I've just started to look into a round the world trip I've been thinking about doing for a couple of years, but if I do it, it has to be during uni holidays which is 4 months. Does anyone have any idea if this could be done? I would probably ride about 8 hours a day and have a break every 2 weeks or so. Any information would be helpful.

Even If you could, I would have to question if you should !!!!!!!!

Whats the point ?? You would have no time to explore, see the sights, meet people or do anything apart from sit in your saddle. What will you do if your bike breaks down or you get ill or have an accident. You schedule will be in disaray.

8 hours a day, everyday ??? I have to assume you're new to biking ! You will be burnt out in a week. You would have to be on some crazy record breaking quest to try this... It will be NO FUN AT ALL !!!

If you only have 4 months, why not spit up your trip into continents.
4 months is a good amount of time to see South America or Africa, Europe etc.

Do the same again the year after and in a few years you will have done your "Round the world" but you will have enjoyed it, got a bag fun of memories and had years of fun instead of 4 months of hell.

Just my opinion !

P.S. Welcome to the forum

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Thanks for your reply, I'm not new to biking and have done long trips before. I'm aware of all the risks and the fact that 8 hours a day of riding will be tedious. I do have a few spots in mind where I'll spend a few days, but the main question still remains... can it be done?

If it can't be, then I may take a year out of studies to do it. Any info will still be greatly appreciated.

Hi NickBeck
unless you are trying to achieve some kind of record (Guinness or otherwise) I have to agree with tedmagnum.
burnout is the biggest thing and if you have made such a huge financial commitment to take out 4 months then you want to enjoy it- experience as much as you can - not just ride, ride, ride. Yes, I know the feeling that all you want to do is ride...but truthfully after the first few weeks of doing just that you will want to stop and 'see'.

My adivice is the same as tedmagnums, choose a continent - and do your 4 months on that one. make sure you take the time to experince the countries, its people and their customs as well as the great riding!

if you need any further input or want some reading have a look at our website 2ridetheworld.com and our online diary - it may just give you a few hints....their are photos too which always helps!

cheers

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www.2ridetheworld.com

Hi
Sorry to say this but I’m a bit negative about this trip as well.
I know you said you are not a novice on a bike, but 8 hours is a long time to do 3-4 days in a row. I have not done long trips myself but am planning one in August, and general rule of thumb is you must work with 300-350km (180-215miles) on average per day for the trip.
Plus you must think is the money and effort going into such a trip worth the while if you are going to race past everything.
But on the other hand it depends on how much you actually ride. If most of the km are consumed doing air travel then you might just do it.I think on paper it is possible to do it in the time limed, but theoretically it will be a hell of a challenge.
Keep us updated by submitting your route plan and the estimated distance you are going to ride and I’m sure on or more folks who did RTW trips would be able to assist you.

Thanks everyone for your help. It sounds like I'll need a good year to do the trip. I'll still look into the 4 month timeline a bit more as I don't want to take a whole year off uni, but I may just have to take some time off, maybe even another 4 months ontop of the other 4 months.

Hi Nick,
Of course it can be done, Ewan and Charlie rode round the world in 3 1/2 months and they did not take the most straight forward route... it could be done in less time than that.
check out this site Biking for Barnardo's - Home , these two guys did the trip in 100 days and had the trip of a lifetime... and did it on a shoestring. Im not sure how people can say you will not enjoy it! doing a big trip in a short space of time is not everyones cup of tea but it does not mean its a bad idea. It will be an amazing experience, its true you wont get to see everything but you can always go back another time, but there are not many people who can say they have ridden round the world.

cheers
Chris

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How do you get all your visa's within that time?

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hi there

i think it can be done if he plan his route

i just finish reading a story of 3 bikers from Kuwait how visited 3 continants
nice story with many updated info

Our Shared Planet Motorcycle Adventure: May 2009

regards

Hi,

I also set off from Kuwait, but i travelled alone and departed on June 18th last year and reached Seattle on July 21st travelling through Iran, Pakistan and China.
Trouble is my bike never reached Seattle. otherwise I would have continued.
Change of plan, so I will now continue with the rest of my trip this summer.

Anyway I don't think the riding will be the difficult part, it will be the bureaucrary that may slow you down.

A word of warning, please don't leave a country before your bike does.

Anyway just thought i'd let you know how much ground i covered in 4 weeks.

Regards
H A

Anything is possible, although it may be improbable or highly unlikely! You have to consider many things, first and foremost is why? Seriously, after all the traveling i have done in the years, i would never consider trying to circumnavigate the globe in such a short time. Why would you want to do that to yourself? Consider all the problems you will encounter: Engine problems, tire availability, visas, and all of your vital body fluids that at some point may spew out of your ass! That is if you give yourself enough time to stop and eat at some point. Staying healthy on the road can be hard, and especially if you plan on doing it as rapidly as you wish. Can it be done? I'm sure it can, but i'm pretty handy and well experienced, and i know i couldn't, nor would want to do it! Your biting off more than you can chew IMHO. Plan out a nice 3 month trip and go enjoy it. Take your time, taste the food, smell the flowers, enjoy the wildlife and stop to take a picture once and a while. Them you can brag about your HOLIDAY!! Practice one or two languages before you leave, it will be much more enjoyable if you can consult with the locals once and a while. Remember, Ewan and Charlie had each other to talk to, along with their camera man, doctor, etc... Believe me, i have all the respect in the world for what they have done and where they have gone, but apples and oranges my friend. BTW, and maybe i missed it, what bike are you planning to take?

Well it´s not easy to comment on this, because first of all, you did not specify any kind of a route plan.

But in general, riding long days for 13 days in a row, then taking 1 day break doesnt sound too appealing to me.

We took 6 months to ride from Europe to India > SE Asia > Oz with my girlfriend... and this was okay, but I remember thinking 8-9 months would´ve been much better. There is so much to do & see along the way, would be a great shame to just have to keep riding all the time to keep to a schedule. Do also note, that average speed can vary greatly, and outside Europe & US it is often quite slow-going.

I agree that its a bit of a short time to travel arround the world but lets not judge what one want one should do . Any travel will be great and if you do it in four month and have fun why not, I notice that the guy which did in 3 month avoided Africa and South America , that is a bit sad to me but one more time not my choice. If you are serious about doing it why not going from Alaska to Argentina then South Africa to Europe via East coat and if you have a little more time fly to SE Asia rent a bike and do the Golden triangle , 4 month will be OK , not much time to rest on side of road but .... possible.

Good luck anyway.

anything and everything is possible of you really put your mind to it and want to do it -you will make it happen!
the question to really ask is why?
why do I want to do this this particular way?

yes - others have done it quicker- faster - better (?) - we all want different things from travel. Nick has done very fast trips and ends up completely knackered at the end - but he has always done things this way and he has a different and distinct purpose and expected end result for his trips.

the only thing I would be concerned about it is getting to certain places and really wishing that I had more time there.....but you can always plan for 4 months and just change things along the way!
We had originally planned for an 18 month/2 year trip when we started and now 7 years down the road........need I say more....

you are young grasshopper! ......isn't that how the saying goes! LOL

have fun and if you want any advice on anything you can send me an email.

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Lisa
www.2ridetheworld.com

Hi Nick,

Some very sensible comments thus far, with the main theme quite rightly being the question of 'why' you want to do this. If it's just so you can say you've done it and that's all you want from the trip then go for it but as has already been said it's alot of riding and won't be much fun.


If you want to do this trip for the experience of seeing different cultures etc then I'd follow one of the suggestions above and choose a continent and really discover it. Ultimately, given the cost of a trip like this you want to firstly make sure you know WHAT you want to get from it, and then decide what kind of trip will deliver that.

There's no right or wrong here, of course, and each of us can only give our opinions - personally given that these things for most of us tend to be once in a lifetime events, I'd either spend your 4 months really having an adventure somewhere where you can really do it justice or if your heart's set on an RTW maybe hold off until you've finished your degree and do that without such a tough schedule hanging over your head.

Just my 2 cents worth and maybe not what you want to hear, but good luck with whatever decision you go with.

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