Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Bicycles > Overland Bicycle Travel
Overland Bicycle Travel Overlanding questions for two wheels, no motor!
Photo by Daniel Rintz, Himba children, Namibia

The only impossible journey
is the one
you never begin

Photo by Daniel Rintz,
Himba children, Namibia



Like Tree4Likes

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 30 Jul 2009
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 14
Sold my R1150gs and bought a bicycle.....

Last year I decided that the cheapest way for me to see the world was to sell my motorbike and by myself a bicycle.

I set off on 18th July 2008 and here I sit in Kathmandu, Nepal a couple of stones lighter. I haven't quite given up on motorbikes though and was lucky enough to borrow a 500cc Enfield in Pushkar, India and a 350cc Enfield to ride the Manali - Leh Highway.

I've got a webstie Bicycle Touring: Acoustic Motorbike - A bicycle journey around this small blue planet which has a blog and also links to some videos / photos. I've just uploaded a video to YouTube of my ride down the Rothlang La (pass) and you can view it here: YouTube - Rothang La (India)

Feel free to contact me if you are planning a similar trip.

Aidan
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 30 Jul 2009
MikeS's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,187
Stunning photos by the way! Looking at them really doesn't help my mood as I sit writing reports at my desk!!
__________________
Mike


www.singapore-scotland.blogspot.com
www.argentina-alaska.blogspot.com
My little Vid: India/Pakistan

BMW R1150GS
Suzuki DR650 SE: Ride it like ya stole it. Oh, somebody just did...
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 31 Jul 2009
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: UK
Posts: 30
Oh mate thats so cool. Those pictures are fantastic! Will be following the blog.

Good luck
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 18 Aug 2009
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: UK
Posts: 11
Same thought had crossed my mind, swop the engined two wheeler for a leg powered one. Will be following your blog!

Good luck!
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 18 Aug 2009
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,598
Bit more extreme than myself. I sold my bmw r80rt and bought an Enfield.. think it is abit up on a push bike
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 28 Aug 2009
HU Sponsor
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Tucson, more or less
Posts: 43
Lovely photos, Aidan.
__________________
www.overlandjournal.com
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 1 Sep 2009
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 14
Thanks for the comments on the photos.
The trip has been great so far and I certainly don't miss spending money on petrol / spairs and repairs.

Aidan
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 24 Feb 2011
*Touring Ted*'s Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wirral, England.
Posts: 5,654
I'm planning to swap an engine for muscle power on my next trip too....

Did you find it an easy transition ? Ever frustrated with lack of progress ??
__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 25 Feb 2011
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Wessex, UK
Posts: 2,136
I did the swop last year for a tour of SE Asia and found it hard but enjoyable work, you see a lot more on a bicycle and get more interaction with locals. A couple of times I put the bike on a bus or train when I didn't fancy the road ahead. For my next trip I am considering splitting the difference and taking a 125cc motorbike now that I am use to the slower pace. The medical insurance is also a lot less on a bicycle or small motorbike.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 25 Feb 2011
Moderator, Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Lancashire England
Posts: 313
Hi MArk,

just get yourself a Yamaha Serow!

I've never regretted the day that I sold my R1200GS and took the tiddler option.

Regards

Reggie
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 25 Feb 2011
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: NFA
Posts: 222
Second what Reggie said.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 25 Feb 2011
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Staffordshire. uk
Posts: 766
We're slowly taking over the world. Serows rock!
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 26 Feb 2011
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Edinburgh
Posts: 762
Quote:
Originally Posted by *Touring Ted* View Post
I'm planning to swap an engine for muscle power on my next trip too....

Did you find it an easy transition ? Ever frustrated with lack of progress ??
I did about a year or two ago, gradually doing more bicycle and less motorbike. all the clichés that motorbikers claim, "...part of the scene..", "maps becoming 3-dimensional", etc, apply even more so to cycle touring.

my motorbike touring seemed to have evolved into a long list of goals, and I just rode around ticking them off. it seemed a bit, disconnected with where I was.

as to lack of progress, it's exactly the opposite. my motorbike touring is measured in 'fuel tanks'. you look at the map, and think, "that's one and a half tanks away, I can make that today." but on the bicycle, even touring at home, the slower you go the more that seems to happen. on the bicycle I measure progress in terms of how little I think about the next place on the map.

for example, I've just been doing some touring at home; over the last few weeks. I took 7 days to cycle Inverness to Orkney. the time it took was neither intentional or unintentional, it was just how long it took. but those 7 days were packed full of all the stuff touring is supposed to be about.

I could ride (and have ridden much further) that on a motorbike in a couple of hours. I would have missed out on so much.

I think what killed, or seriously wounded, motorbike travel for me was taking that GS back from Bamako to London. I did the Bamako to Barcelona in 8 days or something. to me these big bikes rob any sense of achievement because they are so damn easy to ride. even the enfield across west africa proved to be a pretty straight forward experience. I was just whizzing past so much stuff, because I had this idea that I have to so see some 'progress' on the map.

don't get me wrong, there are people doing exceptionally adventurous things on motorbikes, and there are others who are doing less exceptional things and thoroughly enjoying themselves. but I think the days of romanticising about Ted Simon's first trip, for example, are over for most of us. Simply because we're not able to conjure up the same state of mind that was possible back then. these days we are people who seem to want to pre-plan, have insurance, have bomb-proof equipment, have instant communications back home, etc, etc.

I have a sense I'm now on the lunatic fringe of things. I want to break that cord with home, when I'm away. I don't want continual contact with the familiar things. Even if I'm only in Inverness I can feel free by doing away with phone, internet, plans, etc. a lot of people seem to be heading towards the commercialisation of touring, and I'm running away from it :-)

two books I've read in the past year or so sum up what I'm thinking. A Time Of Gifts, Tim Fermor Leigh. And, Full Tilt, Dervla Murphy.

I don't think we can ever get back to that form of travel, we seem to know too much these days. but the bicycle, I think, makes it easier to travel more naively in today's world.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 26 Feb 2011
Vaufi's Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Munich, the beer capital
Posts: 1,047
Quote:
Originally Posted by DougieB View Post
I did about a year or two ago, gradually doing more bicycle and less motorbike. all the clichés that motorbikers claim, "...part of the scene..", "maps becoming 3-dimensional", etc, apply even more so to cycle touring.

........

I don't think we can ever get back to that form of travel, we seem to know too much these days. but the bicycle, I think, makes it easier to travel more naively in today's world.
1+
__________________
Only when we pause to wonder
do we go beyond the limits of our little lives.
(Rod McKuen)
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 26 Feb 2011
Crusty's Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Herts, UK
Posts: 215
Dervla Murphy is, IMHO, one of the best travel writers of all time and Full Tilt is one of my favourite travel books of all time.

She writes with a style and distinction that's from a time which, as you say, has long gone. No harm in employing a bit of that style in your own travels though...

Be careful though, If you read some of her other books you could find yourself trading the pushbike for a mule...
__________________
Beware the dark, mechanical bird.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Anyone sold a bike in Colombia ?? *Touring Ted* SOUTH AMERICA 5 11 May 2008 20:28
HPN Sold gsworkshop BMW Tech 0 30 Jan 2006 23:14
looking for guy from montana who sold his bike in Mali Matthew Skillman Travellers' questions that don't fit anywhere else 2 27 Jun 2001 22:15

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

HU Event and other updates on the HUBB Forum "Traveller's Advisories" thread.
ALL Dates subject to change.

2024:

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

HUBBUK: info

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 14:00.