Just weighing up good and bad and perhaps if we all chip in maybe these tips may improve the next decent outing ! (1) My Goretex winter gloves let water in and where useless (Try to source better quality) (2) Although I was not affected (perhaps a bad idea to have a curry ) due to the long distance between stops (3) Dont carry a rucksack (just a bad idea) (4) Do get good tyres prior to the trip (mine where fantastic) So boys I don't want to list everything what do you reckon .
1: A decent pair of gloves that don't get soaked thru (if there even is such a thing) 2: Heated grips are next on my list 3: A good set of waterproofs. The ones I had were great, can't say the same for Gazza's 2 sets of tops that shredded. 4: A decent pair of boots that don't leak and leave you with puddles at you toes 5: Get a decent rack for the luggage, 1 like the rentec I bought for the tour or similar. Saves paintwork getting scratched and takes 10 mins to fit/remove.
1.I would make sure either I had a tank cover or venture shield over the sides of my tank,as mine which is black was showing signs of dulling from my waterproofs rubbing on the sides.its polished now and looks ok. 2.Waterproof gloves that are 100% waterproof as Colin said are there such a thing. 3.My tyres were fantastic the ones I got from my Michelin track day no signs of wear and didn't have one slip/slide.
buy a fast car then i can have it all warm and dry and a boot for all my gear lol other than that my aldi waterproof one pece for £14 was dry and warm
It's really worth using a Baglux tank cover like I had when touring then no chance of scuffing it. Also the porridge I had for brekkie was a little runny so perhaps cook it a little longer.
I am pretty made up with how my trip went, things I'd perhaps change? Waterproofs that fit correctly and look ok on the cat walk for the vain amongst us. waterproof covers for my boots and gloves. Find a better way of disconnecting power supply to tank bag. Navigation System in a position to be seen "perhaps Colin BR's method?
I'd have had the hotel room bookings / allocation clearer - it was a bit of a ball ache having to sort it when we all arrived after a long day when everyone just wanted to get changed and grab a beer. We had made a plan to meet and eat at the pub Thursday night - when Muffking had a pretty major incident he went to the pub expecting to catch up with the group and found nobody - he may have needed help / to get in touch with us. Perhaps exchange a few mobile numbers with everyone in advance 'just in case'? I know I forced a change of route in Inverness as Colin's SatNav was going to force us to the very centre of town on a Saturday morning and then prob. right back out the same way to the bridge- (its what via points do till you skip them or get to what it considers centre) - If we had started to use the drop off system, or just the last person in each part of a group stop at a junction to show the way would have kept us together. I knew we needed to head to Ullapool via the Kelso bridge but hard to get message to front group. Waterproof gloves - They must exist, afterall we have invented space dust and sega megadrives so anything is possible Splitting group into the 'tourers' and 'scratchers' - or similar - with a big group you get a huge range of speeds / confidence etc. - Friday was great to have all together and the splits on Saturday and Sunday were perfect but more by luck than judgement. Not having to work a full day on the Monday after a sh!tty 3 hour ride down from Moffatt! Spending a bit more time to plan video filming - but appreciate weather not great at times to be worth it - and on similar theme there were a few 'missed chances' for some group photos - but a real balance of time to plan / letting people enjoy the trip.
Nothing really, other than of course practice on how to put a set of waterproofs on Considering the size of the group I was amazed how well it worked, lost people in far smaller groups before.
Note to self .... Don't accelerate over a wet cattle grid slightly cranked over ..Not clever at all .He he!
The booking was totally my fault i admit, it was a ball ache considering we booked a set amount of rooms and the numbers kept rising, for future reference it will be perhaps an idea to have a figure and stick to it, for example, the second booking at The Spean Bridge Hotel was overlooked by the ladies in reception, i received a phone call on Tuesday saying the triple room had not been paid for, they admit it was an over sight on their accord. all sorted now i think? Keeping the group together again is herding cats when you have people with different abilities and different outlook on what the trip means for them! the drop off system imo works well if everyone is within a mile or two of each other, but again my opinion, you cant beat good old working it out for yourself, i spent a lot of time sorting out the routes for any given day for myself. two reasons 1 i dont like the idea of riding somewhere i dont know where im going. 2 i dont like the idea that folk would be kicking their heels waiting for someone who's slower than them. saturday was a prime example, i took a wrong turn and lost the group, imo i did the right thing, send a txt to the group leaders and tell them ive fcuked up and ill never catch up so ill see you at the next meeting point, in this instance it was the hotel, it reduces the pressure on the catcher and hopefully? eases any concerns of the rest of the group!
You've just reminded me to give the Spean Bridge a call mate. Forgot all about it. I'll check the receipt first though to make sure it all adds up
I loved every minute But I would change is myself and shift my fcukin arse when it's time to leave petrol station , Hotel or a break stop! After watching Al vid leavin the garage! There's me fannying about with my gloves (which were near as dam it totally waterproof) I frustrate the fcuk out my wife as I'm always at the coo's tail! The only time I was all the ball! I was half way to John O Groats before Al have to reel me back In (Sorry & thanks Al) So I'm gonna work on my response time and definitely get myself tail pack next time!
Don't worry trev - you'll never be as slow as Dave v aka the slug to get on the bike ready to pull away
I had a blast but biggest thing I learnt was don't go touring on a bike I have only been out on 3 times and covered 400miles(mostly on motorways bringing it home) on with inherited tyres that only grip in the dry! I had quite a few slides on the Sunday and lost all confidence in them and got slower and slower each time! I think the room arrangements was possibly the largest problem when everyone just wanted to get out of there gear and into a shower but we all live and learn.
