numbers - 4 guys or 5?
 

Hi

We're planning a trip from Vladivostok to London in May 2010 via Mongolia, the Stans, Georgia and Turkey. Four of us have been organising and planning the trip since May last year, and things seem to be on track.

We have a number of other guys that are keen to come on the trip. In particular, there's one guy who's a top bloke who's so keen to come he's been losing sleep over it. We'd really like to have him come - but the main concern is the number of people.

I'd be real keen to get thoughts on how many is a desirable number for a trip. I assume that the more people, the less likely you are to meet locals and find places to stay. 4 is a large group, but also a good number in terms of sharing tents and doubling up on things. 5 feels like it's starting to become a squeeze.

I'd love any advice!!!

Cheers
Rob

2010
 

Just typing 2010 makes it seem a long time away but hey, planning is 'half' the fun!

I'll be heading out that way to, probably April, so you may catch me up.

I'll be following any threads on Russia etc. on the Hubb so maybe we'll cross threads before then. It'll be me and maybe a mate of mine.

Ed:thumbup1:

(yes, 5 is plenty but no more than 2 in many ways. A big group will probably fragment successfully should people want to do different things)

Hey Rob,

It's a matter of personal preference, but the pluses of riding with an extra friend far outweighs the hassle when it comes to tents and hotel rooms. The more people there are, the more to enjoy the adventure with.

As you are no doubt aware, larger groups mean more logistics and slower riding due to multiple stops and trying to get everyone on the same schedule, but you are already a pretty big group at 4 so going to 5 won't change that aspect of it much.

You'll likely find that riders will split into pairs or threes of similar riding pace and style, and then you get to catch up on the way or at the next town. The only real downside will be when you have to organize the extra room or tent as you say. Small incremental cost, plus you can always tell him that you will be storing the riding boots in his tent since he has all the extra space...:)

Having never traveled with more than one other person, and actually more often than not, tended to be solo, it is difficult to offer a valid opinion... however, what i would say is, since the trip isn't even starting till 2010 i would be amazed if all four or five that sign up for it actually go!

Peoples lives, aspirations and opportunities all change in 18 months/2 years and i would suspect that even if you signed six people up, on leaving day there may only be four anyway.


Regardless, enjoy the planning over a few beers with mates, thats always good.

I've done roadtrips in cars with myself and 3 others and also done trips on my own. Both options have pros and cons, I enjoy being on my own and meeting up with locals more and interacting with them but also I enjoy being thousands of miles from home in some little cafe with my best mates.

I imagine it's different on bikes are you aren't in the car together all the time so you don't have to worry about space?

Like an earlier poster said, planning that far ahead you're likely to get a few drop outs.

Mondo Enduro had like 7 members if I remember correctly. Didnt seem to affect them too much.

thanks guys. looks like it might be worth the logistical issues to bring another person. i'm inclined to think we'll go with that option now.

Ed - awesome, it'd be great to catch you up somewhere along the way. I'll keep an eye out for you and maybe we could arrange something a bit closer to the time.

Cheers!

Rtw
 

I'll be around on the Hubb and hoping to pick up the organising pace later in the year,

Laters,
Ed

A group of five will make democratic decisions much more easier

If you have the same bikes you can share the spare parts and knowledge to maintain them.

I have experience with a 7-bike group, worked out very well

Ride and camp together before you go. Make it clear that there will be decisions to be made during and after the test trip. If guy number 5 (or guys 1-4) turns out to be the sort of person who'll buy a three course meal when everyone else is on a fill-up and go, or will start fights with locals over who's Manchester United shirt is genuine, or will sulk for days because his ABS light comes on and everyone tells him not to worry or will try and get off with a hotel owners thirteen year old daughter, or won't fill his own bike when everyone else does and so runs out, or only takes up smoking when he see's other people doing it (but never buys any); make it clear he'll be on his own.

Think how you'll cope if one member of the group goes loopy (see above) once he can no longer get hold of a full English Breakfast/the cricket scores/his nearest bike dealer. Make it known that shared items of kit go with the largest part of the group or the part sticking to the original plan. If you go off on your own, the stove or mallet goes with the guys going on unless they don't want it.

Personally I hate riding with more than one or two other people, and the harder the ride the more I prefer to be on my own. Who the other people are and how they perform is the biggest difference between reaping the benefits of a group and wanting to leave some of your party in a shallow grave a few hundred miles from anywhere. I've ridden in small groups where you never notice the others are there until you stop and they pull in just ahead of/behind you. I've ridden in other, usually larger groups where it's been lucky the tyre irons and shovel live at the bottom of a bag.

Better to find out during a weekend in the lake district or Scotland.

The Mondo Enduro guys I think started with 7 and finished with 2? They were lucky in that the group broke down in a fairly civilised way the way I remember it?

Andy

Imagine riding on a hot, dusty track all day long. And then imagine how much dirt and dust you'd like being kicked up into your helmet from the rider's tyres in front of you and then multiply that by 4. :frown:

Also check out how fast or slow the others ride because if you're riding in some kind of formation, you'll either have to constantly slow down or speed up to suit the rest of the pack. Not much fun when you're having a ball on a nice track but keep having to stop to let Mr (or Mrs!) Slow in front move out the way:thumbdown:. Or vice versa, and you can't actually remember the last time you saw Mr/Mrs Slow's headlight in your mirrors...:innocent:

I personaly prefer riding off road solo or with just one other bike while keeping a good distance between them to avoid choking on dust all day long and being able to ride at my own speed.

I have always heard that almost any small group can get along if you set the rules.
Except 3.
3 will never get along it will always be 2 against 1.

More riders = more complications. I've rode in a few group tours, and I don't like having to deal with the hassles.

When it comes to riding, the fewer the merrier, IMHO.