Laverda 75th anniversary in Breganze - anyone from the UK thinking about riding down?

If you need speed, Shuttle, albiet not enjoyable..prefer ferry, chance to look at map, have brek, calm down after the excitement of setting off etc, think about driving on wrong side of road😉
 
CLEMTOG said:
The direct route from Calais to Breganze would logically take you through France but if using motorways (fairly essential if you want only 1 or 2 overnight stops) the toll costs are horrendous, my Tom is going ice racing next month and will do 600 miles through France from Calais, to the French venue, there is no real option to this and the fuel cost for his Transit van (no trailer) will be about 300GBP the tolls will be about 350GBP! my advice no matter what form of road transport you have is to sail to Dunkirk, which neatly avoids using P&O which so far I have managed to do since their illegal sacking of all employees, and travel via Belgium and Germany, its not much further, I cant recall, but 70 miles is in my head, there are no tolls in either country, and the motorways are better and so are the service stations, and the bonus is that quite a few of the German roads are not restricted speed wise, but woe betide you if an accudent happens at above the posted RECOMENDED upper speed limit, I think they still do hanging, drawing and quatering!

CLEM
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I just don’t like riding on motorways, there’re not what I enjoy. The problem is not using them means less miles covered per day so sometimes it’s necessary to compromise and do 100 or so miles on motorway, particularly if there’s no clear non motorway option. I’m of the mindset now that I’ll make a longer holiday of it to get to further destinations or not go so far. I’ve had some great riding holidays using one base and riding around quartering an area rather than blasting through.
Regarding crossings I used the DFDS ferry Newhaven to Dieppe route for the first time last year and found it relaxed and pleasant. Small port each side which seems more friendly. Discount for over 60’s as well I’m told.
 
regardless of tunnel or boat I always book a ticket that is way, way too late for me, up tp 24 hours even ("Oh sorry must have been my typo, today is the day I travel, tomorrow is work") so that even if something goes wrong, I will still arrive before the crossing time, this means (for boats) you can chat to the reception clerk and maybe get away very fast, somethimes free, somethimes big or small extra fee, if you lose, you just have to wait! as I have done for more hours than I can contemplate, the record was something like eight hours, so an "exit pass" gets issued and I go into town eat, drink (maybe) and then return on time, can be tedious but 90% of the time this system works agreeably, and remember three years ago I was crossing monthly, so economy counts. With the tunnel there is no human contact or interaction unless something goes madly wrong and then a "bod" will appear, but its wretched non human computers that get you in and again if you arrive early, you will get offerred something, it might be free, or cost a small amount or even a hell of a lot, but you still have the option to decline and exit the entry part of the complex and retire to the motorway service like hospitality, which on both ends is pretty crap and expensive.

As a tunnel fiddle I did in the past save every mirror hanger, which is lettered (very large) and dated (very small) the letter sorts you into a queue, you might have to wait in your car or service area until a computer screen tell you to advance to the train, and this is where the saving of the ticket was usefull, just see which letter is "loading now" and stick that one on the mirror, they never look at the date and would need 10x50's to read it anyway, they scupperred this by having a bod walk the entire train length scanning the bar code with a phone type gadget (might have even been a phone) but this was a sham as at least five times they scanned my out of date window hanger and said nothing, just moved on, but now they have changed the system again, and if you save the mirror hanger it does not work since that big letter digit fades very quickly and is obviously out of date, very clever of them is that!

Another point, since Brexit if you have a bike in a van or trailer then a carnet is required, the tunnel will stop you and demand it, and the emergency (as in haven't got one) is very expensive, the stock one (obtained in advance) is still exensive just less so, the tunnel are ridgid on this, whereas the ferries dont realy give a shit, its not them anyway its the customs in UK, before you actually check in, 90% of the time on a ferry, they dont want it and will even tell you its not required, tunnel is very different, I have no idea why. I have first hand experiance of both.
CLEM
 
CLEMTOG said:
regardless of tunnel or boat I always book a ticket that is way, way too late for me, up tp 24 hours even ("Oh sorry must have been my typo, today is the day I travel, tomorrow is work") so that even if something goes wrong, I will still arrive before the crossing time, this means (for boats) you can chat to the reception clerk and maybe get away very fast, somethimes free, somethimes big or small extra fee, if you lose, you just have to wait! as I have done for more hours than I can contemplate, the record was something like eight hours, so an "exit pass" gets issued and I go into town eat, drink (maybe) and then return on time, can be tedious but 90% of the time this system works agreeably, and remember three years ago I was crossing monthly, so economy counts. With the tunnel there is no human contact or interaction unless something goes madly wrong and then a "bod" will appear, but its wretched non human computers that get you in and again if you arrive early, you will get offerred something, it might be free, or cost a small amount or even a hell of a lot, but you still have the option to decline and exit the entry part of the complex and retire to the motorway service like hospitality, which on both ends is pretty crap and expensive.

As a tunnel fiddle I did in the past save every mirror hanger, which is lettered (very large) and dated (very small) the letter sorts you into a queue, you might have to wait in your car or service area until a computer screen tell you to advance to the train, and this is where the saving of the ticket was usefull, just see which letter is "loading now" and stick that one on the mirror, they never look at the date and would need 10x50's to read it anyway, they scupperred this by having a bod walk the entire train length scanning the bar code with a phone type gadget (might have even been a phone) but this was a sham as at least five times they scanned my out of date window hanger and said nothing, just moved on, but now they have changed the system again, and if you save the mirror hanger it does not work since that big letter digit fades very quickly and is obviously out of date, very clever of them is that!

Another point, since Brexit if you have a bike in a van or trailer then a carnet is required, the tunnel will stop you and demand it, and the emergency (as in haven't got one) is very expensive, the stock one (obtained in advance) is still exensive just less so, the tunnel are ridgid on this, whereas the ferries dont realy give a shit, its not them anyway its the customs in UK, before you actually check in, 90% of the time on a ferry, they dont want it and will even tell you its not required, tunnel is very different, I have no idea why. I have first hand experiance of both.
CLEM
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Life is too short to collect mirror hangers😂😂
 
CLEMTOG said:
regardless of tunnel or boat I always book a ticket that is way, way too late for me, up tp 24 hours even ("Oh sorry must have been my typo, today is the day I travel, tomorrow is work") so that even if something goes wrong, I will still arrive before the crossing time, this means (for boats) you can chat to the reception clerk and maybe get away very fast, somethimes free, somethimes big or small extra fee, if you lose, you just have to wait! as I have done for more hours than I can contemplate, the record was something like eight hours, so an "exit pass" gets issued and I go into town eat, drink (maybe) and then return on time, can be tedious but 90% of the time this system works agreeably, and remember three years ago I was crossing monthly, so economy counts. With the tunnel there is no human contact or interaction unless something goes madly wrong and then a "bod" will appear, but its wretched non human computers that get you in and again if you arrive early, you will get offerred something, it might be free, or cost a small amount or even a hell of a lot, but you still have the option to decline and exit the entry part of the complex and retire to the motorway service like hospitality, which on both ends is pretty crap and expensive.

As a tunnel fiddle I did in the past save every mirror hanger, which is lettered (very large) and dated (very small) the letter sorts you into a queue, you might have to wait in your car or service area until a computer screen tell you to advance to the train, and this is where the saving of the ticket was usefull, just see which letter is "loading now" and stick that one on the mirror, they never look at the date and would need 10x50's to read it anyway, they scupperred this by having a bod walk the entire train length scanning the bar code with a phone type gadget (might have even been a phone) but this was a sham as at least five times they scanned my out of date window hanger and said nothing, just moved on, but now they have changed the system again, and if you save the mirror hanger it does not work since that big letter digit fades very quickly and is obviously out of date, very clever of them is that!

Another point, since Brexit if you have a bike in a van or trailer then a carnet is required, the tunnel will stop you and demand it, and the emergency (as in haven't got one) is very expensive, the stock one (obtained in advance) is still exensive just less so, the tunnel are ridgid on this, whereas the ferries dont realy give a shit, its not them anyway its the customs in UK, before you actually check in, 90% of the time on a ferry, they dont want it and will even tell you its not required, tunnel is very different, I have no idea why. I have first hand experiance of both.
CLEM
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I have to say concerning - since Brexit statement Clem - I have travelled across the water a few time now in the pass 2/3 years with my endurance racer in the back of a Van and once on the back of a trailer. Ferry and Tunnel crossings. I always carry the V5, insurance, MOT and not had any problems. Got stop at Dieppe, yeah got pulled and had to show documentation explained , ask where we going, sent on our way no problem. Tunnel crossing , they like to look in the back of Vans, which seems normal , happened every time at Calais. I have even used my own Van ,using Tunnel and returned with covered trailer. Got stop at Calais for them to check inside, didn't even ask for any paper work. Whether the bike is in a Van or your riding carry your documentation. I believe Rob Bradbury has traveled with his bike(s) in the back of a Van without issue. One other thing I always carry the number plate, I leave prop up against the back wheel in full view as soon has you open the doors.
 
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There will be three of us riding down, two Laverda's (3C & 3CL) and one 900ss Bevel. My wife with youngest daughter intends to turn up in her Fiat 124 spider.
So here's the question. How do I book tickets for the gala dinner for us all?
 
The biggest laugh I had on the shuttle was when an over officious train crew member came along robotically saying, 'Side stand down, in first gear'. To which I said, 'I don't have a side stand', he then said, 'put it in gear then'. I replied, 'but the rear wheel is off the ground?' ... 'Do as I say' he shouted back!
Following that I wrote to Eurotunnel to ask them "what their main stand only policy was". They wrote back saying, "side stand down and in first gear". You' just have to laugh!
 
arancia said:
Le Shuttle sounds attractive, is the bike well secured and can gear be safely left with it?
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In a car, you sit inside, that is your seat. On a bike you stand next to it for the 35 min trip, so your luggage is secure at least. Those of you with side stands will have your front tyre (In America they spell tyre as if you are tired) up against a small curb. If like me, you only have a main stand,you need to be close enough in case the train slows suddenly, which I have never experienced. See photos from previous posts.
 
Struck the same thing on the Tassie Ferry, no side stand and its head-scratching time for the bike-lashing-down crew. It surprised me when I heard you tie your own bike down on lots of other ferries around the world. They have a huge gang, maybe 50 blokes or more tying the bikes down on the Tassie Ferry.
 
3crider said:
The biggest laugh I had on the shuttle was when an over officious train crew member came along robotically saying, 'Side stand down, in first gear'. To which I said, 'I don't have a side stand', he then said, 'put it in gear then'. I replied, 'but the rear wheel is off the ground?' ... 'Do as I say' he shouted back!
Following that I wrote to Eurotunnel to ask them "what their main stand only policy was". They wrote back saying, "side stand down and in first gear". You' just have to laugh!
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Reminds me of the sign, popular on shop doors, Nick.
"No dogs allowed, except guide dogs"
WTF is the point in the second part?
Dogs can't read, nor can people who need a guide dog.
The world is being populated by the hard of thinking.
 
The Sock said:
Reminds me of the sign, popular on shop doors, Nick.
"No dogs allowed, except guide dogs"
WTF is the point in the second part?
Dogs can't read, nor can people who need a guide dog.
The world is being populated by the hard of thinking.
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You are obviously joking since the sign is meant for pet owners who think their dogs are allowed anywhere.
 
3crider said:
In a car, you sit inside, that is your seat. On a bike you stand next to it for the 35 min trip, so your luggage is secure at least. Those of you with side stands will have your front tyre (In America they spell tyre as if you are tired) up against a small curb. If like me, you only have a main stand,you need to be close enough in case the train slows suddenly, which I have never experienced. See photos from previous posts.
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Thank you, with the recent photos I've got a much better idea now of what's involved and how different it is from taking a ferry, I'll be bringing a seat pad for use on the saddle and on the floor in Le Shuttle.

I did the cross-channel hovercraft a couple of times, hear they're thinking of bringing it back, I will never ride that again, it was like sitting on a jackhammer in an echo chamber when the sea was choppy, not sure how they think it might compete with Le Shuttle.

Did I understand correctly that it's possible to buy the France to UK ticket on arrival in Calais so can be very flexible about how long the return route ride might take?
 
arancia said:
Thank you, with the recent photos I've got a much better idea now of what's involved and how different it is from taking a ferry, I'll be bringing a seat pad for use on the saddle and on the floor in Le Shuttle.

I did the cross-channel hovercraft a couple of times, hear they're thinking of bringing it back, I will never ride that again, it was like sitting on a jackhammer in an echo chamber when the sea was choppy, not sure how they think it might compete with Le Shuttle.

Did I understand correctly that it's possible to buy the France to UK ticket on arrival in Calais so can be very flexible about how long the return route ride might take?
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Book on the web.
Take the ferry.
Paul
 
second that Paul, book, book, book, but always arrive well in advance of your ticket time, as noted above.

It seems to me that one needs to be in Breganze for the friday rally (ride out) a lot might arrive Friday PM or evening and miss it, same for Sunday, not departing AM as is fairly normal on rallies generally but "doing things" so one needs to arrive no later than Thursday PM and be prepared to leave either late Sunday or Monday AM.
CLEM
 
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