BBC | LongWayDown | Road Log

That flat feeling

Sun, 24 Jun 2007 09:53:01 GMT

Aaaah the memories - and the flats always seem to hit just as it is getting dark, and you still need to cover another 50km or more! I think on my Alaska-Argentina trip, I managed a total of 12 flats - one was a high speed blow out in the Sanoran Desert, Mexico. I'll always remember it thansk to the phat black bruise on my ass and a ripped off panier as a result. Never stop riding, Nat

puncture repairs!!

Sun, 24 Jun 2007 10:19:44 GMT

maybe some bike ones coming up - gonna take the bikes up to Rendlesham Forest and ride round in the rain - who knows, may even spot and alien or two?! If no more posts, have been abducted :) Love to all - keep extra-super safe, espeically, the love-god that is ....... Charley Boorman xxxxx Yoda x

bikes

Sun, 24 Jun 2007 11:19:22 GMT

i've just realised charley looks like keith miller on eastenders!!! anyway, with the punctures and blisters, what made you get into motorbikes in the first place?

Sick of punctures

Sun, 24 Jun 2007 11:58:49 GMT

I hate punctures - my son gets them all the time and I am sick to death of fixing them. His bike has had a flat for four weeks now. Can't be bothered - hope it is still hot there, we had frost last night in Melbourne - car was frozen solid this morning. Danksy

green tent on 4x4

Sun, 24 Jun 2007 12:05:51 GMT

Tim from London wanted to know what the green tent thing was that russ was snoring in, well its a Howling moon roof top tent - do a search - you can buy them in the UK. great for keeping nasties away with a mattress inside and only 5 minutes to put up. All the best guys really enjoying the web site.

bicycle vs. motorbike

Sun, 24 Jun 2007 12:16:18 GMT

Well, I don't remember a roadside puncture repair. Sure, I had a few flat tyres with my bicycle but I always could repair it at home. So it was no problem. This summer I'll make a longer tour about 1-2 months. Hopefully I will not have to do roadside puncture repairs. But I guess it's a bit easier than the repairing on your motorbike!? So I wish you all the best and no more nails in your tyres. (; By the way: Did you ever do a bicycle tour, too??

British MotoGP

Sun, 24 Jun 2007 12:59:09 GMT

Not a nail in sight here at Donington! Hope you've got plenty of spare tyres. The race started off completely wet, a few offs, but then it dried up just after the race started and they were all still on wet tyres so it was a bit edgy. Casey Stoner took 1st place, Colin Edwards in 2nd and Chris Vermeulen taking the 3rd podium position. Valentino Rossi went over the line in 4th; 1998 was the last time he didn't take a podium at Donington! This means that Stoner now leads the championship over Rossi by 26 points. Who are you supporting?

Donigton Park

Sun, 24 Jun 2007 13:08:54 GMT

Hey Ewan, Charley, Claudio and team! Here are the results of the Moto GP race: 1. Stoner, 2. Edwards, 3. Vermeulen and finally 4. ROSSI (maybe nails in the tyres???). Sorry Ewan, but your picture of 'a man with very wet socks' just made my day... :-) Best wishes from switzerland and stay dry and safe! Angie

Deflated

Sun, 24 Jun 2007 15:40:30 GMT

Hello all.At present its raining in London and Adrigat seems a million miles away but hey what an adventure you must be having again,.Talking about punctures,Just think it could have been worse, you could be riding on a pair of Honda C90's,maybe next time eh.Best wishes

...Make That Change!

Sun, 24 Jun 2007 15:52:38 GMT

True Story...While working at the top #1 Radio Station in Portland when I was 18, I had a flat tire with the Station vehicle. With no experience in tire changing I contacted AAA roadside service to come to the Radio Station to change it for me. I was heckled and laughed at jokingly by other employees, that I wasn't changing it.
It gets worse! The man who came to change the tire for me had one arm. Now I really heard it. A one armed man is changing my tire.
The good news is that after that I learned to change tires...and with one arm!

Via con dios

Sun, 24 Jun 2007 16:23:52 GMT

Hi migratants - bikers! thank all of you for sharing your moments on this adventure. one question to the team - whats hapen with the bikes after the trip ... ?! best wishes for easy way Milen

u nailed it!

Sun, 24 Jun 2007 16:46:31 GMT

in 20 years only had one puncture.. leaving jerusalem for a Stones concert in Prague a few... years back. on a 100gs remember those? last century!! good thing for these foam spray things for tyres... it jhlepd up all the way! Heading to Namibia from joburg on a 21st century 1200 next week. we're all waiting for you guys down here. who knows.. maybe our path will cross somewhere in the sand dunes of namibia or the pans of Bostwana..and if you need a place to stay, just shout! jerome, the lost frenchman!

and by the way...

Sun, 24 Jun 2007 16:53:43 GMT

sorry on add on from the last post... you think nails are bad in ethiopia.... hahaha!!! wait till you get to namibia... the rocks are sharp.. but i guess you'll all have practice by then!!!! cheers jerome

Knock on wood ...

Sun, 24 Jun 2007 17:35:01 GMT

Still nothing - thus far I have never had a tyre problem while on the road ... famous last words no doubt! :-) Richard T

Sober riding, huh?

Sun, 24 Jun 2007 18:31:05 GMT

Had a blowout at the TOP of the Intercoastal Bridge in Florida going about 70. Scary! Hope those patches work and the bikes continue to perform well. Absolutely LOVING the updates guys...thanks for sharing the trip with us!

steering dampeners

Sun, 24 Jun 2007 18:37:49 GMT

Have you guys got steering dampeners on your bikes? If not it really is a must for the kind of riding your doing. A steering dampener should eliminate almost all of the handlebars swapping left to right in the sand as well as reduce the tendency of the bike to track into ruts. It will make an Incredible difference or you!

Flat's and Police.

Sun, 24 Jun 2007 18:54:30 GMT

I was pushing home a bike with a flat a couple years ago when a women in a car pulls over in front of me. She rolls her window down and says " I'm calling the police" When I asked her why she replied with " well you are pushing a bike with a flat in the middle of no where, you must have stolen it." Cross my heart hope to die....that's what she said. I laughed and may have said she was insane. I gave her my address and continued walking home....with her following me for a mile or so. I never did see the police show up, so I'm assuming she called them and they also said she was insane. Lesson learned here.... Flat tires mean that it's stolen goods. So Charley I'd like you to return my Beamer that you stole. You can finish the trip but I want it back. :)

truly inspirational

Sun, 24 Jun 2007 21:07:44 GMT

I've just returned - like, within the past 30 minutes - from my first off-road motorcycling experience. I have GOT TO GET ME ONE OF THESE!! I have you guys to thank for it. Truly inspirational.

Hey

Sun, 24 Jun 2007 21:29:00 GMT

Hey guys. It is amazing how far you have made it with seemingly no huge troubles. That is awesome. I hope that the trip continues to go smoothly and ewan- teach charley how to not get nails in his tires... only joking charley ;) GOOD LUCK!!!

More than just nails!!

Sun, 24 Jun 2007 23:15:05 GMT

Hey guys, Sorry to say its been a little while since I last checked in on your progress. I've been trying to convince my firends to fly in to Cape Town to greet you as you arrive; unfortunatly, no dice. I have been somewhat concerned with your trip through Africa. Unlike the route you took through Asia, Africa is quite dangerous because of the high level of political strife. Were you at any point afraid of running into violence or hostility caused by these political problems? Hang in there guys, only 7000 miles to go. Eamon

Flat Tire

Sun, 24 Jun 2007 23:17:42 GMT

OK Guys here is something you don't see everyday. I was traveling alone coming back from a horse show when one of the tires on the horse trailer blew apart. I pulled off the road. My horse was scared to death. Had a terrible time getting him out of the horse trailer. With him in the trailer I knew I couldn't raise it to change the tire. I finally got him out of the trailor. I tied him to an electric utility pole. There I was on the side of the road trying to figure out how to use the tire jack with a horse tied to a pole with people just passing on by. Finally a nice man on a motorcycle stopped and helped me change the tire. He even helped me get my scared horse back in the trailor. Was so grateful to him, I gave him a hug. Was scary for me all alone with a scared horse on the roadside. Be careful Ewan and Charley and stay safe.

flat tyre

Sun, 24 Jun 2007 23:29:07 GMT

hi... i had a flat on my old f650 bmw. stuck in some village in north wales. lucky me some guy pulled over and gave me this can of tyre foam. an offer of payment was refused by him and he said "someone stopped when he was in the same situation and gave him a can of tyre foam when he was in trouble. the guy made an offer of payment but was refused". this man said to me "use the tyre foam and buy one and pass it onto someone who you may find in the same situation". so ive bought a can [keep it cable tied to the bike] and im ready to pass this tyre foam on who ever that biker may be. but you lads are just a bit to far away for me. great trip lads great adventure. good cause. keep the rubber side down and the shinny side up lads. ryan

Long Way Up ?

Sun, 24 Jun 2007 23:26:40 GMT

Really enjoying the video's & logs from Ewan & Charley,got out my copy of Long Way Round & watched the who thing again !,Ewan mentioned the possibility of a third installment of your travels,South America to North America !,,,,any plans yet,looking forward to following that one too. Stay Safe

Flat.

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 01:30:29 GMT

Charley, mate, you need to get your mechanic/support team to do that. Delegate mate... Stay safe guys. All that water could be good training. Stay upright.

Nails

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 08:39:38 GMT

Forget fixing punctures, carry a bag of self tapping screws and remove nail, screw in new self tapper and Bob's your uncle. Top Tip number 2 Don't go off roading in shorts and flip-flops, when you come off in the middle of a river, you tend to leave most of the skin from you lower legs on the exhaust

Rear shock ?

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 08:40:20 GMT

Puncture, shmuncture. What about the rear shock replacement. Any idea why it happened or just a defective unit ? David French R12GS

Tweedie

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 09:51:30 GMT

I have no knowledge of bikes sadly but I like the look of them and I rode on one once and it was one of the best experiences of my life (it was a big one too) so I am totally in awe of you two and love hearing from you. Charlie, learn to ride like Ewan please. Take care you two. E xx

punctures

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 13:28:50 GMT

c'mon ewan and charley, almost there!!! keep plugging away, haha, best wishes and enjoy the ride ...The Swanley bikers...

keith miller!!

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 13:43:36 GMT

My husband pointed that out - but I put it down to Boorman-envy! Yoda x

Goodluck

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 15:06:53 GMT

Hey boys! i have only recently finished watching your first adventure 'long way round' and by chance i have come across this site -fantastic to see your on another adventure - cant wait to see it! all the best

Roadside puncture repair

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 12:50:28 GMT

It happened when we returned from the MotoGP in Assen last year on our way to Scotland for a few days. It rained the moment we arrived back in the UK. After riding all day in the rain we stopped around York when the next morning I spotted a nail in the sidewall of my tyre. Trust my husband to come up with the bright idea to pull it out because he did it once with his bike without having a flat! Needless to say repair kit didn't work so had to call roadside rescue. Lost half a day, still enjoyed Scotland for a few days though. Have fun, take care.

THE way to stop punctures

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 13:04:44 GMT

I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned Ultraseal. It stays in your tyre and stops all punctures and high speed blow-outs. You could have pulled the nails out of the tyre without losing pressure. I know, because after a series of punctures in a few months I bought the stuff and haven't looked back. Why isn't this better known?

Wedi Agame

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 10:41:44 GMT

I appriciate you because you visited the place where I was borne and live to the then, Danken!

Don't look aspaltaization in small town, that is it?

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 10:59:47 GMT

Nice to hear!