Magazine article - 2007 Elefantentreffen

[Bill Rutter]

Two Wheels Only has a write up of the Elefant in their April issue. Shame they didn't use at least one single-cylinder bike of a certain vintage to get the full effect. And isn't the use of heated clothing , to you ruffty-tuffty types er, cheating?

[Andy M]

Two Wheels Only has a write up of the Elefant in their April issue. Shame they didn't use at least one single-cylinder bike of a certain vintage to get the full effect. And isn't the use of heated clothing , to you ruffty-tuffty types er, cheating?

Good grief no. The only thing that went right on my elefant trip was that I was never that cold. Heated jacket is the best thing I ever made. Keeps spirits and concentration up right when you need it.

Andy

[Bill Rutter]

Andy, as a bloke that won't take his bike out if there's even a chance of a sprinkling of the white stuff, may I say that I am in awe of folk that take on this sort of challenge. (Though maybe I might if I chanced upon the LOAN of a comfy, fully-loaded (with heated grips etc) lightweight machine......one day (hmmm)). But my thinking was that some view this trip as a chance to see what they're made of, sort of thing, and therefore take the "less is more" option, forgoing the Gore-tex, Klan or North Face kit in favour of Army Surplus. A bit like GC and his 1960's camping kit.

[steveD]

The reality is that I have two bikes, both @ 20 years old and I love em. But now I'm getting older a bit of luxury is most welcome.
30 odd years ago I had no choice but to use my old C15 for work in all conditions and the mention of snow (*which we did have in those days, and it lasted) brings tears to my eyes. Boots that leaked, gloves that got wet, Belstaff jackets that leaked and went solid in the ice........and yes I sent my bikes down the road on many occasion, the difference was that there was not so much traffic around, brakes that were crap didn't matter, but funnily enough I always seemed to get where I wanted to be!
Nowadays I use as much technology as I can and I get to where I want to be comfortably and the elements don't bother me.
If you haven't tried a heated jacket or heated grips then you have really missed something. Try mine next time you see me, I bet it will be next on your Xmas list.


SteveD

[guest27]

Oooh - riding to work in the freezing weather and having to work in helmet and scarf until the ice had defrosted from your beard.  Unable to get off bike because so cold - or gloves frozen bars - makes declutching interesting, not to mention slowing down.  Ice forming in throttle cable locking throttles open coming into the bends before the Tamar.  Chucking bike up road on thick ice and abusing the driver behind for not helping you get it back up again - keeps sliding away on ice - only to find that the driver is one of the Directors of your company, posse of dirt oriented bikes leaving work carving past the cars and a nice team rooster tail of snow as you all go round the first roundabout.  Trying to wear a bobble hat - with out the bobble under a helmet only to find head exploding.  Stopping for a pee and hands being so cold that you cannot grip fly let alone open it.  Queueing in the loos for the hot air dryer BEFORE having a pee and coffee.  Getting all togged up and then having to kick / bump start the bike - ensuring that you are covered in sweat that will soon be really cold.  Sitting at junctions / layby waiting for friends leaning forwards to wrap hands round barrel / s - burning hands on hot barrels as gloves heat up and the dynamic complexity means lift hands off does not end the heating.  Lifting tent flap in morning to find it solid.  Wondering why the quilt will not push away from your face - only to wake up and realise that you are in the tent and the snow is collapsing it on your face.

R

[guest7]

Jethro picked up a copy of this article and it is great, the photos convey the scene better than any of my snaps.

The shot of the two journos in their tent in thin sleeping bags made me wince... they must have been freezing at night.

GC