Vince Austin
 

I believe that Mr Austin runs basic tours sleeping rough etc. Anyone ever tried this? I think it costs around 2000 pounds?

Also has anyone tried his handmade overalls, coming in at just under 100pounds?

This guy is living the dream, making his living from travel biking. :thumbup1:

Yep.
 

Hi, you're correct but....He's Mr Austin Vince. Or Austin, if you meet him. Not tried overall myself though. Lindsay.

Overalls - Austin Vince

I think you will find they start at £170 :helpsmilie::eek3:

Why pay £2k when it's free to do it yourself :eek3: And for a tenner buy some plain overalls on ebay and stick some gaffer tape on them!!

"£2000?" I thought "That's a bit steep." But then I read it trails all across Europe and everything, well most things are provided and I thought "the guy has to make a living, so if people are willing to pay then why not?"

I wouldn't, if I wanted to I'd do it myself, but I'm sure some people would.

Some like a guide - makes a safety net for them. And it is an easy introduction for them onto this type of touring. Having had the experience they might move onto solo touring :Beach:

As for overalls... some time ago I tried them (no not Austins). They are good in terms of social acceptance, as you arrive dirty they think it is ok because they are overalls.... You can fit them up with plastic armor. Washing them ... well they are like jeans but worse = take for ever to dry, just ware them damp (unless your are in a damp climate). White ones may be more visible, but they stain over time ... mine have gone orangeish where the dirt hits them and in place where I grind the dirt in.

Trip.
 

The usual comments apply to any organized trip except one with Austin. Surely it would be hilarious fun all the way. Heck, it would be worth paying to have a pint in a pub with him.
Such a trip would be like no other in many ways and Austin would not run a trip which, unlike all the others, removed the adventure from it. I can't imagine he could put up with a boring trip himself.
It would be a really memorable trip to have your own, plus his, views on what is seen. Memories are what it's about.

Lindsay.

Yes it would be like The Famous Five Ride Motorbikes.:mchappy: Swashbuckling adventure, and as jolly as you like. Has anyone done one of these thrilling japes?

Is credit available in these troubled times? Living the dream and riding the freedom highway is certainly not cheap, but to meet true travellers like Vince and share campfire chat is well worth a lot of money.:scooter:

I'm not sure why the negative comments about guided tours. I've done a couple in the past (Mexico, India) and although I prefer touring solo, I can certainly see why someone with more money than time would take one.
In the US in particular, many folks only get a couple weeks vacation a year, and they'd rather spend more money upfront so that they can spend their time riding and less coordinating.

Adventure.
 

Hi, negative simply because people paying for a guided tour are paying to avoid anything unexpected happening or anything going wrong.....ie they pay to not have an adventure. Lindsay.

Does he know this?

Austin!! Austin!!

You've been missing a trick all these years, forget adventure touring and romping round the Pyrenees, people will pay to spend the evening down your local with you.


















... I know I would, too. bier

So far, no-one has said theyve done these tours. One bloke has said its unadventurous, even feeble. Surely not.

I saw Vince at the Welsh Touratech event some time ago and he´d set up his raincovers in the carpark there. It looked really rufty tufty so I was annoyed at all the people who just walked past oblivious.

Is this the kind of bold thing to expect on his tours? It seems to be really at the cutting edge of ´muscle travel´. I read his book Mondo Enduro and I thought....mmmm..I'm up for that.

I may have to take the plunge and sign up before finding anyone who paid out for this romp. :scooter:

:confused1:

What negative comments?

All I see is a choice that can be made - between some organization (time table, route etc) and guide of your trip, and one you do yourself.

Both kinds have advantages and disadvantages. Like that pint in a pub, you have a few choices of pub and beverage.

Famous Five books.
Cor, I grew up reading these books although must have missed the ride motorbikes one.
Haven't done an Austin Vince tour either so not much use really I'm afraid.
But thanks for the memories Dick.

Met Austin this weekend top bloke, hay we all have to make a living.

Good post. I agree with your comments.

No You're not paying not to have an adventure. You're paying to make the best use of restricted time.
If you only have 2 weeks to commit to a trip in a faraway land such as India an organized trip wins hands down for many people. If you have 4 weeks plus to spare a diy trip is probably the better choice.
I would love to fly into India or Thailand with no time limit, hire a bike and just take off. If I've only got 2 weeks available and the poorly prepared bike I organized via the internet turns out to be a pile of crap on the 2nd day I've got a ruined trip and another 12 months before I can look forward to another one. If the same thing happens on a 2 month break it becomes part of the adventure.
An organized tour may not be hard-core adventure travel to many but it sure beats getting a suntan on the Costa del Sol or drinking yourself stupid in an all inclusive resort in Tunisia

I call that BALANCE.:thumbup1: It's all a matter of attitude.

I've sytematically avoided anything organized, but I'm not 50, have 3 kids and only a week a year to enjoy a good ride (or paragliding trip or whatever other aim). Maybe you just want to ride, visit some nice places and be sure to find fresh linens and a hot shower at the end of a long day, so that one week later you can still join in shape your family in Costa del Sol. He's not looking for "adventure", which is not all in life, but intentionally avoiding it. And once back, he's just a humble boy who enjoyed a beautiful trip.

Linking with Linzi's point, we may think about an arrogant guy with a shiny and Touratech farkled 1200GS parked in front of a bar and talking loud about his adventure in Southern Africa. It's annoying and you may think "what adventure, an organized adventure? Why didn't you go on you shiny BMW?" Anyone who has read ABR magazine may have seen many of those with a idiotic macho attitude. But I hope that shouldn't discredit the 50 y/o guy who has another approach.

DIGRESSION: I am among the lowest percentile of adventurous people here, so I never use that word, which sounds too big for me. I prefer "the unexpected". I hardly plan, so it does not happen so much, but when it does, I sort of enjoy it, especially at the end since usually things turn up well (it helps that I do not try to reach solo the north Pole in winter). I understand the "adventurous" approach we may share here, but to be honest, most of us work on a desk in front of a screen, so an independent trip, even if a long one, doesn't make us to become Herman Melville on a whaleboat, Jack London in Klondike or Shackelton in Antarctica or many other anonymous ones. Very few took that road.

In the same sense, I'm really annoyed when people say all the time that places are "very touristy". I try to be polite and just forget it, but once I had to say: "I'm also pissed that you are here". Uppss, sorry, Tikal Mayan pyramids are very touristy and I would also love to have them for me alone to see the sunset in total peace, instead of hearing your boring comments. But they are so wonderful that they are opened to everyone, so expect crowds even during the rainy season. Why didn't you take a machete and an Indian guide to take you to other ruins lost in the jungle? Ah, you only have to weeks to visit Yukatan, Belize and Guatemala, so you don't have time, otherwise you would do it... (this thoughts inside me).

All those Red Bull sponsored sports, Go Pro Hero cameras and adrenaline junkies pegged to 9-5 jobs are making things more incongruent to my eyes (looks like I joined the bunch, since I'm considering buying a helmet camera!).

Esteban

Corrected.
 

Yes, I stand corrected. I always forget that some people are restricted by commitments and then a tour makes sense. But I still feel they lose out on a real adventure, actually there should be no need to say, "real".
Adventure comes from a certain level of risk and being pushed beyond what the rider thinks they can manage. Some people get this from their jobs and don't need to seek it on travel.

Lindsay.

Probably that's a more appropriate definition of "adventure" and mine is unnecesarily restrictive (and tied to literature?). Well, maybe I'm shy to use it when I'm concerned... or hyperbolic or out of place when adventure means taking a chicken bus or a tuk tuk, but then again there are other cases as you pointed. I said balance before, that applies to myself as well:innocent:.

personally I think adventure is different for everyone , for some and adventure is a trip to the shops whilst for others unless its -30 then its not even starting to be an adventure. I can only do shortish trips 3-4 weeks so to make it an adventure for me i pick a country to head for on my bike and a date to leave and that is the extent of the planning it always turns into an adventure of some sort.

oh and I take a go pro haha

Adventure????
 

Every bodies opinion or person level of Adventure is different. For some people even to visit Africa/India/replace with any third world country or continent etc, is frightening/worrying and an adventure. For others Antartica is a regular destination, but travelling solo on a bike might be a no, no!
We are all different - Horses for courses?

But come on Austin - £170 for a set of diy overalls - you are having a laugh!

What are you guys seeing??
 

Is it just me ...

to notice the unusual nick name behind the thread?

:rofl:

Gotta be a Polish sense of humor there :)

With some of the prices I wonder who is 'pulling' whos? :blushing:

The latest Austin Adventure: https://www.facebook.com/mondosahara

Not sure if this is a real 'tour' or paid tour, either way, sounds like great fun!

I saw an unusually high number of "likes"...

Austin is as we speak on his way to the Sahara, with a few others to day they where in Almiera waiting for a boat
http://corpsesfromhell.blogspot.co.u...do-sahara.html
calling it monduro sahara

Start saving for the talks, books and dvd's.

we are organising our 3rd annual reunion of the round the world trip we did. This year we are meeting up at the HU meeting in England. So often overlooked is the social side of taking a tour.