Cobbled Streets

[Woolly]

...off on another little trip on the 28th June - ferry from Newcastle to Amsterdam, then up through Holland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, then ferry back from Kristiansand to Newastle on 5th July.

One of my pet hates in continental European towns are cobbled streets. I'm still not sure how grippy these are, especially in the wet, and, on the LT I do not want to find out. Anyone out there have any experience ?

[Malki]

Brian - treat them all as lethal, especially when wet. If your lucky they may have a rough Granite type finish which have more grip (if you can call it that) than others, especially when wet, but really hard to tell. The worst type are the shiny ones when dry, they are worn to a high polish and you can hardly stand on these never mind ride on them when wet.
I've never taken my LT over them yet, but have been to most European countries on either a CBR1000 or FJR1300.
Holland and Germany are not too bad these days, most cobbles being found in the 'Old' towns, and town squares, the older the town the shinier the cobbles!
My last trip, I actually changed plans to avoid Prague coz the weather was forecast for thunderstorms and rain...cobbles and rain don't mix so stayed in Germany.

Best cobbles are in Spain..because it never rained on me in Spain yet :D

I'm taking the LT for the 1st time on 1st August for a few weeks, but heading in the opposite direction from you NL/D/CH/I/F/MON/ESP/AND/B/L also leaving from Newcastle to IJmuiden.

If you are the same as me, the thought of taking the loaded LT onto wet cobbles has to be a, no other option, situation.

Have fun and tell us all about your trip when you get back...have a good one :beer:

[Woolly]

If your lucky they may have a rough Granite type finish which have more grip (if you can call it that) than others, especially when wet, but really hard to tell.
Best cobbles are in Spain..because it never rained on me in Spain yet :D

:beer:

Malcolm, on the way back from the Sahara, we stopped in a place called Campo Maior in Portugal, complete with a 'Chapel of Bones' (mummy, mummy, can I play with grandad? - 'no, you never put all the bits away'!) - all of the central town was layed out with granite sets - on foot, even in the rain, they seemed very grippy, but I just don't trust them, even though a worn out ashphalt road probably has less grip. I think 75% of my problem is pschycological,, but I don't want to check out the last 25% :eek:

p.s. - rained all the way down through Spain, and back through Spain & Portugal.

pps - after this trip, I'll have well beaten your country count, on the same bike - looking for a third continent (possibly Istanbul - Asia, could get tricky after that !!

[Malki]

Still to do Portugal, but its on the list, so many countries, so little time. Off the beaten track in Spain wins hands down for me every time.

I took my wife to Africa once, she hated every minute of it, although I loved it. She travels with me most times, so not allowed to go back there with her aboard.

This will be my last trip of the 'normal 10' for a while, going to spread my wings a little in future and get to further flung corners, much the same as yourself.

Having said that, I just love basing myself in Maastricht and hitting the five surrounding countries in under 350 miles :D

Maybe see you on the road sometime :bmw: