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9 Feb 2010
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Around the world in 4 months?
I've just started to look into a round the world trip I've been thinking about doing for a couple of years, but if I do it, it has to be during uni holidays which is 4 months. Does anyone have any idea if this could be done? I would probably ride about 8 hours a day and have a break every 2 weeks or so. Any information would be helpful.
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9 Feb 2010
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Even If you could, I would have to question if you should !!!!!!!!
Whats the point ?? You would have no time to explore, see the sights, meet people or do anything apart from sit in your saddle. What will you do if your bike breaks down or you get ill or have an accident. You schedule will be in disaray.
8 hours a day, everyday ??? I have to assume you're new to biking ! You will be burnt out in a week. You would have to be on some crazy record breaking quest to try this... It will be NO FUN AT ALL !!!
If you only have 4 months, why not spit up your trip into continents.
4 months is a good amount of time to see South America or Africa, Europe etc.
Do the same again the year after and in a few years you will have done your "Round the world" but you will have enjoyed it, got a bag fun of memories and had years of fun instead of 4 months of hell.
Just my opinion !
P.S. Welcome to the forum 
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9 Feb 2010
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Thanks for your reply, I'm not new to biking and have done long trips before. I'm aware of all the risks and the fact that 8 hours a day of riding will be tedious. I do have a few spots in mind where I'll spend a few days, but the main question still remains... can it be done?
If it can't be, then I may take a year out of studies to do it. Any info will still be greatly appreciated.
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9 Feb 2010
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...mmmm ..why? springs to mind...
Hi NickBeck
unless you are trying to achieve some kind of record (Guinness or otherwise) I have to agree with tedmagnum.
burnout is the biggest thing and if you have made such a huge financial commitment to take out 4 months then you want to enjoy it- experience as much as you can - not just ride, ride, ride. Yes, I know the feeling that all you want to do is ride...but truthfully after the first few weeks of doing just that you will want to stop and 'see'.
My adivice is the same as tedmagnums, choose a continent - and do your 4 months on that one. make sure you take the time to experince the countries, its people and their customs as well as the great riding!
if you need any further input or want some reading have a look at our website 2ridetheworld.com and our online diary - it may just give you a few hints....their are photos too which always helps!
cheers
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9 Feb 2010
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Hi
Sorry to say this but I’m a bit negative about this trip as well. 
I know you said you are not a novice on a bike, but 8 hours is a long time to do 3-4 days in a row. I have not done long trips myself but am planning one in August, and general rule of thumb is you must work with 300-350km (180-215miles) on average per day for the trip.
Plus you must think is the money and effort going into such a trip worth the while if you are going to race past everything.
But on the other hand it depends on how much you actually ride. If most of the km are consumed doing air travel then you might just do it.I think on paper it is possible to do it in the time limed, but theoretically it will be a hell of a challenge.
Keep us updated by submitting your route plan and the estimated distance you are going to ride and I’m sure on or more folks who did RTW trips would be able to assist you.
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9 Feb 2010
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Thanks everyone for your help. It sounds like I'll need a good year to do the trip. I'll still look into the 4 month timeline a bit more as I don't want to take a whole year off uni, but I may just have to take some time off, maybe even another 4 months ontop of the other 4 months.
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9 Feb 2010
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Hi Nick,
Of course it can be done, Ewan and Charlie rode round the world in 3 1/2 months and they did not take the most straight forward route... it could be done in less time than that.
check out this site Biking for Barnardo's - Home , these two guys did the trip in 100 days and had the trip of a lifetime... and did it on a shoestring. Im not sure how people can say you will not enjoy it! doing a big trip in a short space of time is not everyones cup of tea but it does not mean its a bad idea. It will be an amazing experience, its true you wont get to see everything but you can always go back another time, but there are not many people who can say they have ridden round the world.
cheers
Chris
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9 Feb 2010
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8 hours a day is not a problem, but setting you sights on doing 180 - 250 miles a day, every day, is (I would suggest). We rode from around 10.00 until 1600 almost every day for 5 months criss crossing the USA, doing mostly 60 mph, sometimes slower and just ambled along enjoying the trip, if we saw somewhere we wanted to look at, or were told about somewhere (that happened a lot), we did it. Don't set your sights too high "Round the World" isn't necessarily the point, seeing the world is more like it. I agree with the previous respondees, take a continent and enjoy it, if you're at Uni you've got plenty of time left to do it all, just not in one go.
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9 Feb 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chris reid
Hi Nick,
Of course it can be done, Ewan and Charlie rode round the world in 3 1/2 months and they did not take the most straight forward route... it could be done in less time than that.
check out this site Biking for Barnardo's - Home , these two guys did the trip in 100 days and had the trip of a lifetime... and did it on a shoestring. Im not sure how people can say you will not enjoy it! doing a big trip in a short space of time is not everyones cup of tea but it does not mean its a bad idea. It will be an amazing experience, its true you wont get to see everything but you can always go back another time, but there are not many people who can say they have ridden round the world.
cheers
Chris |
They rode their bikes but they didnt have to contend with the normal things real travellers do..
Having all visas set up for you, special permissions, fixers, flown in technicians and a support crew of spares and equipment would make that trip a piece of piss for anyone !!
Read Nick Sanders books on high milage, solo, long hour riding and it doesnt seem like fun at all.. You have tio be crazy lol
I did some 12 hour, 1000 mile days in South America. I think I did 3000 miles in 3 days once and it destroyed me both mentally and phsically. I was 27, in great shape and well conditioned too.
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9 Feb 2010
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But just because you dont like it does not mean its wrong and no one else will like it either.
did you look at the site Biking for Barnardo's - Home ?? As i said earlier they did the trip with no support and little money in little over 3 months, a month LESS than Nick has, and they had an amazing time. ewan and charlie were just one example everyone knows about... yes they did get alot of help but anyone can plan things well if they take the time.
I think the thread started off asking weather his idea was possible, not weather you think its a bad idea, with the right planning and attitude the trip is very do-able in 4 months and would be a trip most would dream of.
cheers
chris
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9 Feb 2010
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If the poster's aim is to ride in as straight a line as possible through Europe, Russia, and the USA, then I would suggest that four months is quite a lot of time to do it in.
Sounds like an expensive way to earn bragging rights down the pub.
I would also add a point about riding through countries as fast as possible, that no-one has yet mentioned. Rather than furthering your understanding and knowledge of different cultures and peoples, it's probably going to leave you with an image of them further from the truth than the one you'd have had if you'd just stayed at home.
I remember the first time I (briefly) saw Eastern Europe: "Wow, the houses are so shabby, the cars so old, everything so dirty; these must be really poor countries without any of the conveniences we take for granted in the west".
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10 Feb 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Texastrike 
8 hours a day is not a problem, but setting you sights on doing 180 - 250 miles a day, every day, is (I would suggest). We rode from around 10.00 until 1600 almost every day for 5 months criss crossing the USA, doing mostly 60 mph
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If you rode from 10:00-16:00 at 60mph it gives you 240miles a day. So I think aiming for an average of 180-215 miles a day is very doable, seeing that it is 25miles less than if you go 60mph for 4 hours. Yes some days you will do much less if you get a bad road, but on Europe’s A roads you’ll be able to do much more.
Sorry did not think of just going in a straight and after thinking about it 4 months gives you 112 days so it should give you enough time to go in a straight line. It’s just that usually the RTW trips you read about go through all the continents.
So to stick with the tread: Yes you would be able to, but I would rather do a shorter ( in distance) trip and use the 4 months to really take in the parts you travel.
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10 Feb 2010
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i got from england to vladivostok in 3 months .had time off the bike in most big citys along the way (waiting for visas ect) mongolia off road all the way and only got on the bike at about 12.00 each day.i was lucky not to break down.you would have to fly the bike and then ride flat out across the usa to make it home in time if you want a RTW in 4 month
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10 Feb 2010
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Well it´s not easy to comment on this, because first of all, you did not specify any kind of a route plan.
But in general, riding long days for 13 days in a row, then taking 1 day break doesnt sound too appealing to me.
We took 6 months to ride from Europe to India > SE Asia > Oz with my girlfriend... and this was okay, but I remember thinking 8-9 months would´ve been much better. There is so much to do & see along the way, would be a great shame to just have to keep riding all the time to keep to a schedule. Do also note, that average speed can vary greatly, and outside Europe & US it is often quite slow-going.
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10 Feb 2010
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Rtw
I agree that its a bit of a short time to travel arround the world but lets not judge what one want one should do . Any travel will be great and if you do it in four month and have fun why not, I notice that the guy which did in 3 month avoided Africa and South America , that is a bit sad to me but one more time not my choice. If you are serious about doing it why not going from Alaska to Argentina then South Africa to Europe via East coat and if you have a little more time fly to SE Asia rent a bike and do the Golden triangle , 4 month will be OK , not much time to rest on side of road but .... possible.
Good luck anyway.
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