MCi Pyrenees/Barcalona trip

[Capsize]

Dave

Sounds a bit like it. We are in the travel Inn, Avis road.

Leaving 16.00 -17.00 on Friday so arrive aroud 20.00 hrs. traffic permitting.

Caps.........

 

[dave hendy]

Newhaven

Hi Tim

Yes I think thats the same place will keep an eye out for you. If not see you at the port.

Dave

 

[Capsize]

TonyM

A bit cheeky, I know, but I am working right up to the minute we leave!

You mentioned that you have plotted the trip on GPS.

If thats for a garmin GPS, any chance of emailing the files?

Caps............

 

[tonym]

Caps,

I emailed Admin re forwarding my email to you 2 days ago but no response. If you can email me I will forward maps to you. When I asked Alastair about a copy of his routes he wouldn't issue them. So I will only send my maps to you privately.

Cheers

TonyM

 

[wessie]

Caps,

I emailed Admin re forwarding my email to you 2 days ago but no response. If you can email me I will forward maps to you. When I asked Alastair about a copy of his routes he wouldn't issue them. So I will only send my maps to you privately.

The amount of times Alistair gets lost you wouldn't want his GPS routes anyway!

 

[thauma]

MCI - after many years of experience travelling with them, I've found out 2 things.

1. Always a good tour, good social, and always return to the uK looking forward to the next trip with them.
2. MCI could stand for Multi Choice Itinerary. It has been known for 4 groups of riders (from the same tour - heading for the same destination) to turn up at a cross roads / roundabout from differing directions, wave to / acknowledge each other, pull out the maps, check their position, then head off in different directions. So either take it as part of the experience, or do your planning ahead of time.........

BTW this is not a dig at MCI - I've known them for years - its just the way it is on a tour with 'inexperienced' navigators.

DOn't be fooled by the simplicity of a GPS system - you still need a little bit of planning - it's just a little different.

 

[wessie]

BTW this is not a dig at MCI - I've known them for years - its just the way it is on a tour with 'inexperienced' navigators.

DOn't be fooled by the simplicity of a GPS system - you still need a little bit of planning - it's just a little different.

IME the biggest mistake those with GPS make is ignoring road signs when it is quite obvious that their software is out of date or just wrong.

As you say, deviating from the suggested route at times on a long tour is part of the experience. I find a quick glance at a quality map is so much better than following instructions from a robot to get back to the planned route. You get a much better idea of the type of road you are about to commit yourself to.

It's not unusual for Alistair's experienced navigator, his wife Fiona, to ignore the GPS, get off the bike and look at a map.

 

[Capsize]

TonyM

Thanks for trying.

Unfortunately I cannot email you without your email address which I cannot access through the site.

See you in Newhaven

Caps.............

 

[Fitzy]

Quote ` its a bike ridden by Mad Max`
Will Mad Max be riding it?

 

[thauma]

It's not unusual for Alistair's experienced navigator, his wife Fiona, to ignore the GPS, get off the bike and look at a map.

Fiona certainly has a better sense of humour than the tart on the GPS.

A GPS(with latest software and maps) OR an experienced navigator with the latest edition paper maps, can still allow you to enjoy a scenic (unplanned) detour, as with the best will in the world (all) the maps are only as up to date as the last published survey............ It's really funny when you find a new road / motorway, and the GPS thinks you're in a field

 

[dave hendy]

Mci trip

Got back on Sunday afternoon from the trip which went very well. The GS was great so pleased I changed from my Fazer 1000 my wife also said it was much more comfortable on the back. Did 2300 miles and the bike used 0.5 litres of oil (not to bad). Weather wasn't too bad and got up to 120mph fully loaded very pleased although it did sufer in the strong wind on Saturday.

Dave

 

[wessie]

although it did sufer in the strong wind on Saturday.

Yes, all that foreign beer affects me like that, too.

Glad you had a good time.

 

[dave hendy]

Mci trip

Further comments on the bike/trip would be that I couldn’t have asked for a better bike in the Pyrenees it handled the twisties with ease and wasn’t fazed by bumpy roads which meant corner overtakes were a possibility it also meant you got to your destination fresher and more relaxed than most of the other bike riders. It did suffer a bit in cross winds and I also got some turbulence when catching the vehicle in front unless I dropped back a bit. The only problem I had with the bike was the front screen screws kept coming loose and causing the screen to rattle/vibrate. The bike would sit happily at 80-100 unless it was very windy when 60-80 was more comfortable. The tank range was good and would easily do 200+ miles unless doing sustained high speed such as going for the earlier ferry when it dropped by about 20-30 miles.
We stayed in some nice hotels especially the Parador at Cardona and the hotel at Formigal. Alastair and Fionna did an excellent job and were very helpful. They went out of their way to help a guy who came off his 05 Fireblade on the second from last day and broke his collar bone when he came off on some fresh gravel on a bend and trailered his bike back to the UK. So a big thumbs up for the GS and MCi tours!

Dave