Throttled

The likelihood of being caught is low, the consequences of being caught are high. In that scenario, I would not risk it.

My understanding is that insurers use actuaries to predict risk based on trends and those trends are determined by information such as the number of thefts reported. The more thefts reported, the higher the premium, as actuaries predict the insurance company will face more claims.

It was a struggle. I actually started a get fit before the pandemic, dragging myself along once every two weeks, to not much affect. I then got my COPD diagnosis, hugely delayed due to the pandemic and that kick-started the need to make an effort. Late 50s is kind of last chance saloon. I would recommend keeping a track of achievements, as that has helped a lot, by setting goals, like can I do 10 stone, my own body weight (getting more likely as I lose weight), max the machine? I do a test every six months, to see if I can increase the single maximum rep, which is not always the case. What also helps is noticing the benefits, like picking up a coffee table when my father wanted his carpets cleaning. It is huge and tiled and in the past, I could never have done that so easily. The Fortnine video has revealed another benefit I would not have otherwise noticed.

Just watched the latest Fortnine video, which is about the benefits of strength training for bikers; This matches my experience. About 18 months ago I was diagnosed with a health condition which explained why past attempts to get fit failed. I cannot do stamina work, so instead, I started to do strength training at the gym. I have done a bit in the past, but hated gyms, that were full of thugs or in far too expensive leisure centres. The present crop of gyms that have taken over retail park units, that are full of clean equipment, not too posery, have a wide range of people as members and cost mid £20 a month are great. The strength training I do, is to work out a maximum single rep and then rep 80% of that about 5 times with the arms and 10 with the legs, over four circuits, over 14 fixed weight machines, covering all parts of the body, arms, legs, back, stomach, chest. After 18 months, I added up the total lift of one session, and it came to 81,100lbs (36.2 imperial tons) or 36,786kgs. If I can do that at 57 years old, goodness knows what the scary people who do the big loose weights manage. Without bothering to cut out much food and drink, I have lost over 2 stone. My last long tour, to the Isle of Man, included two motorway trips batting very high winds. It is the first tour I have done, with no pain. No numb bum, no sore hips, back, anything. The video explains why and my experience is that the video is spot on. There are huge benefits to getting stronger when it comes to riding a bike, which is not just about being able to lift the bike back up, if you drop it. Improving core strength alone, makes sitting on the bike over longer periods easier. Highly recommended.

I definitely plan to come, but care for a relative means I cannot be definite about coming, if you see what I mean. Please book me a camping space.

Why not? Have you never seen a sheep outside in the rain?

The bike I share my lock-up with is now adorned with a new cover....

In-between the two.

Auld Clock Cafe, South of Scotland

Not the bike, the sat nav. Got it updated, which takes 3 hours. Plus, I worked out why it could not find many addresses, as it had defaulted to searching local area only.

Heated grips keep my hands warm all day. I am sure gloves would do the same. Knox cold killers make for excellent inner gloves. https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/370284

I often use the side stand to stop the engine and over the years, in various, bikes, have never had any issue related to that. I do it because I can stop the bike in gear and it cannot roll as I get off.

Dobbies, Milngavie, North of Scotland

Just curious.....going by the self scoring on the pictures thread, as of this moment.... Fiddlesticks - 370 Mawsley - 160 Throttled - 150 JRH - 70 _amw_ - 60 Bungleaio - 20 Grumpy Old Git - 20 CB999 - 20

Caldwell Garden Centre, Gourock, north of Scotland tags

That did cross my mind, but Hoggs has themes, so she would not necessarily use them all. In any case, it was quite expensive to go there and I have plenty of other places I want to tick off my list of places not yet visited.

Happy to give you six easy suggestions; Traditional Manx Cottage, Cranstal Rd, IOM, 9JRF+59 IOM Motor Museum, Jurby, IOM, 9F5H+R5 The footbridge at the Bungalow, A18, 7G2P+JP2 Cafe Bar Two Six, Airport Way, Derbyhaven, Ballasalla, IOM, 39MP+6J Peel Castle, West Quay, Peel, IOM 68G2+CM Murray's Motorcycle Museum, Main Road, IM4 1EN, IOM

Does that mean the Cafe Bar Two Six I found by accident can be used as either a two or a six? Then I get tactical and see which number makes more sense to use.

Half Moon Cafe Heysham

Last two IOM tags done

Greens Cafe and Cafe at The Sound, IOM

Manx SPCA Tearoom and the TT Grandstand

My Scottish wife is a 2nd Dan black belt and my gym sessions now total 34.5 tons of weights lifted. We have to be tough to survive the harsh winters and constant drinking.

Don't know how to post photos from my phone but got the tag at the Half Moon Cafe in Heysham and now on the Isle of Man to do the tags here. Surprised to be the only biker on the ferry and goodness knows how they deal with thousands arriving for the TT as they could barely cope with just me. They queued all the cars up first and were surprised when there was no space for me to go to the head of the queue. The bike was tied to a railing for the trip. No tie down points like Cal Mac ferries or the NI one. It's as if the staff had never seen a motorbike before.

Today I prepared my bike for a winter tour, to a place that will make @Hoggs very, very happy......