Weather is probably the single most important factor
to keep in mind when planning for a world tour. You
need to fix your route according to the date you are
going to start the trip. Tough it is impossible to get
good weather at all places, you can minimize the risks.
It may look nice to ride in cool weather with snow all
around, but you will shit in your pants when your heavy
bike starts skating all over the road.
Windchill can decrease the temperatures by almost 10
degrees Celsius than the normal temperatures. Cold
weather gave me the greatest pain. Actually I was at
the worst times all over the world because I was
delayed. Desert heat can kill you quickly if you are
careless. While I always love to ride in the rains, there is
the risk of losing many days due to heavy rains or
cyclones. To finish your trip safely you need to be
healthy and to be healthy you need to be comfortable.
So plan well.
word of caution
On a long journey like this, it is inevitable that you will
be hit with travel sickness. Every day you are in a new
place and with new people. For a while, this is very
exciting but then slowly it gets to your nerves until
you no longer care about where you are and what
you see. You lose interest in, pretty much, everything.
This is something like depression. At these times, you
need a break. Stay put at some place for a while and
just unwind. I used to read, spend time with myself,
go for long walks and listen to music. In a few days, I
am ready to get on the road again. This is a rhythm
you must follow, never force yourself to keep going all
the time. Remember you are riding to enjoy the
world and not to go from point to point.
Mental fitness is far more important than the physical
fitness. All the above difficulties will put you under
great stress and you must maintain your cool all the
time. You must cultivate safe eating and drinking
habits and be healthy, as one serious infection can end
your trip. Never was I sick even for a single day.
adventures
Riding is only a small part of a world tour. I had the
opportunity to do a lot more things on this trip. I
enjoyed all sorts of adventure sports like trekking,
rock climbing, paragliding, sailing, scuba diving, hot
air balloons, offroad bike riding, driving on Nascar
track, biggest bun-jee jump, ice skating, the list is
long. Whenever you get bored of riding, these are the
things that will replenish your adrenalin levels and
keep you up and running all the time.
Loneliness is your only friend.
And when you finally come back home, you will
become depressed again for your trip has ended, your
wanderlust quenched, your attitude, approach and
outlook has changed. You will be hit by the reverse
culture shock. You don't like many things about your
home and country. Again take your time and sit tight
for a while and soon you will get back into normal
stream.