The Fastest Man Around The World - May 6th 2005

Monday 30th May 2005
Blame it on the Post. We called up our associate in Mumbai hoping to hear that Nick had already started riding and was now on his way to Pune enroute to Calcutta, but instead got handed the phone to Nick himself. Nick is stuck in Mumbai, separated from his bike only by a missing letter from the RAC which should have already been here. The Indian AA insists it's their normal procedure to ratify the carnet du passage with a letter from the issuing authority sent directly to them. This letter from the RAC in London has still not reached them, and they are concerned that Nick's carnet might be forged and he might sell the bike in India , as against taking it out with him as he leaves the country!! Nick's frustration at this was only doubled because back home here in Britain we have been on a bank Holiday weekend and the RAC office is closed. Nick will now just have to wait patiently until Tuesday, then another 4 and ½ hours after Indian offices open, for the offices in London to open, and then get RAC to fax the letter to the Indian AA as soon as possible. Until then, we hope Nick soaks in the Mumbai Experience !

Latest updates on Nick and his progress on his around the world challenge.
Thursday 2nd June 2005
For 5 days now, Mumbai has been like a large waiting room for Nick, as he tries, day after day to get his bike out of the customs, and get on the road again. First it was the weekend, then the bank holiday, the case of missing RAC letter and most recently internal filing errors by the Mumbai Customs. It's amazing how bureaucracy can bring and adventure to such a grinding halt.

The Mumbai customs has assured Nick that the bike will be given to him today. We truly hope so. Nick is restless and now just wants go, but he adds “I knew this would happen, it happened the last time. I hate it, but this is what makes this journey such a challenge.” Hopefully Nick should be on his way to Calcutta toda

Just to keep you up to speed when the bike is in transit ie flown between countries and in customs the clock is stopped.

stage 2 started

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After a week of waiting, Nick is now on the road. He now rides from Mumbai to Calcutta, 1350miles.



Latest updates on Nick and his progress on his around the world challenge.
Friday 3rd June 2005
What a relief … after a week long struggle, frantic phone calls and frustrated waiting, Nick is now on the road and riding. We have received news from our Indian contact that Nick started riding from Mumbai at about 7:00pm India time. He will be going to Calcutta via Pune, Solapur, Hyderabad , Vishakapatnam and Bhubaneshwar. More news on his progress as we get it.

[Richie]

Great news,

Keep us posted as this is riviting reading...

Thanks Richie

STAGE 2
Stage Start : Mumbai (India, Asia). In the peak of Indian summer, Nick will ride across the Indian mainland to the port of Calcutta on the Bay of Bengal. Stage End : Calcutta (India, Asia) Estimated Time : 2 Days.
1350 miles from Bombay (Mumbia) to Calcutta non stop

Friday 3rd June 2005 What a relief … after a week long struggle, frantic phone calls and frustrated waiting, Nick is now on the road and riding. We have received news from our Indian contact that Nick started riding from Mumbai at about 7:00pm India time. He will be going to Calcutta via Pune, Solapur, Hyderabad , Vishakapatnam and Bhubaneshwar. More news on his progress as we get it.


PHOTO GALLERY http://www.motochallenge.com/rtwgallery.htm

Like to see him try it on an sv

Seriously though, respect to the man , thoroughly enjoying the updates Chewy

Goog god is an R1 not a big enough challenge.

Latest update

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NICK'S DIARY ENTRY
22:44 hrs GMT on 03/06/05
I am about 200km on the Bombay side of Solapur, It's 2 o' clock in the morning. I am riding very well. It's extremely dark, the road is extremely busy and it's a two lane highway and incredibly dangerous. There are trucks everywhere. If I leave a gap in front, obviously and oncoming truck is going to try and overtake and I have to ride over to the left hand side or I'll get hit. If I am riding behind a truck, I am obviously doing 28mph. It's probably the most dangerous road I have come across in a long time. But India is a great country and I am actually making progress. I'll be in Solapur by 4-5 o' clock in the morning and then I am going to make my way to Hyderabad and I should be there about lunchtime. I'll keep on through the day and then I'll be going onto my next night when I reach the east coast of India and make my way north east to Calcutta

Latest Update : 04/06/05
11:30 hrs GMT on 04/06/05


It's 4 o' clock exactly. I am in Hyderabad . I left Mumbai at about 7:30pm last evening. I've been riding through the night. I think the temperature has touched 45 °C, may be more … may be 48 °C. In fact, the lowest temperature last night was 31.5 °C. The road through Maharashtra was very difficult. Trucks were down to 22mph and I was constantly overtaking. Incredibly busy. Subsequently, as I went to Karnataka the highway improved substantially and I made up some lost ground. I am trying to make 350 miles per 12 hours, which will give me 700 miles every 24 hours. This is about 300 miles down my 1000 mile a day schedule. It's about 1400 miles from Mumbai to Calcutta . I am not far off the schedule for India and am pleased. I am very exhausted.

It's simply a question of dehydration and I am drinking. The bike has been performing brilliantly, but it's running at 99 °C as a norm and goes up to 105 – 108 °C as soon as I stop. I am riding the best riding of my life and I am feeling extremely strong. But also, this is probably the hardest day I have ridden in years. Now I am going to go through the night to Vijaywada and onto the east coast of India and then ride straight through tonight and all day tomorrow to reach Calcutta before midnight on Sunday and straight into customs. I'll fly out to Bangkok on Monday or latest Tuesday morning depending on the flights I get.

Every time I stop in the villages, it's like being a celebrity; or rather the bike is being a celebrity. I get surrounded by upwards of 100 people immediately.

Latest Update : 04/06/05
20:43 hrs GMT on 04/06/05


I am in Vijaywada. I am following a fast bus. The bus is going really well. This is the sort of ride where you're either writing a foreword or your obituary. But I am flying.

I've recovered completely from really bad dehydration and sun-stroke after 3 hours of rest. I am okay now, and am riding quickly to catch up on time. I think I am on something like 600 mile schedule. However hard you work in India , you're going to lose time, but this is the place where around the world project gains real credibility. It's like “Prove whether you can ride a bike or not.” I am going to ride through the night and try and get to Calcutta by midnight on Sunday.