Don't overpack. If you're going for a week and not camping and have managed to fill 80 litres of luggage you've got too much stuff with you. Take only the clothing/toiletries you really need. Many toiletries come in small sizes which will save a bit of space. 40-50 litres of luggage space should be enough for a week of touring. If you're not used to riding long distances you may want to do a long test ride before you go touring and do it for multiple days in a row just to see how comfortable your bike really is. I have found that the Ducati touring seats improve comfort massively. Also wearing padded cycling shorts under your leathers will improve the comfort. In hot weather it will also make getting leather trousers on and off much easier. Wear layers of clothing. Depending upon where you are going you may encounter a range of temperatures and weather in one day. I have ridden from over 20 degrees to close to zero in the Alps in the space of a few hours. Having layers that you can easily remove or put on will make coping with weather changes much easier. Bear in mind that if you are heading south the the coldest bit of your journey may be your starting point. Just make sure you leave enough luggage space for the layers that you will shed as you head south. Make sure that you take tools for all the minor things that you might need to do such as tighten mirrors or other bits that may come loose, chain adjustment, etc. I have needed to bleed the clutch on several occasions on tour. If you are travelling in a group you can share tools to save some luggage space. If you are touring in a group have a long enough cable/chain lock that can lock two bikes together. It doesn't need to be the heaviest chain in the world, it's just a deterrent to stop your bike being lifted into the back of a van.
If you have never ridden 500 miles in a day before, the last 100 miles will be torture. But once you have done it a few times, it will become easy. 100 miles over high alpine passes = 200 miles on ordinary terrain. Allow enough time.
If you are riding long distances you will find it much easier if instead of focusing on how far you still have to go to your destination just focus on getting to a town 20-30 miles away. On a long journey don't try to ride for a long time without a break. Usually fuel consumption dictates stops, but depending upon the bike and the roads you may find that you are able to ride for 3 hours before needing to fill up. Regardless of the need for fuel stop every two hours and give your mind and body a short break. This will keep you more alert and comfortable on the bike and enable you to ride for longer. A long journey is likely to take about 4 fuel stops. It is the penultimate stint of the journey that is usually the hardest mentally. The final stint is ok because you know that you are closing in on your destination, even though you are physically tired.
Don't get distracted by the road side prossies in Italy and nearly rear end your mate........'A friend' told me this piece of advice....
There’s an old Chinese proverb saying something about the stops along the way are what the journey is about, not the end destination. Get off the main roads & enjoy scenic routes & don’t go everywhere at top speed. You’ll miss all the interesting stuff. And pack a couple of pots of Marvel Milk powder. It’s the best thing you’ll ever do
Stay hydrated, At every fuel stop drink 500ml of fluid and buy another bottle/can to keep on the bike.
GHIC. I have just received a GHIC. It is a Global Health Insurance Card. The NHS Business Services Authority will issue the card free of charge on request. Valid for 5 years. Apply online. If you are abroad, especially in Europe, showing your GHIC will make it easier and cheaper to get medical care if you need it. Not necessarily free.
An excellent suggestion Pete1950, however, as you correctly point out, it ISN'T free......Don't ask me how I know
Yep. But being on a bike trip you definitely need additional health insurance cover that covers riding a bike.
Doesn’t your everyday bike insurance cover the rider, including abroad? Like your car insurance? I never had to use my EHIC, but I carry it when crossing borders (on a bike or not) as I imagine it being useful to not have to pay out front for hospital fees, expensive medical exams and such, as it is connected to your national health care system. Is the GHIC working on the same principles ?
No. UK vehicle insurance doesn't cover healthcare as well. Does it in France? I have a bike in our French house covered by French insurance with AMV. Whilst i have looked at the paperwork, to translate the whole policy would take me a while.
GHIC will cover the basics but being involved in a bike accident is likely to be costly heathcare wise and it doesn't cover long stays in hospital nor does it cover repatriation.
Only just. Stay in hospital in many countries in Europe and they will be looking for payment pretty quickly. It’s not unknown for the patient to have to pay up to the hospital and then claim back what they can from the NHS when they return but it’s unlikely to cover the full cost and often nowhere near.
Take your old t shirts pants and socks then just throw them away after use ,plenty of room to bring nice stuff back
Use them for cleaning the bike lights / mirrors / when checking the chain etc just before you chuck them.......
EHIC if not at expiry date is still valid. But like GHIC only covers the basics. Hospital stays and surgery are not fully covered. They will issue a bill after your stay. Have had two stays in French hospitals. One non bike related (though on a bike trip) in 2019 and another last year following an accident. Need to check if my EHIC is still valid, thanks for the reminder @Pete1950, and if not apply for a GHIC. Three days in hospital and surgery, about a €450 pharmacy bill and repatriation (arranged that myself and submitted receipts) came to around £4k. Not as much as I was expecting TBH but still glad that I had bike specific travel insurance. Read the small print on any policy to check that motorcycling is covered. It's sometimes excluded or limited to 125cc or other capacity limit. In 2019 I had cover from the post office, that included riding my bike. However, the claim was handled by a third party that did everything they could to frustrate the claim. Took a lot of work on my part to prevent the French hospital from instigating proceedings against me and get the claim settled. Won't be buying any insurance from the PO ever again. EDIT: That's bizarre; just checked my EHIC and it expires on the day I get back from the first continental bike trip planned for this year. Have applied for a GHIC as you can do that if there is 90 days or less remaining on your old card. FYI: apply for your GHIC here.
