Wish Me Fun

[Lagotete]

For most of you this will not be impressive but ...I have arranged my first long distance trip on my TDM

I have always done off road type of trips in the Alps (not your 400 miles a day Australian trails but your 60miles/day up and down steep muddy paths and occasional river crossing). Since i bought the TDM in Jan 10, I was looking for a better weather and a good destination. You can imagine my happiness when a friend suggested to meet him in Le Mans for the 24 hour auto in june [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif[/img] It is only 400 miles away but includes channel crossing ...almost an adventure for me!

From this point, it took me 20minutes to book a ferry on the Friday 11th June (Newhaven - Dieppe return on the Sunday evening).

I have got the soft panniers (bought from Tony Tony on this forum) and the bike serviced. I have learnt a lot by reading your posts. I do not have any question/advice needed at present but you shoud not be surprised if I start a trail here!!!

Happy, happy [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/yahoo.gif[/img]

[dapleb]

Have fun. Sounds loike a great adventure.

[TonyDevil]

adventures start out small......and then swallow you whole.....

[Guest]

Excellent - enjoy the run.

Recommend you drink plenty of water and take breaks to refresh yourself during the trip.

[Studley Ramrod]

Sounds like the perfect first foray into European touring ! [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cool.gif[/img] Enjoy !

I'm sure you'll get plenty of advice on here, regardless of wether you asked for it or not [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img]

[dablik]

Ferni enjoy yourself, the riding will be effortless though...........and try and learn some French before ya go m8 [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img]

Good luck...ride safe

[masterbrewer]

[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/good.gif[/img]

Good luck with your adventures and remember the ride report with lots of photos. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ambusy.gif[/img]

Ah! .......... there's just something special about that feeling of not having for head home at the end of a days riding on a planned trip. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cloud9.gif[/img]

[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/drinks.gif[/img]

This post was last modified: 23-05-2010, 09:49 PM by masterbrewer.

[Lagotete]

Thank you for your kind words.

I can start my check list with water; camera

Here comes a question [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/unsure.gif[/img] : I do not intend to carry to much stuff but is it essential to lub the chain before I hit the road back from Le Mans? I will have done 400 miles and I normally religiously lub the chain after every single "small" ride.

[TonyDevil]

i would yes, it its pissing with rain then i normally lube the chain at each fuel stop

[Lagotete]

<!--quoteo(post=163515:date=Sun 23rd May 2010, 10:31 PM:name=dablik)-->QUOTE(dablik @ Sun 23rd May 2010, 10:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Ferni enjoy yourself, the riding will be effortless though...........and try and learn some French before ya go m8 [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img]

Good luck...ride safe<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I should be fine with the language! I should also feel more comfortable with the continental hand signal to wave at fellow bikers!

I have not mastered yet the head shake developped in countries where you ride on the left (and can't wave with the hand which is in the centre of the road and on the throttle). For me it is a bit like a freemason tricky hand shake; if you do it wrong, you cause confusion or looking strange rather than encourage friendship!!

[dablik]

http://www.carpe-tdm.net/ipb/index.php?showtopic=17079

[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wifgeni.gif[/img] but you could also fit an oiler, the link above is a very affordable solution and i use one, however i bought it for my European trip at easter and if it was raining just turned it up a bit for more flow, one filling will last approx 300 miles in dry weather and i used chainsaw oil although mostly anything will do, kept my chain well oiled.
On a side note if you should decide to buy one, i would get the single nozzle as opposed to the double nozzle.

If you need it a bit quicker than its available at discount through carpe you can order here http://www.tutorochainoiler.com/index.html or same shop on ebay.

Good luck.

[Guest]

I would say it's advisable to lube the chain, but strictly speaking not required. I do mine once a day on long trips, but have ordered one of those auto oiler kits - more is more - chain will last longer with better maintenance.

[Lagotete]

<!--quoteo(post=163528:date=Sun 23rd May 2010, 11:17 PM:name=dablik)-->QUOTE(dablik @ Sun 23rd May 2010, 11:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->If you need it a bit quicker than its available at discount through carpe you can order here http://www.tutorochainoiler.com/index.html or same shop on ebay.

Good luck.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Thanks. I have just ordered the Tutoro. Not as expensive as I thought it would be (£17), but I am going to bed now before I take more advice and empty my bank account at once [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blush.gif[/img]

[TDMick]

Good luck mate and have fun, That is a trip I'd like to do one day meself.

Bon voyajee an all that.

Mick

[Lagotete]

D-5

Working late again tonight and keeping an eye on Carpe TDM. If I had one, my psy would probably tell me that it is healthier to speak and listen to this forum than to have an imaginary friend [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif[/img]

I can't help sharing with you how excited I am to be nearly 4 days away from my trip to Newhaven / Dieppe / Rouen / Le Mans.

I have fitted the bike with a Tutoro chain oiler, bought a forcefield back protector and stored a few advices from you guys (eg drink lot of water and stop frequently). I will be meeting my friend in Rouen who was the local Yamaha dealer until recently. I will have to ask him if he has forgiven me for my betrayal of buying a bike outside his dealership? [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ohmy.gif[/img]

I have found that my other friend inviting me to Le Mans 24h is treating me with VIP access to Pescarolo stand / box etc. I am a regular of Le Mans but I am not sure how it feels with Champagne instead of beer [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif[/img]

Anyway, I am still open to advice and I will take my camera to bring a few pics. I trust that a few here would not be against pics of cars. Also, last year I had the surprise of a live concert of the Stranglers. I am not sure which band I can watch and listen this year.

Have a great week [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/good.gif[/img]

[TonyDevil]

<!--quoteo(post=165099:date=Sun 6th Jun 2010, 11:36 PM:name=Fernihough)-->QUOTE(Fernihough @ Sun 6th Jun 2010, 11:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->....eg drink lot of water and stop frequently....<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->if you're doing the first one right, the 2nd one takes care of itself [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif[/img]

[Lagotete]

I am off to Le Mans via Newhaven (Ferry), Dieppe (Meet Ouestlekeum member), Rouen (meet friend), Le Mans (meet family)

Le Mans Classic car race tomorrow at 10.00am; Porsche club race at 11.00am 24h rate at 3pm; concert at 9.00pm etc

Back Sunday evening exhausted with a big grin on my face
[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif[/img]

[andysymmons]

Enjoy and ride safe fella

[Onanist]

Have a great time Ferni [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/clapping.gif[/img]

[Guest]

Have a safe ride, a great time and eat lots of cake! [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/good.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cake eating.gif[/img]

Remember - it didn't happen unless there's photos, so take plenty. Look forward to the report when you get back.