Solo Off-Road London to Monaco by a Novice - Episode 9

[@bigberthaontour]

Really nicely done. Great to see someone put effort into quality filming, angles and the final edit. The results are all there to see. 🎉

[@projectbiker]

Thank you for the kind words. It takes a while but I enjoy the process!

[@someonejelly]

How good was that opening sequence!?? So glad that you're back from the south of Spain and publishing new episodes. As always, the wait has been worth it.

[@projectbiker]

Thank you! The Spain trip is banging at my door to get started on, but there's a lot more of this one to come still!

[@someonejelly]

That's not bad news (that there's more of London to Monaco to come)! @@projectbiker

[@mikethomas5861]

Great video. Keep them coming.

[@projectbiker]

Will do!

[@JulianOLeary-nv5nc]

All that beautiful scenery, yetI don't know about you.... seeing the sea always makes my heart skip... loving the journey 👍👍👍

[@projectbiker]

My heart definitely skipped a beat when I saw it!

[@skulijakobsson5116]

Much Enjoyment 👍😎

[@projectbiker]

Thank you :)

[@hazenausgazen]

Very enjoyable mate. great filmmaking, the series all in all.

[@projectbiker]

Thank you - the series ending is coming soon!

[@skybluetenere]

I'm so glad I discovered your channel. I consumed all parts of your London to Monaco series within 24 hours because of a) the topic and b) the high quality. In the meantime you may have installed bar raisers, which I did on my Tenere 700. You may want to study a different gear ratio for a mountain/TET trip and add a teeth or two to your sprocket at the rear wheel. All the best for your next adventure 💙💛🏁🤛🏼

[@projectbiker]

You are right about the bar risers! I installed them for the trip after this and it helped a lot. I haven't looked at the sprocket and gear ratio yet but definitely interested to check it out.

[@nightstormrider76]

these videos make me want to start going off-road.. well done mate. well done

[@projectbiker]

Thank you. I say go for it!

[@tobiasbischof8118]

Hi, I love your videos, been here since Ep.4 when I stumbled upon this channel. Enjoying it a lot! I'm planning to go for three weeks this june, from where I live in Austria, via the TET and ACT down to greece and over to Brindisi. Again with TET and ACT up the entire way of Italy and, if I got enough time, The entire way of the Alps, from the Cote d'Azur all the way to my hometown, which is one mountain pass away from not being in the Alps in the east. What gear would you suggest for a trip like this? Obviously full Enduro/Motocross gear would be the safest, but I doubt that it's gonna be any comfortable in the summer heat. What are good compromises to make and what is necessary in your eyes? Countinue like this, you're gonna get to a level where this could become your job if you want it to! Good luck and have fun offroading!

[@projectbiker]

Thank you! That's quite a trip you have planned! In terms of advice I don't think I'm the most experienced, but what I have learnt is that often the most comfortable gear isn't the safest. Those boots you see me delighted to escape out of at the end of each video wear awful for comfort but in a trip I just took this winter I learnt how important they were when they saved my leg from being crushed. I've found in other tours on road bikes that there are a few tricks you can use for the heat, such as wearing mesh jackets and having a cotton layer underneath which you drench in cold water. This works wonders until it dries out in 30mins, when you need to drench it again! I'd also say that a lot of your journey sounds like it will be near or in mountainous areas where the elevation will also help with the heat. You mention eyes, do you mean sunglasses/goggles etc? I guess goggles will always give you the best chance for ventilation. As I said, not the most experienced to offer advice on gear but my personal advice would be to sacrifice some comfort for safety, especially if going alone. And get a satellite device like an In Reach! Good luck on your trip. Post pics in the Facebook TET group when you go!

[@projectbiker]

Haha! Sorry for my misunderstanding. You are gonna have a great time. I guess just don't try to pack too much in with the time and you'll be able to adapt and make changes if you haven't got things set up how you like with the gear. I'd definitely post in a few forums where guys have more experience than me. Drinking backpack is a great idea, I had one on this trip. Helped a lot!

[@tobiasbischof8118]

@@projectbiker yeah, I'm planning on packing for four days and washing my clothes to keep the weight penalty as small as possible. Defenitely also gonna ask a few others as well, so we'll see how that goes. (Also my second comment got removed because I put a link into it)

[@to_boldly_roll]

@@tobiasbischof8118 What bike are you on? Will you ride alone? TET/ACT only/mostly? There are a lot of variables, obviously. ;) Since you seem to plan mostly unpaved roads, I would seriously suggest motocross boots. Rigid. Like skiing boots. Avoid everything that has "ADV" etc. in the name, they are not rigid enough. I wouldn't go for waterproof, if you get water in those, they will never dry. And you sweat like crazy. That's for the boots. Light Motocross or ADV helmet that fits googles. Possibly a neck brace. Up to you. Take two goggle, one with clear and one with tinted glass. Or a model where it is easy to change glasses... Get a light motocross armour vest that includes all protectors (shoulders, ellbows/forearms, chest(!), back) in a mesh base. Shot makes very good ones. Wear this at all times and add whatever needed. Just a motocross shirt, or an ADV jacket - depending on the temps. Get mountainbike or motocross protection shorts with thigh and coccyx protectors and wear motocross or ADV pants above that. GET KNEE BRACES!! In my opinion, the most important part of gear. Good ones. (Tip: Acerbis Gorillas are extremely cheap and not really braces - but they will do fine if you don't go crazy. Otherwise you will have to pay at least 500€). MX gloves. Maybe leather/kevlar for highway passages, if needed. Use a camel bag for water supply. I would recommend soft luggage, it's usually safer - but there are pros and cons en masse for both options. I'm not going to go into details. ;) Functional, long underwear, obviously. That's what I can think of. Of course, those are only suggestions.. ;) Don't miss Croatia! ;) ;)

[@kevinstorey9840]

Beautiful video, well done you should make a career of this 😊

[@projectbiker]

Thanks Kevin! Appreciate the support

[@rickc6726]

Thanks, I'm enjoying your vlog journey. I'm planning to do the TET from Caen to South of France and into Spain to Malaga, then somehow back to Blighty. How did you get on with fuel...is it readily available? Thinking if going in April.🤔 Any advice would be great! 👍

[@projectbiker]

Thanks Rick. I actually just finished another trip down to Malaga over the winter! There are some great trails down there and it will be a lot warmer in April. Fuel isn't a problem at all, the TET rarely takes you too far away from civilization in this part of the world. I'd only consider how much off-road you want to do vs how much road. I did a lot of motorway to get to the south because it was too cold in northern parts, but it wasn't much fun on a CRF300.

[@rickc6726]

@@projectbiker Thanks thats great to hear! 👍I'm on a KTM 690, so will have plenty of power for the road if needs be. Planning on mostly camping and staying with friends. 🤞🙂👍

[@horeica]

Why is this so depressing, you talk like everything is bad , and you try too much to sound like a mystical person of some sorts

[@projectbiker]

First time I've been called mystical, I quite like it! I hope you find something else that more suits your taste.

[@horeica]

@@projectbiker sorry for the mean comment, I was tired yesterday. But I do think that you could be a little more positive in the narrative, that's what I was trying to say in the first comment. I hope your channels grows more and more each day!

[@projectbiker]

@@horeica Thanks for taking the time to clarify. It's really no problem at all - every opinion is interesting to hear.