85 replies to this topic

[ChrisG]

France is great for camping, pretty much every town has a municipal campsite that usually decent quality and dirt cheap.

 

 

 

Memory stick with scanned copies of all documents

 

Dropbox is also good for that, I can get at stuff on my phone but if I lose my phone I can access it from an internet PC.

(and if you sign up from this link I get bonus space   https://db.tt/B8N0sCa )

 

I also put copies of manuals on my phone, never know when you're going to want to work out how to use that funky mode on your camera or work out what that error code on your TDM dash means...although when I had the latter issue Trevini's phone number did the job

Edited by ChrisG, 24 November 2015 - 07:48 am.

[Favs]

Not booked a bed?  Skin soaked to the skin? Can't face putting up the tent?

 

Go to the Tourist Information Office

 

Many Tourist Information places will ask you how much you're willing to pay (to give them an idea which digs to call - not to see how tight you are), they'll ring around, book & give you a map with directions to the digs, all for 1 Euro (which may be deducted from your final bill). 

 

Languages - tricky for many easy for some - I generally have a few phrases in my head but I also take http://www.single-serving.com/phrase/ for the countries I'm visiting. Although new translator on my phone may out-date this.

[dapleb]

In places wid out tourist info, pop into a cafe and ask. Me'sen and wee man had great luck with this and it were the fuse to a few adventures. :-)

[divvxj]

 a leatherman is handy , I use mine for bursting blisters

[NickIAM]

Condoms....you never know when you might need them....they hold half a gallon of petrol

So that's what they're for.

[ChrisG]

Google Translate is bloody awesome. On the phone app you can download languages to use it offline, but if you have data you can take a photo to translate text (I'm living in Holland at the moment at use it all the time in shops, restaurants and museums), and can even do voice recognition and then read out the translation.

[sidestand]

Actually, that's a very good touring tip - learn a bit of the language & try to speak it - works wonders when you make an effort 

[Kelpie]

Protect your bike's paint work from luggage, bungies etc with insulation tape (peels off really easily and can be colour matched) and/or non slip rubber dashboard matting.

[muddy]

Actually, that's a very good touring tip - learn a bit of the language & try to speak it - works wonders when you make an effort 

Until they talk back at yer

Google Translate is bloody awesome. On the phone app you can download languages to use it offline, but if you have data you can take a photo to translate text (I'm living in Holland at the moment at use it all the time in shops, restaurants and museums), and can even do voice recognition and then read out the translation.

Surely not needed in Holland   I rarely met a Dutch person that didn't speak some English.

[big dave]

Limit your riding group size to 4 maximum

Edited by big dave, 25 November 2015 - 10:02 am.

[ChrisG]

Surely not needed in Holland   I rarely met a Dutch person that didn't speak some English.

 

I haven't met a single one that isn't fluent yet, but everything is written in Dutch. 

 

 

 

 

Good point from Dave on group size, if you are in a bigger group it's often best to split in to smaller groups and meet up in places.  I hate riding in big groups so even tend to this on day rides.

 

On a trip a couple of years ago with 4 of us we split in to 2 pairs, had a rough destination in mind for the evening, and the first pair there would find a campsite and text the others the location.  That worked a lot better then the first few days of riding in a 4 as 2 of us wanted to hoof it round twisty mountain roads, while the other two wanted a more relaxed ride and look at the stunning alpine scenery, nothing wrong with either approach but when touring with mates make sure you all want the same thing out of the trip or someone's going to be unhappy.

[Favs]

Here's another couple..

In my early touring days when stowage was short, I would keep some narrow bore plastic tube up the inside of the handlebars with a fiver too.

Duct tape - I have mine transferred round a black permanent marker pen which I have never had to use to make a "help" sign.

[RolfieB]

Take some crappy old T shirts, knicks e.t.c. 

That way you can bin them as you go to make room for BEER, WINE, e.t.c.

[Favs]

As it is that time of year when folks are itching to get away on tour I thought I'd add another bit of info/tip I remembered when replying to Bjorge's full tank post.

 

If you fill your tank to maximum capacity, by keeping the bike upright while fueling, expect the tank overflow to dump some fuel if you use the prop stand while you have a break -  fuel is forced out by expanding gasses in your tank (hot countries), - wastes your hard-earned and creates a potential hazard & upsets the cafe ambiance too. 

[muddy]

I can think of a few more.
1. If you're making a early morning start or night riding, a down gilet will keep the chill off and can also serve as extra warmth if your sleeping bag isn't up to much.Must be down though to squash up nice and small in your pannier.
2. I may have mentioned it before, but a golf or large umbrella tucked under the pannier handles for those long, rainy waits for the ferry or just a shelter from sun or rain when needed.

[pete7]

If in large group it can save surprising amount of time to double up at the petrol stations.

 

Park close up at pumps and fill first bike then hand filler across to second bike alongside, and then pay cashier as one transaction. 

 

Take turns paying if consumption similar or else settle up each time.

 

Worked for us in group of 12 on last 2800 mile tour to Croatia

 

Take care whenever filling of course ... safety first

 

P7

[sidestand]

Better still - keep the numbers down - to 6 maximum, but better 4 

 

Saves loads of time on petrol stops/fag breaks/pee stops 

[pete7]

Better still - keep the numbers down - to 6 maximum, but better 4 

 

Saves loads of time on petrol stops/fag breaks/pee stops 

 

That's easy solution but rather defeats the objective (especially on Carpe RTT's/G2Gs etc)

 

I agree ... a group needs management to work or don't do it. Especially with a bunch of egos sloshing around.

 

Recent trip of high daily miles showed value of ensuring all group knew each other very well indeed, and had same (and highly focused) approach to making it work

 

Otherwise ... as you say, obvious option is limit to handful of riders. Easier ... and much safer!

 

P7

[ChrisG]

Easy option on bigger groups is plan a route and cake stops and then head out in smaller groups and meet up on route. That's what we did from Leominster last year and I had great ride out in a smaller group. Very easy to do these days with satnav too.

[dmmsta]

Although it's not been said - VERY comfortable under-crackers are a must I should think...