Visiting the U-rope members

[PFFOG]

Well, looks like I may be spending two months this summer in the Alps, helping with Motorcycle tours. I left my former job a couple months ago, and this popped up, pay sucks, but the benefit package is hard to pass up, Bikes, roads, food and beer!

So instead of a Corvette and Blonde Bimbo, I guess this will have to count as my midlife crisis. I think it is a better deal!

Throttlemeister, Luca, RoLoo, Rob and the other residents of Europe, will have to try to have a cup of Coffee with you.

[signit98]

...you are going to be much closer to Luca then to Ron, Rob and the Throttlemeister... yet, that should just give either one of you another excuse (like you need one to begin with) for some more exquisite riding throughout Europe!

[shreddr]

beers and gears sounds great, but there is alot to be said for blond bimbos, and I WILL have a Corvette someday!

[Luca]

Yeskino, details: where and when?

I'd like to finally meet one of you PP members

[PFFOG]

I am coming over early June, will be assisting on three 2 week tours with Beach's ( http://www.beachs-mca.com/alpine_adventure.html )

I will be "working" in Riva del Garda on 26- June, 17-July, and 7-Aug, and in Arraba 27-28-June, 18-19-July, and 8-9-Aug.

Wife is planning on coming over from the 12-26-Aug, for a little vacation before I return, and we will likely spend 3 or 4 days in Arraba the week of 19-Aug. That will be the best window as it will be free time for some riding.

[motoman]

Originally posted by Yeskino
Throttlemeister, Luca, RoLoo, Rob and the other residents of Europe, will have to try to have a cup of Coffee with you.

Don't forget Yahbo!

[PFFOG]

Originally posted by motoman
Don't forget Yahbo!

Is he over there? I thought he was stateside.

[PFFOG]

Well, I have not been very diligent on keeping the regular posts rolling, but I finally had some time to put together an update. I did have some email contact with Luca, but we were never able to coordinate a face to face, maybe next time.

Been very busy, a lot involved, getting bikes washed and tires changed,
answering questions from the people on tour, checking the bikes every
morning, topping up the oil and similar general inspections. Then I either
load luggage and drive to the next hotel and unload, or riding a guide bike
with tour members in tow.

I have gotten more time on the bikes than I anticipated, the first tour was
a lot of New Zealanders, and the van driver/luggage hauler for the last 5
years is a Kiwi too, so he rode the entire tour. I did get some time on the
two free days, riding the extra bike we haul in the van, but also got a
couple of additional days on Rob Beach's bike, an early 90's BMW with
277,000 kM on the clock. Rob flies a parasail, so when the weather is good
to fly, he takes the van and I got to ride.

Al (the Kiwi) said we should split the last two tours, riding every other travel day,
and both having bikes on the free days, we both also got some extra time as
a person on tour hurt their foot and did not feel up to riding a couple of
days, so we both had to ride. Additionally a couple felt they were over
their head after the first travel day and rented a car to finish the tour,
giving us an additional day, while the van took then to Innsbruck to pick up
a car. Rob also flew a day or two, the 2nd tour so I was only in the van
for a few days. The last tour which ended Saturday, I also got to ride a fair amount.

My wife arrived Monday and we will take a couple of bikes and travel for a
couple of weeks, heading to Switzerland, and into France. I have not ridden
the French roads, but they are supposed to be very good.


Here are a few pics.
The scenery here is WONDERFUL,







All I can say is so far better than anticipated, I have gotten more seat
time than I expected, and am still in love with these wonderful roads.









My ride for a couple of days. Belongs to Rob Beach, It is his daily rider,
only 177,000 kM on the clock!!!

.

Just a few more pics

These are all taken from Interlaken Switzerland.

The snow covered Jungfrau and Monch were taken just down the road from the
hotel, but the last 3 were taken from the balcony of the room.........the
scenery abounds!!





Yes this is from my room balcony as well, the one in the middle just
finished putting sun tan lotion on.



I will be back at the end of the month, and I already know I am spoiled, a hope to do few track days this fall, but the US roads, the traffic and poor drivers, will likely keep me off the street until the wonderful memories of these roads fades and the 25 corners we ride 500 miles to ride will seem good again.

Here is a link to some of the pictures.

ClickyClicky

I will post up again when I get home and sort out all the pictures etc.

[PFFOG]

Well I am home after a great summer in the Alps, assisting with motorcycle tours. I first need to thank Rob Beach of Beaches motorcycle adventures ( http://www.beachs-mca.com/ ) for giving me the opportunity to spend time in one of the greatest motorcycling areas in the world.

I got more seat time than expected, due to a number of factors, including the willingness of Al, the full time chase van driver, to share riding/driving duties on the last two tours. This allowed me to ride a full tour route in the process. All in all I rode over 13,000 kM (8100 miles) and had 39 days with significant seat time. This was on several bikes, of eight different models, that I had access to at various times.

You might think this would satisfy my addiction to twists and turns, but no, it just made it worse, like a junkie who just cannot get enough, and for every fix, you drive yourself deeper into the addiction. And what does that addiction include? Well, endless roads and passes that wind and twist over some of the most scenic areas of the world. Then the people, I met no less than 75 people who, when they left, share the passion for motorcycling and the Alps. Many came not knowing what to expect, or expecting “Deals Gap”, boy were they surprised and overwhelmed at what was in store! Many, after the first travel day into Imst Austria, and their first real pass, the Hahntennjoch, felt overwhelmed and apprehensive over what they had gotten themselves into. Much conversation and coaching from Rob, Al and myself turned that apprehension into enthusiasm quickly, by riding with, giving feedback and developing their confidence.

And what did they experience, I am pretty confident that to a person, they all felt they had the best time of their motorcycling lives, and many were plotting their return as soon as they could manage another trip.

First the roads, I cannot even try to explain the riding experience, this was also the subject of many a conversation with clients over a few beers in the evening. Even though several said they had researched the trip, most were simply blown away at the quality, and quantity of roads, as I was when I took that first trip in ’99. Take every great stretch of road you have ridden or read about in the U.S., lengthen that stretch to 30 miles long, connect them all together is an area the size of Pennsylvania and you get some idea of the concentration of phenomenal riding there is. Then top it off by allowing passing on 95% of it. In the Alps, they figure you are smart enough to decide when it is safe to pass, not some engineer that uses an acceleration curve from an overloaded tractor trailer to decide if there is three miles of clear road so they can put a dotted line on it. One tour member, that was looking for a way to explain the riding to his riding friends back home, commented that he did not even know where to start his explanation. He then he commented he would have to go home and tell them in two weeks of riding his butt off, that he had only accumulated 2000 miles, and most of that was in 2nd GEAR!!!! I looked at him and said, I thought that statement was the best explanation I had heard yet.

Then there is the other drivers/riders, highly skilled, courteous, situation awareness, again hard to explain. It is kind of a Nirvana as far as your fellow road users. They pull over to let you pass if you are faster, they signal their intent, they understand that FLOW of traffic relies on the faster being ahead of the slower users, thus as a motorcycle you are EXPECTED to move to the front of the line, in traffic, at stop lights, construction stops, or traffic jams in general! No fear of someone opening a door, swerving toward you, spiking their brakes because they feel you are following to close etc. In fact the passing protocol is to get a few feet off of someone’s bumper (yes feet) and many will pull slightly to the right if possible, if not at the first opportunity you just roll on and make a pass very quickly and efficiently. No fear of them spiking their brakes because you are too close. In the US we have to stay so far back that we have to wind up and catapult around cars, in the Alps, it is more like a slow dance. In fact many times the traffic coming the other way will see you and move to their right, allowing you an alley up the middle! Damn, here I go sighing again, at all I am going to miss here. :sad

Next is the culture. I wear shorts under my riding gear and kept a pair of sneakers close, so when stopping to visit an ancient Castle or Fort, or just to walk in a town that was built in the 1500’s or 1600’s, I could strip out of my gear. I would neatly fold my coat and pants and lay them on the seat, place my boots on the ground next to the bike, hang my Arai helmet on the passenger foot peg and leave with out fear that someone would walk off with them. Try that in most places in the U.S………..sigh……..

Did I mention the food and lodging, both first class! I will post pictures of the views I had from many of the places we stayed, and the food was to die for, not to mention the FRESH beer, that many times was brewed locally and delivered fresh.

I have said this before and I will say it again, EVERY motorcyclist OWES it to themselves to ride the Alps at least once in their lifetime, and do it while you are young. I kept hearing clients saying, “ I should have done this years ago, so I could have come back several times” and many, as stated, were already planning on doing another tour. In my 4 trips since ’99, I have spent 65 days riding, ridden about 15,000 miles and still have not ridden 90% of the quality roads in the area. Put that into the Pennsylvania perspective, and ask yourself if there is 45,000 miles of GREAT roads in the entire U.S., period!

Alas, I need to just post pictures, the more I reminisce, the more I can feel the delirium tremens ((DT’s) coming on…….need another fix…………………….. ALP- oholism, can’t think of a better addiction than that.

So save your pennies, buy one less 30 pack of what qualifies as beer here, put the saved $ in a jar and go, just go!! That way I will not have to attempt to describe the un-describable.

Pictures to follow soon.

[RoLoo]

Originally Posted by Yeskino

...I may be spending two months this summer in the Alps...

...this summer...???
...what summer...???

...even Luca is constantly complaining about the rain in 'sunny' Italy...

...you can visit Throttledude, and me at the same time...
...both Holland...

...and don't forget ; we over here have the best coffee !
...Senseo (see Google) ; every single cup fresh !!

...man, if I only had the choice between coffee, and the Blond Bimbo...


...see ya...

[RoLoo]

Originally Posted by signit98

...you are going to be much closer to Luca then to Ron, Rob and the Throttlemeister...

...well, that shouldn't be a problem for you US-guys, used to some fine distances...