Clueless Touring Tips

[Ali in Austria]

I am no expert and this is not intended as the be all and end all. I am not even looking to debate any of the information. It may be useful to some just take from it what you will

For those that haven't ridden or driven abroad before (or even for those that have but in ignorance ) here is a link to some useful information.

Road Safety Overseas

http://www.pensionhausmaria.com/location.asp

Scroll down to just below the Google Map. Click on the area nearest where you are going, keep clicking in most cases and areas expand. You will get links to various information & advice.

Not wanting to teach anyone to suck eggs but some may find this useful. I wrote it some years ago for groups I used to take to Europe but most 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

3. You will need to be in possession of your Driving Licence, Insurance and Registration Document (not copies).

4. Arrange Travel Insurance to cover cancellations, possessions and medical bills. Make sure motorcycling is an approved activity. Cover for repatriation is important.

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?

6. Arrange European Breakdown Cover. Repatriation of your bike is important.

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 no longer require 2 x Breath Test Kits - It is still law but officially not acted upon.

8. Arrange for your motorcycle to be suitably serviced prior to setting off and allow for 4000 + miles to be covered during the Tour. Consider Tyres, Chain & Sprocket life etc...

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.

10. Consider filling your tyres with Ultraseal – It can save no end of grief. (Appreciate there are many who disagree but from personal experience I use it and have never had a puncture I knew about)

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. We 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 or under the seat).

22. Carry a spare visor. (The sun can be blinding at times but you can also be in cloud with nil visibility and a dark visor wont help). Wearing sunglasses under your lid can be fraught as mountain tunnels tend to be very dark and often not straight.

23. Dress code is as comfortable as you feel. I just don’t want to see any of the blokes wearing them.

24. Don’t forget some swimwear if you want to take advantage of the pools, sauna, Jacuzzi, sunbathe etc.

25. Carry some Euros. We 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.

26. If you are taking electrical items such as Mobile Phones, MP3 players, don’t forget the chargers for them and get an adapter for Northern Europe Plug Sockets.

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.

28. Suggested Non Prescription Medication – Sea Sickness tablets, Paracetamol or Aspirin & Ibuprofen & Diarrhoea Treatment. Hand Wipes, Sun cream and after sun, 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. In Europe many simple medications such as Paracetamol are only available at proper pharmacies. Be aware that certainly in Austria, Aspirin is only available on prescription.

29. If you wear glasses for riding, some countries require you to carry a spare pair.

(Not the be all and end all and not intended to be. It is also not advocating packing the kitchen sink )

Very good weather sites. The first is Norwegian used by the local tourist offices out here for skiing information and up to 48 hours ahead is usually very accurate.

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

http://alpen-paesse.ch

Toll requirements

http://www.tolltickets.com/country/euro ... lang=en-GB

Trip Planning

http://www.bestbikingroads.com

http://www.alpineroads.com

http://www.alpen-journal.de/alpenservic ... aesse.html

http://www.alpentourer.com/motorbike_touring/

If anyone wants any help with routes, accommodation etc, regardless if we are one of your destinations, just drop me a line. If anyone does get out this way first beer is always on us

Edited March 21, 2014 by Ali in Austria

[TC]

That's a great guide Ali, some brilliant tips there

Thanks mate