Ring Speak

First topic message reminder :

Sun 7th to Sat 13th September 2014

Now cancelled

Here's the hotel we're booked into: Hotel Forsthaus

And here some advertising for the Ring to give you an idea of what it's all about  




Some general Ring info, especially a Beginners Guide, can be found on this site: http://www.nurburgring.org.uk

And some info about the Eifel area is available here: http://www.eifel.de

And for another taster I just found this video... it's a promo video for a hotel near the Ring but from about 1 min onwards it's mostly about biking in the region. Worth a watch if you're still on the fence  

Right... Poll's over!

Looks like Guesthouse/B&B is the top choice followed by Hotel.

So far there are 8 riders + 1 passenger signed up.

Based on that number I'll now start getting some quotes and will let you all know what I get back.

Meanwhile... if anyone else is interested feel free to sign up on this thread: Sign-up  

which is the best port to get the ferry to? Rotterdam or zebrugge? I think I would be sailing from hull. would anyone else be sailing from hull?

Have been on the Hull - Rotterdam ferry a few times now, but in the car with the whole family. It's always been a pleasant experience apart from customs in the UK who take for-bloody-ever to check everyone.

Distance wise Rotterdam is closer to the Ring than Zeebrugge by about 50km depending on your route.

Don't know how they do it on the Zeebrugge ferry but the Rotterdam one has only one deck for cars and motorbikes and the bikes go in the middle in a sort of fenced off area. Seems quite good though you definitely won't be first off the ferry on a bike.

just been pricing ferry to Rotterdam and at current rates its £272 with inside room, dearer with sea view room. 90 miles to hull, ferry to rdam, then from rdam to nurburgring its 200+ miles. sounds simple enough.

Sounds straight forward really  

Actually I think i got the furthest distance to travel... 

Just a wee taster . . . it's not all about the "Ring" . . . and I for one don't intend spending every day either at the Nürburgring or on it.

There are plenty of fantastic scenic routes to be explored in the region too, most of which are known to the hotel owner where we are stopping. He has a few "tour lead" (i.e. He leads them), routes advertised on his flyers & forum. They'll be similar to the following YouTube   



Just to dispel any thoughts or fears you may have that the whole trip may be conducted at warp factor # with (any) , your hair on fire  

So if your sitting there in the wings, thinking "I'd love to go, . . . but . .  a). I'm not fast enough . . b). I'm not proficient enough . . . or even c). I don't want to "DO" the ring but would love to bust my Eu (mini) touring cherry . . . . . . . . Well here's your chance.

If you can get 5 days off out of the rat race (assuming you work Mon - Fri), . . . be a devil get yer name down  . . . Go On, you know you want to  

Cheers
 
Tel

Tel, I completely agree with what you've said above!

It's definitely not all about the Ring!

The first time I went there I just watched people go round and did tours of the area. I didn't get onto the Ring until my second trip there and then it was a guided lap with the landlord of the place we stayed at.

For me the atmosphere there and the area itself are reason enough to go!

Just thought I'd flag this up in case anyone else might have the same problem. I paid my deposit to BlueZed using my Visa Debit card with the transfer outfit that he linked to (which worked very efficiently, btw), and a week or so later found the card had been blocked. Fortunately, no real issues, it seems the fraud dept had flagged it up as unusual activity, but it was easily sorted out with a phone call. Could have been embarrassing, though.

Oh wow! Sorry for causing you any trouble. Didn't think the service was anything unusual.
As I said I'd used them a few times already and never had a problem so far. Then again German banks don't tend to monitor every customer that closely. Seems a bit Big Brother, doesn't it?

Anyway, hope it's just a one off and nobody else has any trouble with it. 

No worries, just thought I'd mention it in case anyone else had a similar problem.

Actually, it's quite good to know that the banks are doing something to try to protect their customers, rather than just ripping them off!

Agree, a good thing them trying to protect their customers,  but surely they could have given you a quick call to double check rather than block the card outright.
I'd find that very annoying especially when trying to pay for something in a hurry and finding out then...

Anyway... glad it didnt cause you any trouble!

There's a short item about the area around the 'Ring in the current issue of "bike" mag, with some info that might be useful for this trip.

It recommends the B49/B53 from Koblenz up the Mosel valley for scenery, and for twisties the L98 from Cochem to Mayen and the B258 from Blankenheiim to Mayen - I think the latter is one of the main routes to the 'Ring coming from Belgium. It also mentions a classic race museum at Jammelshofen, off the B412 near from the Nurburgring.

Ohh... interesting! Would love to read it!

If someone could maybe scan or take a photo of the article and send it to me that'd be great. Don't think they sell the mag over here...

Here you are - hope they are readable:

Thanks a lot!

Was able to read it ok  

Sounds pretty good though a bit short but I guess it does sum it up well.

Hi again everyone,

only about 6 months to go until the Nürburgring trip and I can't wait  

Was just wondering if anyone else has decided if they want to come along yet? I'm sure we can get a few more rooms if we book them soon.

For the ones that booked already, have you thought about ferry/tunnel yet? Might be a bit cheaper if you book it sooner rather than later and maybe organise it as a group so you all travel together. Definitely more fun that way  


And for another taster I just found this video... it's a promo video for a hotel near the Ring but from about 1 min onwards it's mostly about biking in the region. Worth a watch if you're still on the fence   

BlueZed wrote:
Was just wondering if anyone else has decided if they want to come along yet?

I am thinking about it, so much so I've not spent my Tesco money back yet - putting that towards a reduced tunnel ticket.

I'm seriously considering coming as well.

Steve, Terry, would be great if you guys could make it. Come on, get your name down!

Yes definately the more the merrier. I cant wait, six months will be gone before we know it

Go on you two... you know it makes sense   

And Terry, maybe if you bring some of your awesome home-brew you can strike up a supply deal with the hotel landlord... so really this would be a business trip for you!   

Nice Video, good to see Van Dooren Block at Vogelsang still stands   . . . Although I believe the NATO training camp has long since been returned to the local region and is now part of the National Park mentioned in the video.
That view, over the lakes is spectacular and beautiful, but still managed to send a shiver down my spine from some of the memories spent training there, brrrr

Not sure I'll be able to make the trip anymore though    . . . Two Op's I'm trying very hard to recoup from and a host of other bovine pooh going on. But with the remaining time to go, I'm keeping my hopes up it just might work out.

god i wish i could afford this   

kwakkat on 01/03/14 wrote:god i wish i could  afford this    

  

kwakkat 09/07/13 wrote:

Have things changed like me fella   

Time to think of crossings ma'be . . . useful info from Pete bellow:

Ferry Offers  to Pete's post in the senate . . (I tried to merge it here, but got kerfuddled) . .   

 

Oldcat wrote:Not sure I'll be able to make the trip anymore though

Oh no! hope you recover enough until then! Or just come in the car? I only go for the drinking in the evening anyway   

kwakkat wrote:god i wish i could  afford this    

Maybe just do part of the week?

Eddie990 wrote:Steve, Terry, would be great if you guys could make it. Come on, get your name down!

YES This guys, get yer name down and join in the fun