Elefantentreffen 2011

[Superten]

Hello All
I’ve decided to add the Elefantentreffen to my rally CV next year.
All ferries are booked and this trip is a definite
My route is from Rotterdam to Frankfurt then Frankfurt to Regensburg with the last stint from Regensburg to the rally
I’m currently prepping my DR650 and have added a Scott Oilier, heated grips ,handlebar muffs and a screen to keep off the worst of the weather
I’ve kitted myself up with a Snugpack Antarctica sleeping bag which I tried out the other night in -8 conditions and I was surprised at how good it was compared to my old kit, the only problem I encountered was condensation in the tent but I’m hoping to be able to reduce that by leaving the vents open.
Is it worth taking a stove etc or are there plenty of opportunities to get fed & watered on site
Any advice from you guys as to what I’m letting myself in for will be much appreciated
Thanks
Mel

[guest7]

Between all of the TCers who have attended the rally we can prepare you fully for most of what you will encounter, with the obvious exception of the sheer weirdness of the event. There's little we can say to prepare you for your first "effing hell" sighting of the rally.

You can eat and drink on-site to your hearts content, but you may end up camped a trudge away from an Imbiss (bar) so a stove might be a good idea. And let's face it, Johnny Foreigner just isn't up to making a decent cup of Darjeeling at first light.

A thermarest mattress (or similar) plus a groundmat is essential to keep you away form the cold ground whilst you (attempt to) sleep. I take a camp bed and a thermarest. You can also buy straw on-site and that is good for insulation. You will need a pee bottle. I use an old Lenor bottle because the neck is wide (ooer missus) and it holds a fair amount.

As for the bike, pop every electrical connector apart, check it and reassemble using silicon grease or Vaseline. Moving parts like sidestand pivots and gearchange linkages should be lubed with something like chain lube. The road salt can start seizing these up even as you ride along. If you can fit legshields they will make a huge difference on the autobahn, the section past Regensburg can be ferociously cold and sticking your extremities into a 70mph airstream makes no sense.

When you get to the rally it might be wise to cover the bike (or the engine at least) with a nylon tarp or similar. Your poor bike may not like being left in the snow for a couple of days.

Don't just use a cordura goretex suit, once the outer gets wet it drags your temperature down. Buy a cheap (and baggy) nylon oversuit to go over the whole lot. I know it sounds obvious but a balaclava is essential (imho). I use a thin but warm Dainese balaclava that is very comfortable... I also have an FT one that isn't. Take a can of Bob Heath spray with you and clean your visor often.

When you are travelling on the autobahn, remember to take time to stop and eat, you need the energy at those temperatures. Get carbed up.

Andy M has all the gen on this stuff and I hope he will be along in a minute to direct you to his site, which contains lots of useful stuff on winter riding.

What day are you planning on getting there? I'd love to suggest "let's meet in Frankfurt and ride down together" but money and time are too short for a winter rally this year  

GC

[sexually oriented]

Well done Mel,
you will love it,as has already been stated,there are plenty of places to eat and drink,i would still take a cooker though,
not only for a brew but it might also come in handy if you need to heat the sump of the bike (i had to this year),
what day are you planning to get there?,is anyone else going with you,what will you use to move the snow?,i always take a snow shovel,
remember the smaller the tent the warmer you will be and the less snow you will have to move to pitch it,when you get there buy some straw,it will keep you insulated,
when you go to bed,make sure you are warm,go to bed cold and you will stay cold,i and others have found that a brisk walk to the point of breaking a sweat
is the best thing to do,this way you are slightly pished and toasty warm,a good nights sleep should follow,waking only to fill the lenor bottle
don't eat the purple snow

[guest7]

...don't eat the purple snow

It's probably best that we let him find out about this for himself 

[Superten]

Thanks for the reply’s and the advice

I will be travelling alone and aim to be there for Friday am, snow shovel wise I’ve purchased one of those small folding ones but when it arrived it looked to be more suitable for mixing cakes.
I’ve already heard about the famous purple snow and wont be using that to make a brew, my main concern is that I don’t add to it.
What’s it like access wise, will I get close to the site with the bike on Friday am or will it be a case of park it and walk in ?

Mel

[sexually oriented]

The earlier you get there the easier the access,and the more selective about where you want to pitch your tent,
by Friday it will be pretty crowded and a lot of rally goers would have been there a couple of days already,
from Thursday it wont stop,riders will keep coming all through the night,if you are feeling adventurous,then ride your bike onto the site
(tyre choice for the trip?)
and find a pitch,don't worry if you get stuck,you will get help ,take as many photos as you can,there will be some weird and wonderful things there
not to mention the bikes/outfits/trikes/canons etc etc

[guest18]

If your helmet has vents, don't just close them, tape them over, if you haven't already got them put handguards inside the handlebar muffs to hold them off the levers (and your hands).
Beware when/if you stop to look at a map your breath will freeze on the inside of your visor and you don't want to only realise this as you close the visor to keep out the -20 windblast (damhikijkok) ;-)

The ride will be colder than you can imagine but the rally is mega!

[Superten]

(tyre choice for the trip?)

Just fitted a pair of Continental TKC80s
Not ideal I know for the autobahn stomping but I've always got on with these

[Superten]

If your helmet has vents, don't just close them, tape them over,
The ride will be colder than you can imagine

This is where I could have come unstuck bigtime, the recent cold weather was a wake up call, up until last week I was actually going to wear my open face helmet a balaclava & goggles.
I can only compare a recent jouney wearing my open face helmet to been hit across the forehead with a lump of 4 x 2.
Better to find out now, sooner than later I suppose.

[guest7]

I wear a flip up visor Arai open face with a balaclava. Works for me. I did wear my Arai full face on one Elefant trip and it was warm, but I don't get on with the reduced visibility.

GC

[002]

Whey Hey ! Another Lamb for The Slaughter !

I'm hoping to make the trip this year aswell.
A large shovel is a good idea IF you can carry one.
Its supprising how large a footprint a small 2 man tent has.
As I discovered in 2006.....ended up in a Bivvi Bag for the night.Warm and toasty except for the filling of a bottle during the night.


Jethro

[Superten]

I wear a flip up visor Arai open face with a balaclava. Works for me. I did wear my Arai full face on one Elefant trip and it was warm, but I don't get on with the reduced visibility.

GC

I agree GC, I also prefer open face helmets, I've decided to order my self a Bob Heath wrap around visor and will take the gogggles along as back up

Mel

[Andy M]

Go for it!

I've put just about everything I could think of down here

https://sites.google.com/site/threewheelbonnie/cold-places

and here

https://sites.google.com/site/threewheelbonnienonbike/the-elefant-2010

Basically what GC said. You need layers and you need to fill the gaps. You need oversize kit so nothing is tight. You need to eat and rest not push on like you would heading home from Scarborough.

The run to the rally site itself is 20 or so miles of proper snow covered A or B roads once you leave the Autobahn. Your plan of doing this in daylight from Regensburg is a good one. I'd aim to be there for about 1200 on the Thursday. Get down the road to the site as far as the site entrance where you pay then look for a place to park. Ignore all the BMW GS's and RT's parked in the village, they are either staying in hotels there or after three hours of feet dragging hell to get road tyred bikes that far have given up. Park there and they will block you in.

I would take a stove, get cold at any point (4 am on the site, broken down etc.) and a hot cuppa and a chocie biscuit can be a real trip saver. Note that gas can freeze and hexamine will need warming to catch. Petrol stoves work better when full. It's the combination of cold and a little altitude.

Feel free to ask anything you need, PM, e-mail etc. I'm no real expert (Two sucessful runs, one abandoned although I'm yet to come home on the RAC wagon) but happy to try and help.

Don't get ****ed on gluhwein and crash into your tent with your feet sticking out into the blizzard  

Andy

[002]

I wear a flip up visor Arai open face with a balaclava. Works for me. I did wear my Arai full face on one Elefant trip and it was warm, but I don't get on with the reduced visibility.

GC

I agree GC, I also prefer open face helmets, I've decided to order my self a Bob Heath wrap around visor and will take the gogggles along as back up

Mel

I have used an open face for Donkeys Years now and find Bob Heath flip up visor ideal.
Still had my breath freezing on the inside of my visor going to The Elafant in 2000,and beard freezing to my Buff.


Jethro

[Superten]

Andy

Thanks for the links, some useful reading there

Mel