BHPian praful recently shared this with other enthusiasts:A Bit of Background:Sometimes, everything falls into place just right, and that’s exactly how this trip came to be. Here’s what worked in my favor: I had a rare 4-day long weekend from November 8th to 11th. Interestingly, the 8th was a day off just for me-my wife and kids had work and school that day. The timing was perfect, falling just after the school holiday period, so no family vacation was planned. The weather was unusually mild for early November, with temperatures hovering around 10-15C instead of the usual 5-8C. To top it off, there was no rain forecast within a 500-kilometer radius of Paris-a rare blessing! I had been doing several day rides lately, but they felt unfulfilling. Covering 400-500 kilometers in a single day seemed like a waste with 4 days off at my disposal. My wife wasn’t traveling for work that week, giving me the freedom to plan a 2-3-day ride. Two final factors sealed the deal:I’ve always wanted to visit EICMA in Milan, but every year something came up. On a whim, I checked the dates, and they fit perfectly within my long weekend.No alpine passes were snowed in yet, and everything seemed open and accessible even at the end of October.Pre-Trip Preparations:I had some quick decisions to make: Motorcycle luggage: I didn’t own any yet, so I had to order some at the last minute. Navigation: I was using my primary phone connected via USB, but during a rainy day ride earlier this year, water got into the charging port, causing ongoing issues. The distance to Milan was 900 kilometers one way, and the last time I attempted something similar was in 2013 (Bombay to Bangalore). My most recent long ride was back in 2017-Thekkady-Munnar-Kotagiri-Ooty-Bangalore, which was around 650 kilometers. After such a long gap, I wasn’t confident about tackling a ride of this magnitude. For two weeks leading up to the trip, I anxiously monitored weather predictions. Everything looked favorable-no sudden temperature drops and no rain. However, I hesitated because of my lack of recent experience and the unpredictability of weather. Adding to my stress, the saddlebag I ordered got lost in the mail. Thankfully, my tank roll bag arrived the evening before my departure. Due to these uncertainties, I hadn’t booked my EICMA tickets or hotel stays yet. I also lacked essentials like a toolkit and puncture repair kit, which I managed to order just in time. While not an ideal setup, I finally had enough to work with.Day 0: 7th November:Day 0 was essentially a warm-up, as I only rode about 15% of the day. I had a busy day at work and started looking for accommodations within 200-300 kilometers of home. At the last minute, I found a small motel 210 kilometers away. Though it wasn’t far, I didn’t want to ride too late into the night, especially with a full workday preceding the ride. By 7 PM, I was geared up and ready. After checking my bike the previous night, I knew the battery was fine, the chain tension was good, and the chain was lubed. However, I still needed to fuel up. I left Paris around 7:30 PM, battling the evening traffic on the ring road. Filtering through bumper-to-bumper traffic allowed me to make steady progress. Once on the motorway, traffic began to ease, and I cruised at around 100-110 km/h. After covering about 60 kilometers, the highway opened up, but light fog turned into a fine mist, coating my helmet visor and windscreen. While my rain-repellent spray worked well on the visor, I’d forgotten to apply it to the windscreen. Overtaking long-haul trucks was nerve-wracking due to the turbulence and the added weight from my luggage, which made the bike’s front end feel lighter. Initially, I debated turning back, overwhelmed by doubts. But then I reminded myself of my past rides-night highways, great bikes, and favorable conditions. Gradually, I found my rhythm, learned to avoid turbulence zones by overtaking trucks from two lanes away, and continued steadily. Since I started late, I knew I’d miss the 9:30 PM reception closing time at the motel and would need to self-check-in. To save time, I decided to stop at a highway rest area for dinner and pack food to eat later. After a quick 20-minute stop, I was back on the road, arriving at the motel at 10:30 PM. With 210 kilometers behind me, Day 0 was all about getting started. No major sightseeing yet-just the thrill of the ride. Here’s a snapshot of my journey so far: My 6-year-old GoPro Hero 7 struggled with low-light conditions. I might need an upgrade! Here’s my Day 0 tracking summary (in French, but the highlights are easy to follow).Day – 1 : 8th November:Big day ahead! Like a rusty old machine slowly coming back to life, I felt my rhythm returning after a long pause. The evening before, things finally started falling into place, and the uncertainties in my mind began to fade. As I mentioned earlier, I had only booked a motel for the night, leaving my plans for the next day open. No pressure to rush out at 5 or 6 AM to cover distance quickly-the plan was simple: ride until I couldn’t anymore, then stop. I woke at my usual weekday time of 6:30 AM, feeling refreshed. The options for the day ahead were:Ride to Milan – 700 kmExplore towns in the Alps and ride through the mountains – 400-500 kmHead back home and relax for the next few days – 210 kmOption 2, exploring the Alps, seemed the most logical and exciting choice. But attending the EICMA had been a dream of mine since moving to Europe, and this felt like the perfect opportunity to check it off my bucket list. So, Milan it was! As I enjoyed breakfast, I noticed that many hotels I had scouted earlier were no longer available. I quickly booked one on the outskirts of Milan. My reasoning was twofold: avoid traffic when entering Milan and during my return journey, and use public transport to get into the city. This way, I wouldn’t have to roam around Milan all day in riding gear-a decision I’d revisit later. Motel Parking before startingA Leisurely Start:Perhaps I took things too easy in the morning. Between a long shower, a relaxed breakfast, gearing up, checking out, and loading my bike, it was already 9:30 AM when I rolled out of the parking lot. My GPS showed an ETA of 4:50 PM-manageable, considering the 130 km/h speed limits on tolled highways. Covering 700 km in 8.5 hours seemed perfectly reasonable. The highway greeted me with thick fog, though visibility was sufficient to safely cruise at 110 km/h. I had last refueled 210 km ago and estimated I had a comfortable range left. My bike, with its 18-liter tank, averages 23-24 km/l on highways, offering a theoretical 400 km range. Still, I prefer refueling at around 320-340 km to avoid running low and overheating the fuel pump. The ride started smoothly, though my ETA gradually crept up as I rode below the speed limit. After about 100 km, I decided to take my first break for coffee-a much-needed boost for these “seasoned” bones. I also topped up my fuel, as the gauge was nearing its last bar (though the low-fuel warning hadn’t appeared yet). First break after 130 Kms of ridingSteady Progress and Growing Traffic:With 14 liters of fuel added and a snack in hand, I hit the road again. My ETA had now jumped to 5:40 PM-40 minutes lost to my leisurely start. Determined to make up time, I stuck closer to the speed limits, using cruise control to give my right hand some rest. Traffic was light initially, and the kilometers flew by. Approaching Lyon, the traffic thickened, forcing me off cruise control. My Tuareg’s basic throttle-lock system works well enough, but it lacks the radar-assisted finesse of high-end bikes. By this point, I’d covered 480 km since leaving home, and my body was starting to feel the strain. Navigating Lyon’s traffic was tedious but manageable. Soon, the distant Alps came into view-a welcome sight. I encountered my first fellow biker of the day, a rider on a Ducati Multistrada. We rode together briefly before parting ways; he sped off towards Grenoble while I continued towards Chambry. I crossed Lyon around lunchtime but wasn’t hungry yet, so I pressed on. At around 250 km since my last refuel, I saw a rest stop sign indicating a 30 km distance. Upon reaching it, the next sign frustratingly pushed it another 35 km. Finally, past 2 PM and nearly 280 km since my last break, I stopped to refuel both myself and the bike. Second break after 280 Kms of riding For the Final Destination fans out thereThe Alps Beckon:The Alps drew closer, and the ride grew more engaging. The highway passed several high mountain passes, including Col du Galibier and Col de la Croix de Fer, both open-a reassuring sight. I checked my route options ahead: the quickest was the Frjus Tunnel, a 13-km passage under the Alps. The scenic Mont Cenis pass, while more interesting, would add time. Concerned about road closures or delays at dusk, I opted for the tunnel. Approaching the tunnel entrance, I hit my first significant traffic jam of the day. Vehicles came to a near standstill 500 meters from the toll booth. It took nearly 20 minutes to inch forward, the chilly 12C mountain air warming uncomfortably under my layers. Finally, I reached the toll gate (35 for motorcycles!) and entered the tunnel, where the temperature shot up to 24C. The ride through the tunnel was slow at the 70 km/h limit. Somewhere midway, I crossed into Italy-a milestone I’d planned to capture but missed due to the sudden signage. After 13 km, I emerged into the Italian Alps at Bardonecchia, where the temperature dropped back to 9C. Fatigued from the heat and traffic, I needed another break. Nestled in the beautiful Italian AlpsFinal Stretch to Milan:After a quick rehydration stop, I was back on the road by 5 PM. Darkness crept into the valley, and my ETA now read 7 PM. Riding through the outskirts of Turin, I hit dense traffic but chose not to filter through lanes, unsure of Italy’s specific rules. Thankfully, the jam cleared quickly, though dense fog accompanied much of the remaining journey. Finally, seeing my destination drop below triple digits on the GPS was a morale booster. Knowing I wouldn’t head out for dinner after this long day, I stopped at a rest stop to grab some sandwiches-my third such meal, and the monotony was starting to wear on me! After nearly 100 km of foggy riding, I reached my hotel parking lot. Despite the long, demanding day, I felt surprisingly okay. Somewhere within me, my old self was still alive and kicking. A small hurrah to that! Third break after 180 Kms of riding Fourth and Final break after ~690 Kms Short video summary of the ride of this day Stats for the Day: Continue reading on BHPian praful’s riding trip to EICMA 2024 for BHPian comments, insights and more indormation.
