Issue 127 : February - March 2003
Spaghetti Monster
Teutonic Tourer
Jet-powered Tourer
Lightning Muscle
Mountain Men
MAG Campaign Issues
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Spaghetti Monster
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Mountain Men
Moto-Euro - Redtread Which is a long-winded way of saying that 'Redtread', based in Southern Spain are catering for the person who wants to travel light, but still go riding off-road in the mountains near Malaga on the Costa del Sol. You can literally turn up with just your swimming trunks at their exclusive luxury villa and they will provide you not only with the bike, but all your riding and safety equipment. Not some tatty well used items either, but new top of the range boots, helmets jackets etc. By the time you read this, they will be offering Gas Gas 450 trail bikes not long out of the crate for you to ride, these replacing the Suzuki DR-Z 400E's that they use at present. The business has been set up by Mike Findlow an ex-British Moto Cross Championship contender. However, this is no training camp, but a relaxed way of exploring parts of Spain not normally seen by the average tourist. Parties of up to six riders are led out daily by Mike with Eddie Glover following up at the rear to make sure nobody gets lost. The routes vary and average between 100 -150 kilometres per day, the vast majority of it being off-road. The terrain varies from hard stony tracks through to soft mud, and the occasional ride through riverbeds to cool down. Lunch is taken at local restaurants with the chance to sample the local cuisine before arriving back at the villa between 4 and 5pm. This gives plenty of time to relax in the pool before going out in the evening to sample more of the local restaurants and see the nightlife. No need to worry about late nights because the following day starts around 9am with a full cooked breakfast if you need it, before getting kitted up to repeat the experience . The team cater for the novice rider as well as the more experienced and the mixed group that I was in all seemed to be happy at the end of each day. The faster riders having been given a chance to stretch the bikes as and when it was safe to do so, while the others stood and admired their skill levels. There are few rules and these revolve around safety, the main object of the day being enjoyment, the whole experience having been put together with the enthusiast in mind. Redtread cater for those who want complete weeks, consisting of five days riding, to those who just want solitary days away from the beach, or those on road bike tours who want a day or two off the tarmac. Certainly you see more than you would on conventional road bikes as well as meeting like-minded riders who just want to have fun. I spent the full week with them and can find little to criticise them for, the bikes all having new tyres weekly and daily checks to ensure they remain safe and reliable. If you fancy fitting a week in as part of a European tour or just the odd day, contact them on info@redtread.com or take a look at their website www.redtread.com for full information and prices. If my week is anything to go by, I am sure you will not be disappointed. Europe on European bikes sounds like the thing a magazine I know caters for! Ian Kerr  |
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Ian Kerr goes off road el Spana