Yesterday and tomorrow
Some years ago fuel was a lot cheaper, and we had not yet been defrauded by bankers and politicians. People travelled long distances and did RTW. They still do but I suggest those days are over for many.
I wanted to ride to Georgia, but I calculated how much it would cost in fuel alone, for I don't have the money for hotels etc. Anyway I like camping. The cost would be around 800 euros for the round trip. That is too much for me and I suspect, for many others. I can go to India with flight and all costs for 2/3 months for that, and hire a bike there.
Politically, too, at least for UK riders there are real problems; I believe that you can forget a visa for Iran. Understandably, for the UK has interfered in that country's affairs for decades, and they don't like it, quite rightly. So you have a look at the 'Stans and find you have to suffer high visa costs and short duration transit. Sure you can buy your way through, but I'd say they don't deserve my money. Africa is an unstable nightmare, I'd say. Now Mali and all round there is a problem.
So tomorrow, what do you do? I say, like Ted Simon, that shorter, more thoughtful trips will be the way for some. Go to Turkey or Albania and base yourself somewhere cheap in a village in the hills and explore slowly and in detail. TS said that at Ripley, but nobody heard it -it didn't fit with perceptions of him.
Or, go anywhere in the EU, like Estonia, where you can enjoy the city, forest or coastline. Or Spain, where the interior of the country is a hidden treasure. Or even the Western Isles of Scotland; I read that some "travellers" on here found Scotland too far away to travel to, so I don't include them in any of this. I don't include those who pay for guided tours either.
But all this requires a change of thinking, and I guess that some won't make that change. Why should they of course, if that doesn't appeal. There's a lot of crass consumerism with travel biking, and what I suggest is not in line with that. The rider who expresses his character through what kit he buys is not interesting.
None of you are getting younger, and a glance at the age profile at Ripley confirms that. Expect to have less cash when you're older, for the bankers etc are going to take your money from you. So what will you do for trips of quality? How will you fund it?
I've suggested some ways for those who continue biking into old age, when you have more time but less money. Ian Coates is one example but there are many who you will never hear of. I expect that some riders will give up the bike when older so I don't count them.
I wish I'd got a diesel bike when I was earning, but as I have an AT I'll stick to that now. A diesel would allow distance to be done cheaply. And I like it for its anti -image.
So what will you do?
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