2013 International Diesel Bike Rally

[Stuart]

Pictures...

[Stuart]

More rally shots...

Bit of welding needed

[Stuart]

Photo shoot for the Tiger and other bikes for Rafaels book.

[Stuart]

We had the chain break on the Ruggerfield just outside Hamm but managed to thread chain back through sprocket housing & hook it out with a bit or welding rod wire we carried. Fitted spare split link we carried to get us moving again
That got us to Teuns place where we fitted a new chain as other links were damaged & twisted. We don't have the time to replace the sprockets right now either which isn't ideal I know but making the boat is the main thing.
Planning the route south now to avoid the rain later tomorrow.

[Anorak_ian]

Mexico or Switzerland

Luckily I have never had a chain brake, everything else but
It just occurred to me. What do you carry in case the inner links break? Two split links and one inner link?

Hope you find dry weather.

[Stuart]

We currently have a length of new chain & 2 split links & the salvaged half link. Enough to get us home.
If you don't carry the correct spares then it's asking for trouble. I think worse case for the consumerables & cater that way. We have cables etc plus emergency nipples (3 sizes I think) bolts, cable ties, all sorts basically.

Had a surprise visit from Bert today. All 3 of us huddled in Jeffs tent in Brugges as it rained 'cats & dogs' outside. We reckon it was the first Anglo Dutch diesel bike meeting in Belgium

[Dan J]

Another highly enjoyable rally. It was great to catch up with everyone again. First time there was some bad weather in the years I have been going but it did nothing to dampen spirits or prevent the Saturday ride out. Thanks again for organising Rafael.

I took a leisurely 7 odd hour ride back avoiding the motorways and got to ride some great roads in both Germany and the Netherlands, arriving at the Hook of Holland just as it started raining very hard. Normally you'd never even know you were on water with the Stena Line ferry but the journey back Sunday night was incredibly rough due to stormy weather.

See you all at the UK rally in 2014!

[Stuart]

Good to see you again Dan & glad you made it back ok. We're currently doing the tourist thing in Brugge

[Oftenlost]

Hi,
Finally got home safely last night after my extended rally run down to the LeMans 24 Hour Bike Race. Nice to meet up with,"The usual suspects," Thanks as ever to the organisers. Schnitzel and beer......Oh yes!

On the Monday morning I was the only bike left on the field.... do I win?
The bad weather followed me through Cologne, Verdun and the rest of the way to Fontainebleau south of Paris when the sun finally broke through. Wet!Wet!Wet!

It turned out to be a cracking weekend for the race and I was finally happy to put up the tent and light the BBQ again. The box of red wine didn't hurt either! Something Japanese went very fast for 24 hours. Something German was almost as fast..... the rest I don't remember.

I was told by the stewards on the campsite gate that I was the only diesel bike on site.... well thats me special then?

For those who like the numbers I covered 1186 miles using 40.76 Litres of fuel giving me 132.28 mpg. (That is 2.14 Litres/100km.)
Leaving LeMans I spluttered going up a hill and realised I had not re-fuelled since Luxembourg? I have a 13.5 L tank but manage to fill it with 13.6 Litres. I think I was running on vapour..... very nearly a big Oops!!!

Looking forward to future rallies, Ian (Sommer 2011)

[Stuart]

Finally got something resembling a report together
http://www.dieselbike.net/Hamm13/Hamm13.htm