scooterlord
Registered
I finally did it, and I thought I'd share with you guys.
First of all, I won't hide that I was terrified before I started the trip. Dont know about you guys but this always happens
to me before each big ride. Couldn't sleep, couldn't eat the previous day.
I wake up in the morning, temperature is fairly good in Athens, but Athens is considered to be one of the warmer cities in
Greece so I don't get overexcited. I am happy it isn't cold or raining though.
I promised myself to go slow, because I had a bad feeling about this trip, so I thought I'd do the most doing 140kph. This
year during vacations they said that police would remove from the roads every vehicle moving faster than 140 so I thought
I'd lay low. During the ride this turned out to be a good excuse trying to fool myself, than going slow because I was cold.
Before I left i went out and bought: isothermic underwear, undergloves, some strange isothermic thingies for the toes and a
balaclava. on top of those I put socks up to my knees, leather pants, leather touring boots, a t-shirt, a thin sweater and
leather racing gloves. I couldnt get the balaclava to sit in place on my head and at first it bothered me a lot, as i went
on it didn't keep me all that warm.
Ride was 650km. After the first 100 my hands started getting REALLY cold. couldnt feel them. I am sure the undergloves
worked well though cause just with the leathers i remembered my hands being cold even in city temperatures. my neck was
well protected by the balaclava but not my nose. The arai helmet I have was putting some cold air from underneath and at
first it was unbearable but I soon got used to it.
Thankfully I only got a few drops of rain and just a bit snow-water. The sky was snowy-white and was dead cold. I had
promised myself not to stop before doing the first 200km, where i asked what the temperature was. he estimated it around 8
celsius. I was expecting less, and to be honest I felt like it was less
after my first stop, i felt really warm although
I am sure i wasnt, but then got cold again. first 200km were the warmest though. i could see snowy tops of mountains after
that and sometimes i had to change my breath to keep my face warm. sometimes i could see my own breath inside the helmet!
since i felt the difference in the temperature i estimate the lowest must have been around 5 celsius. Bike's temp gauge was
constantly at 4/5 of where it should be. i only saw 2 more bikes in these 650km: a tdm and one of those mega scooters going
towards the opposite direction of mine.
Every time i do such a ride, in the final 100-200km i get really bored and rush my way back. I broke my promise and did
200+ when going back. I couldnt feel a thing on my body but was really anxious to get back home so i told myself to keep
strong. and i remained that way till i was at home. final ride. left everything behind, at least for a year (bye bye uni,
friends, athens,
felt a bid dizzy when i arrived, but hey, still young (24) so no more side effects! had a bath, slept a
bit and went out for coffee! everything back to normal...
Highlights: i went through 6 toll stations. damn f*ckers. they take our money and the roads still suck. dont know about
other countries but here in greece, motorcyclers are let go without paying off the record. all but a nice lady made me pay.
and at first i had to get glove out, udnerglove out, pay, get change, stop at the side, get other glove off, wear
underglove of the other hand, wear both gloves, until i realized in the end i could wear underglove and glove of my left
hand without having to get my other hand's glove out.. doh!
funniest part was that i had a cofee (rarely drink coffee) and wanted to take a leak. my reservoir was almost empty so i
thought i'd stop, refill and take a leak. I was wrong though, I had more gas than expected and kept holding it for an extra
70km (yeah, i got many km this time! maybe they didn't mix the gas with water this time
) couldnt keep it any much more
though but needed 3 mins to take all the leathers and stuff off to pee! phewww... almost pissed myself!
colcusion: dont know if surprised myself by living up more than my expectations or if i am tougher than i thought. I was
expecting it a lot worse. maybe i was expecting of different temperatures dont know. felt fairly easy although the ride was
a ##### in some parts. bearable and i probably would do it again. glad i did it though
feel a lot more experienced now!
I was afraid at first, but now it's all gone, i'll seek for more challenging rides next time
First of all, I won't hide that I was terrified before I started the trip. Dont know about you guys but this always happens
to me before each big ride. Couldn't sleep, couldn't eat the previous day.
I wake up in the morning, temperature is fairly good in Athens, but Athens is considered to be one of the warmer cities in
Greece so I don't get overexcited. I am happy it isn't cold or raining though.
I promised myself to go slow, because I had a bad feeling about this trip, so I thought I'd do the most doing 140kph. This
year during vacations they said that police would remove from the roads every vehicle moving faster than 140 so I thought
I'd lay low. During the ride this turned out to be a good excuse trying to fool myself, than going slow because I was cold.
Before I left i went out and bought: isothermic underwear, undergloves, some strange isothermic thingies for the toes and a
balaclava. on top of those I put socks up to my knees, leather pants, leather touring boots, a t-shirt, a thin sweater and
leather racing gloves. I couldnt get the balaclava to sit in place on my head and at first it bothered me a lot, as i went
on it didn't keep me all that warm.
Ride was 650km. After the first 100 my hands started getting REALLY cold. couldnt feel them. I am sure the undergloves
worked well though cause just with the leathers i remembered my hands being cold even in city temperatures. my neck was
well protected by the balaclava but not my nose. The arai helmet I have was putting some cold air from underneath and at
first it was unbearable but I soon got used to it.
Thankfully I only got a few drops of rain and just a bit snow-water. The sky was snowy-white and was dead cold. I had
promised myself not to stop before doing the first 200km, where i asked what the temperature was. he estimated it around 8
celsius. I was expecting less, and to be honest I felt like it was less
I am sure i wasnt, but then got cold again. first 200km were the warmest though. i could see snowy tops of mountains after
that and sometimes i had to change my breath to keep my face warm. sometimes i could see my own breath inside the helmet!
since i felt the difference in the temperature i estimate the lowest must have been around 5 celsius. Bike's temp gauge was
constantly at 4/5 of where it should be. i only saw 2 more bikes in these 650km: a tdm and one of those mega scooters going
towards the opposite direction of mine.
Every time i do such a ride, in the final 100-200km i get really bored and rush my way back. I broke my promise and did
200+ when going back. I couldnt feel a thing on my body but was really anxious to get back home so i told myself to keep
strong. and i remained that way till i was at home. final ride. left everything behind, at least for a year (bye bye uni,
friends, athens,
bit and went out for coffee! everything back to normal...
Highlights: i went through 6 toll stations. damn f*ckers. they take our money and the roads still suck. dont know about
other countries but here in greece, motorcyclers are let go without paying off the record. all but a nice lady made me pay.
and at first i had to get glove out, udnerglove out, pay, get change, stop at the side, get other glove off, wear
underglove of the other hand, wear both gloves, until i realized in the end i could wear underglove and glove of my left
hand without having to get my other hand's glove out.. doh!
funniest part was that i had a cofee (rarely drink coffee) and wanted to take a leak. my reservoir was almost empty so i
thought i'd stop, refill and take a leak. I was wrong though, I had more gas than expected and kept holding it for an extra
70km (yeah, i got many km this time! maybe they didn't mix the gas with water this time
) couldnt keep it any much more though but needed 3 mins to take all the leathers and stuff off to pee! phewww... almost pissed myself!
colcusion: dont know if surprised myself by living up more than my expectations or if i am tougher than i thought. I was
expecting it a lot worse. maybe i was expecting of different temperatures dont know. felt fairly easy although the ride was
a ##### in some parts. bearable and i probably would do it again. glad i did it though
I was afraid at first, but now it's all gone, i'll seek for more challenging rides next time
