Some companies have you tie down your own bike so make sure you know how a ratchet strap works. Take a cable tie to hold the front brake on. Book early and try and get a bigger cabin if funds allow....it turns into a circus otherwise with all the kit. Watch the ramps etc. Slippery and easy to ditch the bike, especially when wet. Go as often as possible! Touring abroad is top fun.
I've been on a few and always have used supplied straps. As above watch the ramps as they do get slippery, I speak from experience Cable tie is a good call for the front brake, as is something to remove the cable tie at the other end! What's your plan then?
Understood, watch out for the ramps! Calais to Dunkirk, into Belgium, maybe see Brussels, head to Luxembourg maybe through Bastogne, onto Germany to the Black Forest! Five of us going, anyone is welcome though... April time
If going to Calais use the tunnel, 35mins, no need to strap your bike and ride off at other end is piece of piss. Pretty cheap on a bike
I do prefer the tunnel if it's a short break, when it's more of a holiday i prefer the ferry as it feels a bit more of an event sitting down to a full english with me mates thinking about whats ahead of us.
Been several times never used a cable tie just leave it in gear, I use my gloves over the seat so strap don't mark the sides, I have found you either get someone very helpful or someone who doesn't give a shit (ferry porters) As said above ferry makes it more of a holiday but I prefer train that extra 1.5hrs the other side makes for a more relaxed day on the roads you can afford an extra 10 minutes at the fuel stops and a longer lunch break.
when going to isle of man they rope your bikes up (better now than years ago) if going ireland you tie your own down for this ive always left bike in gear and used my own ratchet strap just find it easier and quicker that way no experience with other ferrys on the bike
but as others have said use your gloves or a folded up towel under the strap some ferries have ancour points and some have steel ropes up the deck for straping down if its the steel ropes just remember others are using the same rope so if its multi drop and others untie there bikes then yours might become loose as the tention of the others bikes leaving will be removed
I've only been on a few. In Newcastle - I got ratchet straps, in Hull - a piece of rope... The Greeks, however have a completely different approach
Haha amazing! Thanks for all the input, we're going with the ferry just because it's cheaper, I'm sure it will be fine
