Greek Bike Tour next spring anybody?

NikosR · #1 (**permalink**) 10-02-2007

I have this crazy idea of trying to organise a bike tour of mainland Greece for you fellow Sprinters. Now, I know that most of you are based in the US or in Aus and somehow I can't see you shipping your bikes to Greece to participate, but I know that there quite a few UK riders in here and also other people, mainly lurkers, from other European countries.

The idea is for people to haul their asses down here somehow (catching a ferry from Italy is probably the best way), and I will organise a (week long?) tour of mainland Greece. This would be, for most people the opportunity of a lifetime, since not many foreigners have the chance to saviour what Greece has to offer to the biker. Extremely interesting mountainous landscape and twisty (very twisty) roads, good food and nice lodging up in the Greek mountains. I have a quite good knowledge of the country so I can guarantee the most interesting biking roads. I will throw some sightseeing in if that's what you want.

This would not be a commercial thing. Everybody would have to pay their bill directly and make their own arrangements for insurance etc. I will only arrange the tour and book the lodging.

The best time for that would be late Spring, May maybe, as the temperatures are ideal, the probability of showers is moderate, the countryside is virtually deserted from traffic and accomodation is cheap.

If your idea of riding a motorcycle in Greece has been up to know riding a scooter in sandals in a Greek island, this should come as a very nice surprise.

There will be lots of fairly demanding (in that the roads are very twisty and the surfaces often less than perfect) riding so only experienced riders please. You will have to alocate at least 2 weeks for the whole trip to make it worthwhile but this will of course depend on where you're based. It is easier for Italians or people based in the south of Germany than for UK people obviously. Single or two-up no problem.

So, any takers? This thing will take place even with only 2 or 3 participants.

PS. If any of you Aussies is feeling rich and adventurous, there actually is an australian based company specialising in shipping bikes from Aus to Europe (including the port of Pireus near Athens).

(Mods, could you make this thing sticky?)

steventhechef · #2 (**permalink**) 10-02-2007

I'll have to hold my breath for a (long) while, but I could put the kids in a box and send them over if you're OK with that ??

I'll get a box and stamps ready now !!

In the background - "Hey kids, Dad's got a great holiday idea, you're going to Uncle Nikos'. Get in the box.. No, I'm not joking!! Now, get in the box. Don't make me use my angry voice!!"

NikosR · #3 (**permalink**) 10-02-2007

Anybody seriously interested just post in this thread or PM me.

Steve, can your kids ride the Sprint?

steventhechef · #4 (**permalink**) 10-02-2007

They're good on the back. I am sure that my 10 year old will give the controls a really good try though...

Simmo · #5 (**permalink**) 10-02-2007

Sounds absolutely fantastic. Dribbling and shaking etc. Shipping insn't absurd. 'Get Routed' is a company that does this, they organise shipping to Eu regularly. Lets see, start with the Isle of Man, then a bit of a quicky through the UK across Eu to Italy, the ferry then greece then home. What an ace trip. Reality might be a bit brutal here but I am going to put this in the seriously to be considered basket. Will get back to you on this.
Cheers, Simmo

steventhechef · #6 (**permalink**) 10-02-2007

Simmo - maybe you can take the kids??. They don't seem too fond of the box at the moment!!

NikosR · #7 (**permalink**) 10-02-2007

Additional info:

1. Date. Open, to be arranged according to everyone's availability, but as I said, May or early June are good periods.

2. Duration. Same as above. It should be at least three days on the road though.

3. Place. Central, Western and North-West mainland Greece. Combination of seaside and mountains. Opportunity for a dip in the sea guarranteed. If lucky and we do this trip in early May then there's a chance for snow capped mountains also. Good opportunity to see some ancient stuff (boring....). Start in Athens, end in Athens.

Extremely varied lanscapes. You can find yourself from the seaside to the top of a 2000m mountain in an hour. You will sometimes feel that you are away from civilisation or in small vilagges with just a handfull of inhabitants although we won't be more than 2 hours from a major city.

4. Distance to be covered. Flexible and depending on duration but it should be between 1000 - 3000 Km. Mostly A, B and country roads with just a bit of high speed motorway. No unpaved roads due to the nature of our bikes.

5. Costs. Whatever it takes to get here and return home plus: Approx. 1.3Euro / liter of premium petrol, 20-60 Euro per person per night for lodging (excluding Athens), 20-30 Euro per day for lots of food. Wine & beer is dirt cheap, spirits also much cheaper than EU average.

6. Bike support. Take your chances. Triumph service points in major cities (always not too far from where we'll be). Triumph spare parts costs: Typical for EU. Labour: Much cheaper than places like UK and Germany. Tires: Good availability in major towns. Tire prices: Bit more expensive than you would get on the internet but labor is cheap (about 20-30Euro for two tire replacement including balancing).

7. How to get here: Best way ferry from Italy (Venice or Ancona recommended if you don't want to ride too much in Italy) to the port of Patras, then 2 hours ride to Athens. If one feels adventurous or has time to spend, there's also the way to ride in from the North (through the countries of former-Yugoslavia).

8. Crime. Low in Athens, minimal outside major cities. Bike theft. Not a problem outside major cities. Triumphs seem to be mostly immune anyway.

9. Currency: Euro. Language: Greek (of course) but some English is spoken by virtually everybody (of course don't expect the old lady in the remore mountain village to speak any). Two Greek speaking guys to support you (me and my Polish expatriot buddy on his '99 Sprint). I also speak a bit of German and my buddy speaks Polish and Russian also.

Wintermute · #8 (**permalink**) 10-02-2007

Niko, what a great idea. I am definitely interested in your proposal. Might have 1 or 2 mates willing to tag along. It all depends on my work schedule and my ability to take the time off.

Hopefully my new 08 Sprint will have arrived and will be broken in and ready for the 3000+ klm trip.

PM me with your contact info when you have a more concrete plan so we can iron out the details.

NikosR · #9 (**permalink**) 10-02-2007

Bump.

Could the mods pls. make this sticky?

NikosR · #10 (**permalink**) 10-02-2007

Originally Posted by Wintermute

Niko, what a great idea. I am definitely interested in your proposal. Might have 1 or 2 mates willing to tag along. It all depends on my work schedule and my ability to take the time off.

Hopefully my new 08 Sprint will have arrived and will be broken in and ready for the 3000+ klm trip.

PM me with your contact info when you have a more concrete plan so we can iron out the details.

Hi Dimitri,

Funny how I didn't know you existed until yesterday when you responded to this thread AND I happened to bump in to you at the T dealer's. Seems I had missed your few messages posted back in July since I was on holiday at the time. Welcome to the board! Have you decided what colour you're getting your 08 in?

There are no more details at the time being. I hope I'll build them up as we go along depending on participation plus I'll be doing a bit of scouting in the next couple of months. You're welcome to help.