I clearly remember the day I was handed my first company car as a salesman for a Canadian shipping company. When my boss gave me the keys, he also gifted me a few words of wisdom. First, he said that the easiest way to be late was to have too much time on our hands and the second was to remember the three Ps – phone, parking, and pee. He was right on all counts, but the three Ps have seen changes over the years. Back then, it was a question of finding a public phone box that hadn’t been vandalised or urinated in, a convenient parking space (preferably free), and never to miss an opportunity to relieve oneself. Naturally, I had a well-worn UK road map and a London A-Z, but eventually, I was able to navigate Greater London without maps, knew of practically every red phone box in South East England and most of the pubs and cafes with a rest room.
Maps
Much as I’ve always loved paper maps, and I still study them from time to time, technology has moved on, for better or worse. I’m sure we retain more information in our heads with paper maps than with GPS, but that’s another story. Anyway, on the ride from Buenos Aires to La Cumbre, Cordoba – a distance of around 750 KM (470 miles) – I used a Garmin Zumo XT, a device designed specifically for motorcycles, being water/dustproof and very robust.
The main advantage of a dedicated GPS is that it doesn’t rely on internet data and gets me where I need to go. For more precise information, I usually turn to Google Maps which of course allows downloading of maps for offline use. The Zumo XT also has all the bells and whistles including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and many other features. I particularly like the notifications that come from my paired phone, so if something is urgent, I can attend to it without too much riding distraction. It’s probably the best addition I’ve made for my bike and I use it every day.
Phone
Gone are the days of hunting down a public phone, thank goodness, because we now have miniature computers in our pockets. We all know what we can do with our phones and it’s possible that making actual phone calls is the least used feature, after taking pictures.
I also enjoy using Google Photos to enhance the pictures I take, not to mention erasing parts of the photo that I don’t want included – people and telegraph poles for instance.
More than anything, I used my Galaxy Note 20 Ultra for WhatsApp messages, taking pictures, and pairing with my other devices. Isn’t it strange how naked we feel if we leave home without our phones?
Communication
When paired with my helmet-mounted Cardo Freecom, my phone is completely hands-free and can be controlled by either voice commands or a tap on the Cardo with my left hand.
I can listen to FM radio, a music playlist, and phone my wife with a tap of a button. But the reality is that, when riding at over 50Kph, the wind is really the only noise I can hear!
Filming The Journey
For the last few years I’ve been using a GoPro Hero 5 Black which, although an excellent action camera, is badly let down by its battery life of only 45 minutes and the bizarre microphone adaptor setup, so on my recent trip to the UK, I bought a Drift Ghost XL Pro which promises a battery life of 7 hours when filming in 1080p/60fps. I wasn’t disappointed and during the entire five days away, I only needed to charge the battery twice, which was incredible. One of the main advantages is its streamlined, rocket-like design and not once did I feel that my head was being ripped off, unlike the GoPro setup. With video stabilisation, the camera produced some great footage and I’m delighted I made the switch.
A New Tablet
Another of my recent UK impulse acquisitions was a Lenovo Tab P11 which I only took along for the ride because a bigger screen is easier on the eyes. Also, it has four internal speakers, so, with an ice-cold beer or two, we could listen to a chillout playlist whilst admiring the beautiful landscapes of Cordoba.
For instance:
The Ride Itself?
It would take a few more hundred words to describe the ride from Buenos Aires to Cordoba and I’ve already rambled on for too long. So, if you would like to read more about our adventure, please leave a comment below and I’ll sharpen my pencil!
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Hey Mark, does the Cardo Freecom have noise-cancelling technology to reduce the ambient noise like wind? If so, did you have that turned off?
I believe it does, John, because it’s never been a problem, unlike the mic for the Ghost XL Pro which I’m still trying to solve.
I gave up on my ’93 BMW K75S because even my local BMW shop said their technicians might not know how to repair it. Besides the $150 for an oil change those robbers wanted I said the hell with motorcycling. So what do you do when you get stuck in the middle of nowhere?
Hi Bromberg
I carry spares with me, but fortunately I haven’t yet been stranded in the outback.
Having said that, the clutch cable snapped in the city some time ago and since the insurance company was hopeless, a friend rode over to meet me with a replacement and I was able to carry on.
I also change my own oil and do basic maintenance because, as you say, official dealers will rob you blind!
Take care.
If it was in the city I assume you had access to a ‘cycle repair shop (and a towing service). Maybe AI will come up with a way to get me out of the worst situation (getting stuck/stranded in the outback). Til it does, at my age, I’m afraid my ‘cycling days are behind me, so enjoy the ride while you can!