Elefant Pics and Review.

Right, some pictures of the Elefant.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/47192463@N03/sets/72157623215079751/

You've probably seen some by now - or at least have a good idea of what
is entailed.

What you won't see is the rather tired, hackneyed Stalingrad, plucky
Brits etc. references. It's not a fucking commando raid it's a bloody
good weekend away with good people, drinking good beer and falling over.

View it as a test, some people run marathons, fell walk and all that -
this is much the same. It can be difficult but if you've got the right
gear and right frame of mind it is highly enjoyable.

So what if it's -12C and there's ice from your breath on the inside of
the tent? I've got a decent sleeping bag and thermals so am nice and
toasty.

The ride there and back is a real test of bike skills and self
confidence. It is terrifying hitting slush at 80 in the outside lane
overtaking a lorry but you're in control. On a motorbike. Great stuff.

A quick overview of gear to take - those who know me will also know I
don't tend to go for expensive modern stuff (because I'm tight) but
decent gear can be had at very low cost and is the proper stuff in these
sort of conditions. Heavy trousers, jumper, parka, boots, arctic socks,
thermals and sleeping bag all courtesy of the army surplus and probably
less than £150.

The thermarest bed was about £40 - probably worth taking a repair patch
in case it gets punctured as you don't want to be lying directly on the
snow. However, if we'd bothered putting straw under the tents it
probably would have been ok (for Steve, I was ok).

The tent is another £100 but it's a good one and I like camping so it
gets used. Aluminium poles a must as fibreglass shatter in sub zero
temps.

Cooking and lighting - I have a Coleman petrol lantern and stove. Gas
is useless as even propane freezes in these temps. The lantern is
phenomenal and, as Donald will confirm, will last until 5am. The stove
will boil a litre of water in three minutes.

The 25 y/o BMW K75 had done about 150 miles since I bought it from Statto
in August and I decided to go late on so had a couple of days to sort out
a misfire and get it ready. The misfire was sorted by a new set of HT
leads for £8 - an improvement on the incredible OE prices (£145).

So, first proper journey was heading off to Germany. It didn't break
down - just snapped a clutch cable. My fault really as the clues were
there as I was having trouble getting the clutch adjustment to stay
constant and guess who left his universal cable kit at home... Anyway,
we're in Germany so the BMW was easily fixed.

It returned 55mpg travelling with Steve and 45mpg thrashing it to the
Chunnel on the way back. Just as well, as petrol is expensive in Europe.

Nice, comfy and easy to ride. Coped well with the shit weather, slushy
roads and being a bit overloaded with camping gear. Hard luggage a bit
of boon even if I hadn't got the knack of getting the boxes off the
frames.

I did 590 miles in one day (Randesecker - Hove) with no arm or arse ache.
a third in freezing spray, a third in snow storms and the rest in quite
nice winter weather.

It's also the first bike I've had that did 1600 miles without using any
oil.

 

Nice pics.
This years resolutions are to learn not to die on the Outfit and get
one of them FOAD tents with a stove.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4043/4327269512_b8818ebdb5_b.jpg

Steve

 

Fantastic, I was hoping your pictures would come out well.

Don't tell them Pike !

If C90 Bob can make it there without being run over on the Autobahn
doing 37mph then anyone can.

Not so sure about the in control bit but it certainly keeps the
adrenalin level on high.

I'm happy to go for the modern stuff, I was glad of the Goretex layer on
my Hein Gericke kit. Could have done with a parka for on the camp site
but again the bike gear doubled up nicely. Unfortunately the German Army
surplus shop at the camp site had run out of fat bastard size jackets by
the time I wandered down.

It does tend to attract Ewoks and other strange animals early in the
morning which makes for lot's of comedy moments.

We were sure you did it on purpose to add to the suspense.

Excellent choice of bike there sir !

 

They were the best bit of the stories. I bet ze Chermans liked zem too.


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

....but don't you think it's all a bit cliched? I find it faintly
embarrasing.

 

....but don't you think it's all a bit cliched and tired? To be frank, I
find the almost constant WWII referencing faintly embarrassing.

 

It was a German who came up with the "German 88mm guns against the Royal
Air Force" gag last year, when they were trying to shoot down our fire
balloons with their firework rockets.

Damn good they were too.

 

It's the "almost constant" bit I have a problem with - a joke's a joke,
until repeated ad nauseam.

 

Life's a cliche, so one (rather amusing one) doesn't spoil things for me.

Why? Haven't we always made fun of the war and the Germans. And the French,
the Dago's, the Chink's and uncle Tom Cobley et al?


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

I liked your alternative view


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

It's a good job we don't get to meet many Jap bikers. We'd have a *zero*
laughs at their expense.

--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

I expect it will cease when the last person to have fought in said war dies.

It can't be long now.

 

What, one old fogey snuffs it and the whole world suddenly stops
talking about it? Yeah, right.

You might notice that it's not the geriatrics that make the jokes, it's
those that were born after (sometimes long after) the war ended.

FFS, someone from Germany even returned "Grandad's bike" to the Dutch,
doesn't stop them going on about it.

 

Why be embarrassed?

Why not just ignore it?

 

I should have typed "will start to cease". It will get stirred up ever less.
If you talk to most people 2-3 generations younger than us the whole WWII
thing is pretty vague and WWI is a mystery. In part good, in part bad.

Thank **** we aint like the Balkans.

<frowns at Turk across desk>

 

Which WWII mostly didn't have. Well not over here. Though we don't hear
much I expect there are places in Europe where it is still on the agenda.

 

Does anyone under 65 still buy into that?

 

Remember Agincourt!

 

I'm glad to say I've no idea

 

Centuries?

some of those twats carry grudges over thousands of years, hence the
still extant reverence/confusion over Cú Chulainn: the loyalists,
particularly the Newtownards Road UDF revere him as the "Hound of
Ulster" yet there's also a representation of him by Oliver Shepperd
outside the Dublin GPO in commemoration of the Easter Rising. FFS.

The Irish are fuckwits.