AFTQ: YHA Membership, HRMs, To camp or not to camp..

It costs $52AUD to join YHA here in Australia.
Being a smarty pants I thought I'd join the UK one which is cheaper, at
~£15. No can do - must be a UK resident.. BUT.. "You can join on arrival
at any YHA Youth Hostel for £10.00 per year and your card will enable
you to stay at any Hostelling International Youth Hostel in the world."

So, does anyone have any experience with YHA? Is there any point paying
extra for the Aus membership? It doesn't seem so, given that I only want
to use it for European hostels.

-

Does anyone use a HRM whilst touring? I thought it was a silly idea and
didn't want to strap up all the time but it'd be kinda cool to have
altitude profiles and all the other crap that goes with it. Actually,
now that I've typed this I've realised that the HRM would be full within
a day or two and I'm not taking a laptop with me, so wouldn't be able to
empty the data. HRM stays here I guess.. unless someone wants to lend me
a laptop?

-

I'm still in turmoil over the "to camp or not to camp" issue (although
I'm now edging towards the ability to camp) and the "to tent or to bivy
bag" alternatives. Any suggestions? It'll add ~5kg for the ability to
sleep (almost) anywhere. I'm thinking of the situation: "if I don't make
the hostel I can sleep on the side of the road".

Armybro reckons a bivy bag ($400), a Merlin Softie 3 sleeping bag ($350)
and a cut down foam mat ($10) would be suitable. FD's suggested a 1-man
tent as an option. Personally, I'd prefer to hook up with a local chick
and stay at their place each night.. but even with a shave the chances
of that are less than slim Suggestions? (not for picking up.. for the
tent/bivy conundrum!)

Glenvale on the 'morrow..

hippy
"7 P's.. WTF?! Have beer, will sleep"

Hey Hippy,

I gather from your post you are cycle touring in Europe. Are you dragging
your bike across or hiring/buying a bike in Europe? I am heading to Europe
later this month and am still trying to decide whether to bring my road
bike. Whilst the thought of pretending I am a European pro-cyclist is kind
of appealing, the reality of dragging an expensive bike across europe is not
so appealing. I am thinking of just buying a decent touring bike once I get
there. However I will also have accomodation near Brussels, and Belguim
supposedly being the cycle capital of the world, its hard to resist taking
my Orbea across.

I am almost a member of YHA- I only need one more stamp on my card to get a
free (not really free, but thats another story) membership. I think the YHA
membership covers the world over, so apart from price it shouldn't make a
difference where you buy it from. I haven't stayed in YHA's in Europe, but
have stayed in a few in Oz and NZ. If the quality of the YHA's in Europe is
the same as Oz/NZ, then you will be pretty happy. You are probably already
aware that campsites can be pricey in Europe, and I think pitching a tent on
the side of the road is frowned upon in lots of places. Like you, I plan to
do a combination of Hostels/Camping in areas of Europe where I cannot sponge
off relatives or friends or the local female population :-)

Can't really help with the HRM except to mention that I will be carrying a
HP Pocket PC throughout my trip. Maybe theres a way to dump data on to one
of those? Base level HP pocket pc's are pretty cheap and very handy. How
does your HRM interface with a PC? USB cable, Infra red etc? Pardon my
ignorance, but I have never used a HRM and know absolutely nothing about
them.

Would be interested in hearing more about your trip.

Sasha

"hippy" wrote in message
...
It costs $52AUD to join YHA here in Australia.
Being a smarty pants I thought I'd join the UK one which is cheaper, at
~£15. No can do - must be a UK resident.. BUT.. "You can join on arrival
at any YHA Youth Hostel for £10.00 per year and your card will enable
you to stay at any Hostelling International Youth Hostel in the world."

So, does anyone have any experience with YHA? Is there any point paying
extra for the Aus membership? It doesn't seem so, given that I only want
to use it for European hostels.

-

Does anyone use a HRM whilst touring? I thought it was a silly idea and
didn't want to strap up all the time but it'd be kinda cool to have
altitude profiles and all the other crap that goes with it. Actually,
now that I've typed this I've realised that the HRM would be full within
a day or two and I'm not taking a laptop with me, so wouldn't be able to
empty the data. HRM stays here I guess.. unless someone wants to lend me
a laptop?

-

I'm still in turmoil over the "to camp or not to camp" issue (although
I'm now edging towards the ability to camp) and the "to tent or to bivy
bag" alternatives. Any suggestions? It'll add ~5kg for the ability to
sleep (almost) anywhere. I'm thinking of the situation: "if I don't make
the hostel I can sleep on the side of the road".

Armybro reckons a bivy bag ($400), a Merlin Softie 3 sleeping bag ($350)
and a cut down foam mat ($10) would be suitable. FD's suggested a 1-man
tent as an option. Personally, I'd prefer to hook up with a local chick
and stay at their place each night.. but even with a shave the chances
of that are less than slim Suggestions? (not for picking up.. for the
tent/bivy conundrum!)

Glenvale on the 'morrow..

hippy
"7 P's.. WTF?! Have beer, will sleep"

hippy Wrote:
So, does anyone have any experience with YHA? Is there any point payin
extra for the Aus membership? It doesn't seem so, given that I onl
want to use it for European hostels.


Total waste of money, no use at all. Most hostels aren't YHA affiliate
in Europe/UK. I think I used my once in 4 months.

hippy Wrote:

Does anyone use a HRM whilst touring? I thought it was a silly ide
and
didn't want to strap up all the time but it'd be kinda cool to have
altitude profiles and all the other crap that goes with it. Actually,
now that I've typed this I've realised that the HRM would be ful
within
a day or two and I'm not taking a laptop with me, so wouldn't be abl
to
empty the data. HRM stays here I guess.. unless someone wants to len
me
a laptop?


I'm not even going to respond to that...... the idea of a lap top whe
you're minimising the pairs of jocks you take is ludicrous.

hippy Wrote:
I'm still in turmoil over the "to camp or not to camp" issue (although
I'm now edging towards the ability to camp) and the "to tent or t
bivy
bag" alternatives. Any suggestions? It'll add ~5kg for the ability to
sleep (almost) anywhere. I'm thinking of the situation: "if I don'
make
the hostel I can sleep on the side of the road".

Armybro reckons a bivy bag ($400), a Merlin Softie 3 sleeping ba
($350)
and a cut down foam mat ($10) would be suitable. FD's suggested
1-man
tent as an option. Personally, I'd prefer to hook up with a loca
chick
and stay at their place each night.. but even with a shave the chances
of that are less than slim Suggestions? (not for picking up.. fo
the
tent/bivy conundrum!)


Tent or hostel, you still won't get any sleep becuase some idiot wil
be coming home at 4am (ie. me, quite as a mouse..... well quiet as
95kg drunken mouse anyway) and some other idiot will be catching
train at 5am and testing out every zip on their pack in the dark. Trea
yourself to a 2 star hotel one day a week to get all the washing don
and hung up and get a good nights sleep.

The chicks will sense your desparation. You've got more chance o
scoring a local every night here than when you're one more stinkin
Aussie backpacker wearing the same t-shirt for four days, plus with n
home.

hippy Wrote:

Armybro reckons a bivy bag ($400), a Merlin Softie 3 sleeping ba
($350)
and a cut down foam mat ($10) would be suitable. FD's suggested
1-man
tent as an option. Personally, I'd prefer to hook up with a loca
chick
and stay at their place each night.. but even with a shave the chances
of that are less than slim Suggestions? (not for picking up.. fo
the
tent/bivy conundrum!)


Make sure you have a liner/sleep sheet or you're bag will get stink
real quick.

And my other gem of wisdom: Every backpacker you meet will tell yo
they stayed at the coolest hotel, saw the best artwork, drank the bes
beer in the best pub, blah blah.. These are the same people who wil
tell you "We went on this tour and the locals had never seen whit
people before....."

Ignore them and just do your own thing

--
Shabby

Shabby wrote:
hippy Wrote:
So, does anyone have any experience with YHA? Is there any point paying
extra for the Aus membership? It doesn't seem so, given that I only
want to use it for European hostels.

Total waste of money, no use at all. Most hostels aren't YHA affiliated
in Europe/UK. I think I used my once in 4 months.

Oh.. praps I'll wait until I arrive and see if it makes a difference
having a membership..

hippy Wrote:
Does anyone use a HRM whilst touring? I thought it was a silly idea

I'm not even going to respond to that...... the idea of a lap top when
you're minimising the pairs of jocks you take is ludicrous.

I never said I was minimising jocks.. I might if it means I can get a
lappie onboard! :P

hippy Wrote:
I'm still in turmoil over the "to camp or not to camp" issue (although
Tent or hostel, you still won't get any sleep becuase some idiot will
be coming home at 4am (ie. me, quite as a mouse..... well quiet as a
95kg drunken mouse anyway) and some other idiot will be catching a
train at 5am and testing out every zip on their pack in the dark. Treat
yourself to a 2 star hotel one day a week to get all the washing done
and hung up and get a good nights sleep.

Nothing much wakes me up once I'm out to it. Testing out all the local
brews is gonna help too - I'll probably sleep ON the tent.

The chicks will sense your desparation. You've got more chance of
scoring a local every night here than when you're one more stinking
Aussie backpacker wearing the same t-shirt for four days, plus with no
home.

So you didn't have any luck then :P
I'll let you know how it all works out..

Make sure you have a liner/sleep sheet or you're bag will get stinky
real quick.

Righteo. I saw them at Kathmandu. I might actually make a decision
before I leave..

And my other gem of wisdom: Every backpacker you meet will tell you
they stayed at the coolest hotel, saw the best artwork, drank the best
beer in the best pub, blah blah.. These are the same people who will
tell you "We went on this tour and the locals had never seen white
people before....."

Ignore them and just do your own thing.

hehe okie dokie! "note to self: ignore other tourists"

thanks!
hippy

MrPumpy says a tent is a self-fulfilling prophecy

til

--
till!

Sasha wrote:
I gather from your post you are cycle touring in Europe.

Yep. That's the plan. The whole plan and nothing but the plan.

Are you dragging your bike across or hiring/buying a bike in Europe?

The GT SS is getting a new groupset (gears? huck too!) and I'll send
it across as unaccompanied luggage (using Jetta or Fast Air).

I am heading to Europe later this month and am still trying to decide whether to bring my road
bike. Whilst the thought of pretending I am a European pro-cyclist is kind
of appealing, the reality of dragging an expensive bike across europe is not
so appealing. I am thinking of just buying a decent touring bike once I get
there. However I will also have accomodation near Brussels, and Belguim
supposedly being the cycle capital of the world, its hard to resist taking
my Orbea across.

I was going to go really lightweight and take the roadie but my "plans"
have grown into something a bit more silly. I decided to take the GT
because it is old, cheap, steel and has rack mounts whereas the rest of
my bikes don't quite fit into those categories.
It costs about $6.50/kg, with a 15kg minimum, to air freight bikes over.
If my tour goes as long as I think it could - I didn't want to be doing
it on a bike I've never ridden. At least I know I can do a couple of
hundred kays in a weekend on the GT (that was SS too) without getting
too sore. If I race over there, it'll be when I have a job in which case
I'll pay for my folks to send the Pug or I'll buy a new machine.

I am almost a member of YHA- I only need one more stamp on my card to get a
free (not really free, but thats another story) membership. I think the YHA
membership covers the world over, so apart from price it shouldn't make a
difference where you buy it from. I haven't stayed in YHA's in Europe, but
have stayed in a few in Oz and NZ. If the quality of the YHA's in Europe is
the same as Oz/NZ, then you will be pretty happy. You are probably already
aware that campsites can be pricey in Europe, and I think pitching a tent on
the side of the road is frowned upon in lots of places. Like you, I plan to
do a combination of Hostels/Camping in areas of Europe where I cannot sponge
off relatives or friends or the local female population :-)

Don't know anything about hostels or camping in Europe. I was just gonna
go commando and pitch the tent in some deep dark woods (if possible) or
get up early to take it down so peak hour traffic doesn't see it
Hmm.. looks like I'm going to be making it up as I go again.. like
everything else! :S

I'm trying to find a useful list/map of hostels in Europe so I can work
out how far I'll need to ride per day, if I don't have a tent, etc. If
there are so many hostels that a tent wouldn't get used then I wont take
one. Going in summer means there could be trouble finding a room in
some places - the tent would be useful then..

Can't really help with the HRM except to mention that I will be carrying a
HP Pocket PC throughout my trip. Maybe theres a way to dump data on to one
of those? Base level HP pocket pc's are pretty cheap and very handy. How
does your HRM interface with a PC? USB cable, Infra red etc? Pardon my
ignorance, but I have never used a HRM and know absolutely nothing about
them.

It's a USB device. An infra red doovy talks to the watch. This doovy has
a USB cable coming out the back that goes to the PC. PocketPC's don't
have USB as far as I'm aware?
When I get back to London I'll be getting a computer (poor Shabby
thought he'd seen the last of me..:P).
Do you know anything about wireless access in Europe? Is it everywhere
or just certain places like here? Free/costly?
I'm a computer geek, I'm gonna get withdrawls anyway. If I could smuggle
along a pda though - that might make the transition from geek to amish
bike tourist a little easier! :S

(Fark! That was loud thunder! Out of the blue it's just started ****ing
down here! Mmm.. cool air.. brain was about to overheat and seep out my
ears.)

Would be interested in hearing more about your trip.

Oh you'll be hearing about it alright! :P
steve sorted out my cyclingforums access... mwuahahaha.. complete again!

snippage

hippy

till! wrote:
MrPumpy says a tent is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

For those of us who's brains are dehydrated.. what?! :S

hippy

hippy Wrote:
For those of us who's brains are dehydrated.. what?! :S
For cycle touring in south east asia, mrpumpy is a bit of a legend. A
a somewhat impromptu gathering of about a dozen cycle tourists, fro
about as many nations, at ankor, only one didnt know who he was

Try the website; www.mrpumpy.net its a great read

Anyway, at the said website, he says that a tent is a self-fulfillin
prophecy. Longhand that would be "Carry a tent, and you'll move so slo
you have to camp all the time.

Keep in mind that hammering in tent pegs isnt a very smart thing to d
in cambodia, but that isnt necessarily a relevant problem in europe

til

--
till!

snip
Keep in mind that hammering in tent pegs isnt a very smart thing to do
in cambodia, but that isnt necessarily a relevant problem in europe.

till


--
till!


Unles you're in that bit of Europe that used to be Czechoslovakia.

How To Camp _Anywhere_:
http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/humor/howtocam.htm

hippy