Slowlycatchymonkey

Of course after your previous performance it sounds more likely you’ll say “oh dear I dont think you should be doing that, theres some confusion over whether I’m on a trial or not and it could get you in a lot of trouble”

1 hour ago, bonio said:

So I toddled along to the vaccination place to ask for an AZ vaccine yesterday. I'd the idea that I might be able to blag myself an early second jab and be fully kosher before the 4th.

 

The nurse asked me loads of questions, like which arm, have I had any symptoms, am I allergic to stuff and so on and on and on. She then asked if I had any questions, and I wanted to know if the vaccine was Covishield (the AZ vaccine manufactured India) as the EU aren't accepting it a proper vaccine, so it's no use to me for travelling. This was a bit new to the nurse, but she kindly bustled off and showed me the packaging, but even so it wasn't clear where it had been made.

 

And then this is the moment when Fate intervened.

 

Out of the blue she suddenly asked me, "Are you on a covid trial?". And like a fool I said "yes, but no actually, no, I've withdrawn, so no not at all", but this news sent her into a bit of a panic, and after a lot of questions and a lot of words on her part that boiled down to, "I don't know what to do", she decided she wouldn't vaccinate me at all. But rather than saying *she wouldn't vaccinate me, she said she'd ask around for me to find out what to do, and she eventually fired off an email to Public Health England asking what they advised. In other words, she's going to wait until someone else steps up to take the blame for vaccinating me or not. But of course no-one in PHE is going to put themselves in that role.

 

No worries, I thought to myself, there are loads of vaccination clinics around. Try again at another place. So I made myself an appointment somewhere else for today. And I was prepped: "Are you on a covid trial?" "A trial? No, not me guv". I'd get it right this time.

 

This morning, though, I see from the NHS app that the nurse has added everything to my NHS notes, how I was on a trial, how I've withdrawn from it, and then all her doubts about what to do, including how she's waiting on a reply from PHE. So I'm sunk. With that in my notes, no-one's going to vaccinate in this country me ever ever ever. No-one's going to touch me.

 

It would all be a bit sad if it wasn't so funny. Some random question popped into the nurse's head, and I blurted out too much information, and now I'm effectively banned from travelling abroad, like someone from Soviet Russia. Funny old life.

Umm well if I was one who was comfortable with a few porkies (which I’m generally not) I might be inclined to toddle along to another appointment and say “Oh that? Thats been resolved, they rang and told me to come here and get my a jab, haven’t they updated my notes? They said I must come”  

8 hours ago, Gerontious said:

Was the most bizarre experience ever at the tunnel.  me and <20 cars. there were 5 empty carriages between me and the last car.

 

That would have made me feel uneasy!

Macron changed their rules only very recently to proof of completed vaccines and no need to quarantine. Spain doesnt seem to mind.. come on in the waters fine… with a few exceptions including coming in from an at risk country and travelling overland from France to Spain so if your planning to ride to Spain through France you’ll need to do a Covid test or prove your fully vaccinated… then come on in the waters fine

On return there is an additional ‘Test to Release’ system in place where you can pay for an extra test on day 5 on top of day 2 and day 8 and if its negative you no longer have to quarantine. Oddly enough even though a negative day 5 test will see your quarantine end you still have to do the scheduled test on day 8 anyway, go figure!

I didnt want to buy Daytona’s cos I think theyre fugly. But I tried them and of the 6 pairs of boots Ive owned so far theyre head and shoulders above the rest, comfortable and completely waterproof but breathable. The strength of the footbed saved my foot from being turned to mush when the bike landed on it. It was still a bit squished with a hairline fracture and some ligament damage but I could feel the whole bike was resting on the side of the boots very sturdy sole. Well worth every penny. Warning manky picture below. You can see the line where the foot is completely undamaged and the footbed finishes.

2 minutes ago, Pie man said:

Yep time already booked off regardless....love the west coast of Scotland, if wee Jimmy Crankie with let the Salfordians travel we might end up there -  well at least the dreaded midge might have disappeared by then. 

Saw the ‘Scotland’ sign post, crossed the border and my visor was immediately splattered with the swines!

The NHS has traditionally never provided any healthcare treatments for leisure activities apart from vaccines against communicable diseases. That is the diseases you could bring back here and spread, the ones that would harm or kill just you its always been up to you to cough up ££ for. So mention the word holiday and a GP letter you need for the airline will suddenly cost between £25-£100! Thats just the way its always been, the taxpayer doesnt fund holiday and leisure activities. I dont have a problem with that. 

Id put money on you being able to travel without quarantining by then, I’m guessing from the leaks it will be shortly. The vaccine currently works and does cut transmission, theres no variant far enough away from the original strain to cause elevated transmission in vaccinated people so I’m guessing we’re heading to no quarantine travel or at least a window of opportunity for travel around the times you’ve booked off. You have nothing to lose booking that time off, if it all goes to ratshit again the UK coast, particularly the Scottish west coast is an amazing ride.

On 08/04/2021 at 11:29, M620 said:

Did  the June 2019 Garbage Run with Nathan - had a great time

I took a multi tool, gaffer tape, cable ties, a puncture repair can of foam stuff as I had tubed tyres, and a small 12v compressor. Whenever I go on a long tour I always fit new tyres and have never (so far touch wood), suffered a puncture. If it’s any thing more serious your breakdown cover is the get out. As a guide one of the bikes taking part split a radiator

 

You will find that there is  a very varied section of bikes taking part which makes it interesting, I rode a 1979 French reg BMW R65 from Near Le Mans and met up with Nathan’s group at Lands End for the start. Just remember once you get to John O Groats you have the return journey home

 

What a lovely reply Thankyou. 
Eclectic mix is what makes this mad country worthwhile

Looking forward to kicking off LEJOG next friday

The general ministerial rumours reported in the papers (and rumours are of course always correct ) are that the majority of Europe is expected to get onto the green list by the end of June. We shall see. 

10 hours ago, husoi said:

Sad? Yes sad that in the richest country in the world people live in those conditions.

Exactly. 

Not yet in the know, but all back roads. This gives a rough idea from a previous Garbage Run, I can guess at most of them but not all. Pretty sure the hours and miles shown is not correct. 

11 minutes ago, Tiggie said:

I've got a Leather man surge. Absolutely fantastic tool, lost count of how many times it's come in useful. Its feels really well made with some serious heft to it.

 

Only bad thing is hiding how much it cost from the Wife

 

The tool that gives you “man surge” Brilliant.

45 minutes ago, Ian Frog said:

Multitool not sure but would not leave home without, Roll of gaffer tape, some cable ties, small or medium mole grips (Great emergency levers lol).

Hope that helps.

Cheers

Ian

Tape and electrical ties have been a companion for a while, wouldnt attempt kidnap without them

Afternoon. Hope you’re all well. 
My plan a couple of years ago was to do LEJOG but other things happened as is life’s way.
Now so long as Covid doesn’t mess with things it’s happening end of May. The times booked off and I have surprised myself by joining Nathan Millward’s Garbage Run, surprised because I assumed I’d be on my tod or with my husband not part of a group. TBH £295 for 8 days was a draw.

If it can’t go ahead in that format then myself and my other half will be going regardless. It’s up to 190miles a day and all back roads so “you can be riding for up to 7 hours a day” I like it because there’s a start n stop destination, you have a route but no obligation to ride in a group, you can “do your own thing”

Training will commence in earnest as soon as we’re allowed out.

My version of mechanical cover is road side assistance but in the highlands I think a puncture repair kit and a multi tool are sensible to carry. Over the years if any roadside disasters have unfolded some kindly person has always stopped to help and I’ve discovers they can’t do much if you don’t have the right kit
 

Leatherman seem to be the premium name that keeps popping up but I’m bored of looking at multitools when I don’t know what I’m looking for? Any opinions on best multitools or puncture repair kits? Is there anything else you’d consider essential?

3 hours ago, husoi said:

Because this is a subject very close to my heart and I decided that I want to share how random people have the hearth the size of a blue whale.

 

 

What would you do?

Nice and sad Husoi

1 hour ago, husoi said:

I don't think my washing machine works miracles...  

You would have to see what condition they were.

Later will finish it with a jetwash to remove all the soap and give a final clean.

Next step is to care for the leather jacket and trousers.

Good luck with that! 

12 minutes ago, husoi said:

During 3rd wash (current) both are still black and red.

What is coming out is the reflective layer on the stripes.

 

I'm not sure the guy wasn't swiping chimneys with them 

I wash mine in the machine, not often though just when muddy, turned inside out and zipped up. Seems to do the trick. I’m definitely too lazy for three hand washes in a bath! 

5 hours ago, husoi said:

Not directly related to bikes...

 

1st wash on waterproofs

 

 

I promise you, the water is a lot darker than it looks 

 

2nd wash, and yes, I turn on the jacuzzi 

 

2nd wash this morning, again photo looks better than really is.

 

Is it dye coming out as well as dirt?

21 hours ago, Six30 said:

think they are building a new road there , dual carriage way to improve it.

It’s got a lot of people very hot under the collar, if they just give the stones to wales that would finish the argument

I don’t mind that roads a nightmare

The cocoon sleeping bag arrived and its bigger than my tent well not quite but it’s at least double the size (when compressed) of a normal sleeping bag and blimey it’s packed in that bag tightly. Size n shape wise I don’t think it’s going to be an issue so for £45 I’m going to keep it, give it a run out and then I’ll know if a future upgrade is needed whether a cocoon will do. Going to have to get/make a slightly bigger bag though. Only downside I can see is I feel like a caterpillar in a children’s book!

32 minutes ago, keith1200rs said:

Did you ever manage to get one of the new base plates?  I have tried a couple of times to contact Feridax but not received any reply.  No Shoei dealers seem to list the part you mention.

My local helmet city have always been able to get me helmet parts in that aren’t listed on their website but unfortunately going into one and having a chat is off the cards at the moment until the 12th April (assuming the next phase goes ahead). Worth remembering though cos no p&p and a bimble to pick up something mobike related is always good. 

1 hour ago, Mr Fro said:

You're making massive assumptions again.

 

I don't have an opinion per-se as I don't have any direct experience* or data. You from your own admission also have no experience or data yet are slating a system you know nothing about.

 

It's been demonstrated to you here that the system has significantly less of an intrusion than conventional mirrors yet you still say the system is worse.

 

You keep saying "they have not done their consultation adequately". How do you know this? From a couple of grubby pictures and videos from the internet?

 

Let me tell you, if I employed the same tactic in my line of work, I'd be laughed out of the room and branded a f*ckwit for all eternity.

 

*I have actually driven a tractor-trailer but that was a looong time ago.

Let’s not get our knickers in a twist. Tbh Im at a loss as to why everyone’s so angry, if don’t have an opinion what’s your problem here? 

But back to the semantics everyone’s caught up in. 

I said if there’s a blind spot they didn’t do an adequate consultation because that could have been fixed before general release. Can’t that in your mind even be a possibility, are there no ifs? You’re not even entertaining the idea there could be a blind spot?

I agree they are definitely a couple of grubby pictures from the internet and I have said all along “if they’re not lying” so I’ve acknowledged what they are but no matter how you slice it up it you have to acknowledge there’s a possibility it’s true. 

The point in posting is discussion. If you want facts before anyone says anything then the whole threads gone, including the majority of peoples posts you dont seem to be picking at. 

All of these comments and opinions including yours are at best anecdotal evidence, not fact. 

It doesn’t matter if you have a degree in engineering, it doesn’t matter if you have much experience driving a bus it doesn’t matter if you’ve been a lorry mechanic, it doesn’t matter if you’ve looked at some pictures it’s still all just opinion and anecdotal evidence, not a single established research based fact. 

Most discussion are just that, almost nothing on this forum is research based fact, far from it. I’m more than happy for the cameras to be brilliant but I also reserve doubt for the chance they are not and that they could have a blind spot and if there is thats.. genius. 

Have I done something to offend you personally cos covertly calling me a f**kwit is pretty damn rude. 

I’m hoping the * stating you drove a tractor and trailer once is just an attempt at humour because I’m sure someone fact driven wouldn’t be adding a personal experience in as if it was relevant. 

Perhaps the mods should consider closing this thread before it descends any further down a rabbit hole, assuming they’re able to step back and see that this has gone too far. 

My dad never test rides his bikes. I don’t get it but that’s probably because I can’t cos I’m too short and need to sit on the bike to know if it’s going to be a good fit.