Amazingly difficult bike trip ( tips ) ?

Question

Im going on a MAHOOOSIVE !!! bike trip to raise money for UNICEF AFRICA !!!

The challenge on this trip is to travel around the coast of the UK and Ireland on a 50cc ( 5000 miles )

( this has been done before, just not as long distance, i think it was 3500 that time )

The wheels are already in motion and i have arranged everything ( in short, this is not a question to get a lecture, i cannot change my plans and decide to put this on a trailer...the whole challenge is to do that distance on a 50cc )

I only need advice on general things ( anything you think would be useful )

I know its a long distance and that my bike will probably break but lets be honest ( and even i can edmit this ) my bike IS going to break at some point, you just go up to random places and say "im doing this for charity, can you help me?"...and they will...cause theyre british

Advice please !!!

Answer 1

I live in Belfast. I remember an English Comedian (Tony Hawks) hitch hiked through Ireland with a fridge. He was successful mainly because people knew about him and what he was doing (it wasn't for charity, just a drunken bet)

I would advise getting publicity such as local radio shows (I think the one he found most helpful in Ireland was the Gerry Ryan show). I don't know what show might be helpful for your journey. You may need several.

As for getting the bike fixed. It would depend on the garage. Bikers would help you but I don't know if you could rely on garages (they have bills to pay and overheads so asking them to fix your scooter for free would be a bit much). Also, getting parts at short notice might be difficult.

It sounds like an epic journey and I wish you well.

One thing though. You mention people will help you because they are British. I assume you are not from the UK or Ireland as you would know that for the vast majority of people here (be they Irish, Scottish, Welsh or even in some rare cases English) being called British is offensive. After all, they are the conquerors

I live in Northern Ireland and for the past 40 years we have been fighting to get rid of the British so if you do manage to get that far, think before you speak otherwise you could find yourself in big trouble.

Answer 2

install fog lamps

Answer 3

Keep your own and the bikes weight down as much as possible. Put some kind of an oil cooler on it as you will be overheating an already overworked and tiny engine. Change oil whenever possible (check for metal bits under a bright light)  and buy only highest octane gas. At night do a quick tune up-air filter and other filters, etc. Don't add weight and purchase locally, except for tools.