Bungleaio

Updated to do the long version!

50 seems to be about my average since I've owned it. It's the most efficient vehicle I own

Great find. Faffing at its finest

Yeah iphone Annoyingly I've just written this all out then accidentally selected it all and deleted. There is no undo I'm going to have another go at the long version I had breakfast this morning then head out on a ride sorted by calimoto. I set it to do 150 mile loop heading east. I needed to get some fuel so called into a shell garage, I noticed just as I committed for the turn that it was on a one way street, it was a quiet Sunday morning and nothing was about so no harm done. Well apart from my wallet. €2.10 a litre smarts a little. It's a road trip so needs must. Onwards and out of the city, the Netherlands (or Holland?) is flat mostly straight but it is scenic. Inset obligitary windmill picture. I rode along many tree lined roads through picturesque villages until I got to one which was having a festival. It was only about 10am so not in full swing by a long way. The guy on the road block tried to charge me €12 to get through. I was having none of it and tried to point out via the satnav that I wasnt stopping. He still wanted to charge me until someone else came over and saw sense. "No stop?" No stop "ok" and off I went. It looked like it had the makings for a great day with loads of food stalls and grolsh bars around the village green. I didn't stop though. I'm using calimoto off line so it doesn't know about road closures etc so I came across this. Whilst gooogling to confirm this meant road closed some locals went though so I put my gloves on and went round the sign too. It was right though as a major crossroads was shut but as luck would have it another local came from the left and gingerly drove through, over the block paving and into the sand and back out the other side. I know the lads laying the blocks will be annoyed with tyre tracks on Monday but I went though too. Sorry lads. A few more km later and I was into Germany. The only real sign was thst there was no cycle lanes down the side of the road. The first village I got to I was faced with anotger closed road,this time it was closed properly with tractors and police. I thought I'd stop for some water and to clean the flies off my visor, less than 10 minutes later the road was clear again. Got to love German efficiency. A few more km later I pulled over for some more water. I think this was the roughest road I've been on today,just goes to show how poor the roads are in England. The pylons were impressive too. Getting on for 1 o'clock I was getting hungry. Not a good thing when you're in Germany on a Sunday as it's mostly closeed. I did stumble on a cafe in a random town. Through the use of smiling and pointing I a manged to get a cream cake and a coffee. Not the usual Sunday lunch but it was really nice. How the cake was the cheap part I have no idea. Many more km later and I made it back to the Netherlands. A €1.50 ferry crossing was required to continue the journey. The roads in the Netherlands are fantastically smooth but I'm not a big fan of all the levys that the roads seem to be on. I completely get why they are there as there's massive flood risk but it would make for an interesting off whilst avoiding all the cyclists and oncoming traffic. I stopped again and an old lady with a walking frame came over to say hello. She offered Dutch then German then English,incredible especially when I only have English. Back on with the final leg and back tk the hotel. 250km covered today. I went for another walk around Arnham and found an incredible bar which was self service. I had to leave after 3 beers as the cream cake was struggling to soak it up. I had a fantastic pizza (and another beer) then back to the hotel for coutryfile and the antiques roadshow.

Thank you. There may be some more in a few minutes. Annoyingly the mobile website doesn't have an option to spin them unless I'm missing something

I've found a bar in arnhem that has 100 beers on tap and it's all self serve. @smallfrowneits a good job you aren't here or there would be no riding for us tomorrow

Thats a good idea for your documents. I might have to copy that. I have an extra set of insurance docs as my policy renews on Tuesday. I've had a great 150 mile ride today. I'll write it up in a bit when I've had a beer.

I had to show my passport at the Holiday Inn that I'm staying at. No questions about covid vaccinations though, which was nice.

Lean forward when accelerating! To be fair they have done well to get it on the centre stand

What are you going to do for the return journey or are you going to stay on the continent for the rest of your days? This could create the greatest faff know to schloss trips.

Apologies for the photos being upside down. I will sort this when I'm home. If I don't put them in now then I'll forget what I'm on about. The sun's going down so I guess that's pretty much the end of Saturday. The ferry was very smooth last night, didn't really know we were moving apart from a slight sway. I enjoy cruising though so I might be less sensitive to it. I also got to see a fantastic sunrise. The inside cabin did the job for what I needed and I slept well. I was rudely awoken by the tannoy announcing the breakfast being available at 5:30 though. I think it was 5:30, it was early I know that. Last orders are at 6.30. The clocks get put forward an hour at that time and we got off just after 8. Customs was easy and at no point has anyone asked me about covid jabs. I'd had breakfast on the ship and filled up with fuel at Morrisons in harwich so I got straight on with the trip to Arnhem. I've not been on the continent for a while but it soon comes back. Cyclists going the wrong way around roundabouts took me a little by suprise though. The journey was relatively uneventful just smooth and mostly straight roads. I stopped to look at the windmills at Werelderfgoed Kinderdijk. The parking attendant let me park with the push bikes as I wasn't staying long. I stopped to take a photo in one village and a van just stopped in the road to check I was OK. He stopped to chat bikes for a few minutes much to the annoyance of all the cars behind him. The Dutch are used to bikes though and not a single person pulled out on me. I wish that was the case at home. The roads have also been very quiet I checked into the hotel and they also said I would have to pay to use the garage provided I tucked it into the corner This afternoon has involved having a few beers and a wander around Arnham.i also got to see the sun go down.

That out of office notice is on, the laptop is shut and the bike is out of the garage. I headed down to Harwich straight after work and covered a fairly mundane 160 miles mostly on the A14, 55 junctions I covered. It was livened up by a massive diesel spillage over a couple of miles near Kettering, it was about a foot wide in lane 2 or 3 depending on which was the "fast Lane". I kept away from it and stuck to the inside Lane until I saw a BMW 3 series with its bonnet up and a diesel line directly to it. I used waze to navitage to Harwich and for some reason it decided a very narrow single track road with a load of gravel in the middle was in order, it was about a mile long and thankfully nothing came the opposite way. I arrived in harwich for just after 8 and got on the ship for about 9. In the bar for 9.45. I've never strapped my bike down before so fingers crossed it will still be standing tomorrow. If not I'll pick it up and carry on. The tunnel is certainly quicker and a lot more simple but the ferry cost me £120 so I figured that was cheaper than a hotel and the tunnel at either end,plus I'll be in the Netherlands ready to go first thing in the morning. Roll on tomorrow for windmills

This time tomorrow the adventure should be well underway and the bike should be safely strapped onto a ferry and I'll be in the bar. The first leg is to go to Arnhem so I'll be crossing from Hawich to the Hook of Holland and making my way across the country having a look at some windmills on the way. I've got two nights in Arhem so that I can have a look around before heading south to meet up with @bonio. The bike is packed up and ready to go so as soon as I finish work tomorrow I can get straight on it and head to the ferry.

Seems like people are interested so I'll put something up. I didn't think people would be that into it with it just being me going.

I did a thread for a trip to the Eifel Mountains back in 2018 which seemed to go down well - https://themotorbikeforum.co.uk/topic/30605-eifel-mountains-2018/ Is there any appetite for a 2022 version? I'm going on my own this time rather than being six of us and I'll be doing a couple of days on in The netherlands on the way there and a day in France on the way back. If people are interested I'll post some updates.

Keeping any form of petrol engine in a property is likely to cause issues with landlords/leases/buildings or contents insurance.

You'll be better off if you got a 125cc if you're going on dual carriageway. 50cc at 30mph would be asking to be in an accident

If it’s not how it came out the factory then it should be declared. They will make the decision as whether it makes any difference to them. In the event of a claim if they see modifications then they may use this as a reason it to pay out. I’ve found that adding tail tidys, crash bungs and lights make no difference to the cost of the policy.

I rode my bike back from Norfolk last sunday in the sun and I was glad to get home, to me once it gets abover 28ish then I don't enjoy it. I was wearing mesh gear too.

That’s a fabulous picture. Not surprised to hear there was some maintenance faffing, it wouldn’t be the same if there wasn’t.

I've got one of these - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Go-6000-Tubeless-Puncture-Pilot/dp/B0068FX3VO/ref=asc_df_B0068FX3VO/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=449340026117&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8103853838303447684&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006529&hvtargid=pla-468186484749&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=107459883267&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=449340026117&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8103853838303447684&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006529&hvtargid=pla-468186484749 Works a treat and the pump is really small.

Has there been much maintenance/repair required yet? I'd estimate day 4 when the seat had to come off.

This place is awesome, they have a garage at the back that they let you put your bike in, space for about 8-10 if organised properly. The hotel has fantastic views and it's not far to the Mach loop or Elan Valley https://www.richmondhotel.wales/

I just use pitchup.com and haven't gone wrong yet

Depends on how light you pack. This was mu street triple with a 30 and 10 strapped to the back. I had the other 10 inside somewhere ready to increase capacity if I needed on the way back but I never needed it. kriega is expensive but it's very good. I no longer use mine as I have a GS with hard luggage but I'm keeping the kriega stuff just in case I get another bike at some point.