Cycling North After Winter

[They_all_do_that_sir]

...per litre.

Ah

 

That's better

 

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[Six-cylinder]

Our 2.5 carb is listed at 185 bhp but feels like more because of the mid range shove.

 

If we get it out next year maybe we can get it tested, I think there is plenty of tread on the tyres!

[Snipes]

My old 2.8 Biturbo was 250bhp and I think the 2.0's did get very highly tuned so certainly way over 140bhp. They were certainly better than the 2.5 carb version.

Didn't they put a 2.0, V8 twin turbo in Ferraris to dodge tax in some territories?

[Momentary Lapse Of Reason]

Perhaps we could have a sight-seeing tour of a German auto parts store?

 

Followed by a sightsee of a French Motor Factors!

[richardmorris]

Followed by a sightsee of a French Motor Factors!

Do they have them? I only seem to be able to find norauto.

[Momentary Lapse Of Reason]

Do they have them? I only seem to be able to find norauto.

 

I imagine so, but my knowledge of France is largely limited to Rowan Atkinson as Maigret...

[richardmorris]

Don’t be like this Spanish guy / lunatic bucketeer!

 

https://road.cc/content/news/253513-spanish-bikepacking-blogger-could-have-died-after-being-rescued-siberia-camping

[wuvvum]

Is it just me or has that floppytop E9 got fugging angel eyes?

[Bucketeer]

Is it just me or has that floppytop E9 got fugging angel eyes?

I hadn't noticed in person but now I look at the pictures it does look that way.

[Bucketeer]

Don’t be like this Spanish guy / lunatic bucketeer!

 

https://road.cc/content/news/253513-spanish-bikepacking-blogger-could-have-died-after-being-rescued-siberia-camping

I don't want to be a moaner or a quitter or owt but if it gets down to -50C I will be giving up forthwith.

[richardmorris]

I don't want to be a moaner or a quitter or owt but if it gets down to -50C I will be giving up forthwith.

Stay safe. Any further ideas on the route? We can all pool our ideas and thoughts and try and aid your journey.

[Bucketeer]

I'm definitely going to head south along the Rhein to Koblenz, and reassess then. Planning no more than a few days ahead has worked alright so far.

Koblenz seems like a decent point to decide on direction because I could continue following the Rhein further south, or turn off onto the Mosel. There are of course further options/directions to these two but they would involve mountains and stuff, so nope.

 

I should say, I'm not averse to cycling up hills or owt but with the trailer and all the weight the bike is carrying and pulling the pace is reduced to a crawl even on shallow slopes. I have a feeling that if I started on a mountainous/hilly route I may be there some time.

[richardmorris]

Then I suggest you avoid the Ardennes, Vosges and alps! Unfortunately that still leaves the Pyrenees!

[chaseracer]

The cathedral reminds me of the Sagrada Familia, Barcelona.

 

Too many pointy bits! 

[Junkman]

Moselwein. Good stuff.

[Luxxo Waftybarger]

I'm guessing from your decision to go into Germany and previous Bulgarian adventures that you like Central Europe but at this time of year the West will be warmer. My experience of Germany at this time of year is it's bloody freezing and colder the further east you go. I would head west across France down to La Rochelle (admit I have no idea about that bit) then Biarritz, around the Pyrenees then south through Spain through the Basque (best country in Europe) below the nasty Galician bit and along the Portuguese coast where you could easily still be in a t shirt at this time of year. Any European mountains will be getting dangerous soon with ice on roads, there is a reason most road cycling stops this time of year!

[Bucketeer]

I've no particular affection for central Europe over other parts, I've just ended up here. I do need to be headed west soonish I reckon, and south obvs.

[Bucketeer]

Moselwein. Good stuff.

I hope to find out. I'm currently sampling some ridiculously cheap Weinbrand.

[Cavcraft]

Hope this is all some big ruse and you've photoshopped yourself in all those fancy* places when you're really in Aldi car park knocking back White Lightning and swearing at the constabulary.

[chaseracer]

Are you looking in the mirror again, our Billeh?   

[Rave]

Sorry to drag things back to yesterday but there's a section of the Wikipedia Biturbo page on the Racing:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maserati_Biturbo

 

Seems it was basically the last development of the Biturbo before it turned into the Ghibli. Lovely looking thing! Not sure I'd have it over this if I had a spare 30 grand knocking about though:

 

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C979350

[richardmorris]

Bit of an aside but I nearly bought a ghibli 10 years ago. Navy with cream leather, auto and low mileage with an engine rebuild I think, £7000. Bill McGrath ( maserati specialist) bought it in the end. I just couldn’t quite convince myself that a cheap maserati was a good choice as a daily car.

[Bucketeer]

Not sure I'd have it over this if I had a spare 30 grand knocking about though:

 

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C979350

Ooooooh. The Karif has long been a dream car for me from my mag reading youth, along with an E28 M5 and a Thema 8.32.

[omegod]

 

 

It also has a 10 storey brothel.

 

 

I strongly advise not going to the top floor, it gets more depraved the higher you go    entering on the ground floor you payed 15 euros in and the drinks were free all night and a girl would remove "dance dollars" from your teeth with her cleavage.  I fucking love Cologne! ( Never did the prostitute thing though ) 

[Guest Hooli]

Followed by a sightsee of a French Motor Factors!

 

Impossible to do, france is always shut.

[Momentary Lapse Of Reason]

Impossible to do, france is always shut.

 

Faireyenough.

 

I shall just pop round and see if Mme Maigret needs any plumbing done then.

[hairnet]

Ah

That's better

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Nerd badge recinded

[N Dentressangle]

So, what news?

 

Here's hoping you've been waylaid by a gaggle of libidinous German barmaids, laden with Steins, who can't possibly let you go until Boxing Day... 

 

[Bucketeer]

^^^ I wish.

 

I've been on the road the last couple of days. It's been a bit too wet and no signal to update. This morning is dry and will hopefully stay that way.

 

I hoovered up a last few spots as I left Cologne.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Industrial Zone - level complete.

 

 

 

Then I hit the Rhein and headed South.

 

 

 

I've been (mostly) resisting the temptation to keep swapping sides of the river every time I see one of the little ferries.

 

 

Koblenz is not too far away now. I'm going to stick down the Rhein 'til there, and whilst idly looking online the other day I saw a hotel room near Koblenz for 18€ on Christmas Day night. So I booked that. It'll give me chance to dry everything out.

 

Anyway, I'm getting chilly, need to start moving again.

 

[N Dentressangle]

Sorry you didn't get waylaid by the Lorelei, but gute fahrt!

 

The hotel room sounds a much better idea, but the campsite in Koblenz is ace - on the spit of land at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle, with plenty of barge spotting to be done. Run by a fat, officious fifty-something Frau straight out of central casting last time I visited, many years ago.