Help to find suitable off road tour for female travelling alone
 

Hello everyone, I am looking for help to find the right off road adventure. I don't mind where in the world it is (the more unusual the better!).

I ride a crf 230 green laning at home in Devon England and am looking for a predominently off road tour, not a big dual sport tour.

Can anyone recommend one they have been on?

I did look at one africa one in October but it turns out Prince Wills and Harry did it and at £5K, I thought a bit expensive.

This is going to be a trip of a lifetime for me so I realise it will cost. I am travelling solo and don't really know anyone to do a trip with, hence going on a tour as opposed to a self organised trip.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Pol

Hi, first off how long are you planning on going for and are you taking your own bike? If you're looking at 6 months+, you'd be cheaper to bring your own bike or buy there (ie USA or Australia).

Have you considered South America? I only spent about 5/6 months there but totally loved it. Off road or just plain old bad roads, it's all there.

BTW, if its a trip of a life time you are after, I'd seriously reconsider going down the organised tour route but each to their own. After a few days travelling on your own, you'll be wondering what all the fuss was about. You also meet a lot more people on your own, plus there are quite a few solo female travellers here.

Hi Mike, wasn't planning to take my own bike, my mechanical knowlege is rubbish and from a safety angle, I just don't know that I have posess enough knowledge and or skills (yet!) to go it alone.

I'm not planning a long trip, was thinking more on the lines of a couple of weeks of hard core off road guided tour and then staying on in the country afterwards for a month or so.

Maybe I am going at this from all the wrong angle!!

You've definitely given me some food for thought, that's for sure.

Thanks for your advice. Looking forward to hearing anymore.

trip idea
 

hi i have read (but cant remember where) that its possible to ride from around calias to the med using mainly off road tracks would make a fantastic journey have fun steve

I'm just back from a couple of days in France. If you do use a Garmin Zumo in France then have it guide you to a location in the hinterland on the shortest route possible (not the fastest).

It will route you over forest tracks, dirt roads and a lot of other fun stuff. Might not be a once in a lifetime adventure but it sure makes for a lot of dirt track fun. I'm already thinking about going from Germany to the Atlantic and then maybe to the Mediterranean next year :)

buebo

It may not float your boat, but,,,
 

Pol,
There are a group of us from another forum heading off down through Portugal, south and then back north through Spain, we're looking at mainly dirt trails, wild camping and as few tarmac sections as possible

It's a 10 day run sceduled for May 2010, ferry into northern Spain and ferry back to blighty.

It's a prelude to our Dakar challange in 2011 (just to make sure we all get on together!)

You are welcome to tag along.

Are you thinking of something called the Sentiers des Douaniers? If so tt's possible to walk and cycle round from Calais to the Med, but motorbike it and you'll find you're being pursued by some very irate farmers and you're trying to lift your bike up and down stairs, fences, walls etc. And you'd need amazing bike handling skills on some of the cliff-top paths round me.

Haven't heard of a bike-able version though, but maybe my Zumo will help me out?

Polly, you might try contacting XT Girl on here a while back she was trying to organise a couple of weeks in the Sahara, but then it went quiet, I think there weren't enough people? But who knows she might be up for it.

And what happened to your London - Capetown ideas? I guess they didn't get done after all?

It might be worth having a word with Bill Oates of Moto Morocco. He can arrange the hire of a mid-range offroad bike to join one of his tours with you flying into Marrakech on Easy Jet.

Another resource in Morocco is Peter Buitelaar of BikersHome who might be able to suggest or offer something.

Tim

Thanks Steve and Buebo, all helpful stuff.

GasUp, sounds like a great trip, had a look at your website too, like your attitude to riding and I'm very grateful for the invite and interested, only immediate draw backs I'd imagine are that I'd need to get a bigger bike for that trip and then I'm going into weightier territory...I had an XR Baja for a bit and struggled like mad picking that bugger up. I don't want to be a burden to anyone. Still, there's a bit of time between now and your trip so I will do some thinking and looking at some other bike options, see how I get on and perhaps I can hear some more about your plans. Also, I'm kinda looking for something at the end of the summer, need an incentive in front of me for this year ideally!

Alexlebrit, hello, how are you? Will definitely contact XTgirl, thanks for the tip.

London-Capetown sadly got shelved as did the boyfriend I was going with! Heyho, next plan eh!

Tim, thank you very much for the two links, I'm going to contact them right away. Thinking about it maybe I have seen Moto Morocco advertised in TBM..been a while since I looked at that.

Thanks very much indeed everyone, you have all been very helpful...I'll let you know where it leads me! At least I know that SOMETHING is going to be possible....and its very exciting.
Pol

Err, very well, sat in garden wondering about where to go as well. I did wonder if the bf had got shelved too, but you know, didn't like to ask and all that.

We're doing it on XT's, couple of Z's and an R. A smaller bike is more of an advantage than a hinderance I'd say! Lois Pryce has done north to south (Americas and Europe -> South Africa) on a bikes less than 250cc!

Anyway, I must get that website updated, it's nearly a year out of date :oops2:

The offer stands, if you feel the need, or even if you want to do your own thing with some help closer to hand, no worries.

We're all here for each other - or that's how I like to think anyway

I wouldn't worry about the bike. A 250 will keep up with a 650 until you hit wide open tarmac, and then you'd need a 650 rider intent on loosing you. If you can pick up a 250 you can learn to pick up a 650 with the right method. Your 250 works for you, a bike matching others in a group has advantages with spares and mechanical knowledge. You go with what's comfortable IF you are with the right group.

One of the best trips and one of the worst I ever did was a club thing. On tarmac they rode like the Sunday afternoon trainee organ donors/roadkill we get in the Dales with the result the distance per day was low and stressful. Off road a big proportion couldn't get out of first gear. If you are going for a group trip, IMHO make sure it's the right group rather than taking pot luck with a tour type thing. GasUp sounds like someone with a good attitude.

Andy

I was messing about with some video stuff after last years run, you can see how easy it is to pick up a bike, and this ones fully loaded. I'm no Gym worshiper either!

http://www.smokingtailpipes.com/Video/Eur08-Sweden.wmv

It's about a minute and a half in -

I've got my appraisal coming up at work - can I use that quote :mchappy:

Thanks Andy, helpful and wise words, I a now over my bike inferiority complex!! I also have made a decision whereby I can get the best out of both the real adventure riding and the tour side

I'm doing both!

Enduro Africa called me saying someone has dropped out of this years trip, so I said yes...what the hell, I'll have a blast even if it probably is a bit of a girls way of experiencing some adventure riding (you don't even carry your own kit!!). Its using the same bike I ride here and even though it is fully backed up and costs an arm and a leg (for a good charity though)...I have 3 months to work on some sponsorship to pay for some of it..it'll be great to get away soon, no stress, doing some riding and will boost my confidence in readiness for next year...

So although I'm taking the fairies option, Enduro Africa is going to be a warm up for a real unsupported, unguided trip next year. It will give me some time to get a bit more maintenance savvy, perhaps practise riding and picking up other bigger bikes and hopefully with all your kind help on the Hubb, get a trip planned, with the right bike and some like minded people!!

Thank you everyone for your help, I am very excited indeed....I feel like a very lucky person today.

Well that's good news and don't forget to tell us where to send out money for your sponsorship - I've got at least €0.27 in change you can have.

Gasup what a lovely bit of footage, nicely put together and genius music choice.

You definitely made easy work of that but I wouldn't fancy my chances of picking that heffer up fully laiden at all, let alone on a steep slope or after I've fallen off it 6 times in one day. Maybe I could get some panniers with stabilizer wheels fitted underneath..

Get someone to show you how to pick a bike up properly and practice at home before you go. There IS a correct technique that I only got shown halfway into my trip- makes a HUGE difference and was then able to pick up my lardy GS with panniers.

The trick is to make the bike do most of the work...

1) make sure its still in gear as it locks the back wheel
2) put steering on full lock, ie if bike fell over on its left side, turn bars fully to the right (looking at it as if you were still sitting on it)
3) Stand at the end of the left handlebar with the rest of the bar pointing straight away from you.
4) Bend your knees, grab the left grip and lift. The load is now spread to the back wheel and the steering lock.

Sounds complicated but its quite straight forward once you've done it once.


Videos :: How to pick up a lardy GS! video by ya-honza - Photobucket

Everything here is Euro-focused, have you looked at south-east asia? I spent a week riding in Laos back in January and it was pretty cool.

I went by myself but have seen tours advertised in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, etc. (sorry, no linkees!). Beautiful countryside, cool cultural experience, great food (usually), and other than the airfare, probably not too expensive.

Pollygee, not sure I do wise words, but good luck with the trip. Enjoy it.

GasUp, I'm betting my opinion doesn't count for very much, put please use the quote for your appraisal. Unfortunately, if it all goes pear shaped I do charge for job references :rofl:

MikeS, nice one! The other method to pick a bike up is get it secure and in gear and crouch down with the small of your back into the seat, back straight, knees bent. You grip under the seat and straighten your legs and up it'll come. The handlebar method is best on a slope. The seat method maybe a little easier if tired and you don't have as far to walk to get the stand down once it's up. I guess experienced riders learn which to use when.

Of course, when it comes to picking the outfit up after I slip off the track, a block and tackle is required, so I don't practice either method very much :blushing:

Andy

Hi PG,
Not sure where you are in Devon, but the Welcome Stranger is a good pub to drop in on the second Tues of the month to meet like minded people who are open to non-members with a very welcoming non-clique approach from the Trail Riders Fellowship and have some cool guest speakers (Dakar rides, aventure riders such as local boy Sam Manicom etc).....
There is a useful day for us 'newbies' coming up the end of the month, teaching the basics such as 'field' repairs and tyre changes and tool kits etc near Exeter....
May see you there this Tues?
Cheers
Nick

Hi Nick,

Thanks for useful message, I am a member of the devon trf, you'll probably see me on the forum from time to time.

Haven't ridden with those guys for a bit but I plan to do lots over the next few months. They are a great group of people.

Maybe get to see you on a ride out soon.

Pol

Hey Pollygee,

Just so you know, I learnt how to ride and the basic mechanics of a bike in 6 months and then headed out on a 10 month trip around south east Asia and north east Asia.

I totally recommend doing - its amazing. If I had done an arranged tour, I would have regretted it. Everyone has there limits, just make sure you are pushing them some times!

if you want to ask any questions about traveling as a girl - ask away!