Ali in Austria

Just bought a Dainese Jacket from them. Arrived in 4 days from ordering. Unfortunately the first one was too small (Darn Italian Sizes). I returned it and had a PayPal Refund within 5 days from posting it off. The second one arrived in 4 days from ordering. It does seem to take them a couple of days to ship out.

Held annually on the weekend closest to Summer Solstice, this is our local Oldtimer Club in action. A very cold and wet morning gave way to sunshine. http://www.oldtimerclub-ramsau.at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gki8N3ncWrQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaP3bsFWm9Q http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8OJf82kA0U

No issues at all with them. It is common out here to shop around the EU for best prices and most companies are excellent, relying on their On Line reputation. While the Pound is strong it is also worth looking at Polo http://www.polo-motorrad.com/en/?___from_store=en and Louis https://www.louis.eu/rubrik/motorcycle- ... -helmets/1 who often have some excellent discounts throughout the year.

I'm fortunate, life is now one long holiday and I live in the middle of Touring Country WilliamM if you going to Heidelberg and they are of interest to you then the Technic Museums at Speyer and Sinsheim are well worth a visit: http://www.technik-museum.de Some ideas for passing through Austria: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid= ... sp=sharing or playing in the German Alps: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid= ... sp=sharing ....... and to head south from Heidelberg: The Castle Road - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle_Road The Romantic Road - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romantic_Road

This is why i want another bike to come with me, i didnt know any of this. lol, dont fancy going for a ride do you Ali? I wouldn't entertain it in one mate.

You can remove GoPro Mounts cleanly by combining a hair dryer on a moderate heat and a constant shearing force on the mount. It will eventually let go. It is fairly safe as you will burn your fingers before too much heat damages the surface. Get some double sided 3m tape and you can re use the mount. These are handy for mounting the camera: http://www.funsport.de/actioncam/zubeho ... black.html http://www.funsport.de/actioncam/zubeho ... auben.html or http://www.funsport.de/actioncam/zubeho ... ungen.html

Good luck, especially with the time estimate. I guess you will be using motorways but haven't experienced the hold ups for road works that we can get in Europe. In countries such as Austria and Germany it is illegal to filter between the traffic. Many do it, including me, but be aware. It is not uncommon for a jealous motorist to try and block your way but many will move over. It is not illegal to pass on the offside of queuing or stationary traffic. Also be aware that many European Countries have a requirement in the event of stationary or slow moving traffic for vehicles to form an emergency access lane. The outside lane moves to the offside and all other lanes move to the nearside including using the Hard Shoulder. Get caught taking advantage of this big space and you will get a substantial fine. If you are determined to do it in one go then a few precautions will help. Wear seamless underwear. The seam ridge can become unbearable after a few hours. A Lambswool Pad aids comfort and air circulation when spending a long time in the saddle. Stop frequently for a few minutes to stretch your limbs. It is easier to keep discomfort at bay if you address it before you feel it. Keep hydrated. Tea and coffee are diuretics and don't really do anything to keep you alert. Plenty of water is a must. Too many energy drinks do more harm than good. If you feel tired, don't fight it. Stop as soon as you can. A Power-Nap works wonders. Many continental service areas have shower facilities. A quick shower and change of base layers works wonders. If using the Calais to Dover Ferry, use P&O, pay the extra €10,- or so for The Club lounge and take advantage of relatively secure storage for your gear, a comfortable seat, complimentary drinks and on most ships, a shower. I've driven solo in our mini bus from here to Southampton. Took me 17 hours via The Tunnel and I was knackered. I wouldn't choose to do it on a bike.

Just be aware that budget cameras have their limitations. Lens, sensor, hardware and firmware tend to be considerably inferior to the higher end action cameras. They can struggle with changing light conditions and even some of the decent ones are useless at night. If it is going to be used for playback on a small screen player such as You Tube then most HD capable cameras will do an acceptable job. Playback on a larger screen will show up the shortcomings. Anything recording 720 or 1080p genuine HD should do but if Slow Motion Playback is desired then it should be capable of a recording rate of at least 720P/60fps. Rolling shutter can be a problem with any action camera but tends to be more pronounced on the lower end devices. (Rolling Shutter or Jello occurs because these types of cameras don't record one frame at a time but slices of a frame and stitches them together. Quick movement of the camera or vibration results in Jello because of the movement as these slices are recorded. Built in Mics on a waterproof camera are next to useless such as on a GoPro when using the waterproof case or a Drift where the Mic itself is waterproofed. A Mic stuck out in the wind is going to record dreadful wind noise which is why most people mute the audio and put the footage to music. If the camera has provision for an external mic then a cheap Mic fitted with a wind muffler and positioned out of direct wind blast does a good job. Avoid the new entry level GoPro Hero http://shop.gopro.com/EMEA/cameras/hero ... aster.html .The built in battery limits recording time and if it becomes defective you can't use the camera. The protective case is designed to take knocks but on this model the camera is permanently fitted in to it. Damage the case and the camera is useless. Difficult if it is a surprise present but if you haven't already, sound your friend out to establish what they intend using it for and how serious they may take it as a hobby. Perhaps consider a voucher towards a more expensive camera. Drift appear to have discontinued the HD720 but if you can get one cheap they do a reasonable job. Pros - Reasonable battery life with interchangeable batteries and range of mounting options. Rotating lens and built in screen to aid set up Cons - Maximum 720p/30fps No provision for external Mic

What do you mean By Abrasion Resistance? Kevlar tends to be a lining in strategic places If it is genuine Kevlar then it will do its job and remain in tact. The outer however is likely to shred much like any other similar material. Sliding along on Kevlar does generate a substantial amount of heat which can result in some nasty friction burns and leave lasting scars. I know from personal experience. Good armour is just as important in Kevlar Jeans as it is in any other motorcycle protective clothing. It has to fit correctly in the right places and remain in place in the event of an off. Mine didn't

Some of you may be heading for The Alps this summer and may also be interested in what is involved in getting a High Pass ready for opening. Due to open by May 1st (as is Nockalmstraße), work commenced clearing The Großglockner on April 13th. You can follow their progress on their FaceBook Page: http://www.facebook.com/grossglocknerstrasse or better still, follow it on our FaceBook Page http://www.facebook.com/pension.haus.maria For the next few days their progress can be seen on these Panomax Cams. http://edelweissspitze.panomax.com http://fuschertoerl.panomax.com You can zoom in on an area. They are currently just below Bikers Point on the North Side. A team is also working its way up from the south. When you can see them on this Panomax, their work is nearly done http://grossglockner.panomax.com The big blue Rotary Plows are between 50 and 60 years old and still going strong. They are supplemented by equipment being tested by the manufacturer Steyr.

Thermal Liners will do that, especially with "Budget Gear". Underwear such as that designed for sports are good at wicking sweat away. Just as important, get seamless underwear as after a few hours in the saddle even a thin ridge will cause you great discomfort.

That is surprising as Sena & Scala aren't even compatible with each other, other than using Sena's Universal Pairing Option?

When trying on a helmet bear in mind some display models, especially popular models, may have had more "Trying On" than others and may already have loosened up. If it feels slightly over snug and is brand new then it may well compress in time to be comfortable. If it feels tight then after a short while it will be painful. I always recommended customers wore it for at least 10 minutes to see if there was any discomfort. The longer the better. Even a tiny bit of pressure on the ear initially can be excruciating after 30 minutes or an hour. You mention peripheral vision but what many do not realise is that a tinted visor will blur your peripheral vision in any case.

They claim just over 1 mile (2km) with the 20S but they aren't cheap. It is a bit cheaper buying the twin kit. Try contacting Sena Europe direct to see if they will extend the discount to a third unit. You will appreciate the Group Function if you all have 20S models, so easy to connect in a conference mode and easy to set up on the Smart Phone App.

Why do you want Radio? If it is because of the gear others you ride with have already got and they aren't planning on changing over to Blue Tooth Intercoms then yes there are solutions out there. Sena do a Radio Blue Tooth Module with a PTT Button that will connect to most Bluetooth Headsets regardless of make http://www.sena.com/product/adapters/sr10/ You can pair 1 Radio and 1 Mobile Phone to it in addition to Pairing to a Headset. However, modern Blue Tooth Intercoms are getting decent range these days. I wrote this on another forum: Hopefully some may find this a useful. For as long as I can remember I have listened to music while riding and being a bit of a gadget freak have strived to get the best quality audio I can. The early days were hit and miss what with cassette and CD players and using earphones not designed to go under a crash helmet. I also appear to have sensitive ears as I find any type of ear bud speaker uncomfortable bordering on painful. When I met SWMBO later in life and she took to riding pillion like a duck to water we felt the need to invest in some sort of intercom. Initially it was Starcom, then the Starcom Advanced and finally the Starcom Digital. I have to say that the latter is an excellent bit of kit only really let down by the fact you are connected by a cable and having ridden off with her still connected on a couple of occasions, hasn't always endeared me in her affections. Being all year bikers come rain, wind, snow and sun and touring Europe on a regular basis we found that an intercom enhanced our enjoyment. Granted it is not for everyone but it was for us. At the time I had a second job working for a motorcycle dealership on a part time basis and had access to all sorts of gear to try. (I even got them to stock Starcom as well as Autocom which a few years later were both owned by Starcom anyway). As Blue Tooth started to become more readily available I looked at the limited choice available. The budget ones were useless. Cardo were the main name at the time but not without their problems. We eventually took the plunge to Blue Tooth when we bought a pair of Schuberth C3's and invested in their SRCS system. It worked but wasn't perfect. As a rider to pillion unit it was good but lacked any kind of range rendering the ability to connect to other headsets useless. It was made by Cardo and would connect to other Cardo units without issue. However, to really get a useful range a decent PMR Radio was still the only way to go. On emigrating to Austria and setting up our Biker B&B I found that many people were passing through using varying makes of Blue Tooth units. What you soon discover is that there are various Blue Tooth Protocols in use and which aren't compatible with each other. For example, Cardo and Scala use different protocols and won't pair to each other, something that is probably done deliberately. You are more likely to find budget brands being compatible with each other. Seeing a benefit in being able to hook up with guest's units when I take them on guided tours I started sounding users out as to their real life experiences with them. Sena appeared to stand head and shoulders above the competition for reliability, battery life and user friendliness. At the time there were basically 3 models in the Sena Biking Range: The SMH5 - a very good rider to pillion intercom but lacking in range and only having the ability to have one connection at a time. The SMH10 and SMH10R, the latter being basically the same unit but more streamlined when mounted - On paper a very good bike to bike intercom with up to 4 way conference connection and many features which appealed. You have to remember that any function involving the connection to additional devices will only work if those other devices support it and there was also the issue of compatibility with other brands. At about this time Sena announced the imminent arrival of a Universal Pairing Function enabling connection to devices using other protocols. This would be by way of a Firmware Upgrade and existing units would benefit from it. I was expecting a group of Bikers out who I was taking down to Croatia and who I discovered were also using Sena so I took the plunge and purchased an SMH10. I wasn't disappointed. There was a choice of mounting options as far as mic and speaker/earbud combinations go so make sure you get the right one for you. I fitted it to my Schuberth C3 helmet and the first thing I discovered was that the clamp method of mounting it will not work on this helmet and you have to use the adhesive mount provided. No problem, it is a secure fix. A new Firmware Upgrade was available which was very easy to do with the Sena Device Manager for both PC and MAC. It also included the Universal Pairing Upgrade. I was able to pair to my wife's Schuberth SRCS System using this so Sena were now compatible with Cardo at least. (more about Universal Pairing later.) Connecting to my iphone was easy and I could stop, pause, fast forward and rewind with ease. Telephone conversations were crystal clear and could even use Siri. I had no problem hooking up to my Garmin Zumo 550. I only did the latter to test it as I hate the voice prompts from the Zumo, mainly because they interrupt my music. I prefer to use a Sat Nav as a visual aid or scrolling map but that is just one of my little foibles. Once you get your head around the jog dial and buttons it is a breeze to use, even with a gloved hand. Voice prompts ensure you are in the right menu. The guys coming to Croatia were still a few weeks away when those fiends at Sena announced the imminent release of the all new 20S. Boasting 8 connections, 8 way conference calls, Universal Pairing, HD audio and a raft of functions that they must have known were too tempting for me to ignore I pre ordered one. My justification was that the wife could then have the SMH10 and we wouldn't be limited to Schuberth helmets. (it is very easy for me to justify these things in my own mind. The wife doesn't quite see it like that). The release date was the same day we were due to set off for Croatia so I emailed Sena, explained what I did and was doing and asked if there was anyway I would receive the 20S in time for the trip. There response was "they will see what they can do". The time came for me to ride up in to Germany to meet the guys coming down. The SMH10 was faultless. I really enjoyed my music, the wife rang me a couple of times and the calls were clearer than just using the phone on its own and when we met up I was easily able to pair to the other devices. They claim a 900m range on the SMH10 and on the motorway I would say that was about right. Even in the mountains we were getting a good 500m. On the occasions connections did drop out they easily reconnected when back in range. Regular use has substantiated the claimed battery life and it easily lasts all day for us. USB charging is also possible in use if you forget to do it overnight. It has been tested in torrential rain and appears to have survived without water damage. In summary the SMH10 is an excellent bit of kit well suited for Bike To Bike communication and does what is says on the box. On arrival back at our B&B I found the 20S waiting for me and like an excited child at Christmas, I had to get it fitted ready for Croatia. I transferred the SMH10 to the wife's helmet and fitted the 20S. The fitting kit comes with all you need. Boom and fixed Mic, Speakers or the option to plug in Ear Buds (not included). There is an App for the 20S which makes updating and changing settings very easy so I downloaded that. No Firmware upgrade available but hey, it is a brand new model, it will have the latest version. I connected up my phone, sat nav and the other headsets and all was OK. I was a bit disappointed to see only one Universal Pairing Connection but that was down to me misreading the advertising hype. The next day we set off for Croatia. after a very short while my thoughts on the 20S were "This is a pile of cr*p". Connections dropped out and wouldn't re connect. My phone kept dropping out and would only reconnect after I had re paired the devices. It was a disaster. Meanwhile the wife was keeping the group entertained with the faultless SMH10. On my return I got straight on to Sena Tech Dept. I must say this is a first rate service. I was corresponding to a guy in the states via email with only delays that come from being in different time zones. He remained my point of contact throughout. He immediately and honestly informed me that the 20S should not have been released as it had many known bugs in it causing the issues I had experienced. He offered me a full refund but advised me to wait a few days for the new Firmware Update to come out which will address my issues. If still not happy I could have a full refund. The promised Firmware Upgrade became available about 7 days later. "Wow, what a difference. This is the best thing since sliced bread". Range is excellent. They claim 2km and line of sight that is about right. Stick something solid in the way and you aren't going to get that with any Blue Tooth Device. An SMH10 user could hear me at extreme range when his speech was broken to me. Everything works as claimed, up to 8 intercom connections plus a Universal Pairing Connection, usual accessory connections, voice prompts and voice commands to access functions combined with very good quality audio. There is also a Group Function facility but only works with other 20S models. This is a sophisticated device with complex functions made simple by its ease of use especially with the voice commands which work even at illegal speeds apparently. Subsequent Firmware Upgrades have tweaked things for the better such as easier access to the Voice Command function. You may have guessed I am very impressed with the 20S. Sena also have a fairly active FaceBook Page where customers express their wishes in what they would like to see in a product. Sena respond to these comments explaining what is possible and what isn't. They clearly listen to the customer because many of these requests are addressed in follow up Firmware Upgrades. There was still one slight issue with my 20S. The USB cover bung on mine wouldn't stay in place and it would be susceptible to water ingress. It appears the first batch had this problem where the little retaining strip could pull through to far and cause this. I emailed Sena Europe, (from whom I bought it) explaining the issues I had initially and the problem with the bung. I also advised them I was a Tour Guide and could not afford to be without my Device during the season and asked if I could return it at the end of the season to be repaired or replaced. I had an email reply within the hour advising me a new 20S was on its way and they would then collect the old one. The new one arrived 3 days later but they never collected the old one which is a bonus. I have since solved the problem on it. I am a firm believer in you get what you pay for and also expect to get what I paid for. OK, maybe Sena should have delayed the release of the 20S but they were superb in dealing with my complaints and I wouldn't hesitate to buy from them again. In fact I already have. A note on Universal Pairing: To get around the protocol issues non compatible devices are paired as a mobile phone. This seems to work but I suspect that the range is reduced, not that I have had a chance to test that theory yet. Although there is only one Universal Pairing Connection it doesn't mean you are limited to one non Sena in the group. For example: You can have 2 SMH10s and 2 non Sena devices in a conference call. Pair one SMH10 to a non Sena, repeat with the other two and then pair the two SMH10s together and you have a 4 way conference call. There is more scope if using 20S models. Since purchasing mine Sena have added to their range including a new entry level model in the 3S and a helmet specific model in the 10U. There is also one with a built in camera which you can use to narrate straight to the recording in the 10C I'm not knocking any of the other Blue Tooth devices out there, each to their own, but before purchasing one, make sure it is capable of doing what you want it to do. Suitable range, audio quality, compatibility with existing devices and whether it can connect to everyone you would like to being very important considerations. As I previously mentioned, I have no problem justifying things in my own mind and maybe the 20S is more than most need. It is certainly a nice price. But if you are looking for a good reliable Blue Tooth intercom with the ability to pair with other makes then you really should give Sena serious consideration. Sena also do their own stand alone Blue Tooth Camera, the Prism which while the spec is quite good, it is not a GoPro and Sena realise this. So they also do an Audio Pack for the GoPro H3, 3+ and 4. This is an excellent device for narrating directly on to the recording and is capable of capturing all parties in any conference connection. Very useful for me when recording as a Tour Guide as it captures their reactions when riders experience our environment for the first time. It is also compatible with non Sena Devices. You do need Sena's own GoPro case though to accommodate how it connects to the camera. My next investment is the SR10 Bluetooth radio Adapter as I have a couple of Kenwood TK radios sat doing nothing. I should state I have no connection to Sena whatsoever and receive no recognition by plugging their products. I am just a happy customer passing on my experiences. As a foot note: Sena Warranty is for 2 years and with the original purchaser only. Warranty claims have to be returned to POINT OF SALE. This is worth considering when purchasing a used Device or what appears to be a bargain new Device on the likes of eBay. If the seller is not an authorised retailer there could be issues although there is a Link on the Sena Support Page in this event. I always buy from Sena's On Line Shop even if I could get it cheaper elsewhere. My experiences in dealing with them direct have been a breeze and it is worth it over any small saving I may have made elsewhere

You will only be able to pair to other compatible systems so if your mates are using something else, then there is a good chance you won't be able to pair with them. Then again, you might. The Protocols manufacturers use for connecting to Phones, Sat Navs etc tend to be generic hence most Devices will connect. The actual Intercom Protocols vary a lot. Anyone with a Sena has Universal Pairing for one connection but that utilises the Mobile Phone connection to get round it which probably also limits range.

Different manufacturers use different Blue Tooth protocols and it would take a bit of research to find out which makes pair with which other makes. For example, normally Scala and Sena are not compatible. Sena have addressed this by providing a Universal Pairing Option on most of their models. This works by pairing the headsets as Mobile Phones and although I can't be sure, I think range is probably reduced compared to normal pairing. So you can pair one incompatible Headset plus the normal compatible Headsets. I have the SMH10 and a couple of 20S models and can highly recommend both. Battery Life is not an issue for all day riding and they can be charged while in use if necessary. Sena have recently introduced a couple of more models to their range. The 10U is helmet specific to certain makes and models and is a concealed fitment. The 3S is a new entry level Headset. The SMH5 is best suited for Rider to Pillion as range and no ability to speak or listen to more than 1 other Headset at a time limits their function for a group of riders. By Pairing the 10 and 20S range in a certain way you can make up a working group of more than one non Sena Headsets for example with the SMH10 you can have 2 Sena and 2 Universal Pairings, Double that with the 20S. Be mindful that the other Headsets have to be able to support multi headset connections for it to work properly.

A few fellas over here might be able to help you http://www.adventurebikerider.com/forum.html

The version of GoPro Studio I had wouldn't recognise my H4 Black (V2.4 on Mac) but I noticed there was V2.5 available. Downloaded and installed. Updated my H4 no problem. Should be able to do it through the Smart Phone or Tablet App as well.

Anyone with a GoPro 4: There is a new Firmware Upgrade that adds some nice little features http://gopro.com/update/HERO4?utm_sourc ... arget=true

My pleasure but please bear in mind this is just general advice. When I have done this before on other web sites I have been met with scorn and even hostility and abuse from some. Please just take from it what you will. This is a list of tips I wrote for a club I ran in the UK a few years back for a annual jaunts in to Europe. Much of it is still valid. Clueless Touring Tips 1. Make sure your Passports are valid for the period you will be travelling !!! 2. Make sure you have a European Health Insurance Card which replaces the E111. Get one here; http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcare ... -ehic.aspx It is also worth reading about your entitlements in each country and what you have to do Make sure you are on the Official NHS Site where the card is free. There are a number of similar looking sites who charge a fee. 3. You will need to be in possession of your Driving Licence, Insurance MOT and Registration Document . You will need originals but carry copies to hand over in the first instance. 4. Arrange Travel Insurance to cover cancellations, possessions and medical bills. Make sure motorcycling is an approved activity. 5. Check your Insurance covers you for riding in all countries we will be travelling through. Do you need to notify them of the dates you are travelling abroad? Do you need a Green Card? In particular, if venturing in to Litchenstein make sure your Insurance Company covers you there. For some bizarre reason many don't 6. Arrange European Breakdown Cover. Don't just go for the cheapest. Check out the conditions for bike repairs, repatriation etc. Some will arrange for your bike to be repaired locally but if you have gone home in the meantime, any travelling costs involved in recovering it are down to you. The German Motoring Club ADAC are very popular amongst those who know. Covers you all year, even in the UK (AA are the agents) and will get your bike home if it can't be repaired promptly. You need to ring them though as the On Line facility requires a German address. 7. Make sure you have the correct emergency equipment as required by law in the countries we are travelling in. A reflective vest in the event of motorway breakdown for each person, a First Aid kit and a spare bulb kit are all that is usually needed. The French requirement for 2 x Breath Test Kits is still on the Statute Books but is not acted upon. For driving in different countries go here http://www.pensionhausmaria.com/location.asp. Scroll down to just below the Google Map and click on the icons in the Widget. 8. Arrange for your motorcycle to be suitably serviced prior to setting off and allow for the miles you will cover during the Tour. Consider Tyres, Chain & Sprocket life etc... Long distances on motorways kill tyres!!! 9. Prepare a small tool kit of basic tools and include cable ties, Gaffer Tape, insulation Tape, fuses etc... just for an emergency. Do you have sufficient Scott Oil if applicable. Carry a small bottle of suitable engine oil.Not always easy to find what you want in an emergency. 10. Consider filling your tyres with a tyre sealant – It can save no end of grief. This is a personal preference by the Author who to date has never been troubled by a puncture. Even a simple thing such as a tyre repair is not easy to get done especially if you are in a remote area and don't even think about weekends. 11. Save your old T-Shirts, socks and undies, clean of course, to wear during the day while riding and then throw them away. Creates space for the presents to bring home. Seamless underwear is more comfortable when in the saddle all day. 12. Save small plastic bottles with tight lids. These are useful to decant shampoo, shower gel etc in to save room and weight. 13. Places like Superdrug and Boots often have small travel packs of washing powder etc on offer like BOGOF. 14. You will experience extremes of temperatures on the Tour. Pack accordingly. Many thin layers are more effective than bulky items. If you have separate waterproofs, pack them so that they are easy to get at. A spare pair of Gloves is useful in case of getting wet through. 15. Save up all those little packets of silicon that you find in all sorts of purchases. They are very handy to place in boots and gloves overnight to assist with drying them out. 16. Are your panniers ect waterproof. Pack items in bin liners. 17. Roll items up when packing to avoid creasing. Share groups of items between panniers / bags in case of an accident so that not all of one thing is ruined. 18. Pack for the travelling days so that you only have to access one pannier, box or bag. 19. Photocopy all documents including drivers licence, insurance, breakdown insurance, travel insurance, EHIC Card, passports, Ferry tickets, booking details and pack them elsewhere than the originals or carry the copies on a USB Stick or Flash Card. 20. Carry a debit & credit card or two of one or the other just in case. Make sure you know the Pin Numbers. 21. Carry a full spare set of keys for your house, motorcycle, luggage and any locks you may be using and store them safely. (Do not lock them in a pannier or top box). 22. Carry a spare visor - Clear and tinted. The sun in Alpine Regions is very bright but the tunnels can be extremely dark. Avoid wearing sunglasses on routes with tunnels. 23. Dress code is as comfortable as you feel. I just don’t want to see any of the blokes wearing them. (Appropriate to the Authors Tours) 24. Don’t forget some swimwear if you want to take advantage of the pools, sauna, Jacuzzi, sunbathe etc. Many hotels have included wellness facilities. 25. Carry some Euros. You will almost certainly have to pay some Tolls so make sure you can carry Euros which are easy to get at when at a Toll Booth. There is nothing worse than the feeling you will get holding up a queue of traffic while you look for cash. Likewise, have somewhere easy to stuff your Toll Ticket when you enter the appropriate area. There is usually a pull in immediately passed a Motorway Toll Booth for you to replace gloves etc. Some Motorway Toll booths charge all bikes the car Tariff when using a Card Payment Lane. Use the manned booths. 26. If you are taking electrical items such as Mobile Phones, MP3 players, don’t forget the chargers for them and get an adapter. 27. If you are on medication of any description, ensure you have a sufficient supply for the duration of the Tour. If necessary gets a covering letter from your GP stating that the medication is prescribed to you. In many European Countries you cannot even get a Paracetamol from anywhere other than a Pharmacy. 28. Suggested Non Prescription Medication – Sea Sickness tablets, Paracetamol or Aspirin & Ibuprofen & Diarrhoea Treatment. Hand Wipes, Sun cream and after sun (Alpine Sun will quickly burn you even in winter), Chap Stick or Lip seal, Hand cream, Plasters, Insect repellent, Antihistamine or Insect Bite relief treatment, tissues, and any other personal toiletries you may need. 29. If you wear glasses for riding, some countries require you to carry a spare pair. Very good weather sites. The first is used by the local tourist offices out here for skiing information and up to 48 hours ahead is usually very accurate for anywhere in Europe. http://www.yr.no/place/Austria/Styria/G ... _hour.html http://www.xcweather.co.uk/forecast/ramsau_am_dachstein These are very useful for Traffic and Road & Pass information. Open them in Google Chrome and they translate quite well. http://www.alpen-journal.de/alpenservic ... aesse.html http://www.oeamtc.at/?id=2500,,,1934 http://www.oeamtc.at/?id=2500,,,10280 http://www.adac.de Toll requirements http://www.tolltickets.com/country/euro ... lang=en-GB Countries such as Switzerland and Austria only require a Vignette if you use there motorways and some expressways. Switzerland is an annual Vignette from Jan to Dec and not cheap. Austria does a 10 day motorcycle Vignette for €4,80 (as of 2014). Get caught without one in Switzerland and expect a very hefty fine. In Austria it is about €120,- and they can have checks in Service Areas and on Off Ramps. You can buy one at most petrol stations in and around Austria and at ADAC and OÄMTC Offices. If you find yourself on a Motorway by accident, stop at the first Petrol Station / Service Area and buy one before proceeding to the Rest Area itself otherwise you could fall foul of a check. We had that happen to some guests last year. A special note about Switzerland. It is a beautiful country with fantastic roads and scenery but Traffic Enforcement is harsh. Even a minor speed transgression can attract a fine well in excess of €1000,- on the spot and an instant ban. You can also expect a fine of a similar amount to follow in the post which if you don't pay, don't go back. 2 yrs ago a defective tyre was attracting €500,- fines and they were doing multi bike checks. If it is any consellation they don't single out Bikers but treat all motorists the same and there are no grey areas. Levels of Fines appear to be means tested with the value of the vehicle and your occupation taken in to consideration. If you get caught, play down your occupation. If you are riding in a group, spare a thought for your companions. We all know the guy who holds everyone up. If one stops for petrol, everyone should top off there tanks. After all, someone might need some depending where you are an hour or two later. There is nothing worse than having filled up for you have to stop half a tankful later because someone else didn't. Get everything done promptly. Fuel first then coffee and a p*ss in no particular order. If you need to tinker with your bike, do it first and not as everyone is about to set off. Particularly spare a thought for the guy leading. It is often a thankless task which can be very tiring and stressful. Fetching his or her coffee at a rest stop works wonders . Be mindful that if you have Sat Nav Routes, different makes and even software versions can show very different routes even if everyone started with the same GPX File. If you have decided a time to set off, make sure you are all ready to go. There is nothing worse than starting the day moaning. If you are using Sat Navs, make sure you turn off Toll Avoidance and Seasonal Road Closures otherwise you will miss out on many great roads. Don't follow the Sat Nav blindly. Zoom out to get an overview of the bigger picture and you may avoid those anomalies that make you exit a road only to rejoin it a short distance later. Carry a decent Map as visualising your route helps with following Sat Nav instructions. Even just being aware of where the sun should be can quickly alert you to any mistakes. If you are camping, Here is a fairly good Data Base of Campsites - http://www.archiescampings.eu There is even an App. Booking.com is great for locating accommodation with availability but it is usually much cheaper to then book direct. Be mindful that distances quoted are usually "as the crow flies" which can be very misleading in the mountains. Germany and Italy are on Holiday in August and accommodation can be limited in some popular areas. France on Bastille Day can be a problem and The Tour De France has scuppered many a plan. Individuals and small groups will normally have no problem finding accommodation. Larger groups may wish to book in advance. If you haven't Toured in Europe before what you will find is that Bikers are welcome just about anywhere with many establishments and attractions etc having facilities, often free, just for them. It is quite common to see motorcycle gear, helmets etc just left on a bike and generally nothing will be touched. Just be careful in larger towns and cities, service areas and places where bikers aren't so common. Something like a Pac Safe is ideal to leave your gear secure in if necessary http://www.pacsafe.com/travel-accessori ... ctors.html While most Petrol Stations accept Credit Cards, they are not accepted just anywhere and even many large businesses and supermarkets etc won't take them. Establishments from small B&Bs or Hotels to Cafes and Restaurants may not take Card Payments of any form and is not uncommon for those that do to make a small charge for the transaction. Many a traveller has had a nice lunch only to find they can't pay the bill and it doesn't go down well. Finally, just a word of warning about Action Cameras. Some countries, Austria in particular, have very strict rules regarding privacy and surveillance. Using an Action Camera to record your holiday is fine (at the moment) but having a camera mounted on a vehicle in the event of an incident is not. In reality is there a difference? Only if you say you have it for the latter and then you are in big trouble. I hope that helps. As I said, it is not the be all and end all. You don't need to carry the kitchen sink and we even have electrickery and washing machines out here these days so you can tell the wife she can pack light

It is that time of year when apart from snow clearing I have a bit of time on my hands. If anyone is planning on venturing in to Europe this year, particularly the Alpine Regions, and wants some help, information or advice then please feel free to ask. If I can help I will. We do not have to be on your itinerary

I have shot high pheasant but not geese or duck admittedly (regulars often use a larger calibre or punt gun). He certainly doesn't sound the type of guy that has access to wetland shooting but I guess I am being pre judgmental. I was Classified in A Class back in the day for Clays and shot for an International Team. Never quite made it to AA.

What did he have No 4 Shot for? No good for clays or even Pigeon Rabbit and Pheasant? Culling foxes may be. Illegal to shoot Deer with even if he had permission. It's not as if he found a Sawn Off, he converted a weapon he allegedly found. Sawn Off and No 4 Shot = Someone is likely to die or get seriously injured.

So he aquires a shotgun and modifies it in such away it only has one real use. He combines it with some weighty ammunition. He then does what has been reported. Darn lucky not to have been convicted of murder.