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- - My first ever trip abroad ( https://www.xt660.com/showthread.php?t=12199)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony660z (Post 111354)

Well I got the bike (Tenere) and the enthusiasm to actually do it. I have finally decided to dip my toe into touring. The plan is to take a two week holiday in south east Spain (Summer 2010). I will ride down hopefully taking in the scenery and meet up with the family at the villa we are staying in. I want to enjoy the travel experience so I shall be taking my time there and back. Hopefully 7 days riding on the bike and 7 days holiday with the family. The wife is happy for me to do this so all I have to do is plan.

I feel better if I plan so to that end I have formulated a check list. The items on it with a question mark are "do I really need it". Thats the reason for this post really. I am looking for you experienced and not so experienced lot to state the obvious if I have missed it off or dont really need it please offer your oppinion.

Another thing is as part of my return to fitness I have become addicted to cycling again so plan a UK holiday from John O'Groats to Lands End ride solo (100 miles per day stints) in Summer 2010 as well. That means the list is dual as riding a motorcycle and bicycle are pretty similar! I am currently in training and am currently at 50 miles per day. Man do I ache!

I have read ALL posts on here relating to travel and that has massively helped generate a comprehensive list. The major thing I have not yet decided on is do I camp or B & B/motel it for both motorcycle and bicycle trips. That will have a massive impact on the kit required and to be taken.

Anyway the list.

Bike fully serviced and ready to go!
Luggage System (panniers/topbox or soft luggage) (I USED A LARGE TOP BOX AND SOFT LUGGAGE)
Satnav or maps which one do I choose?BOTH
Bike lock
Centre stand - should I fit one thinking is how to repair punctures on the road?
Campsite guide/B&B info CHECK THEM OUT ON THE WEB AND MARK MAP/SNAV
Camera and spare batteries
Mobile phone and charger
Bike spares consisting of:
Front and rear inner tube ONLY FRONT ONE (IT WILL ASLO FIT INTO REAR IF NEEDED)
Puncture repair kit
Throttle cable ? NO
Clutch cable ? NO
Engine oil ?
Chain lube
Fuses - assorted ?
Bulbs (head lamp, indicators, side lights) ?
Spark plug
Cable ties
GT85/WD40 - small
Insulation tape
Rag
Latex gloves x 3 pairs 1
Grease - small tube NO
Tools for all repairs consisting of:
Tools to remove front and rear wheels
Assorted tools
Spark plug spanner
Tyre pump (manual/12 volt or Co2 system) Co2 system THEN USE GARAGE TO TOP UP
Tyre levers
Legal travel documents consisting of:
Passport
Driving licence (both parts)
Bike Insurance certificate including european cover
MOT - if applicable
Bike registration documents
Breakdown cover including european cover
Money (Uk � and local currency/Credit card) FRANCE SMALL GARAGES USE ACCESS CARD MORE THEN VISA ON UNMANNED STATIONS
Travel insurance
Ferry or tunnel TUNNEL
Personal items consisting of:
Included on my list but deleted in this post as not relevant and I am certain I need all the items!

FIRST AID KIT

Clothing consisting of:
Glasses/shades
Ear plugs x 5 sets or reuseable ?
Waterproofs
Neck roll
Spare gloves
Socks x pairs 1 PAIR WATERPROOF ONES
Underwear x pairs
Light under trousers/jeans x 1
T Shirts x
Fleece
Trainers
Hi-viz vest ? NOT REQUIRED BY LAW ONLY CARS NEED TO HAVE THEM
Wolley hat

Camping gear consisting of (assuming camping is the preferred accomodation):
Tent
Sleeping bag
Ground mat (Thermarest)
Head torch inc spare batteries
Tea towel
Cooking facility and fuel
Matches - wind proof/water proof type
Mess tin
Knife/Fork/Spoon
Metal mug
Cooking pan
T bags in sealed pot
Sugar - small pot or sachets
Milk - UHT shots ? How do i get my milk! THEY DO HAVE SHOPS OVER THERE :angel5:
Dehydrated food packs
Chocolate bars/energy bars
Washing up liquid - small ?
Sponge - to clean pan/mug/cuttlery ?
Waterproof bags - multiple
Water container CAMEL BACK SO YOU CAN DRINK ON THE MOVE AND USE TO CARRY WATER AT CAMP SITE
Mosquito net/repellant ? If applicable

SMALL CAMPING PILLOW

ALSO WHEN RIDING IN FRANCE ALWAYS STOP AT GIVEWAY SIGNS AND PUT ONE FOOT DOWN ON THE GROUND, YOU WILL GET AN ON THE SPOT FINE OF 150-180 EUROS BY THE POLICE

I know the list is crazy and I need to thin it down but its on the list for consideration. Please offer your oppinions and feed back. I can then refine the list and be happy knowing I have thought of enough to make both holidays enjoyable.

Cheers.

Above all enjoy

I always wear a bum bag to carry wallet, passport etc it is also a useful place to put any toll tickets in. I also wear it back to front so the bag is easy to open when you stop without having to fumble about to much.

Throttle side to the kerbside

Quote:

Originally Posted by meach (Post 111382)

Good luck Tony
The only advice i can give knowing you is.........................

allow plenty of time for toilet breaks :D

Now now Meach! I should have realised too many cups of tea before a freezing ride out was not the most clever thing to do. That said mate you have a fair point and if I am honest its one of the reasons I prefer to ride solo. "P" breaks as required and no stopping the Midlands posse LOL!

Anyway, all good stuff guys, many thanks for the posts so far they are helping a great deal.

To Gas up lets go, can you email me your excel file from your website detailing you stuff you take? It looks like you have put it on there but for some reason it wont let me download it. Many thanks in advance, I will PM you with my email address. I am just reading the trip as we speak, impressive.

As I am going to be riding a bicycle next year to J'O'Groats I am considering a Tenere trip up there first and get a feel for the place (long weekend) so when I go on the bicycle I will have effectively been there before but this time under human power! I will wait till better weather at the earliest late spring. I want to check out the West Highland way as well and a guy at work has recommended I take that in (bicycle only!). From the map it looks like Glasgow to Fort William.

Maybe not quite equipment but just in case you want a recommended ride when you get down here:-

BestBikingRoads.com

Cheers GULGO, I got the email and had a read through the list. It was worth it as I realised I did not have an E111 medical form on my list. Also like the USB stick with scanned copies of all documents, although not taking a computer access should be pretty easy if required. Finally the international driving permit was not on the list but after reading about it I dont need it for France or Spain. Still worth considering just incase I go elsewhere.

Many thanks

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony660z (Post 111465)

not taking a computer

Sometimes they can be uesfull, I use an A5 Asus PC with Windows and solid state memory (no damage to hard drives). Primarily for updating the route information and offloading trackog stuff from the GPS. But combined with a G3/GSM USB stick it does enable me to use the web to upload blogs, and more importantly book ferries, find information while on the road. A few times it did make a huge difference (not least trying to find the right ferry terminal in Helsinki, when I didn't even know which ferry I was supposed to be one...:icon_shaking:).

You can always find an internet cafe along the way if you need to.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gas_Up_Lets_Go (Post 111467)

Hell, why not just take a trailer! Just keep it simple and the power of speach is a wondedrful thing. If lost, ask. The locals are all friendly and don't carry spears you know. One of the joys of travel is getting away from things. There was a quote used in an advert I loved 'I long for the times when I have to think about the next ten feet and not the next ten years'. What can I say, thats the way to be. Keep it simple!

Quote:

Originally Posted by DickyC (Post 111468)

Hell, why not just take a trailer! !

Hell, why not post something usefull!

I don't reacall being critical of your advice.

Everyone will come to develop with their own methods. when someone askes for advice it's normal practice for people to give thiers, it might not fit, it might be that there are parameters others don't know, understand or appriciate. The worst kind of advice is the "mines better than anyone elses" attitude as it doesn't actually provide anything usefull.

Opinions are just that, opinions, though I have to say Tony is only going over to Spain, not the 3rd world. Spain and Europe in general are a lot more bike oriented that UK, specially due to the better weather. There are plenty of mechanics, along the way. The list of things Tony suggested I find it to be a bit overkill.

Crossing over to Spain even on a XT 660 is not going to take more than 2-3 days max depending on how many times you intend to stop, although Tony mentioned camping is involved as overnight stay, just because Spain is not an uncivilized 3rd world country, I would personally stop at some very cheap B&B, (there are plenty of them cheap, clean and family run with pukka food) not having to worry about setting up a tent in the middle of nowhere, play with pans and pots, and all that stuff. Instead sleep on a comfy bed so you are much fresher the next day, get a proper shower / bath and off you go again fresh as a daisy to the next stop, 700 miles later. But of course that's me and the way I like to travel, I did camping and was not a real fan of it. If you choose the B&B option then you have a lot less to carry and your journey can be more enjoyable, you bike will be lighter and perform better.

Just my opinion.