2026 Tour de l'Amour with Hatcho and Dub24

[Hatcho]

Ever since @dub 24 and I realised we lived in the same town, we've wanted to ride off into the sunset together - well, now our opportunity approaches. On 12th August we fly out to Memmingen in southern Germany to meet our bikes and commence a two week tour taking in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy and France. I'm sure somewhere along the way we'll find somewhere suitable to renew our biker vows and celebrate with some schnitzel/pizza/brioche, maybe even a stein of beer . For the second week Mrs. Hatcho is flying out to meet us and so the honeymoon will end, but at least we'll still be in the midst of the Central European Alps on bikes whilst everyone else is working hard at home. The outline route will be similar to the one I took last year which kept me away from the ludicrous heat while still finding some awesome roads and sights. Pretty much just following the yellow section of bearable temps shown below:



After a few days touring we base ourselves near the Italian/French border close to Susa due west of Turin. This, and getting back to Memmingen at the end of the trip are the only two must do's - everything else is TBD which adds to the excitement a bit. Hoping to catch some cool drone footage, some nice pics and even compile a wee trip report along the way. For now its just getting bits organised, digging the panniers out of the attic, finding passports, deciding which socks to bring, oh and popping the pound of butter into the fridge. Watch this space as they say....

 

[Mike_E]

Looking forwards to the trip report. Last year's was great!

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Bring it on

 

[Doc]

Sounds good lads. Have a good one and i will look forward to your trip report.

 

[Gavla04GS]

Good to hear, looking forward to the reports

 

[Jockser]

Are we there yet, are we there yet

 

[Hatcho]

With the bikes being dropped off to Overlanders next weekend, I decided to get started on packing for the trip. Firstly got the civvies sorted - jocks, socks, tshirts, trousers and tops. Along with a pair of shoes and a toilet bag it all fits into the smaller pannier. Herself gets the larger pannier because I'm nothing less than a pure gentleman.
Next is a mini toolkit with a range of torx spanners, sockets, driver bits and a wee ratchet to make everything turn. I've a lovely compact puncture repair kit that will hopefully not be needed. Dub24 is bringing a compressor so I just need to pack the Noco jumper pack. Again, hopefully something that will not be required during the trip. As well as the pound of butter in the fridge, I'll be bringing a decent Oxford lock and chain and an Abus disc lock as well. Priority will be to find accomodation with secure parking, but handy to have some deterrents on hand if needed.

 

[Bravo]

Have a great trip.

 

[Hatcho]

Along with the bike we'll be dropping off kit bags packed with our riding gear. This trip I'll be trying out my Adventure Spec Supershirt for the first time - great bit of kit especially when riding in hot weather. Roadskin jeans, mtb jersey, Forma boots, rukka gloves and my Nexx lid complete the lineup. If it gets a tad wet, I've an Oxford rainseal jacket and trousers packed into one of the side bags.

 

[Hatcho]

If I'm honest, the hardest part now is the waiting. Can't wait to meet the bike in Memmingen and get on the road!

 

[dub 24]

For fcuks sake you didn't mention the make up your going to wear with your ensemble.

 

[dub 24]

Well I hope my lack of mechanical sympathy towards my bike has finished it's run. Started last Sunday week with the petrol cap sticking and yesterday what should have been a simple rear brake pad replacement turned into me and Hatcho working on stuck pistons. This wasn't helped by the fact that the pads had fcuk all meat left on them.

Just hope now the trip goes without any more mechanical mishaps for me

Couldn't give a continental Sh**e about Hatcho

 

[Hatcho]

Well I hope my lack of mechanical sympathy towards my bike has finished it's run. Started last Sunday week with the petrol cap sticking and yesterday what should have been a simple rear brake pad replacement turned into me and Hatcho working on stuck pistons. This wasn't helped by the fact that the pads had fcuk all meat left on them.

Just hope now the trip goes without any more mechanical mishaps for me

Couldn't give a continental Sh**e about Hatcho

Just for the record...here are the old pads...or what little was left of them!

 

[Mad Hatter]

This should be an interest trip report....shall we start a book on where exactly you are going to break down

 

[Hatcho]

This should be an interest trip report....shall we start a book on where exactly you are going to break down

Well, first of all we have to drop off the bikes to Overlanders in Gorey tomorrow. Let's hope that goes smoothly. It'll be the longest spin dub24 has done since about 1956 when he had a paper round as a kid.

 

[Mad Hatter]

Have a great trip lads

 

[Anthony Byrne]

Ride safe lads

 

[Hatcho]

And so my two wheeled beauty laden with touring kit is now enroute to Germany... Few days time we'll be heading south into Italy. Champion.

 

[dub 24]

And so my two wheeled beauty laden with touring kit is now enroute to Germany...Few days time we'll be heading south into Italy. Champion

 

[dub 24]

Twiddle dum and Twiddle dee are in de Airport