Gambia on an airhead?

[Thunder]

You know the way when you've had a few drinks, the phone rings and some mad bugger with a half baked idea starts blethering in your ear and the next thing you know you've agreed to something without thinking it through?

Well it happened to me and I'm now committed to a ride in January 2010 from the West Coast of Scotland down to The Gambia to support a charity which is raising funds to build a four-mile lifeline road for an impoverished part of Africa, cut off by rainwater for six months of the year.

After giving it a lot of thought I'm not only going but I'm taking an Airhead and leaving the nasty oil head at home so any tips, thoughts, ideas on preparing will be gratefully accepted and if you want to contribute some of your children's inheritance click the link below

Thanks.

 

[davidgibson999]

You know the way when you've had a few drinks, the phone rings and some mad bugger with a half baked idea starts blethering in your ear and the next thing you know you've agreed to something without thinking it through?

Absolutely I do, why do you think I now own your old shotgun Akrapovic system??

 

[John Armstrong]

Can't see the link, so here it is again: http://www.justgiving.com/rogergillespie

 

[Shep]

Best tip I can think of, is to set off a week earlier than the rest if you want to go to the same party at the end

Shep

 

[MattW]

You're cheating - you've got far too many brakes on that front wheel






And I'm very jealous

 

[Ogmios]

a smug git replies...

Best tip I can think of, is to set off a week earlier than the rest if you want to go to the same party at the end

Shep

cheeky b*gger!
i think you'll find an Airhead competently ridden will (out here in the Real World ©) keep up - nay - Overtake many an oilyhead and give the pilot more grins for less $tr€$$ too.

well, such has been my experience anyhow.
two up.
in the wilds of Donegal...

Thunder,
basic stuff - prep it well - you'll be Grand. (well, the Bike will be )

 

[John Armstrong]

Hope you've got heated jacket / gloves / trousers especially for the bits in the wilds of Scotland :scot

And England / France won't be much warmer

Guess the old saying of "pace not haste" applies

Which oil you going to use BTW?

 

[Magwa]

Well a gr8 bike to do it on

Hi Thunder,
If I wasn't still at work I'd consider going as well but on an Oil head.
Nice to see 'That' bike is going on another adventure
Good luck

Magwa

 

[Thunder]

Hope you've got heated jacket / gloves / trousers especially for the bits in the wilds of Scotland :scot

And England / France won't be much warmer

Guess the old saying of "pace not haste" applies

Which oil you going to use BTW?

Oil? Olive is nice

I will be looking at the options for those red flanalette all in one long johns with the flap at the back for an emergence exit and the wee retaining crotch pad for the journey down. As a regular user of thee would you recommend a paticular brand?

 

[Thunder]

Best tip I can think of, is to set off a week earlier than the rest if you want to go to the same party at the end

Shep

Na I'll be grand, it's all downhill and I've got a kickstart

 

[John Armstrong]

Oil? Olive is nice

I will be looking at the options for those red flanalette all in one long johns with the flap at the back for an emergence exit and the wee retaining crotch pad for the journey down. As a regular user of thee would you recommend a paticular brand?

As you've taught me all I know, and you can have the stamp I've written it on, I'll defer to your obviously superior knowledge

 

[John Armstrong]

Can't see the link, so here it is again: http://www.justgiving.com/rogergillespie

135 views for the thread and only 3 donations

 

[Rob Farmer]

It's not very often something exiting happens in the old farts section so I thought I'd sticky Thunders exploits (as long as there's no nudity involved - well by him anyway).

 

[Uinneag]

I talked him into taking it

Just to be sure that I can get a drink before he arrives

Why does the Tortoise and the Hare story jump into my head

Bollox these smilies are all in kahoots wi him

 

[DavidJames]

It's not very often something exiting happens in the old farts section so I thought I'd sticky Thunders exploits (as long as there's no nudity involved - well by him anyway).

You old boys should remember to take your prune juice then shouldn't you

 

[Betty Swollocks]

I will be looking at the options for those red flanalette all in one long johns with the flap at the back

Should co-ordinate with the red saddle then

 

[Solo Lobo]

Thunder,

If you are in need of contacts in Gambia, my brother in-law spent 7 years in the general area and should be pretty well connected....

 

[Devon]

Good luck with the trip, I'll look forward to following this thread.

IMHO the biggest mistake most people make when setting off on a long journey is taking too much and overloading their bike: travel as light as you can. It's surprising how little is required and a lighter bike is fun to ride.

Are you raising money to buy a digger or dozer for the road?

 

[Thunder]

Thunder,

If you are in need of contacts in Gambia, my brother in-law spent 7 years in the general area and should be pretty well connected....

Sounds like a useful source of information, if you can PM me his contact details I'll drop him a line.

Thanks

 

[Thunder]

Good luck with the trip, I'll look forward to following this thread.

IMHO the biggest mistake most people make when setting off on a long journey is taking too much and overloading their bike: travel as light as you can. It's surprising how little is required and a lighter bike is fun to ride.

Are you raising money to buy a digger or dozer for the road?

Well the lightness thing was what made me decide to taek the 80 rather than the 1150 GSA but I had not considered the issue of taking too much stuff. As someone who tends to over pack for trips it's a relevant issue and I'll keep it in mind when planning.

The intention is to raise funds not for a specific part of the project but to contribute to the overall costs which are estimated at £130,000 to £150,000 with local involvement.

You can find more details here on the charities website.