Lateralus

We're here!

Booooo, I say. Booooo. Looking forward to it, despite the autumnal weather.

This week, oi av mostly been listening to: https://youtu.be/MH9FyLsfDzw

Yeah, not looking like a day for just the jeans tomorrow. Wet start here too.

The more the merrier Fred Is there a limit on that? I might have a small group who'd fancy coming, for the ride there and back at the very least!

On my bike the other day, I got so far as to pick up the diesel pump and have it authorised to dispense before I noticed! Thought to myself "I've come very close to doing a Mawsley", as no-one is calling it.

Glad I'm not making it up entirely!

So then, midday on Sun 22nd at Hungry Hogs. I'd thought it was in Melton Mowbray, but turns out it's actually a layby on the A47! Will be a very nice run to get there though. Anyone heading from Notts (or further north) fancy meeting up to ride down together? [mention]Fred[/mention], [mention]Stu[/mention]? Thinking of heading out to Bingham, cross-country via Harby to Melton, then down the B6047 to the A47. If anyone fancies it, I'd suggest meeting at the Saxondale Shell garage at 10.45am for an 11am departure.

Yup, and will continue to do so, but for the longer stints I'd still like to try and get something a bit quieter if possible.

As the sales seem to be starting, I'm thinking of getting myself a full-face helmet to compliment my current flip-front one. I want to get one which is at least predominantly if not entirely white, and am keen to try and get one which is as quiet as possible. I'm planning to go to J&S and CMC to try on as many as I can, but that's not going to tell me how quiet they are at speed, so wanted to know if there were any particular helmets to go for, or to avoid. I really like the fit of my HJC, and want to keep the budget as low as possible, but other than that don't really know where to start!

Wot they said. I did a Bikesafe course earlier this year, and have just completed the IAM one too. Mrs Lat appreciated being able to come on the Bikesafe course too, as she now gets more out of being a pillion, so worth looking into that if you have a regular pillion rider. The IAM course is built on exactly the same principles as Bikesafe, but obviously goes into a lot more detail than can be achieved on a single day course. I've gotten a lot out of doing the further training, which I also started about 5 months after getting my first bike. IAM do initial taster sessions from time to time, so you could contact your local group and see if there are any planned as a free trial. May well not be until the spring now though - I know my local group seems to be more summer-focused.

I'd also recommend the DAS. I started mine just under a year ago and loved it. Am now on my second bike and have almost 10,000 miles under my belt! Since you already drive, you're not having to learn how roads work, and you'll very quickly find yourself wishing you had a bigger bike if you just did the CBT for now. Not to mention that the DAS will mean more lessons, which is always good. Took me 2 months from first introductory lesson to having my full license, with a total of about 14 hours of lessons, and I didn't have any issues with learning through late autumn/early winter.

Is there anyone we should call in advance to let them know we're coming?

It would seem rude not to!

Ooh, I can do the 22nd! Will have to behave myself a bit when out on the Saturday night beforehand, but such are the sacrifices we make!

There's certainly a lot of lawyers in Birmingham - the barristers chambers I tend to use is there, and most of the solicitors firms too. But they're all in London too! Wait a few years and the train commute between the two will be much quicker! Personally, I'd be picking a location based on proximity to friends and prospects for work, neither of which we can really answer for you!

I really like Bristol, and will be visiting my brother there at the weekend. But I think it's now the most expensive place to live in the UK outside London - property prices are ridiculous. I find myself in Birmingham a few times a month, and surprise myself by quite liking the city centre. There's a lot going on, and lots of companies relevant to my line of work (town planning), so would probably be my choice. No idea what you do or how well it would suit though!

Amazon.

Sounds like a great trip, even if a little damp! Glad you enjoyed it.

To steal someone else's phrase, everything will be alright in the end, and if its not alright, it isn't the end. Yes I'll plan some mad trips that I can hardly imagine doing ! A year ago I wasn't even thinking seriously about getting a motorbike - now I'm on my second and have done a European tour!

Obviously I don't know the specifics and I'm no expert, but it's impressive how much can be regained sometimes with good physio work - saw it first hand with my wife's ACL injury a couple of years ago. Really hope there's potential for that in your case.

That's precisely what happens on the London Road exit of this roundabout too, from the traffic lights at the Canal Street junction. It's only the right hand lane on the roundabout which splits into two as you enter London Road, but people from the middle lane invariably push into the new second-from-right lane, and usually get irate if I'm already trying to use it. You'll just have to imagine the lines.

That's awful mate. Longer-term, could a scooter or DCT bike help keep you on two wheels?