Shepherd

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/351694515074?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=e7A8Jj33SRq&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=mnqEYSwIRhi&var=620659346591&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY No idea what it's like

You'll love it! My first bike was a coin toss between one of these or the Honda CB125F. I only went for the Honda for the extra seat height. It'll feel more like a 'big bike' than your current one and less tiring on longer rides out. You may want to invest in a disk lock though, it's more of a target for the scumbags. Shep

I like the idea of this. A bit far for me though, so it'd be a £500 day after travel and a room etc. I couldn't afford it, even if I could justify it

Didn't think of that Back under my rock ...

Dumb question ... should you let the bike cool down first? I've never checked how hot exhaust etc is after a few minutes, so wouldn't know if it's OK or not.

I'm glad I was pushed a little, I'm big and ugly enough to say no if I thought it was dangerous. It was just faster than I wanted, or needed, to go. The Police day was my own speed, but he was insistent on me thrashing the nuts off the bike. I was using the gears like I drove a car mind ...

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/62137c89d3bf7f4f05879a1e/how-to-get-a-motorcycle-licence.pdf

Well done peepae, now you can start learning to ride properly It feels great, doesn't it?

Went out again today, doing the same routes and thoroughly enjoyed it. The roads were almost dry instead of underwater, and it was all about me! No second pupil taking the lead. I did find I wasn't pushing it as fast as I was under instruction though, even though the roads were much better. I was happy at the speeds and positioning I had, I felt like I was 'pushing it' a little with the instructor behind me. Long day tomorrow - 3 hr Christmas shopping ride to Bicester, just cos I've never been there before Then 3 hrs back

Unfortunately, dark chocolate is the Devils own invention - never to pass my lips! I'm not a big choccie eater, so it won't be missed. Veg soup is on my list of demands, and my missus likes to make her own

Yep, sounds about right. My evening meals are pretty much the same week in week out. I blame my fussy daughter!

So, at 5 o'clock this morning, lying in bed listening to the rain, I decided you are all correct and give the gym a miss I have decided to cut down as suggested, lose the weight first and then have a go at toning things up. I don't want to be muscle bound or anything, just not tubby / fat. Where I live is not an easy place to go walking / running, it's all long straight boring roads with no option to go off track. But... my weekends are Weds /Thurs, so I can jump in the Wife's car when she goes to work, and walk straight back home again. That'll be 4 miles each time that I would never normally do. Thanks again guys, you make it sound so easy! Shep

Yep, I know it's sound advice and it's not like I eat half a loaf a day. I have cut down biscuits, I'm not a chocolate or cake lover, so there doesn't seem a lot more I can cut out. I said to swmbo not to buy the snacks for a while. If they're not there, I can't eat them. I was thinking of just using a treadmill at slightly above walking pace for the first few visits. I'm a desk jockey all day, and I hate it. Worked during lockdown for my Wife's firm delivery materials to sites and loved the manual side of it, but it was half hour of unloading and 3 hours back to base. I couldn't do labouring full time. Thanks for the common sense replies, I know it makes sense - it's just hard!

I'm going to try early morning tomorrow. I think I have more chance at 6am than 6pm. Early starts are something I quite enjoy. I've downloaded a workout plan to my phone on the Gyms app. You insert your fob in to the machine and it shows what you should be doing - weight and reps etc. and what machines to use. That'll be a help, as I tended to wander around wondering what to do next the last time I was in a gym (Pre-covid). Diet change is never gonna do it for me. I need to lose the 'tubby hubby' tag

After seeing a pic of myself the other day, I've decided to drag my sorry arse to the gym. Don't want to end up a middle aged chubster! I'm 6'1" and 14st, so not too lardy, but I could do with losing some around the face and belly. The problem is, as soon as I finished work, I just didn't have the motivation to go. It was dark, damp and none too warm. Home was also between work and gym. I don't drink much, I don't eat too much junk, but I do love my fresh bread and snacky bits. It's hard to cut them down, but I'm doing it. There must be some fitness guys/gals/inbetweeners on here that are gym users - any tips on actually getting myself in there? Shep

Thank you. I only chose this model because of it's height. I felt like a praying mantis on my 125cc. I've not seen many V's in this colour - but being called 'covert green' could be the reason Further training is definitely on the cards, but time out on the roads is something I need more of.

That's a great shout. I had one on my 125cc and didn't even think of it for the versys And it was Pyramid Plastics too. I'll get looking. Cheers for that! Shep

Outrider, not outsider Unless he's both ....

I'm not sure he could teach you anything you could do legally but the guy was a retired a royal protection / prime ministers outsider, so must have a few tricks in his topbox he could share.

I'm not sure 'enjoy' is the right description. It got hosed down this morning before my ride to work, and that'll probably be it. I'll maybe top up the ACF50 protection too. Shep

Went out with an advanced instructor for the day yesterday, as a freebie follow up to a Firebike course I did 3 weeks ago. It's no surprise to say I learnt more in 6 hours constant riding than I have in 3 years of my 4 mile dual carriageway commute I was riding around the lanes of Finchingfield, Thaxted and surrounding areas that were full of wet leaves and other crappy stuff. By the end of the course the confidence I had built up was fantastic. I would never usually straight line bends the way I was told to yesterday. I seemed to spend more time in 'posistion 4, 5 & 6' than my own lane. The poor bike went from being nice and clean that I could turn up to work on in a suit, to something that I could only hose down before putting away. Time in the saddle is definitely something I need more of, and for any new riders it's the best way to learn. Without getting in to the ROSPA / IAM argument, more training will be booked - whatever the weather. Shep

I know that feeling this month But ... I am going on an 'Advanced' training course after doing a Firebike course a week or so ago. All it's gonna cost me is brunch for the instructor

@husoi I used to be able to do this with a cd/dvd label printing program, back in the days before streaming. I'm sure there must be some freebie programs still out there. Clone cd I think it was .