rob m

Card, phone and some loose change for cup o' tea. Under the seat I carry a puncture repair kit, wd40, gaffa tape, some cable ties and a small tool kit.

Fantastic report and pictures mate! The decision not to go to Scotland paid off, Wales really is a special place.

Thanks for putting that in perspective. I've gone off the idea now

Glad somebody said it. I'm a sociable type but sometimes just want to be on my own. I tend to avoid major meeting spots when I'm in that mood. In the past 2 years I've ridden in Europe twice and in Wales on my own. I just prefer my own company sometimes. Saying that I'm really looking forward to going to Germany with friends this year, but they're guys I've ridden with before so feel comfortable travelling with them again.

Oh, come on now, you've ridden half the continent and you're having thoughts about Scotland? Already in the 'thinking about planning it' stage. It's an itch I have to scratch. For me, I would camp but then I'm weird like that

This happens on the blade when I service the calipers. 50ml syringe with some clear 5mm tubing always works. I attach to the bleed nipple and draw the fluid through. Works every time.

Had a little ride down to Loomies today and other bikers were nodding away while I nodded back. Made me feel all warm inside.

Please stop giving me ideas about going to Scotland. Thank you.

You pay to usr the facilities not someone to do it for you Don't mind me, I'm a confirmed cheapskate.

Get up 2 and a half hours earlier and ride to Heysham would be my suggestion. Don't throw money down the drain, you'll need it for the island!

The bloke is a prick. Also, why would anybody pay another person to do a job that takes about an hour?

Great stuff. I considered going via the Lakes on the way back from the TT last year, but decided not to in the end. Looks like I missed out on some great roads. Nice photos.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/03/02/263F5EB400000578-2975434-The_coastal_NC500_route_has_been_created_to_showcase_what_the_fa-a-12_1425313283966.jpg http://www.auswandern-info.com/images/USA-Route-66-Karte.jpg I know which one I'd prefer

I agree. You get what you pay for and the gopro stands head and shoulders above the rest. No amount of posts opposing this on forums can change that fact. Professional film and TV producers use them, there's a reason for that. They're a quality product. Cheapo copies will never, ever come close and most attempts to justify their existence are largely redundant. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSpe8mtSH1M Raw footage from my gopro 3+. Watch in HD and see how much better it is compared to the copies. Worth the extra money IMO.

That's a morning's work, you should be in the pub by lunchtime

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202013/013.jpg

Wales? Up the A40 from NW London, 4-4.5 hours and 170 miles. Set off early and be there for lunchtime. Roads are great and loads of scenery to be amazed with. Weather dependent though.

I said 'Luxury Card'. I'm not a cheapskate.

I've just bought a card from the Tesco Express. Not just any card mind, a 'Luxury Card' no less. Smooth.

Thanks for the feedback. Yep, it's a fantastic region for bikes, it rarely disappoints. I'm going there twice this year which will make it a total of 5 times in 3 years. I love the place.

I rode into Wales on the M4 then up the A470 to Merthyr and from there through the Brecon Beacons to Builth Wells. The A483 from Builth Wells to Newtown is well recommended. I stayed in Llanbister which gave me the opporunity to sample some awesome roads in the area. On the first day, I dropped my stuff in at the hotel then headed all the way up to Dolgellau, just following the A470 really. In parts it's sublime, fast flowing corners where you can get a decent pace going. The Elan valley is stunning and the ride through it to Aberystwyth is very nice. I was only there for 2 days so didn't really get to experience it fully as I understand there are some great roads off the main routes. If I do it again, I'll probably do it as a long weekend, starting in North Wales and working my way down to the South over 2-3 days. Based on my brief time there, it blew me away and I would definitely recommended a trip there. Videos here: viewtopic.php?f=93&t=55937

Depends on the weather I guess and if you can cope with it. I was VERY lucky when I did that trip as the weather was hot and sunny, but I did decide to go at the last minute because of this reason.

Elan Valley: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JGQmOVAx8Y A483: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ngaj_VCaZAM More A483: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSpe8mtSH1M

I went to the Eifel area of Germany for a long weekend, in August 2014. It was my 3rd time in the Eifel, I never get bored with the area. No long report, just pictures this time. I went away for 4 days and stayed in Neuerburg at the Schloss Hotel. Weather was great until Tuesday where it rained for the entire 5 hour ride back to Calais. Hey ho. I went there to be on my own and chill out, which I did. It was a bit of 'me' time as 2014 has been a bit rough for me. The roads were awesome as usual and I also saw a few interesting things along the way. Here's the pictures I took for those who are interested: http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202014/20140823_090246.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202014/FB_IMG_1408791120050.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202014/20140823_153045.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202014/20140823_180148.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202014/20140823_183859_1.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202014/20140823_190215.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202014/20140823_194840.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202014/20140823_194849.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202014/20140824_080113.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/20140823_195335.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/20140824_080654.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202014/20140824_082210.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202014/20140824_082418.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202014/20140824_094655.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202014/20140824_094708.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202014/20140824_095334.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202014/20140824_095346.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202014/20140824_095705.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202014/20140824_095732.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202014/20140824_100121.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202014/20140824_100502.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202014/20140824_104021.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202014/20140824_143836.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202014/20140824_155933.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202014/20140824_162912.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202014/20140824_162937.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202014/20140824_163001.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202014/20140824_163010.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202014/20140824_163055.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202014/20140824_163125.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202014/20140825_110538.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202014/20140825_113815.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202014/20140825_113823.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202014/20140825_113946.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202014/20140825_114023.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202014/20140825_114202.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202014/20140825_122354.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202014/20140825_122401.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202014/20140825_122737.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202014/20140825_122751.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202014/20140825_132054.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202014/20140825_132108.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202014/20140825_132115.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202014/20140825_132143.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202014/20140825_132216.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202014/20140825_134039.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202014/20140825_135924.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202014/20140825_135959.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202014/20140825_140017.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202014/20140825_140503.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202014/20140825_140656.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202014/20140825_165709.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202014/20140826_123325.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Germany%202014/FB_IMG_1409053615721.jpg

I thought I would bore everybody with my report from when I went to Wales on the bike a few months back I decided to go to Wales at 8am on the 10th September, largely based on the weather forecast which looked very good. It was! I stayed one night at http://www.lionhotel-llanbister.co.uk/ Well recommended as they are biker-friendly but they are also on the A483. Bonus! I managed over 630 miles including my ride from Surrey. I have fallen in love with Wales, the scenery and the roads. I can't believe I have neglected it for so long. I'm already thinking of a longer trip there. Here's the pics I took, there would have been more but I was busy enjoying the roads. http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Wales%202014/20140910_130014.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Wales%202014/20140910_130025.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Wales%202014/20140910_150203.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Wales%202014/20140910_171153.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Wales%202014/20140910_171920.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Wales%202014/20140910_171930.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Wales%202014/20140910_171946.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Wales%202014/20140910_172010.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Wales%202014/20140910_172436.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Wales%202014/20140911_092855.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Wales%202014/20140911_092945.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Wales%202014/20140911_092951.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Wales%202014/20140911_093636.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Wales%202014/20140911_093654.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Wales%202014/20140911_093659.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Wales%202014/20140911_093802.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Wales%202014/20140911_094525.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Wales%202014/20140911_094537.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Wales%202014/20140911_095022.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Wales%202014/20140911_095025.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Wales%202014/20140911_110905.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Wales%202014/20140911_110943-1.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Wales%202014/20140911_111005.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/cruxiform/Wales%202014/20140911_111009.jpg I'll link to some video soon as I've finally got round to looking through my gopro footage properly.