open road
Open Road articles are from the magazine
THIS MONTH...
Open road - Article of the month
April 2010 - Colombia: The essential excitement
It’s back on the map but is it safe enough to land a spot on your ‘must ride’ destinations of the world? Kevin and Julia reckon that in these times, Colombia is an essential part of any world traveller’s considerations...
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March 2010 - Reason to ride
It’s 2010 and the snow has fallen early in Wales, which doesn’t bode well for the opening of the BMW Rider Training school next week! But as we archive files and prepare for the New Year ahead, there are mixed feelings for what is to come...
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February 2010 - Unstoppable?
We are in Puerto Madryn, Argentina, having our final day off the bikes before the end of the 2009 Trans Americas Expedition and there is some time to reflect on this year’s ride. As the third Trans Am comes to an end, it gets me thinking about how the bikes have fared, not only on this trip, but over all three journeys. Each Trans Am has got more demanding. This time, we have ridden more dirt roads, visited more countries and ridden more miles than ever before, but still in the same amount of time...
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January 2010 - Remember where you are!
Santiago, Chile. Our Trans Americas riders have a well earned four day rest as their bikes are serviced ready for the push south to Patagonia. While the service is completed and the damage is repaired, a couple of the riders are sent off to hospital to get checked out after recent spills up north and others are taking the time to recharge after nursing old knocks and niggles...
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December 2009 - Vietnam Part III: Slow speed adrenaline buzz
In this the final part of MSL’s exclusive Vietnam tour with top motorcycle travel writer Sam Manicom we bring you the last part in a tale where speed on two wheels is far from an important thing...
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November 2009 - Vietnam Part II: Dong and dodgy dollars
Vietnam? On a bike? Don’t hesitate, just do it! This challenging and exotic tropical country cries out to be explored, and there just isn’t a better way to do it than on two wheels. There are so many amazing things to see that you simply revel in having the ability to be in control of your day, well sort of, and having the chance to stop when you want to is the doorway to opportunity...
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October 2009 - Good Morning Vietnam
For most of us Vietnam only leaps into mind when the disastrous and very damaging war of the 60s and 70s is mentioned. But the country now has the growing reputation for being one of the most desirable countries in the world to visit. ..
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September 2009 - Riding the roof of
the world
Everest was iconic. It was
a momentous milestone.
It was a goal achieved.
It was breathtaking, awe inspiring, humbling and hugely emotional.
And we didn’t even get higher than Base Camp...
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August 2009 - CHINA AWAITS
Dushanbe had served its purpose. As like most cities around the world when travelling on a motorcycle, they hold little appeal. A section of the trip awaited that we had all anticipated would be one of the highlights of this adventure. Tajikistan was home to the Pamir Highway, one of the highest altitude roads in the world...
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July 2009 - Gravel Travel
There are easier ways of seeing the wilds of Namibia, but none quite as special as that from the back of a motorcycle. And, as MSL’s Ian Kerr discovered, trips such as this offer up all sorts of unique experiences and are open to everyone.
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June 2009 -Take it or leave it ?
Have you ever marvelled at the ability of luggage to fill the available space, no matter how large or small that is? Whether you’re planning for a weekend away, staying at five-star hotels, or a full on transcontinental expedition lasting months on end, the things you think you need to take always seem to fill or overwhelm the amount of space that you have.
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May 2009 - 2009 Tours
For some bikers, organised tours are anathema: regimented, riding with people you don’t know and an obligation to follow someone else’s itinerary. Paying for the privilege just seems to rub salt into the wound. On the other hand, wouldn’t we all like a holiday where someone else took care of the route, hotel bookings, ferries, leaving us free to do the fun bit?
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April 2009 - THE STORY SO FAR
RIDING ON HIGH - PT 2
Eighteen intrepid British riders have set out from Shimla in the foothills of the Indian Himalaya for Leh, Ladakh and Khardung La the world’s highest road above. Having journeyed for ten days through some of the planet’s most outlandish scenery...
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March 2009 - THE WILD WILD WEST
For the adventure rider, there are many options. But perhaps the wildest adventure imaginable exists in the American West, at a festival known as ‘Burning Man’.
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February 2009 - Big Country [USA]
Regular Transatlantic traveller Malc Wheeler thought he had ridden all the good roads there were to ride in California. That was until he tried the Sierra Nevada Mountains for size.
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January 2009 - The smell of fear - Distant Suns
When Sam Manicom met Birgit Schuenemann riding a bicycle up and down the mountains of New Zealand, he had no idea that within two years she’d be travelling with him around the world. When he asked to her to come with him to South America, she replied: “Yes, but on two conditions. I want to go to Africa first and I want to have my own motorcycle.” She swore that the latter thought was nothing to do with the number of accidents Sam had over the first four years of his round the world adventure...
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December 2008 - Germany calling: Intermot with a difference
With the international show season in full swing the team at MSL decided to take a different approach to visiting the huge Intermot exhibition in Cologne. Mau Spencer, Steff Woodhouse and Malc Wheeler turn work into a pleasure.
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