Mississippi Bullfrog

I have a pair of these. Brilliant in cold weather.

6mm...you long haired yobbo.

I went to our local Turkish barbers on Friday for a cut. It is usually an all male environment where there is peace and quiet. Not this time. A mum took her 12 year old for a cut, then sat at the back on her phone gabbing non-stop on her phone telling someone about her night out and she said....so I said....then he said....then I said....and then there was a falling out.....so then they went for a take away.....and I had...but she ordered....but when it came she wanted what I had....so he swapped.....but then she sent it back.....and then there was another falling out. And then she (I assume aforesaid she) walked past and stuck her head in the door....and another falling out ensued. I felt sorry for the 12 year old lad.

I am meant to putting up the Christmas tree. However, a mate who plays in a band has wangled me tickets to a brewery party he's playing at. So it looks like I'm going to be a very happy roadie instead.

The first bit of snow, just an inch or so of it, and the inability of people to drive in anything other than perfect conditions is evident. The lanes round us are perfectly passable yet there are cars down ditches, embedded in hedges, thumped into trees. Even just abandoned on single lane roads that are flat and level thereby blocking the road for everyone else.

Tunnocks caramels come out as front runner. With Jaffa cakes* running a close second. *Technically not a biscuit, the defining factor being that when left to go stale a biscuit goes soft whereas a cake goes hard. (Not that Jaffa cakes have ever lasted long enough to go stale round here.) Jammy Dodgers also feature. Rich Tea biscuits are not in favour. Discussion of Garibaldi biscuits is banned as it leads to acts of physical violence and people falling out.

The engine in the Bobber is the same as in the Thruxton. The biggest market is the States where octane levels tend to be lower. Several guys I know in the US report that they've had running issues if the use super unleaded, which disappear when reverting to standard octane fuel.

I think you need new sprockets and chain. Get a nice shiny gold coloured DID chain.

It is also -7.5 outside. On the happy side it is now so cold the air is drier so defrosting my wife's car was quicker than usual. I think I shall focus on indoor tasks today.

Old school method was to clean the visor then wipe it with a cut potato. Afterwards you can have chips. Win win.

I tried hand guards and found them to be pretty useless. I did think about handlebar muffs but they look a bit naff. I'll stick with my heated gloves.

For those adverse to using supermarket fuel - a mate who works in the refinery tells me that all petrol is the same. Tankers have separate internal tanks. The first is for Shell, the second for BP, the third for Esso, the fourth for Sainsburys, the fifth for Asda, the sixth for Morrisons etc...... The same fuel from the refinery goes into all the tanks. The only difference is the additives different brands add to the fuel.

They have physical shops in the real world as well as online magic pixies.

www.forl.co.uk

My father was the founder of the Friends of Real Lancashire, campaigning to reinstate the historic boundaries of the county palatine. We always have hot pot and a party on Lancashire Day. Sadly he died last Christmas so this was our first event without him.

Bikes' engine management systems can't adapt to E5 so you won't get any better performance. In fact it can be slightly worse. A petrochemical engineer explained to me that to enable E5 to boost performance and fuel economy in higher performance car engines it has a flame retardant so the ignition timing can be advanced. On bikes without adaptive ignition timing this can cause the engine to slightly lose power. It explained why I always felt my Bobber runs better on E10. Some say it lasts better over the winter if you don't ride as much but I've found E10 lasts fine. So I'm sticking with E10.

The Van Van is a hoot, but it's too long for you by 8 inches.

Hard to say without being able to see the battery connection. Is it the type with the captive nut - in which case is that spinning inside the housing?

That's what mine does. Bikesure were very good at sorting out business cover and NCD when I bought the Bobber in addition to my CBF. The premium for both is only slightly above what I was paying for one.

The Helite Turtle goes over my usual jacket. On hot days I wear a mesh jacket and the Helite still allows enough air to circulate. If it's torrential I wear a waterproof overjacket on top. I found my usual one fits over the vest no problem. I wouldn't wear a backpack whilst wearing an airvest. Before I got one I assumed they would be bulky but whilst it is heavy it is no problem once you put it on.

That's poor. I had a puncture recently in my front tyre and had to shop round to find anyone willing to repair a bike tyre. I took the wheel off and dropped it off with a bike specialist. They charged me £30 for a proper repair. It's been fine since.

I know others have had poor experiences with Oxford products, but my Rainseal kit has been superb. I mentioned on here a recent two 3 hour motorway journeys I had to make in appalling conditions, Oxford Rainseal jacket and Oxford Montreal trousers. I was bone dry on arrival apart from a slightly damp buff and the topmost my head where water had got into the vent. To be honest, having paid so little for the jacket I wasn't expecting great things from it, but in bad weather it is the one I know will keep me dry.

-4.2 here this morning. By the time I got up the hill it was a cheery -2.5. Living in a dip we get heavy frosts.

Yup, that's the one I have. I've found it comfortable to ride in.

Did he die when a mushroom plug failed?