The Brexit Grand Tour in an Ariel Nomad
Discussion
Today's post is sponsored by the letter N - like Nurburgring and Noise
To start with - the Nurburgring video is ready!
Ruta says that it was very difficult for a non-petrolhead to edit it in a way that would show what is important to us but I think she did a good job!
Second thing - the Noise!
When we were thinking about the trip, we thought it would be great if we could avoid the motorways. Unfortunately in reality if we want to visit all the EU countries, we would probably need 6 months minimum to do it this way. And being on motorways for hours every day sucks in a Nomad...
We didn't want take helmets due to space constraints plus I hate wearing a helmet in the car. So we wear headphones as ear protection, but still after 3-4h on the motorway we are very tired due to noise. The wind is the biggest factor. Plus we don't want to listen to loud music for such a long time and lose hearing in process.
We've tried over ear protectors but they are all too tight to wear them comfortably for hours... And headache is even worse than noise
Do you guys have any recommendations? Something that will be comfortable over our apparently big heads? I've used a great Peltor noise cancelling intercom system on a paramotor but I don't know whether I can waterproof it plus that's another thing that could be stolen from the car if we leave it somewhere.
Somebody nicked the umbrella from it already
Now as for the trip - we got to Germany again from Holland, stayed the night in Bremen and are just about to leave for Denmark.
As a goodbye to Zeeland I managed to have some fun there - can't post it here but check out a cool drone video on our Instagram feed!
As much as I find Belgium,Denmark, Sweden and Finland pretty, I just couldn't live there as a petrolhead... Really not enough fun roads to drive on.
We've travelled all the way to the top of Europe in the £700 FerYaris from Gumtree over the New Year's, way past the Arctic Circle and did over 6000miles in it and really didn't encounter many good roads, without silly speed limits etc.
Granted, it was -40c and we ice skated on some of the roads but I've been there in summer too and the impression is the same.
Gotta run - 6h of driving ahead of us. Let the noise begin!
To start with - the Nurburgring video is ready!
Ruta says that it was very difficult for a non-petrolhead to edit it in a way that would show what is important to us but I think she did a good job!
Second thing - the Noise!
When we were thinking about the trip, we thought it would be great if we could avoid the motorways. Unfortunately in reality if we want to visit all the EU countries, we would probably need 6 months minimum to do it this way. And being on motorways for hours every day sucks in a Nomad...
We didn't want take helmets due to space constraints plus I hate wearing a helmet in the car. So we wear headphones as ear protection, but still after 3-4h on the motorway we are very tired due to noise. The wind is the biggest factor. Plus we don't want to listen to loud music for such a long time and lose hearing in process.
We've tried over ear protectors but they are all too tight to wear them comfortably for hours... And headache is even worse than noise
Do you guys have any recommendations? Something that will be comfortable over our apparently big heads? I've used a great Peltor noise cancelling intercom system on a paramotor but I don't know whether I can waterproof it plus that's another thing that could be stolen from the car if we leave it somewhere.
Somebody nicked the umbrella from it already
Now as for the trip - we got to Germany again from Holland, stayed the night in Bremen and are just about to leave for Denmark.
As a goodbye to Zeeland I managed to have some fun there - can't post it here but check out a cool drone video on our Instagram feed!
As much as I find Belgium,Denmark, Sweden and Finland pretty, I just couldn't live there as a petrolhead... Really not enough fun roads to drive on.
We've travelled all the way to the top of Europe in the £700 FerYaris from Gumtree over the New Year's, way past the Arctic Circle and did over 6000miles in it and really didn't encounter many good roads, without silly speed limits etc.
Granted, it was -40c and we ice skated on some of the roads
but I've been there in summer too and the impression is the same. Gotta run - 6h of driving ahead of us. Let the noise begin!
Awesome trip - subscribed.
I look forward to seeing how the car copes as the Nomad is on my radar as a possible next car in a year or so (house comes first).
More expensive: Look at some custom moulded IEM like Ultimate Ears http://pro.ultimateears.com
The trick would be to get an intercom that'll work with the above so you can still chat, which is something that I am still looking into.
I look forward to seeing how the car copes as the Nomad is on my radar as a possible next car in a year or so (house comes first).
rottie102 said:
We made it to Holland last night. Morning in the Luxembourg welcomed us with even more rain... We're still trying to figure out what is the best solution for waterproofing our...bums So far all waterproof trousers eventually gave in after sitting in a puddle in the seat for some time. Sitting on an inflatable cushion is okish, just not that comfortable for driving. At least the heat from the radiator made it slightly more pleasant.
Try looking at sailing gear if you haven't already done so. I never had any trouble with water getting through although I can't recommend anything specific as it has been a few years since I've been on a boat. So far all waterproof trousers eventually gave in after sitting in a puddle in the seat for some time. Sitting on an inflatable cushion is okish, just not that comfortable for driving. At least the heat from the radiator made it slightly more pleasant. rottie102 said:
Second thing - the Noise!
When we were thinking about the trip, we thought it would be great if we could avoid the motorways. Unfortunately in reality if we want to visit all the EU countries, we would probably need 6 months minimum to do it this way. And being on motorways for hours every day sucks in a Nomad...
We didn't want take helmets due to space constraints plus I hate wearing a helmet in the car. So we wear headphones as ear protection, but still after 3-4h on the motorway we are very tired due to noise. The wind is the biggest factor. Plus we don't want to listen to loud music for such a long time and lose hearing in process.
We've tried over ear protectors but they are all too tight to wear them comfortably for hours... And headache is even worse than noise
Do you guys have any recommendations? Something that will be comfortable over our apparently big heads? I've used a great Peltor noise cancelling intercom system on a paramotor but I don't know whether I can waterproof it plus that's another thing that could be stolen from the car if we leave it somewhere.
Cheap: Try a pair of Etymotic headphones. They are some of the better in-ear headphones at reducing external noise https://www.etymotic.com/consumer/earphones/mk5.ht...When we were thinking about the trip, we thought it would be great if we could avoid the motorways. Unfortunately in reality if we want to visit all the EU countries, we would probably need 6 months minimum to do it this way. And being on motorways for hours every day sucks in a Nomad...
We didn't want take helmets due to space constraints plus I hate wearing a helmet in the car. So we wear headphones as ear protection, but still after 3-4h on the motorway we are very tired due to noise. The wind is the biggest factor. Plus we don't want to listen to loud music for such a long time and lose hearing in process.
We've tried over ear protectors but they are all too tight to wear them comfortably for hours... And headache is even worse than noise
Do you guys have any recommendations? Something that will be comfortable over our apparently big heads? I've used a great Peltor noise cancelling intercom system on a paramotor but I don't know whether I can waterproof it plus that's another thing that could be stolen from the car if we leave it somewhere.
More expensive: Look at some custom moulded IEM like Ultimate Ears http://pro.ultimateears.com
The trick would be to get an intercom that'll work with the above so you can still chat, which is something that I am still looking into.
nfcf said:
Cheap: Try a pair of Etymotic headphones. They are some of the better in-ear headphones at reducing external noise https://www.etymotic.com/consumer/earphones/mk5.ht...
More expensive: Look at some custom moulded IEM like Ultimate Ears http://pro.ultimateears.com
The trick would be to get an intercom that'll work with the above so you can still chat, which is something that I am still looking into.
Thank you for your suggestions! My in ear headphones (A-Jays) are actually a pretty good fit so I don't think I can improve much there. I really think I need an EXTRA protection so they add up. More expensive: Look at some custom moulded IEM like Ultimate Ears http://pro.ultimateears.com
The trick would be to get an intercom that'll work with the above so you can still chat, which is something that I am still looking into.
Another thing I need to buy is those little round stick-on convex mirrors. The blind spot with the Nomad's tiny mirrors is horrible and I can live with it for normal use but with constant lane changing on motorways it's really not safe. I don't care if that will ruin the looks for some.
rottie102 said:
Second thing - the Noise!
When we were thinking about the trip, we thought it would be great if we could avoid the motorways. Unfortunately in reality if we want to visit all the EU countries, we would probably need 6 months minimum to do it this way. And being on motorways for hours every day sucks in a Nomad...
We didn't want take helmets due to space constraints plus I hate wearing a helmet in the car. So we wear headphones as ear protection, but still after 3-4h on the motorway we are very tired due to noise. The wind is the biggest factor. Plus we don't want to listen to loud music for such a long time and lose hearing in process.
We've tried over ear protectors but they are all too tight to wear them comfortably for hours... And headache is even worse than noise
Do you guys have any recommendations? Something that will be comfortable over our apparently big heads? I've used a great Peltor noise cancelling intercom system on a paramotor but I don't know whether I can waterproof it plus that's another thing that could be stolen from the car if we leave it somewhere.
On the motorbike I always use foam ear plugs. I bought a selection pack and found the size that was most comfortable. However I wear a helmet, and have a Bluetooth headset and intercom fitted in that, allowing me to chat to my pillion.When we were thinking about the trip, we thought it would be great if we could avoid the motorways. Unfortunately in reality if we want to visit all the EU countries, we would probably need 6 months minimum to do it this way. And being on motorways for hours every day sucks in a Nomad...
We didn't want take helmets due to space constraints plus I hate wearing a helmet in the car. So we wear headphones as ear protection, but still after 3-4h on the motorway we are very tired due to noise. The wind is the biggest factor. Plus we don't want to listen to loud music for such a long time and lose hearing in process.
We've tried over ear protectors but they are all too tight to wear them comfortably for hours... And headache is even worse than noise
Do you guys have any recommendations? Something that will be comfortable over our apparently big heads? I've used a great Peltor noise cancelling intercom system on a paramotor but I don't know whether I can waterproof it plus that's another thing that could be stolen from the car if we leave it somewhere.
It might be worth trying different over ear defenders, the comfort level can vary significantly.
It would be interesting to see how active noise cancelling headphones worked, although I think the microphones would struggle with a lot of the direct wind.
rottie102 said:
To start with - the Nurburgring video is ready!
These deserve more recognition I think. Superb video, again! 
timjhhk said:
Great thread, as an owner of a Nomad and a Mavic drone I feel a real cameraderie
Couple of things, Amy chance you could share more details of the storage box mount, I could use one of those
Don't give up on the mongolia idea, I've been there a couple of times (without Nomad) but it is a country where the machine would be perfect !
Hi! Couple of things, Amy chance you could share more details of the storage box mount, I could use one of those
Don't give up on the mongolia idea, I've been there a couple of times (without Nomad) but it is a country where the machine would be perfect !
Sorry, I overlooked your post.
First I cut off the "feet" of the frame, normally the frame is angled. I needed it straight and lover so had to cut all 4 shorter, front 2 shorter than rear. Then the big job that was removing the wheel mount. It was a PITA to cut off without destroying the legs but reciprocating metal saw eventually managed. Then we spot welded the feet in the positions that we thought were ok and LUCKILY it fits
We needed to add few crossbars to move the wheel back and at angle. I got it all powdercoated so it looks very smart.
Box was only £65 off ebay. I wanted something to match the look of the Nomad. I cut off the middle clasp and added two key locked to the sides, £3 screwfix finest
I have to say it wasn't easy, but it does work rather well now for touring. However the car IS even more prone to oversteer now, putting the box full of luggage on top of the engine and moving a heavy wheel even further back didn't improve weight distribution. I can feel the difference in the corners.
There is no temperature issue from the exhaust. It doesn't even get warm. It also gives us a bit of extra storage under the wheel. We keep the inflatable watermelon there
Bicycle chain is for safety, just in case the mount somehow brakes the wheel will stay on the car plus it's more difficult to nick it, otherwise it's two bolts to undo. I bought a new spare wheel carrier from Ariel after I modified my one so I just swap them over as needed. It's only 4 bolts.
Let me know if you want to know anything else.
Max5476 said:
On the motorbike I always use foam ear plugs. I bought a selection pack and found the size that was most comfortable. However I wear a helmet, and have a Bluetooth headset and intercom fitted in that, allowing me to chat to my pillion.
It might be worth trying different over ear defenders, the comfort level can vary significantly.
It would be interesting to see how active noise cancelling headphones worked, although I think the microphones would struggle with a lot of the direct wind.
Thank you for your advice. Unfortunately trying many different pairs is difficult when we're on the road. Most of the shops we've been to have max three pairs available.It might be worth trying different over ear defenders, the comfort level can vary significantly.
It would be interesting to see how active noise cancelling headphones worked, although I think the microphones would struggle with a lot of the direct wind.
I was also thinking about over ear noise cancelling headphones but again, that's another big addition to our luggage with literally zero space available.
Truckosaurus said:
I know it would look rubbish, but did you ever consider using a space saver spare wheel?
(Especially as the spare is currently an AT tyre and the 4 wheels on the car are on road tyres).
No. It would look rubbish (Especially as the spare is currently an AT tyre and the 4 wheels on the car are on road tyres).
Part of the appeal of the Nomad as my Dream Car is how it looks. Plus I can deal with the weight balance at the moment without sacrificing the safety or fun. It's noticeable, that's it.
The spare is actually a Mud Terrain, I have a set of M/T that I use offroading. The tyres on at the moment are A/T. Yokohama Geolandars G015. I wholeheartedly recommend them!
Thank you guys for your kind words! It means a lot to us, we put a lot of effort in filming and editing and it's really nice to see that people like the videos.
Latest video from Holland and Denmark is live on YT
We're currently in Sweden. Denmark was pretty, we stayed in a very nice B&B on FYN.
This type of accommodation is always our favorite type, we love the experience of staying at someone's home. The more personal interaction than in the hotel.Especially in the countryside.
Driving was very uneventful, 30-45-30mph all the way so we eventually gave up on searching for fun roads and just stuck to motorways...
Copenhagen is pretty, it's a great foodie destination. I've been there few times and enjoyed the food every time.
Our latest find was http://www.matcopenhagen.dk/ , really nice modern take on AllYouCanEat.
It was some sort of Jazz Festival in Copenhagen so Ruta enjoyed it very much.
We wanted to get to Sweden the same day. The plan was to stay the weekend working on videos and visit the Koenigsegg factory and do the tour on Mon morning. I missed out on it during our Arctic trip, the factory was closed for the winter. Since there was an error on their website, I called them up from Denmark, only to find out that now it's closed for the summer. Oh well, next time in Sweden...
I have to apologise to Sweden - you do have some fun roads. Especially in a Nomad. In the forests. In the rain. This is the coolest thing about this car - you're bored on the road, just look for an opening between the trees and all of a sudden in your head you become Ari Vattanen, dancing on the gravel with a massive grin on your face. It was raining all day yesterday but we promised our friend who lives over an hour away to visit him so we made the most of the journey there and had some fun on our "personal rally stages". The trip was worth it, had a great time BBQing by the lake even if we got very cold on the way back around midnight.
We are now really looking forward to moving to some warmer climates - look out for me complaining soon that it's too hot!
We stayed in Sweden in Almhult, the birthplace of IKEA. In IKEA hotel, near IKEA museum. It doesn't get more Swedish than that! It was actually very pleasant, with nice breakfast, good service and fast internet. This morning we're heading to Stockholm and in the afternoon leaving Sweden on a ferry.
Speak soon!
Latest video from Holland and Denmark is live on YT
We're currently in Sweden. Denmark was pretty, we stayed in a very nice B&B on FYN.
This type of accommodation is always our favorite type, we love the experience of staying at someone's home. The more personal interaction than in the hotel.Especially in the countryside.
Driving was very uneventful, 30-45-30mph all the way so we eventually gave up on searching for fun roads and just stuck to motorways...
Copenhagen is pretty, it's a great foodie destination. I've been there few times and enjoyed the food every time.
Our latest find was http://www.matcopenhagen.dk/ , really nice modern take on AllYouCanEat.
It was some sort of Jazz Festival in Copenhagen so Ruta enjoyed it very much.
We wanted to get to Sweden the same day. The plan was to stay the weekend working on videos and visit the Koenigsegg factory and do the tour on Mon morning. I missed out on it during our Arctic trip, the factory was closed for the winter. Since there was an error on their website, I called them up from Denmark, only to find out that now it's closed for the summer. Oh well, next time in Sweden...
I have to apologise to Sweden - you do have some fun roads. Especially in a Nomad. In the forests. In the rain. This is the coolest thing about this car - you're bored on the road, just look for an opening between the trees and all of a sudden in your head you become Ari Vattanen, dancing on the gravel with a massive grin on your face. It was raining all day yesterday but we promised our friend who lives over an hour away to visit him so we made the most of the journey there and had some fun on our "personal rally stages". The trip was worth it, had a great time BBQing by the lake even if we got very cold on the way back around midnight.
We are now really looking forward to moving to some warmer climates - look out for me complaining soon that it's too hot!
We stayed in Sweden in Almhult, the birthplace of IKEA. In IKEA hotel, near IKEA museum. It doesn't get more Swedish than that! It was actually very pleasant, with nice breakfast, good service and fast internet. This morning we're heading to Stockholm and in the afternoon leaving Sweden on a ferry.
Speak soon!
I love this thread. Its everything I want to do, but cant due to kids etc. Please keep it going.
I found your Facebook page too earlier, so here it is if anyone wants to follow https://www.facebook.com/mudnomad/
I found your Facebook page too earlier, so here it is if anyone wants to follow https://www.facebook.com/mudnomad/
Edited by S100HP on Monday 17th July 10:21
rottie102 said:
Max5476 said:
On the motorbike I always use foam ear plugs. I bought a selection pack and found the size that was most comfortable. However I wear a helmet, and have a Bluetooth headset and intercom fitted in that, allowing me to chat to my pillion.
It might be worth trying different over ear defenders, the comfort level can vary significantly.
It would be interesting to see how active noise cancelling headphones worked, although I think the microphones would struggle with a lot of the direct wind.
Thank you for your advice. Unfortunately trying many different pairs is difficult when we're on the road. Most of the shops we've been to have max three pairs available.It might be worth trying different over ear defenders, the comfort level can vary significantly.
It would be interesting to see how active noise cancelling headphones worked, although I think the microphones would struggle with a lot of the direct wind.
I was also thinking about over ear noise cancelling headphones but again, that's another big addition to our luggage with literally zero space available.
Great thread too, I'm now following on Facebook.
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