central europe to northern portugal ?

[swissrob]

hi,

looking for alternatives to riding 1000 miles and back on the motorways from switzerland to northern portugal in May...

any wierd and wonderful forms of motorail available..... ? i couldnt find too much on the sncf website.

anyone in the know?

 

[Lyes]

Hi Rob,
Most of the trains run North to south and vis versa, i looked for somehing similar last year and could not find a suitable ride...

 

[Wapping]

Swissrob, start by looking at:

(a) Some half decent maps, they really hold the answer to everything.

(b) Some of the frequesnt posts where bods ask how to ride (on great roads, no motorways) from the Pyrenees to the Alps and / or the Alps to the Pyrenees. And then how to ride the Pyreneees to Portugal. Adopt and adapt those suggestions to suit your individual circumstances.

You'll crack it

 

[Timpo]

Unfortunately, having a bike that is 'ready to race' is not the best when you need a bike ready to ride 2000km.....
Francs had a similar problem when he rode a 690eR from Slovenia to one of the earlier Portugal meets. There was no option he said apart from the trek.....
But, saying that, the Pyrenees should provide some entertainment en-route.
I'd also take a look at a front sprocket change for the long road section, then switch it back for th gravel/rock tracks in Portugal. Don't leave it high geared though as the tracks being used in WYOA are serious in places, and heavy of a bikes clutch if the rider is not carefull.

 

[swissrob]

Cheers all, I had a good sit down the last days looking at all options and it all came back to one...ride there !

I am looking at gearing also..good call timpo.

Dutch Mark Bmv has to ride 2000 kms I "only" have 1700

sent using my fingers and voodoo magic.

 

[swissrob]

as an update franks sent me some pics of a universal givi screen he bolted on for his trip... reports were good as it took load off the body. i bought one from Louis.de and all seemed well during my test rides, perfect i thought.


However its a potential death trap!

anywhere within 50M of a truck or a square vehicle and i often had minor tankslappers, 1 was so violent i thought right thats it i am coming off - choice between the armco or the truck wheels!

however i suspect the knobblies didnt help either but they were perfectly fine with the screen off.

beware!