Mississippi Bullfrog

My worst ride was a January trip from Chester to Anglesey via Birkenhead. It was heavy snow and visibility was horrendous. Going along the A55 there was no traffic and I was having to ride the white line down the edge of the road to see where I was going. It was a lonely place to be, I kept thinking that if I ditched it no-one would find me until to was too late. When I got to Conwy the snow cleared and the temperature plummeted. I stopped at a cafe and found my left glove had frozen to the handlebars. It took a pot of coffee to defrost it but it was still soaked and bitterly cold. I got to the outdoor centre at Plas Menai after midnight and spent an hour in a hot shower trying to get warm again. I rode over Glencoe once - and once was enough. Me and mate found another rider huddled behind a wall suffering with hypothermia. We got him going again - and down at the bottom found a police roadblock telling us the road was closed due to the weather. We'd obviously got through at the other end before they closed it. No wonder it was so quiet up there.

The AA one is the same as my Halfords one. But the AA version is way cheaper on Amazon than Halfords sells them for.

Fortunately yes. But it still buggered up my day.

Checked the tyres as I always do and found a nail in the front. It's done less than 500 miles from new. Not a happy bunny.

I generally see them hanging off some battered Chinese 125 or scooter in supermarket car parks. They are bought by people who have no idea and don't care. So long as it makes them legal that's enough. If you spot one of these riders returning to their bike you will note the absence of gloves, boots, and any form of protective jacket or trousers.

Maybe it was shot?

Look at any biker meeting and the vast majority are old farts like me. The generation who realised sports bike are uncomfortable. The manufacturers are making bikes for the people who are buying them. A few of my mates getting back into bikes bought sport models and then got rid within a few months.

Or very much like their motorbike - they spread particles everywhere.

My winter project, a Solo dinghy I was given in much need of some TLC. The deck has delaminated in parts but nothing too drastic.

You want a Triumph Bobber then. It doesn't tick any of the other boxes but the riding position is similar to a good sit on mower.

I think you are obliged to inform the DVLA by law as the colour is recorded on the V5. So I'd tell the insurance just to make they don't have a loophole to get out of any claim.

All toddlers are walking germ warfare spreaders. And it continues through to primary school. Years ago we lived in a newtown estate outside Warrington. New people (ie new infections) were always moving in. I was ill almost the entire time we lived there.

Not at that price, but perfectly adequate for the job.

I broke it Our drive is a bit of a slope and the Honda fell off the side stand. The clutch lever and adjuster and hand guard are busted. The lever and adjuster come to a whopping £9.26 to replace.

Oooo...I've just remembered. Years ago we bought a huge Cabanon frame tent. So massive we never actually used it. We bought a caravan instead as it was smaller and easier to handle. I'm sure we've still got it somewhere.

Nah, what could possibly go wrong with a wee bit of wind? Anyway, we live in a dip at the bottom of a hill both sides with a whole forest of trees on the side of the prevailing wind. Any wind just goes right over us. As does the mobile reception, the TV signal, radio transmissions.

I have a project - which would just about fit in my garage but it would be a squeeze and the mess would be a major hassle. So I am thinking of buying one of those heavy duty fabric garage/workshops. Having looked at several the Clarke one from Machine Mart seems the best quality for price. They are actually cheaper than buying direct from Clarke. This one would fit https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-cig81015-heavy-duty-instant-garage---da/ Has anyone had any experience of them? I reckon it will be about a year or so that I need it.

I've never been to the Scoth Piper though we used to live not far away. Wednesday evening is my sailing night so not much chance of getting there during the summer. Do they meet over the winter? Old Stores bike night stops in the winter I think.

This morning I am going to look at a new (to me) boat. When the best sailor in our club told me he'd stopped sailing Lasers when he was 30 as by then he was too old to handle one it made me think. I'm 62 and still battling it out in my Laser. Every race is getting more and more painful. So I have got to the stage of accepting I need a boat suited to the more mature gentleman. One you sit in rather than hanging out of the side of.

I see on the news that boffins think may be near discovering a fifth force of nature.. They clearly haven't met my wife.

Same engine as the Bobber ..... but the Bobber's exhaust is a tad bit louder!

I have a cheap Oxford over jacket. So far it's been 100% waterproof. I think it's the Rainseal type - about £35.

I know a few guys who use them and find them fine. I tried some but they just fall out of my ears. I do have large ears though, plus the little tab is tricky to get hold of with my trunk. The thing is we all get fixated on ear plugs but they are only a part of the solution when it comes to noise. In my experience the bike itself makes the biggest difference. Then the combination of helmet and what sort of neck gear you wear. Wind noise is mostly coming up from your neck area. I always wear a skull cap to help keep the helmet lining clean, then I wear a buff with the back edge of it pulled up over my ears so it overlaps the cap. That makes a massive difference as it creates a continous layer from my neck over my ears so there's nothing to create turbulence.

'Tis a lovely sunny dry morning here. So of course I am at work all day.

Living in the middle of nowhere ULEZ isn't an issue for me but out of curiosity I put our cars and both my bikes through the online check. Apparently my 2006 CBF500 isn't compliant. But then on the CBF500 Facebook page there was a guy who had got his CBF500 through the ULEZ system so he doesn't need to pay any charges. So I asked his how come his bike passed when mine didn't as they are same model and year. Apparently with bikes you can ask the manufacturer for a certificate that shows that the NOS level is below the threshold and then Transport for London will clear the bike for use in the ULAZ zone. Just in case anyone has a bike that is showing up as not compliant on the online checker - don't give up, you may be able to obtain a certificate of exemption. Honda provide one for free, after that they are £150 so don't lose the original.