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TVTR Website -> Tamar Valley Trail Riders -> Tales from foreign parts -> Ian Coates......A bloke that puts it all into perspective.
Post Info TOPIC: Ian Coates......A bloke that puts it all into perspective.
EEJIT


From an early age I wanted to fly like Biggles!

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Ian Coates......A bloke that puts it all into perspective.
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Yesterday I got a call from my friend Rob (English fellow who owns a B&B in town) to say that we were going to get a special visitor. Evidently our local bike shop in Calgary has another Englishman working there who sent this fella in our direction for a cup of tea and a chit chat.
His name is Ian Coates and if you haven't heard of him yet, you will do. He's all over the net and stems from Hebden Bridge in Yorkshire.
He went out for a 4 month holiday on his Africa Twin and just kept on going. He hasn't been home in 10 years! He's visited over 60 countries by bike, he's 66 years old and is just about to head to Alaska, ship the bike accross the Bering sea and start on Siberia,Mongolia, Pakistan, China and the rest of the sodding Continent!
He's racked up a whopping 138,000 miles on the bike and only ever replaced the cam chain. His bike is now very tired and he's asking if anyone has any contacts with Honda UK because basically he'd like to get some free parts from them to fit soon. He's not asking for much either. Just a few fork seals, piston rings and general stuff that will allow him to continue this trip on the same bike back to Yorkshire.
Wouldn't this be a great advert for Honda?
If anyone out there has a contact please let me know. I will be riding with him for while in the Whitehorse area and should be able to pass on any info he needs. He has no mobile phone, GPS or any other means of communication at all and relies on the odd phone card to contact his wife from time to time.
Basically his efforts put the Long way round/down crew to a much lower level and he's done it all himself. Once i a while the BBC or MCN catch up with him for an interview when they can find him.
When I asked him what his Wife did back in England he replied "she stays back "ome and pays t'credit card bills"
Incredible.....he truly is an inspiration when you talk to him and ......he's such a smashing bloke too!

I think I might carry my spare tyres now (see photos)

Actually folks, I'll have to try and post photos later....iI think my file sizes are too large to upload so I'll have to re-vamp

Regards to you all

EEJIT

I changed the size of the picture and added a close up of the bike


-- Edited by Fixer on Sunday 12th of July 2009 06:45:06 PM

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Timus


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Brilliant - what a crazy man!!!

Maybe someone who knows ( Fixer?) how could post this on the national TRF site, - I've never seen one, but I'm sure there must be one. Might have more chance of finding that Honda contact.

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hampsterracing


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New national forum is HERE

Roger

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Tibby


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What an adventure/lifestile!

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EEJIT


From an early age I wanted to fly like Biggles!

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Yep....He's a smashing bloke with a wonderful sense of humour (and probably the world's most forgiving wife).
After I led him to the petrol station on the way out of town, I noticed his gloves were threadbare.
After reaching into the back seat of my truck, I found three pairs of work gloves (i get them free at work) but only one pair fitted his thumping great hands.
At least he has new gloves now anyway!
Me and Rob are trying to get parts from Honda on this end of the pond but they never marketed the Africa Twin over here so I wouldn't hold too much hope.
In the meantime, he's on the road north somewhere. Like he said...."You'll probably pass me on the way".....even though i'm setting off a week later than him. I hope to meet up in Whitehorse.
I can't figure out how to downsize my photos so i'll post one more up here that shows his bike in better detail for you all.

Regards

EEJIT




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The force is like Duct tape. It has a light side, a dark side and it binds the universe together.
Fixer


Tribune

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Do your bit for Ian...

I've e-mailed Honda UK and asked them for help on Ian's behalf. Ian is willing to travel to wherever Honda can send the parts and the parts he requires are minimal...

Fork oil seals
Wheel bearings
brake pads
wheel rims
and general service kit such as plugs, oil/air filter etc.

If you think that one more e-mail to Honda may help then click HERE and click the highlighted in red Feedback Form. Then fill out the form out asking them to look at Eejits posting
- http://tvtr.activeboard.com/forum.spark?forumID=124956&p=41&topicID=29308584

I ticked the Motorcycle box on the right and clicked other as to content of my e-mail.

I spoke to Eejit tonight - he's about to go to lake Louise via the back road (still tarmac'd tho!) with a couple of others just to get an ice cream - and he is in awe of Ian Coates. The guy has spent 10 years going round the world helping people out (I believe he is a hydraulics Engineer) and getting free lodging/food for his labours.



-- Edited by Fixer on Sunday 12th of July 2009 06:38:08 PM

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Two Thumbs


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Wow , fairplay to the man and machine , the AT is a truly great machine, why did i sell mine ???????

The www.xrv.org.uk  are a friendly bunch and have members around the globe i sure some help would be forthcoming.

cheers smile

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EEJIT


From an early age I wanted to fly like Biggles!

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Thanks for slapping this up on the site Fixer.
Ian's a great bloke and needs all the extra help he can get to see the last leg of his trip through. It would be a shame to complete the journey on another bike!
After 10 years he must know that bike pretty well by now.

Cheers to you all,

EEJIT

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