S-Westerly

Sad but true. I went more than 30 years without a bike. Do I regret it now? Yes I do but at times I just could not justify it and at other times I either couldn't afford one or had other interests which just left no time in my life for a bike.

Too true. My son has a full bike licence but his wife is not keen on them so has extracted a promise from him not to buy a bike until his children are at least 10. Currently 1 and 0.

When I fly I have an over the ear set of noise cancelling headphones. Otherwise the noise is appalling. As to riding a bike I find it quite uncomfortable without plugs. Hence my moving on to custom plugs. Still waiting for them. Another week at least.

As someone who is now 63 (sigh) I'm not planning on hanging up my lid anytime soon and as I don't have a garage I do little of my own maintenance. I don't commute so I don't have the bike as a means of necessary transport. Its a pure hobby for me and yes its not cheap. But then many hobbies are not. My other hobbies are game fishing - pretty expensive, skiing ditto, and deep sea sailing also ditto. Sadly I'm not rich either so I make sacrifices for my fun. At least motorbiking you can make cheaper by the right choices if you want to.

Says UK but so far as I'm aware it's England only?

Sounds about right for France - government introduces new law - citizens object and have massive rally or riot - government changes mind. Perhaps we need to get some hints on this side of the Channel?

Is that the 19mm chain? Looks like mine if it is. Weighs a ton but solid as f**k.

It was my wife on the kids' policies as the named driver and it was considerably cheaper. As I've never owned a car I'm just a named driver on her policy so adding me to it would have probably caused the premium to go sky high.

Last week when the sun was shining and it looked like spring had sprung there were loads of bikes out. Now we're back in anti-cyclonic gloom not so much.

We did the same but wasn't there some fuss a few years back about this and it supposedly being illegal?

Never worked 9 to 5 in my life. Bad enough when I was going to college but ensured I'd never be tempted by a shore based job. 40 years on I haven't. Quite looking forward to retirement though now.

I travelled from Stroud to Worcester to the Ducati dealer there. Distance of about 35 miles and no problems. One thing I did have going for me is my bike is the only vehicle I actually own so technically its essential.

Okay, I can get the highish premium on age and without any no claims. Car is pretty bog standard too but quadrupling overnight is really crap. If its any consolation my kids insurance dropped quite a lot once they made 26 but at 25 my son was paying just over £2000 for a SEAT.

Back in the day when I had to keep watches (sort of split shifts 12 to 4, 4 to 8 and 8 to 12 morning and night) my favourite was 12 to 4, especially the early morning one. Never had any trouble staying awake nor of sleeping through the day. In happier times my favourite form of fishing is night fishing for sea trout, dusk to dawn. Really haven't issues with night shifts.

That seems a bit excessive unless you're really young and wanting to drive a hot hatch or similar!

Yeah I saw where someone from Walton got done for going to Crosby! Apparently the chief Constable cancelled the fine which was big of him given its not much more than walking distance and certainly an easy cycle ride. Also recently read some scientific expert opined that the chances of catching covid outdoors is really low. Most transmission (outside of care homes and hospitals) is thought to be from supermarkets apparently. What a surprise.

The mind boggles!

Gloucestershire seem okay although local reports have them stopping folks from outside. Seem strictest in the touristy bits of the Cotswolds and the Forest of Dean. Personally I've never had an issue.

HST was a bit of a contradiction in terms by modern standards at least. Was well to the left in politics yet a fanatic about guns and a member of the NRA. Shot himself through the head at 67 and had his ashes shot out of a cannon. He was a difficult man to pigeon hole and in these days of identity politics pretty unidentifiable!

What is a "Biker Cafe"? What defines one? Been to a few in my time where if you weren't local were made to feel as welcome as a pig in church.

Some decent kit there. Tempted by the 209 litre drum of engine oil. Keep me going for the rest of my life and then some! Seriously though some decent kit, passed the link on to my son in law who's the K1600 owner.

Sure am.

Not a problem I have. With the slope on which I have to park the bike when it's on the centre stand the back wheel is about an inch off the ground.spinnig it is no problem. Wedge a cobble stone under the wheel when not doing anything.

I've ridden from Barnard Castle to Stroud in temps of 2C on a single charge. I did invest in the larger batteries but they still fit in the cuff of the gloves. The smaller ones are my reserve. So total on road time at motorway speeds was 4 hours.

Have to say my heated gloves have been great. Not had cold fingers since I got them and as they are "smart" the batteries last for a decent length of time except in the very coldest conditions.