The wrong side of the road...
When Kevin ran his motorcycle training school in Cambridge, we noticed many newer riders lacked the confidence to take their bike abroad. We decided to run short trips into Europe, with a bit of tuition en-route, to provide guidance for those who wanted to give it a shot on their own.
The obvious first step in riding abroad is France and even onto Belgium, and as tame as that may sound to the very experienced, for those with no foreign miles under their belt - two wheels or four - riding onto the continent where the food, people, culture and language are different and the riding is on the wrong side of the road – can be nerve-wracking. Here’s what to expect and how to deal with it:
THE CROSSING
Both Eurotunnel and the ferry can be an ordeal for first timers: wet metal ramps and decks, an audience of fellow travelers looking on...
Take it slow and follow instructions. On ferry crossings, you’ll be directed to park on your sidestand and in gear, or on the centre stand, between two floor anchors on the deck. Your bike will then be secured with a central strap over the saddle. On the Eurotunnel, there’s no strapping the bike down, just ride through the train until you’re directed to stop, park on the sidestand and in gear and stay with your bike. It’s all very easy.
THE ‘WRONG’ SIDE OF THE ROAD
I’m certain this simple difference puts many riders off going altogether, but ride on the right! It needs a little concentration to start with but becomes natural very quickly. The basic rule is: keep the kerb to the right – some riders mark an arrow pointing right in their cockpit, as a constant reminder.
ROADS
The autoroutes (motorways) will push you south quickly but are devastatingly dull. Sardine-tin traffic jams a la M25 rarely exist but unlike the UK, toll roads are the norm, so you’ll need Euro cash or a credit card for the automatic booths. Don’t go through the orange ‘telepeage’ lanes - these are automated lanes for cars with microchips.
France is more than twice the size of the UK with the about the same population so it has unspoilt countryside and quiet roads, so stick to those instead for a much more pleasant riding experience.
ROAD ETIQUETTE
Riding on the right means that the most common form of acknowledgment between bikers is to hold out the right foot; when they overtake, they don’t want to take their hand off the throttle. And don’t think that just because you are on a Harley that an R1