The chain gang

[Simon#83]

A quick update from the true winter rallyists

Eleffant, hardest yet. 4 hours from autobahn to site. I fell off about 6 times!

At the Tauern treffen now, very icy, only fell off oncethough (200m from top). 2 of us have bought chains for trip down!

Cheers Simon

[indiantim]

Simon

get a sidecar!  did the 3 wheel gang take 4 hours as well?

[guest7]

Tim, do you remember the year we rode to the Elefant with Andy M? That trip up to the site on the back road was mental, with Andy spinning up his outfit like mad and even our narrow tyre rigs having trouble.

I remember seeing a bloke walking alongside his (running) solo bike, about 10 km from the site... I bet he got there in the dark.

After that time we saw a bloke fall off his GS BMW (on ice) with no warning on the autobahn I've been really wary of ever attempting those rallies on a solo. Hats off to Simon, he just shrugs off those worries and keeps getting there in (mostly) one piece.

GC

[guest7]

Just thought I'd add, for non winter rallyists, the details of where Simon is.

The Elefant rally is held in The Bavarian Alps in South East Germany and attracts up to 6,000 riders who camp out in the snow at temperatures as low as minus 18.

The Tauerntreffen is an invitation-only rally held in Austria. The last three miles to the camp site is up a switchback mountain road which is very steep (in fact the locals use it as a toboggan run).

The campsite at the Tauerntreffen is at 1742 metres.

GC

[Andy M]

After that time we saw a bloke fall off his GS BMW (on ice) with no warning on the autobahn I've been really wary of ever attempting those rallies on a solo. Hats off to Simon, he just shrugs off those worries and keeps getting there in (mostly) one piece.

GC

I pass under a motorway bridge every morning and swear I can hear the back wheel spin up.

(Note from GC - the bloke on the GS was ahead of us on the autobahn and as he passed under a bridge he just fell on his side, at 70mph. As we passed under the bridge all our outfits had a shimmy too)

He almost ripped the right pot off his airhead twin. The bike did about 200 yards on it's side and the Dutch guy about the same on his ****. Says a lot for armoured gear and BMW service in Germany that we saw him in the bar the next day. His Wife/girlfriend was the closest thing to a casualty, I rarely seen anyone go so white.


Ride safe Simon and enjoy yourself.

Andy

[Simon#83]

Simon

get a sidecar!  did the 3 wheel gang take 4 hours as well?

Must admit Tim, a sidecar is looking more and more appealing! Perhaps a lightweight trials type chair that I could easily attach and detach and folds up flat for storage in the garage.

[indiantim]

Graham,

I actually remember speeding up! as I hit my brakes under that bridge, good that the BMW guy was unhurt.

Must be bad this year if it takes 4 hours on a solo, although the roads will be cleared for the weekend

[guest7]

You're right Tim, as i was telling someone about this year's conditions I remembered that when we got there on a Wednesday it was apparent that the roads hadn't seen much attention, but when we set off for home on the Sunday they had benefited from some clearing and the traffic of a couple of thousand bike (and sneaky vans with bikes in the back).

But 4 hours for 22kms? Must have been hard.

GC

[002]

get a sidecar!  did the 3 wheel gang take 4 hours as well?

Yes !  We did !
Worst conditions for Donkeys Years !
We did find another,slightly longer but a little easier route.
One we shall remember for other years.
Even RichardNL had a bit of fun dealing with the conditions
And home made chains,no matter how good,were no good at all !

Jethro

[sexually oriented]

Well i got back at 03.00 hrs after being flown back ,
after having a false start on the sunday IE getting 500 meters down the road #1 coil packed up,
so back home i limped,Monday saw me down at Bevans and a replacement coil fitted(thank you so much Charlie)
and off i went again this time no problems,so i do the Elefantentreffen and the Taurentreffen,the return leg however has a suprise for me
in as much as we are all popping along at 70mph and doing well and then down onto 2 she goes,this time its #3 coil pack,we all pulled in at a lay by and
found that nothing could be done,the rest of the guy's left me then and carried on to Auschaffenburg where they were staying for the night,i was then
subjected to the insurance farce of being picked up,finding a hotel,finding a dealer.trying to tell the insurance company(who never listen)that a part is required and it could not be repaired without it,all this with limited battery life on my phone and at about -5 and getting colder,needless to say after alot of messing around I'm home,the outfit is still at the dealer
waiting to be picked up(this may take 10/14 days),Just had a text from Jethro(Birthday today)his chain has snapped,but has repaired it/got a new one and catching a later ferry home

[guest7]

Having been there and done that I can only sympathise, being stranded abroad is a stressful faff. The only good thing is that your insurance stepped in and did what it should, but it is stressful dealing with them via a mobile from a foreign country.

Shame the bike won't be back for the Dragon.

GC

[Andy M]

That's bad news. Do the Tigers come with the same UK made coils as the Bonneville? I came across Germany and Holland last year running one while the spare dried out, changing four times one day    Bought a nice German made one (the alternate Hinckley use) and it's fine.

Still, home is home and look on the bright side, all you missed was the slog across Europe on the Autobahn.

Andy

[Furry John]

Hi,

21:55

Just heard from Jethro, he is on his way home now, problems resolved.

Furry

[steveD]

Seen a few pics on the adventure riders forum!

Snow looked very deep!

[Mark]

Still, home is home and look on the bright side, all you missed was the slog across Europe on the Autobahn.

Andy

And the best Schnitzel an Auschaffensburg, and a lovely traditional Dutch dish of red cabbage, veal , potatoes etc. made by Richards good lady along with some beers and a bit of reminiscing of the week we had.

Put a bit of a downer on the end of the trip but at least the events were attended.

It was a first for me and a real learning curve, good company and some excellent hosting which made difficult conditions not just bearable but fun along with a few laughs. I'm sure I'll be better prepared next time.

Can't believe my little bike made it.

Mark