That’s a good tip about downloading the maps for off-line use.
Thank you and thank you for sharing how to do it.
I have made a slightly edited version a sticky.
Touring tips
- Thread starter (RIP) Mark H
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That’s a good tip about downloading the maps for off-line use.
Thank you and thank you for sharing how to do it.
I have made a slightly edited version a sticky.
Is the Chunnel awash with bikes that have tumbled over?
I think the Chunnel operators have, over its quarter of a century of operation, had us trying just about every conceivable method of parking our bikes up, including (for a brief period) on the centre stand, with an absolute insistence that the bike must be in gear, with its rear wheel off the ground.
They seem to have settled (for a long while now) on the half-herring-bone, dressed to the left, in relation to the direction of travel, method. How or why, remains a mystery. Though, train brake slam events, seem to be very rare.
I think the Chunnel operators have, over its quarter of a century of operation, had us trying just about every conceivable method of parking our bikes up, including (for a brief period) on the centre stand, with an absolute insistence that the bike must be in gear, with its rear wheel off the ground.
They seem to have settled (for a long while now) on the half-herring-bone, dressed to the left, in relation to the direction of travel, method. How or why, remains a mystery. Though, train brake slam events, seem to be very rare.
Do you have any genuine evidence of this or was it something your mate told you?
Anarchist.
For a while the centre line silvery grating was a no go area, second only to the death strip of the Berlin Wall.
Then they changed their mind, insisting that the rear wheel MUST be on the centre line or the world would stop.
In passing, the trains are now getting pretty secondhand and worn out. I thought there was a complete new set / refurb coming but no sign of them yet.
https://www.railtech.com/rolling-st...novate-eurotunnel-shuttle-trains/?gdpr=accept
I guess that two years of lost revenues didn’t help the process?
Then they changed their mind, insisting that the rear wheel MUST be on the centre line or the world would stop.
In passing, the trains are now getting pretty secondhand and worn out. I thought there was a complete new set / refurb coming but no sign of them yet.
https://www.railtech.com/rolling-st...novate-eurotunnel-shuttle-trains/?gdpr=accept
I guess that two years of lost revenues didn’t help the process?
My middle name is weble.
BOBAD
Registered user
No, it isn't something my mate told me and I do have genuine evidence of this.
Thanks for asking.
Care to share?
I’ve alway put my bike on the side stand on ferry’s in gear and a ratchet strap across the saddle ratcheted down to compress the suspension slightly (usually with something under the strap to protect the saddle). On the centre stand I’ve always felt the bike could roll forwards and tip. Also you can’t compress the suspension to create tension on the tie down.
To which worries, you’ll now have to add, vibrations from the ship’s diesel engines, ruining the bike’s internals.
On the centre stand, if you are ever worried about the bike rolling forwards, pull the front brake leaver back with a looped cable tie. The cable tie doesn’t have to be tightened to the point of heart failure.
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Are you worried about the brake leaver running away and leaving you with no front brake?
The last one eloped with my clutch.
I always use a couple of extra strap that I carry , as one staff member pointed out if the ferry turned turtle my bike would be hanging upside down attached to the roof , but having seen bikes damaged on the Shetland Ferry why take any chances
I have seen the Poseidon Adventure, it’s very awkward upside down.
Not if you watch it from the front seats upside down. Not awkward but a bit uncomfortable after 10 minutes or so.
I usually carry a short strap to attach to the side stand fwd to frame/crash bar so if the bike does move the side stand will be locked down plus engage 1st gear, I've seen a couple of bike roll forward and the stand retract and over they go. Ducati's are good at this trick.
BOBAD
Registered user
K100RS with less than 2000 miles on it - parked on centre stand on Dover-Ostend ferry - on arrival I had no electrics and a blank screen - sorted out by BMW emergency road side service in Ostend under guarantee as bike was less than a month old. It was running perfectly well when I parked up on the ferry so I assumed it had been the vibrations through the main stand which caused the problem and I never parked on the mainstand again on ferry crossings..
Some good tips thanks, here's mine.
If you take spare keys (if not why not) and are travelling in a group, swap keys with someone else in the group then if you loose your keys your spare set are not locked in your top box or panniers. If you carry a spare visor in a top box why not put a pair of your socks over the ends to protect the visor your carrying them anyway. Attach lengths of duct tape to the inside of pannier/top box lids JIC, also if you carry a spare coin type battery for your headset remote etc, tape it to the inside of you top box/pannier lid. Coil up any cable ties you take and find a space under your seat.
If you take spare keys (if not why not) and are travelling in a group, swap keys with someone else in the group then if you loose your keys your spare set are not locked in your top box or panniers. If you carry a spare visor in a top box why not put a pair of your socks over the ends to protect the visor your carrying them anyway. Attach lengths of duct tape to the inside of pannier/top box lids JIC, also if you carry a spare coin type battery for your headset remote etc, tape it to the inside of you top box/pannier lid. Coil up any cable ties you take and find a space under your seat.
That is a very good tip about the keys.
I watched a fellow drop his entire set of keys down a very deep gorge in France. Thankfully he had a second key for his bike, though no spare house key.
The only downside was that his spare bike key was in his locked pannier, “Where it would be safe”.
I watched a fellow drop his entire set of keys down a very deep gorge in France. Thankfully he had a second key for his bike, though no spare house key.
The only downside was that his spare bike key was in his locked pannier, “Where it would be safe”.
First thing we do when meeting up for the ferry is exchange spare keys and copies of documents, JIC.
Haven't needed them yet but you know what will happen if we stop the routine....
Haven't needed them yet but you know what will happen if we stop the routine....
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