First Trip Advice

[tricol]

So, I've booked my first bike trip. Heading back home later this month. Will spend 2 days in NI doing some local riding and seeing family and friends, and then off for a night somewhere potentially in the far NW somewhere in Co. Donegal.

I'm taking the ferry from Cairnryan, so will have a days riding from home. Any advice for when the bike is on the ferry to protect it when it's strapped down? Something to cover the seat?

I'm also thinking of upgrading my disc lock to something more substantial. Maybe a Litelok?

If anyone has any tips on where to stay in Co. Donegal, I'm all ears.

[Noggin]

No idea about locks!

For strapping down, normally they're pretty good on ferries I've been on and generally cross over the seat.

But I've take a couple of micro fibre cloths in the past incase they were needed (although I've always been less precious about mikes than most on here!!)

[Trinity765]

I've got a monimoto tracker which gives me peace of mind. It alerts me as soon as the bike is moved.

Other than that - be waterproof. Ziplock bags are handy for phones and wallets and so are vinyl gloves (under wet riding gloves).

I'm sure you're going to have a wonderful time!!!

[tricol]

I'm sure you're going to have a wonderful time!!!

I'm stressed already!

[Trinity765]

I'm sure you're going to have a wonderful time!!!

I'm stressed already!

What about?

[Dodgy69]

Some ferry companies strap them down for you, some don't. Don't need to take anything, it's a rachet strap over the seat, they have pads or rags, not an issue. Leave in gear.

Wait for the sunny weather, it's better then.

[tricol]

I'm sure you're going to have a wonderful time!!!

I'm stressed already!

What about?

The weather, will the rides go well, will I find the right roads/route, can I find somewhere decent and safe to stay, will I be okay for time and not be rushing. I want to try and relax and realise I've nowhere to be for a day or two. The list goes on. It's actually a side task from my counselling where I'm trying to challenge these kinds of thoughts/outcomes.

@Dodgy69 If I waited for the good weather, I'd never go. Hopefully it's showers at worst. I'm already preparing for a deep clean when I go backm

[Trinity765]

I'm stressed already!

What about?

The weather, will the rides go well, will I find the right roads/route, can I find somewhere decent and safe to stay, will I be okay for time and not be rushing. I want to try and relax and realise I've nowhere to be for a day or two. The list goes on. It's actually a side task from my counselling where I'm trying to challenge these kinds of thoughts/outcomes.

@Dodgy69 If I waited for the good weather, I'd never go. Hopefully it's showers at worst. I'm already preparing for a deep clean when I go backm

Weather. When I started advance riding my mentor said to me, use wet roads to practice being smooth. That worked for me. I was a better rider, wet or dry, because of that. Every cloud… Another saying that tickled me was bikes don’t melt in the rain.

Somewhere decent to stay? I can’t comment as I have low standards but I have travelled a lot on my own and nothing dodgy has ever happened. I tend to find AirBNBs where I have my own place (they have a filter that says “home” now for that) and read the reviews and make sure that there is somewhere off road for bike. The standard of AirBNBs is extremely high – very clean and comfortable. Hotels the same, I look at the reviews.

Time - I find Google maps and other route planning software is pretty accurate for timings. I tend to stick to routes that are five to seven hours of riding as once you add stops it’s a full day.

Things rarely go wrong. Most of my biker friends have stories of great human kindness and amazing luck – someone turned up right when you needed them with the right tool kind of stories, rather than horror stories. You have a bike, you have petrol and you have roads. Enjoy.

[Count Steer]

No idea about locks!

For strapping down, normally they're pretty good on ferries I've been on and generally cross over the seat.

But I've take a couple of micro fibre cloths in the past incase they were needed (although I've always been less precious about mikes than most on here!!)

The ferry people have always known what they're doing (it's their job! ) when I've uses ferries - I just left them to get on with it although I have stuck stuff on the seat under the strap on occasion - even my gloves once - they ratcheted them down tight enough to compress the suspension with the bike on the side-stand.

All the bikes on board survived one trip back from Caen where the Captain apologised for the rough crossing and said 'If they'd given us correct info about the conditions - we wouldn't have set off!'.

I did break the rules and snuck down onto the car deck en route and was amazed that absolutely nothing had budged an inch.

[Noggin]

No idea about locks!

For strapping down, normally they're pretty good on ferries I've been on and generally cross over the seat.

But I've take a couple of micro fibre cloths in the past incase they were needed (although I've always been less precious about mikes than most on here!!)

The ferry people have always known what they're doing (it's their job! ) when I've uses ferries - I just left them to get on with it although I have stuck stuff on the seat under the strap on occasion - even my gloves once - they ratcheted them down tight enough to compress the suspension with the bike on the side-stand.

All the bikes on board survived one trip back from Caen where the Captain apologised for the rough crossing and said 'If they'd given us correct info about the conditions - we wouldn't have set off!'.

I did break the rules and snuck down onto the car deck en route and was amazed that absolutely nothing had budged an inch.

I love that you write ‘it’s their job’ as if that should instil confidence!!

After three months of checking too many times about stuff with the professionals, if I am remotely worried, I will check. From meds being dispensed to someone I don’t know strapping my bike down!!

Never hurts to check

But yes, on ferries with bikes, normally they do know their jobs. Although we’ve all seen to photos of the odd times someone hasn’t!!

And I had a similar crossing from the IoM many years ago. When we docked I could barely stand (I always get bad sea sickness but almost never actually get physically sick - this time I did, and the loos were disgusting!) - but the bikes fared WAY better than most of the passengers

[asmethurst99]

As others have said the Ferries are used to having bikes on them.
I did Harwich ebsjerg which is 20 hours ? - all good.
Enjoy !

[Count Steer]

No idea about locks!

For strapping down, normally they're pretty good on ferries I've been on and generally cross over the seat.

But I've take a couple of micro fibre cloths in the past incase they were needed (although I've always been less precious about mikes than most on here!!)

The ferry people have always known what they're doing (it's their job! ) when I've uses ferries - I just left them to get on with it although I have stuck stuff on the seat under the strap on occasion - even my gloves once - they ratcheted them down tight enough to compress the suspension with the bike on the side-stand.

All the bikes on board survived one trip back from Caen where the Captain apologised for the rough crossing and said 'If they'd given us correct info about the conditions - we wouldn't have set off!'.

I did break the rules and snuck down onto the car deck en route and was amazed that absolutely nothing had budged an inch.

I love that you write ‘it’s their job’ as if that should instil confidence!!

After three months of checking too many times about stuff with the professionals, if I am remotely worried, I will check. From meds being dispensed to someone I don’t know strapping my bike down!!

Never hurts to check

But yes, on ferries with bikes, normally they do know their jobs. Although we’ve all seen to photos of the odd times someone hasn’t!!

And I had a similar crossing from the IoM many years ago. When we docked I could barely stand (I always get bad sea sickness but almost never actually get physically sick - this time I did, and the loos were disgusting!) - but the bikes fared WAY better than most of the passengers

Well I have checked what they've done after but never interfered while they got on with the job. TBH I trusted them more than the 'Oh noes! You'll squash the seat of my precious steed! - I'll do it myself' squad.

[Skub]

I've never stayed over in Donegal,any time I've been there I've just been mooching about for the day. Dillon's hotel in Letterkenny gets a good name for safe bike parking.

The weather is unsettled at the moment,but the weekend through to Monday looks decent.

Have a good trip man.

Edit..Harvey's Point Hotel has an awesome setting,I played at weddings there a couple of times,but I'd say it would be a dear place,it is fairly out in the sticks,from memory.

[Noggin]

The ferry people have always known what they're doing (it's their job! ) when I've uses ferries - I just left them to get on with it although I have stuck stuff on the seat under the strap on occasion - even my gloves once - they ratcheted them down tight enough to compress the suspension with the bike on the side-stand.

All the bikes on board survived one trip back from Caen where the Captain apologised for the rough crossing and said 'If they'd given us correct info about the conditions - we wouldn't have set off!'.

I did break the rules and snuck down onto the car deck en route and was amazed that absolutely nothing had budged an inch.

I love that you write ‘it’s their job’ as if that should instil confidence!!

After three months of checking too many times about stuff with the professionals, if I am remotely worried, I will check. From meds being dispensed to someone I don’t know strapping my bike down!!

Never hurts to check

But yes, on ferries with bikes, normally they do know their jobs. Although we’ve all seen to photos of the odd times someone hasn’t!!

And I had a similar crossing from the IoM many years ago. When we docked I could barely stand (I always get bad sea sickness but almost never actually get physically sick - this time I did, and the loos were disgusting!) - but the bikes fared WAY better than most of the passengers

Well I have checked what they've done after but never interfered while they got on with the job. TBH I trusted them more than the 'Oh noes! You'll squash the seat of my precious steed! - I'll do it myself' squad.

Did I say do it yourself??

I offered that I had taken a cloth in case they were enthusiastic strapping down over the seat or close to plastic

No way would I EVER tell them what to do - just might do the 'it's my baby' thing and offer a cloth if they didn't have one!!!

(I'm much more reticent that many I've seen on the IoM ferried for sure!!! )

[Cousin Jack]

I have been one a ferry in the Bay of Biscay which was VERY uncomfortable, with spray over the top decks and the ship having to slow down. About 200 bikes on board, none moved although one (very old) bike had a bent sidestand. Don't worry about it, just enjoy your trip.

[Yorick]

I have been one a ferry in the Bay of Biscay which was VERY uncomfortable, with spray over the top decks and the ship having to slow down. About 200 bikes on board, none moved although one (very old) bike had a bent sidestand. Don't worry about it, just enjoy your trip.

I had a very bad crash around Bay of Biscay.
Pillion on best friend.
Got big insurance payout which bought my first proper race bike 🏍

[Count Steer]

Did I say do it yourself??

I offered that I had taken a cloth in case they were enthusiastic strapping down over the seat or close to plastic

No way would I EVER tell them what to do - just might do the 'it's my baby' thing and offer a cloth if they didn't have one!!!

(I'm much more reticent that many I've seen on the IoM ferried for sure!!! )

I didn't say that YOU did Nogs... (I have travelled with some that did though).

(And I did carry a - small - ratchet strap with me on my first ferry trip on a bike. Then saw the ones that they use. ).

[Dodgy69]

I always like to be at hotel around 5pm, 6 at the very latest. Check in, shower, few beers and food. Bed.

Depends on roads but I find 150 miles a day plenty. You want stops, lunch, coffees, photos, etc. Google maps for route and zoom in or whatever to see roads. Head for the mountains, some great roads in the NW.

[tricol]

Thanks everyone for the replies.

Still not decided exactly where I am staying, but likely in Donegal somewhere.

[Rockburner]

Just enjoy it.