how to make a tour work.

[furball]

Bit OT. I have considered this, or at least mixing up a weekend at a festival with some cycling (i.e. the Green Man in the Brecon Beacons with some off-roading). However, what do you do about bike security?

I'm not particularly paranoid about it, but music festivals....Unless they've changed a fair bit in the last 10yrs, I wouldn't even want to take a decent tent.

If you stick to small festivals in remoter places like Hebfest (Stornoway), Orkney, Shetland, security isn't such an issue and you can enjoy great cycling as well.

 

[Bodhbh]

If you stick to small festivals in remoter places like Hebfest (Stornoway), Orkney, Shetland, security isn't such an issue and you can enjoy great cycling as well.

That is a pretty good idea for a trip.

 

[jags]

i didn't realize how many music festivals that go on in the Uk over the summer months,
sure would be good to take in a nice folk festival ,in a nice corner of Britain.

 

[steveindenmark]

Finding something that you did not expect and which totally knocks your socks off.

IE: Going to see the opera at the outdoor arena in Verona.

Sat on the cheapo stone steps with all the Italians. Took a picnic and a bottle of wine. I am not an opera buff by any stretch of the imagination but what a superb experience. Watched Puccini`s Tourendot and even hummed along to Nessun Dorma...well we all know that one.

Great, Great experiencve.

Steve

 

[jags]

yeah magic i like that.

 

[david1701]

Finding something that you did not expect and which totally knocks your socks off.

IE: Going to see the opera at the outdoor arena in Verona.

Sat on the cheapo stone steps with all the Italians. Took a picnic and a bottle of wine. I am not an opera buff by any stretch of the imagination but what a superb experience. Watched Puccini`s Tourendot and even hummed along to Nessun Dorma...well we all know that one.

Great, Great experiencve.

Steve

goddam that gives me a good reason to get fitter and get on a tour

 

[furball]

i didn't realize how many music festivals that go on in the Uk over the summer months,
sure would be good to take in a nice folk festival ,in a nice corner of Britain.

I can recommend these

http://www.shetlandfolkfestival.com/

http://www.orkneyfolkfestival.com/

http://www.hebceltfest.com/

http://www.gigha.org.uk/events/f2010.php

http://www.loopallu.co.uk/

 

[Khalid365]

Bit OT. I have considered this, or at least mixing up a weekend at a festival with some cycling (i.e. the Green Man in the Brecon Beacons with some off-roading). However, what do you do about bike security?

I'm not particularly paranoid about it, but music festivals....Unless they've changed a fair bit in the last 10yrs, I wouldn't even want to take a decent tent.

I've been to Bestival (on the Isle of Wight) and Dour (in Belgium) on a bike and security was never really an issue. All medium to big festivals will have a police/security headquarters. They let my friends and I lock our bikes up in places where the drunken, drugged-up festival goers were not allowed to approach.
It allowed us to get drunk and drugged-up with brilliant peace of mind!

P.S. Definitely don't take a good tent. At Dour someone broke into our tent and took a dump......

 

[Bodhbh]

I've been to Bestival (on the Isle of Wight) and Dour (in Belgium) on a bike and security was never really an issue. All medium to big festivals will have a police/security headquarters. They let my friends and I lock our bikes up in places where the drunken, drugged-up festival goers were not allowed to approach.
It allowed us to get drunk and drugged-up with brilliant peace of mind!

P.S. Definitely don't take a good tent. At Dour someone broke into our tent and took a dump......

I'm tempted to reel a couple of festival anedotes backing up my concerns, but I'll resist going off on one. It's a good tip about the security headquarters though.

On topic: decent weather, bit variation, seeing new places, and the random, spontaneous nature of it. I think the best times from tours to date are from events I never foresaw or places I never planned on going to.

 

[Creamcrackered]

My ingredients for a cracking tour are:

• some really wild weather - I like a really good storm
• remote wild campsites where you have the place to yourselves
• good weather at the end of the day so you can sit out with your cup of tea admiring the sun set
• at least one huge climb that gets me really high, in both senses of the word
• some serendipitous (spelling)? interactions with the locals, e.g. getting invited to a wedding
• one or two incidents that put the whole endeavour in doubt, but work out OK, e.g. gear failure, getting arrested.
• no ruddy headwinds
• no traffic

 

[jags]

My ingredients for a cracking tour are:

• some really wild weather - I like a really good storm
• remote wild campsites where you have the place to yourselves
• good weather at the end of the day so you can sit out with your cup of tea admiring the sun set
• at least one huge climb that gets me really high, in both senses of the word
• some serendipitous (spelling)? interactions with the locals, e.g. getting invited to a wedding
• one or two incidents that put the whole endeavour in doubt, but work out OK, e.g. gear failure, getting arrested.
• no ruddy headwinds
• no traffic

great reply you sound like a right bloody headcase i mean that in a good way.