Alps touring without the hastle!

[black-k1]

I know from my previous thread that a number are already planning for next year (and beyond). While the Old Gits are off to Spain this year, while I was researching the options I came across this service which may be of interest:

www.bikepackers.co.uk

They pack you and your bike into a posh coach here in Blighty, then drive you both to Switzerland while you chat to your mates.

I've not used the service so can't comment on how good or otherwise it is but it may be attractive for any who want to go to the Alps but don't fancy 500+ miles trudging across France.

[Harry H]

Seems like quite a nice idea. At £695 return it's also quite good value when considering the fuel,tolls, rubber and hotel savings.

[black-k1]

Harry H said:

Seems like quite a nice idea. At £695 return it's also quite good value when considering the fuel,tolls, rubber and hotel savings.

My thoughts exactly!

[Harry H]

black-k1 said:

Harry H said:

Seems like quite a nice idea. At £695 return it's also quite good value when considering the fuel,tolls, rubber and hotel savings.

My thoughts exactly!

Oh, and the chunnel fare. In fact it's probably cheaper than the slog on a bike.

[Hooli]

Touring without touring. Might as well fly over and rent a car. It's only a long days ride to the alps, if you don't want to do that then i'm not sure touring is your thing.

[hornetrider]

Harry H said:

black-k1 said:

Harry H said:

Seems like quite a nice idea. At £695 return it's also quite good value when considering the fuel,tolls, rubber and hotel savings.

My thoughts exactly!

Oh, and the chunnel fare. In fact it's probably cheaper than the slog on a bike.

I don't know where you guys are doing your sums, but you're way off

[black-k1]

Harry H said:

black-k1 said:

Harry H said:

Seems like quite a nice idea. At £695 return it's also quite good value when considering the fuel,tolls, rubber and hotel savings.

My thoughts exactly!

Oh, and the chunnel fare. In fact it's probably cheaper than the slog on a bike.

I wouldn't say it's cheaper. This site puts the costs at about £100 each way ViaMichelin and the Chunnel/ferry will be, at most, £75. I don't think hotels, tyres, chain etc. will come to £425 (unless you have expensive tastes in hotels). Still a reasonable price if you don't like sitting on French motorways.

[hornetrider]

It looks good in the pics, but at the end of the day what it boils down to is an overnight journey on a bus in a reclining seat.

[CAPP0]

I think that's a cracking idea. Sure, it defeats the object if you have a 400kg tourer, or your name is Charlie McGregor and you have shares in Touratech, but I have often thought what a hoot, say, a supermoto would be in the Alps. Or maybe take your old Brit thumper down there. You wouldn't want to slog across France on either of those. Horses for courses but I think there is definitely a place for that service - not for everyone, but still.

[Harry H]

hornetrider said:

I don't know where you guys are doing your sums, but you're way off

OK, lets assuming you don't do it all in one day but do an overnight on the way down and back. Yes I've done 650+ mile days in the past but that's not for everyone especially with a pillion or maybe on a cramped sports bike. I never have a problem on the way down as you're excited to get there but the long haul home at the end can be a bit of a chore.

So the return trip... on a sports bike

6 tanks of fuel at say £20 each = £120
Rubber depending on tyres for 1000 miles = £110
two over night stays = £150
Tolls = £40
Teas coffees breakies = £30
Chunnel return = £80
Other wear and tear Chains pads etc =£50
Total £580

Yep it's cheaper to DIY but there's not a lot in it. And you get more time mucking about when you get there. What price do you put on a days leave from work ? How much depreciation does another 1k miles on your bike add up too? All depends how much the trip to the playgrounds are part of the holiday or not I suppose

As K1 says, not for everyone but a good option for some.

Edited by Harry H on Thursday 23 October 11:06

[s3fella]

Irpony is that it goes to Switzerland, a wonderful country but one of the most unfriendly places for "spirited riding" anywhere in the world.

Now, if it went to Spain / Andora and the Pyrenees....

[black-k1]

s3fella said:

Irpony is that it goes to Switzerland, a wonderful country but one of the most unfriendly places for "spirited riding" anywhere in the world.

Now, if it went to Spain / Andora and the Pyrenees....

I'm with you on that. The best parts of Switzerland are the roads out!

Still, Geneva is not a bad start point to run down to the Med and back using the Route du Grande Alpes and the route Napoleon.

[BaronVonV8]

Harry H said:

OK, lets assuming you don't do it all in one day but do an overnight on the way down and back. Yes I've done 650+ mile days in the past but that's not for everyone especially with a pillion or maybe on a cramped sports bike. I never have a problem on the way down as you're excited to get there but the long haul home at the end can be a bit of a chore.

So the return trip... on a sports bike

6 tanks of fuel at say £20 each = £120
Rubber depending on tyres for 1000 miles = £110
two over night stays = £150
Tolls = £40
Teas coffees breakies = £30
Chunnel return = £80
Other wear and tear Chains pads etc =£50
Total £580

Yep it's cheaper to DIY but there's not a lot in it. And you get more time mucking about when you get there. What price do you put on a days leave from work ? How much depreciation does another 1k miles on your bike add up too? All depends how much the trip to the playgrounds are part of the holiday or not I suppose

As K1 says, not for everyone but a good option for some.

Edited by Harry H on Thursday 23 October 11:06

£160 on tyres and wear and tear over a thousand miles? Unless you're on some kind of super soft compound sports tyre then I really doubt it. There are so many great roads on the way down to the alps that to take a bus there would be criminal.

[Hooli]

BaronVonV8 said:

£160 on tyres and wear and tear over a thousand miles? Unless you're on some kind of super soft compound sports tyre then I really doubt it. There are so many great roads on the way down to the alps that to take a bus there would be criminal.

I agree with all of that, especially the roads. It's only northern frogshire, belguim etc that's ste. 3hrs from the ferry & you're on good roads.

[Harry H]

BaronVonV8 said:

£160 on tyres and wear and tear over a thousand miles? Unless you're on some kind of super soft compound sports tyre then I really doubt it. There are so many great roads on the way down to the alps that to take a bus there would be criminal.

II think people actually underestimate the money they spend on bikes and the cost per mile. Pop down to Box hill and the place is littered with expensive kit on soft tyres.

You don't need to be on super soft compounds. But any of the 160+ HP bikes will only get around 3k miles to a set of Sports tyres. By the time you've run the bike up to the tyre shop had the bloke fit the latest set of nice tyres, had em balanced with nice new valves it's gonna be around £300.Will ignore the fact they'll be squared off nicely by the time they get there Let's say these guys have the bike serviced at 6k miles and cost on average £250 that's £42/ 1000 miles in servicing. Add in all the usual consumables of chains, sprockets, pads ete etc and I reckon £160 ain't far off. I also didn't factor in depreciation it's gotta be getting on for 20p a mile on these bikes as well. so that's another £200 at least on the return trip. £15k bike with 10 k miles is always gonna be worth at least £1000 less than one with say 5k miles.

Don't want to get all depressing but there's a great deal of us that aren't running bikes as a cheap means of transport.

Yes there are some great roads down to the Alps but they're not as good as the roads when you get there IMHO. I have no affiliation to this company. Would I use them ? maybe, maybe not. I still think that it's a good option for some people though.And good value.

I have two bikes, nice big tourer and a sports bike. I usually always take the tourer on Alps trips cause I'm too old to suffer the trip on a sports bike. I don't notice the uncomfort when on the gas having fun but I certainly do sat on a motorway with nothing else to think about but how sore my arse is. But when in the mountains I often wish I was on my sports bike.

Now at least I have an alternative option.

Edited by Harry H on Thursday 23 October 14:04

[moto_traxport]

https://www.flybikefly.com

Another option. These chaps do the shipping service for No Limits foreign trackdays.

[Hooli]

Harry H said:

BaronVonV8 said:

£160 on tyres and wear and tear over a thousand miles? Unless you're on some kind of super soft compound sports tyre then I really doubt it. There are so many great roads on the way down to the alps that to take a bus there would be criminal.

II think people actually underestimate the money they spend on bikes and the cost per mile. Pop down to Box hill and the place is littered with expensive kit on soft tyres.

You don't need to be on super soft compounds. But any of the 190+ HP bikes will only get around 3k miles to a set of Sports tyres. By the time you've run the bike up to the tyre shop had the bloke fit the latest set of nice tyres, had em balanced with nice new valves it's gonna be around £300.Will ignore the fact they'll be squared off nicely by the time they get there Let's say these guys have the bike serviced at 6k miles and cost on average £250 that's £42/ 1000 miles in servicing. Add in all the usual consumables of chains, sprockets, pads ete etc and I reckon £160 ain't far off.

Yes there are some great roads down to the Alps but they're not as good as the roads when you get there IMHO. I have no affiliation to this company. Would I use them ? maybe, maybe not. I still think that it's a good option for some people though.And good value.

I have two bikes, nice big tourer and a sports bike. I usually always take the tourer on Alps trips cause I'm too old to suffer the trip on a sports bike. But when in the mountains I often wish I was on my sports bike.

Now at least I have an alternative option.

I think you'll find a lot of us use road tyres that last long enough for a road trip (7k ish out of my PR3s normally) & maintain our own bikes. £40 every 4k for an oil change & £120 every 30-40k for C&S.

[black-k1]

moto_traxport said:

https://www.flybikefly.com

Another option. These chaps do the shipping service for No Limits foreign trackdays.

I think that'll be expensive by the time you add the cost of your air fare. Also you are without you bike for several days both before and after the trip. OK in winter but a bit of a pain in the summer.

[Harry H]

Hooli said:

I think you'll find a lot of us use road tyres that last long enough for a road trip (7k ish out of my PR3s normally) & maintain our own bikes. £40 every 4k for an oil change & £120 every 30-40k for C&S.

And there's me thinking PistonHeads was full of company directors driving Lambo's and riding Desmodici's

[black-k1]

Harry H said:

Hooli said:

I think you'll find a lot of us use road tyres that last long enough for a road trip (7k ish out of my PR3s normally) & maintain our own bikes. £40 every 4k for an oil change & £120 every 30-40k for C&S.

And there's me thinking PistonHeads was full of company directors driving Lambo's and riding Desmodici's

It is, and they all spend Saturday afternoons servicing them themselves!