Steve Chippy Paine

  • The best portable music player for your European biking trip

    The best portable music player for your European biking trip

    Your smartphone does everything, but do you really want to use it for streaming music or MP3 playback when you really should be preserving battery life for route planning, navigation, weather forecasting and the all-important messages and pics to your friends and social platforms? And besides that, the speaker is useless and your Bluetooth headphones need charging!

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  • Calimoto App Review. (Independent)

    Calimoto App Review. (Independent)

    I’ve just clocked over 4500km 6500km 7600km 8100km of tracked routes in the Calimoto motorcycle route planner, speed camera alert and route tracker. I’ve been a private subscriber since 2021 and I’ll probably stay that way because whether it’s a quick round trip or a five day tour, Calimoto has become an essential part of my equipment. In fact, Calimoto is likely to become my daily route planner for a 10k km tour in 2027.

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  • VFR800 soft luggage. SW Motech 68 liter set-up, test and stool trick.

    VFR800 soft luggage. SW Motech 68 liter set-up, test and stool trick.

    There’s never too much information out there about luggage options for motorcycle tourers and this combination I’ve put together for my VFR800 is particularly interesting.

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  • Bonn to Renesse. 6-7hrs. Eifel, Ardennes, Holland

    Bonn to Renesse. 6-7hrs. Eifel, Ardennes, Holland

    Just north of the Ruhrsee in the Eifel region, it starts to get very flat. Holland flat. This explains why you’ll find the (always very friendly and waving) duty bikers in the Eifel at weekends. For me to be heading to the flatlands then seems to be xounter to a fun weekend of riding. But there’s a reason.

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  • The Battle of the Bulge Motorbike Tour with Chippy

    The Battle of the Bulge Motorbike Tour with Chippy

    A great motorbike tour over 5 days and 3 countries in two of the most accessible national park areas in Western Europe and especially interesting for anyone wanting to head out for 5 days from the UK.

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  • 10 cargobike problems you’ll need to plan for.

    10 cargobike problems you’ll need to plan for.

    Cargobike problems include parking, startup time, space, weather, style, bollards, street repairs, leaves, curbs, security,safety and people. If you’re considering usnig a cargobike for kids transport, business or touring, read this list and think carefully about how you’re going to cope with each issue. To be honest, it’s a tough call. You’ll need the help of local politicians and planners, a wad of money, nerves and planning.

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