Throttled

I forgot to mention that the zip on storm guard for the neck is very effective.

Now tested in hours of heavy rain and it is totally waterproof. The cuffs and ankles have long Velcro adjustment that means a tight seal and no leaking.

After plugging a tyre, it is perfectly normal to have a little bulge afterwards.

Yes; https://metro.co.uk/2022/09/08/three-areas-called-dull-boring-and-bland-named-trinity-of-tedium-17322748/ "The union of three areas named ‘Dull’, Boring’ and ‘Bland’ has apparently made things much more exciting for locals. Dull, a village in Perthshire, Scotland was paired with the town of Boring in Oregon, US in 2012. Five years later, people in a town called Bland in New South Wales, Australia, decided they wanted in on the act. Ever since then, they have been informally known as the ‘Trinity of Tedium’."

The ride up was in heavy rain, then I pitched my tent in the dry, which was opposite to what the forecast had said. I bailed out to friends in Inverness, but the big storm never really materialised, again contrary to the forecast. I still got three days good riding and 9 tags.

My attempt at completing the North of Scotland failed, due to storm Agnes. I bailed out a day early from the campsite in Dingwall.

Naughty Place name, as in silly and a bit rude

North of Scotland Callander Crags (road to car park closed) St Fillans Golf Club Glen Lyon Post Office The Storehouse Evanton Tall Pines Logie Steading Boogie Woogie Motorgrill

That is a brilliant idea. I have a now unused ground anchor at the front of the house, which will be a nightmare to remove. It also means the chain can be suspended off the ground.

My first big bike, a KLE500 had a range of about 130 miles and then physically switch to a reserve tank that was only supposed to be about 10 miles. That was a pain and required planning the first time I did the North Coast 500, which was pre the introduction of 24 hour pay by card fuel pumps.

I was at a charity ride out, over a weekend, where one of the riders had a Harley like that and she did not ride with the group on the longer runs, because she could not make it between the fuel stops.

My last pair of gloves had a feature, I did not realise what it was till recently. Palm sliders. I would never now buy a glove without them. They are designed to stop the glove gripping the tarmac and prevent them wearing through.

Got a trip up north planned, to complete the north of Scotland. Spotted an AA box on the A836 near Bonar Bridge, so can I claim 10 points for that? "By special request the three AA Sentry Boxes that @oldgrump didn’t get last year have been rolled over to this year. HOWEVER there is no additional bonus for getting these three (just your standard 10 points per box)."

Some sort of silicone glue, rather than superglue, makes sense, as silicone glue is more forgiving and less likely to get all over the place. I have gone with "K2 High Temperature Silicone 350°C Red Tube 85g", based on Amazon reviews, but it was cheaper to buy off ebay.

The Oxford heated grip, left-hand side, spins, the glue has clearly given up. Any recommendations?

Jacket - https://www.revitsport.com/gb_en/motorcycle-jacket-poseidon-3-gtx-black Trousers - https://www.revitsport.com/gb_en/motorcycle-pants-poseidon-3-gtx-black Dutch brand Rev'it!, who I had never heard of when I went into Infinity Motorcycles in Glasgow to replace my 11 year old Hein Gericke goretex jacket and trousers, produce a wide range of kits, from mid to high end prices. The Poseidon 3 jacket and trousers cost a cool £1330 with a small discount as I had some vouchers from past purchases. At least, this purchase gives me vouchers that I can use to replace summer gloves for pretty much nothing. I am 6'2", weigh 15 1/2 stone and fitted the 3XL jacket and 2XL trousers. Being a Dutch brand, I fitted the regular length. There is also short and long, long being for those tall Dutch men, short for anyone under 6'. The jacket is slightly loose without the thermal liner and had enough space with the thermal liner for another thermal layer. Slightly loose helps summer venting. Since the jacket and trousers are laminated goretex rather than a goretex lining, opening the huge chest and leg vents means air gets through to the inside without interruption. For cold weather, there is a storm collar that zips round the neck. The cuffs have large velcro straps to get a very tight fit. Smaller vents in the upper arms and back and a clip so the collar can be held open, allow lots of air flow. The front pockets are huge. The two lower ones have two stud clips, flaps and no zip, that allow a hand to pushed inside without having to open them. The chest one has a zip. There is a huge back pocket that I keep the storm collar in, but it could much more, that has a flap and velcro. The left sleeve has a pocket at the cuff, handy to keep a bank card. Inside there is a pocket for a wallet that means the zip does not need to be undone and if the zip is undone, there are two more large pockets. There are supposed to be waterproof, as all are inside the goretex lamination, but I cannot confirm that, yet. There is a short and long option to zip jacket to trousers. The short one is easy, the long one requires assistance or zip it up and then put it on. Protection ratings for the outer fabric and armour (only the back protector is not standard and it is available for £40) are good. I cannot review that, or how good the small reflective strips are. This is a hot weather review, after a day's ride in 20 to 27 degrees, with a long stretch stuck in traffic. With every vent open, the heat was tolerable at creeping speeds and at anything over 30mph, the airflow was fine. By the end of nearly 4 hours, my tee shirt was not sweaty. The main vents are flaps on the chest and thighs that can be unzipped for a bit of airflow, or the velcro undone and the flap pulled back and clipped into place. My lower arm got warm, as even with short cuff summer gloves, as not much air gets up the cuffs and my back, where the body armour rests against it. The skin is against a thin lining that is see through, which does stop skin sticking to the fabric. The fabric itself feels stiff and it gets very warm, but the kit is black. Maybe the lighter colour scheme would be better? I don't know. I was less sweaty than when I would ride in the heat in the Hein Gericke, goretex lined jacket and trousers. At motorway speeds, all vents open, the airflow was brilliant and there are adjustable straps so it does not start to flap about. Hopefully this will last like my Hein Gericke did, which means it will see me till I am nearly 70 years old!

South Scotland tags at Ayrshire Food Hub Dumfries House Lodge Culzean Castle Two more pubs, equine, the White Horse Wildcard, the Fox and Willow

I have a gel seat, and still use the airhawk!

Having tried lots of bikes and seats, Airhawk is the only long term touring fix that works for backside discomfort. How are you with your hips and knees? I lowered the pegs on one bike and that stopped a lot of discomfort.

The lining in my 11 year old Hein Gericke jacket has frayed. The velcro at the neck and wrists has always been a bit too short and I am fed up with damp wrists and neck. So, it has been replaced with a Rev'it! Poseidon jacket and trousers. Dropping not far off what I paid for my first bike is scary, but the Hein Gericke was expensive at the time and lasted years of daily use in all weathers. I don't commute on the bike any more, so this should add years to the kit. At least I get vouchers worth enough to replace my ageing Frank Thomas vented summer gloves for free. I am looking forward to having laminated goretex, the jacket and trousers not taking hours to dry and vents that do not have a lining in the way. The far longer velcro on the wrists and an optional storm collar should eliminate getting soaked.

I see @Fiddlesticks had a pillion. In the past, pillions could also get points, Throttled Jnr picked up a few when he would come out with me.

Me too. I was genuinely nervous about such a big ride out and camping, after a large gap. I feel far more confident after getting a big ride a few weeks ago, when I was able to get away. I now need to get the camping kit out and even watched a video last night to remind myself how to put the tent up. It is only now, after a getting a big ride under my belt (five days getting as far north as the tip of Lewis in the outer Hebrides) that I have realised just how out of practice I was to and to what extent I had lost my nerve. Littlecat is right, between personal circumstances and the knock on effect of the pandemic and not riding much, I am not too surprised this year's rally has a smaller attendance. Well done for all those who do go, and GOG for organising it. I will move heaven and earth to ensure I can come to next years.

I am getting new textiles and spent time at Infinity and J&S trying on various jackets and trousers. Sizing is a joke. A 2XL jacket from Dainese just about fitted, but I needed help to get it off. I know the staff say fit needs to be snug to keep armour in the right place, but sorry, I plan to need the armour 0.0001% of the time and to keep me safe, I prefer a looser fit. That way my movements are not restricted and I can layer up in winter (which gives a snugger fit) or have better ventilation in summer (so I get less tired, hot and bothered). So long the knee armour is not at my shins, it will do. I recommend a looser fit, with the exception of leathers for racing/track days, where accidents are far more likely and speeds high, so that is the time for a snug fit.

My nemesis road is Glen Garry. It either rains, is freezing or chocked with traffic. Glen Coe on the way up north was so busy, I twice came to a halt as tour coaches tried to fit into the lay-bys.