40
JULY 2021
By Duncan Bennett, Member #4171
2. 1st World, led, hired bikes.
TRIPPIN’
S
No.1 means everything is within your locus of control and everything needs to be managed.
Mounted up and ready to follow
You can see some damn cool stuff on led rides
We have pretty much done all the options except self-guided long rides overseas on our own bikes – the equivalent of Platinum Class. Diamond Class is crossing multiple continents over very long periods – think Ted Simon, Heather Ellis, Sam Manicom, and Brian and Shirley Rix who have published their exploits. Lots have done these trips without the fanfare, for example our close friends Adrian and Hera rode Hobart to Helsinki in 2019 on a 1200GS and a Kwaka Versys 300, but were only visible to their passive-aggressive Facebook friends. We are down maybe in Gold Class, but as editors of the BMWMCQ we can offer opinions on anything we want, and the membership are forced to read our wafflings with eyes wide open Clockwork Orange-like. Get the matchsticks out people, and strap in.
We originally discovered the biggest “but” for led tours on our 80-day Cairo to Cape Town (actually Alexandria to Agulhas, but the C’s are better known) tour, and that is a led tour stops for no-one. Severe repercussions from last night’s I-swear-that-chicken-lookedcooked? Hoover Imodium and nappy up.
olo world traveller or weekend warrior? Prefer to go your own way, or love the camaraderie of a led ride? GPS tragic or paper map old skooler? The options and nuances are without limit, limitless if you will. Which you won’t, because you probably have something better to do, hopefully planning your next ride.
No.2 means show up and ride with someone organising where you start, stop, supply, and stay. Super easy, and the advantages are that you are less likely to miss good stuff and you are guaranteed to make great and even lifetime friends on the bigger trips. Buts, there are always a few buts. And they can be big buts.
So what are the options? From most to least personal effort: 1. Self-guided on own bikes – across multiple continents including 3rd and 2nd World.
The biggest “but” of led rides Come off and hurt? Sort yourself out in the local hospital while the group moves on. Can’t ride
