'ring 1st timer - tips and a place to stay
Discussion
Ive finally got the chance to thrap the R1 round the 'ring! We're going to head straight over there from the LeMans MotoGP.
Accommodation question: Does the TierGarten have a place to lock bikes away? Ive heard its a good placem it seems reasonably priced (and theres half a chance of a beer with Sabine!?) but our preference will be to know the bikes are safe.
Anyone have any good alternatives for a B&B?
Also, all advice, words of wisdom and tricks for young players on riding the ring for the first time will be gratefully received.
I have been before on the bike and aim to get out there this year again.The advise i would give is take it really easy.They reckon it takes something like 60 laps before you get to know the circuit well enough.There are so many dangers while out on the circuit fast cars getting to close,oil spills,crashes on blind crests,changes in surface,weather etc you name a danger its there.Many people are killed there each year,when i first went there it took a while to get the guts to go on,then i got to the barrier put my card in and suddenly the staff stopped everyone going on.Whats up i asked,sorry we just got a report a biker just been killed was the reply,not the confidence boost you want.
I camp at a campsite nearby and have never had any problems with the bike.The campsite is called camping at the nurburgring or something like that.In terms of hotels this is the only place i know which is right by the circuit and has secure parking,they also speak english, Hotel An Der Nordschleife.
The website mentioned above is very useful so check that out.
Here is the webcam on the entrance gate www.nuerburgring.de/fileadmin/webcam/webcam.jpg
Also this site may help you www.northloop.co.uk/
I camp at a campsite nearby and have never had any problems with the bike.The campsite is called camping at the nurburgring or something like that.In terms of hotels this is the only place i know which is right by the circuit and has secure parking,they also speak english, Hotel An Der Nordschleife.
The website mentioned above is very useful so check that out.
Here is the webcam on the entrance gate www.nuerburgring.de/fileadmin/webcam/webcam.jpg
Also this site may help you www.northloop.co.uk/
Edited by tps on Thursday 10th May 20:59
hotel zurburg did us proud last year ( bikers nemisis and i )2 mins from entrance
www.fahrerlehrgang.info/ The phone number is somewhere on this page
enjoy it, but be very, very careful out there !
www.fahrerlehrgang.info/ The phone number is somewhere on this page
enjoy it, but be very, very careful out there !
Yeah go steady. I can't remember the name of the place we stayed sorry.
We went about Easter time and it snowed at times (not heavy), and hailed and rained.
The track was nice and empty(ish) at first opening (8:00 i think), but it was damp under the trees as the dew / rain dripped off on the track. Dried up by 10:30 - 11 by which time it was packed with every type of vehicle you could think of bikes, cars, 52 seat coaches full of blue-rinsers on a tour...
Watching them all go round, they got faster and faster then after about an hour or 2 the traffic would stop going round, the flashing lights come on, then a truck goes past with a wreck on the back and off it all goes again. . .
I plan to go back sometime because i loved the place.
We went about Easter time and it snowed at times (not heavy), and hailed and rained.
The track was nice and empty(ish) at first opening (8:00 i think), but it was damp under the trees as the dew / rain dripped off on the track. Dried up by 10:30 - 11 by which time it was packed with every type of vehicle you could think of bikes, cars, 52 seat coaches full of blue-rinsers on a tour...
Watching them all go round, they got faster and faster then after about an hour or 2 the traffic would stop going round, the flashing lights come on, then a truck goes past with a wreck on the back and off it all goes again. . .
I plan to go back sometime because i loved the place.
After readig a bit more of that page, I reckon Ill book ahead and arrnage for an escorted tour on the bike. Ill feel alot better following someone who knows because theres only 2 of us going and despite loads of track days elsewhere, neither of us have ridden the ring before.
Id guess there must be a few ringmeisters that you pay and you can follow them and they just keep you in their mirrors sort of thing and you set the pace from behind them?
I can see one trip not really being enough.....
Id guess there must be a few ringmeisters that you pay and you can follow them and they just keep you in their mirrors sort of thing and you set the pace from behind them?
I can see one trip not really being enough.....
I think that is a wise move. The Ring is a very difficult and complex place to ride, especially as a first timer. You will be utterly amazed at how fast the ‘local lads’ in their Golfs, Corsas etc. can go and they will have very little consideration for a Brit wobbling round on his first few laps.
On my third ever lap I came up behind a ‘briskly’ driven Smart that I was simply not able to get passed until the final straight. That was because he knew the track and thus was pushing the corners to the limits of his car and, even though I was on an R1, as I didn’t know where the track went if I had gone for an overtake I would risk piling into the next bend with just too much corner speed. – Track knowledge is everything at the Ring.
Have a great time but don’t try to go fast.
Ride safe and enjoy.
On my third ever lap I came up behind a ‘briskly’ driven Smart that I was simply not able to get passed until the final straight. That was because he knew the track and thus was pushing the corners to the limits of his car and, even though I was on an R1, as I didn’t know where the track went if I had gone for an overtake I would risk piling into the next bend with just too much corner speed. – Track knowledge is everything at the Ring.
Have a great time but don’t try to go fast.
Ride safe and enjoy.
it's stunning in every way but it's much trickier and you'll be riding much slower than you would on a UK trackday. Apart from the very obvious lack of run off you just don't get the chance to progressively build up your speed like you can on a trackday. Because you can't learn the track in a day, you'll always be guessing where it goes next and don't think playstation can help. It can't. In fact the most dangerous time is when you think you know it but you don't. The other thing is that the track is so long it can be wet in some parts even if the rest of the track is bone dry.
So heed the words of caution, resist the red mist, even if an R6 dares to pass you and you'll absolutely love it.
So heed the words of caution, resist the red mist, even if an R6 dares to pass you and you'll absolutely love it.
308mate said:
After readig a bit more of that page, I reckon Ill book ahead and arrnage for an escorted tour on the bike. Ill feel alot better following someone who knows because theres only 2 of us going and despite loads of track days elsewhere, neither of us have ridden the ring before.
Id guess there must be a few ringmeisters that you pay and you can follow them and they just keep you in their mirrors sort of thing and you set the pace from behind them?
I can see one trip not really being enough.....
Id guess there must be a few ringmeisters that you pay and you can follow them and they just keep you in their mirrors sort of thing and you set the pace from behind them?
I can see one trip not really being enough.....
If you speak to a car driver there you will find a lot of them are more than happy to take you out for a lap in there car.Or you can book a lap in the ring taxi M5 driven by sabine.
Stayed in Hotel Blau Ecke in Adenau which was very bloody excellent for a number of reasons.
Had a blast on the track, alongside the Mosel River, on the roads surrounding Nurburg, on 2 borrowed KTM Super Dukes from the dealer across the road etc etc.
Will definitely be back this summer for more. Thanks to all for the advice.
Had a blast on the track, alongside the Mosel River, on the roads surrounding Nurburg, on 2 borrowed KTM Super Dukes from the dealer across the road etc etc.
Will definitely be back this summer for more. Thanks to all for the advice.
I've been twice in my car and vowed never to go on my bike after seeing the various accidents unfold and the number of deaths!!
I would recommend you get at least 2/3 passenger laps in a car before you go out on the bike .... the graident changes and local nutcases will be what amazes you the most!
I would recommend you get at least 2/3 passenger laps in a car before you go out on the bike .... the graident changes and local nutcases will be what amazes you the most!
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