Elefantentreffen 2011

[privatebill]

Well I'm up for it! (fnar fnar)

This might be a little early but I've been in the planning stages for the last few months and I thought it was time to see how many other mentalists were interested.

Starting with my intended and draft itinerary, I'm also considering an overnight in Amsterdam on the return leg.



After much research my kit list looks like this (with associated weight in kilograms)

8.00 Tent Venor Force Ten Mk4 Classic
4.20 5 litres of petrol+can
3.60 3 army ration packs
2.40 Sleeping bag - Snugpak Softie Elite 5
0.35 sleeping mat -Beacons Poducts - Expedition Summit XL Mat
1.00 goretex bivi bag -army surplus
0.75 shovel -ww2 spurplus german folding
0.50 stove -primus omnifuel stove + pump and bottle
0.05 torch led lenser t/p7
0.30 mess kit
10.00 Various Warm Clothes

And finally the weapon of choice..... ok I'm wimping out and using my new Innova, I had to make the call, restore my 90 and not go in 2011 or hold off and take the Innova, so an extra 33cc's or touring power it is.

List of modifications to be made to the Bike;

Puig Screen
Barkbuster hand-guard's (if they fit which I cant determine until I can get a bar end out)
Spine Rack (to hold tank bag)
Front Basket (to carry fuel can)
either knock-up a frame and use my Honda hog panniers or just use soft ones and bungee's
LED tail light ( if I can sort the AC feed issue)
A cigarette or din power adaptor for phone charging and possible heated shoe inserts (if I can blag a set off the owner of an over-polished GS I know, who wouldn't ride in the rain never mind winter!!
Acumen Alarm (not for Europe mind, its getting from Liverpool to Hull that I'm worried about!)



Mainly I'm having real trouble finding some road going knobbly's (never mind catspaw)for the Innova but still I'm hopeful that some will turn up and if I cant then a fresh set of Contis with a chain wrapped around it in the snowy bits should do the trick.

[aliengravy]

Wow you certainly have been busy planning! And you look very committed!!
I don't think i know of anyone who has done it on that choice of bike! I think the bike is more than capable, and it will be interesting to see what modifications you make to the bike

Keep us up to date

[Newtsalad]

The LED rear light is a great idea if you want to get yourself killed.
You'll need a big shovel. My folding shovel broke, and it was useless anyway. Best would be a big aluminium grain shovel, just the head if need be, or adapted with a 2 piece handle would be brill. A short wide coal shovel would be my next choice. Chances are you'll be able to borrow a shovel anyway. But you'll certainly need one.
Take an empty 1 litre oil container for a pee bottle. (Wide neck, black/discreet, holds 2 pees )
If you need a dump, use the latrines just outside the entrance for a couple of Euros. They're clean and heated, and the Eastern European twats that run them go around smearing shit all over the walls of the toilets inside the venue so it's impossible to hang up your gear while you shit.
Don't worry too much about sleeping mat/ airbed etc, they sell bales of straw there. Buy one or two, break it up loose and put a thick pad of it under the tent before pitching, I found it warmer to sleep on this than sleeping on the airbed on top of this. I only found this out on the last night! Also, airbeds go so brittle at minus 6 degrees celcius that just folding it punctures it. Thats what happened to mine. For camping on the way there use a mat/aircraft insulation/Armaflex.
For your hands use these. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Gore-tex-Mitten-C ... 1009wt_958 beats handlebar muffs. Mine came from Paddlesdown, but they aren't listing them at the mo.
Resign yourself to using the Autobahn, there's no other viable way of getting there unless you have a month to do so. You'll gaze out from the motorway onto snow covered roads and shudder.
Expect to ride on compacted snow for the last 13 miles, when you come off the Autobahn, but coming home I encountered snow right across the Autobahn for about 20 miles at one point. Not nice. Best make sure you have the financial means to hole up in a motel if it gets dire.
Don't be afraid to drive right into the site on the bike, you'll be fine. Wimps park 2 miles up the road and lug their kit.
Get there early for a good pitch.
There's plenty of hot grub available on site. The Gluhwein is nice!

[privatebill]

what's up with an led tail-light?, the standard tail light bulb is pretty miserable on my innova and a decent led bulb should make it brighter and free up some current for accessories

[Ixion]

LED lights are too directional only visible straight on you need a bright visible light that glows in conditions like that.

[CeeGee]

I think a folding shovel is fine, as long as you buy a genuine army-issue one, not a copy. They're designed for squaddies to dig holes with, and really shouldn't break. Other nations issue different versions that are worth a look at too.

[privatebill]

oh god yes, my folding shovel is solid wood and metal

http://www.armysurpluswarehouse.com/pro ... k-3068.cfm

and mine cost me the grand sum of £2

[Newtsalad]

My wooden handle snapped. Genuine but old. They don't shift enough snow, you'll die of fatigue before you build a terrace. Might as well use a tablespoon. Fortunately the camp nearby see me trying desperately to get done as night fell, and bought me over a huge lightweight shovel with a long handle, and it was perfect.
When some fellow Brits arrived and also started scratching around like chickens I went and borrowed it to help them. Given I had a large tent and a 9 metre flag pole, they asked how on earth I'd carried the shovel on my bike!
In my topbox, I replied, as they stood with big question marks over their heads for about 3 seconds!

[Newtsalad]

This would be ideal, just split it into three pieces.http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Silverline-Tools- ... 1031wt_815

Or this would be good too. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BLACK-STEEL-COAL- ... 539wt_1080

[shayshondacub90]

i thought only the a team could plan like this!!!!