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.


This is along the lines of what I have been planning. Ferry to Rotterdam, ride up through Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and back down the other side. Not so sure about heading through Russia though, but I'll plan around that nearer the time.
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pepperami
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PostPosted: 21:37 - 27 Jan 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

waffles wrote:
Do a few days. Just go somewhere you have never been before.
Booking.com is your friend Thumbs Up


This ^ +1 so much this!
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Fizzer Thou
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PostPosted: 16:31 - 29 Jan 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

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

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Peirre oBollox
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PostPosted: 17:00 - 29 Jan 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Unless the OP makes the effort to make the 1st move, he could be a long time waiting for someone to go with
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waffles
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PostPosted: 19:13 - 29 Jan 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

I just started organising a Euro tour for the summer with Deaks. We both threw in some possible locations to visit and are now looking at distances between. It turns out one of the Moto GP weekends is on when we were thinking of being in that country so we booked that up. We are going to have a few days of some serious mileage mixed up with some stops where we can base ourselves for three or four days to enjoy twisty mountain hairpins. One road I suggested has 49 hairpins and looks like a zigzag on Google Maps!

Seriously OP, just go do it.
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myvision
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PostPosted: 20:38 - 29 Jan 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

When you planning on doing this trip op?
This year will be my first trip I'm in two minds whether to do the NC500 or just get off a ferry in France and head south aimlessly.
One things for sure I will do one of the trips if funds allow I'll do both I'm currently going on my own as I have no mates that ride bikes.
Well thinking about it that's a lie as I have no mates.
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pepperami
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PostPosted: 21:06 - 29 Jan 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

myvision wrote:
I have no mates that ride bikes.
Well thinking about it that's a lie as I have no mates.


Welcome to my "No Mates" club Smile Thumbs Up
This is the reason that All my tours except one have been solo affairs.
I have come to like touring solo, as I do what I want to do and go where I want to go
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arthurmo
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PostPosted: 18:50 - 31 Jan 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

pepperami wrote:
myvision wrote:
I have no mates that ride bikes.
Well thinking about it that's a lie as I have no mates.


Welcome to my "No Mates" club Smile Thumbs Up
This is the reason that All my tours except one have been solo affairs.
I have come to like touring solo, as I do what I want to do and go where I want to go


I'm with you well I'm not but I know exactly what you mean by the time all your mates get together argue over dates/routes/places to stay and get round to booking it life's much easier on your own and cheaper.
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