End of season summary .

[fastbob]

All in all not a bad biking summer considering I was still recovering from broken ribs and associated ailments . The highlights were touring Scotland in a week of perfect weather and taking part in Coventry Motofest  .  Apart from a broken throttle cable ,  all I did to the bike was put petrol in it and polish it . What's every one else been up to ? 

Edited October 22, 2023 by fastbob

[S-Westerly]

Been away for a lot of the summer. Did manage a few days in the Scottish Borders and Northumberland. Other than local pootling  than was pretty much it for me.

[Joe85]

My season kinda started in December with my trip to Paris on the GS that ended in disaster on the M20 when a fecking blizzard appeared out of nowhere and put my roll cage to good use.

 

That being said, with the right winter gear, riding on a clear day, in early morning France - superb.

 

I followed that up with an ill-fated trip to Prague in March which had me sliding down the autobahn at 60mph when the GS slid out from under me due to what I suspect was oil on the road. Following that, my S1000R (which I traded for the GS) became available again, so i made the decision to trade back (costing myself a few grand in the process ).

 

I do miss the GS, but at the same time, it really was a nightmare to commute on.

 

Looking forward to next year.  Now i have the Tuono, I may well trade the S1000R for a used 1250GS, or even a new 900GS.

 

 

 

 

Edited October 22, 2023 by Joe85

[Guest]

9 hours ago, fastbob said:

All in all not a bad biking summer considering I was still recovering from broken ribs and associated ailments . The highlights were touring Scotland in a week of perfect weather and taking part in Coventry Motofest  .  Apart from a broken throttle cable ,  all I did to the bike was put petrol in it and polish it . What's every one else been up to ? 

 

Lovely photo collage Bob

[fastbob]

So I got togged up for a quick ride around the lanes on this very pleasant Sunday afternoon and Ker Chunck , Ker Chunck , click click click .....F**k all ! Dead as a door nail . This is probably the battery terminals rather than the battery but I won't know for now because the single screw that holds the battery cover is already chewed up beyond practical use . Spent the last hour modifying screwdrivers with a Dremel but to no avail . I haven't worked out what to do yet because it's not accessible to any tools . Not a great end to the season .

[Steve_M]

My 2023 biking year wasn’t too shabby. A number of day rides around the Scottish Borders, Northumberland, North Pennines and Cumbria, plus trips to Glasgow and Norfolk to visit grandchildren (the Glasgow trips usually entail some DIY, too! ).

 

In addition we had a couple of weeks away pottering around the French and Swiss alps, the Dolomites and Tyrol region.

 

 

 

[Guest]

9 minutes ago, fastbob said:

So I got togged up for a quick ride around the lanes on this very pleasant Sunday afternoon and Ker Chunck , Ker Chunck , click click click .....F**k all ! Dead as a door nail . This is probably the battery terminals rather than the battery but I won't know for now because the single screw that holds the battery cover is already chewed up beyond practical use . Spent the last hour modifying screwdrivers with a Dremel but to no avail . I haven't worked out what to do yet because it's not accessible to any tools . Not a great end to the season .

You should get your neighbour to do it for you if you have a neighbour like mine who is good at fixing stuff.  I am going to have to learn basics myself one day though I suppose.

[fastbob]

2 minutes ago, janinej said:

You should get your neighbour to do it for you if you have a neighbour like mine who is good at fixing stuff.  I am going to have to learn basics myself one day though I suppose.

I wouldn't let my neighbour anywhere near my bike . What an odd reply . Solve a problem by giving it to someone else ? Not my style . 

[Mickly]

Late this year started my green laning trips on Zippy.

Things I have learned:

Dont go Green laning on your own 

Wear gear that will protect you against rocks, branches and walking sticks ( some times a snorkel might be a grid idea )

HS2 can do what the f*ck they like 

Zippy is a heavy bike to keep picking up 

[Bianco2564]

Started the year buying a new bike ,the Kawasaki 250 ninja, use this only for work and done around 6000 miles on it.

Said goodbye to the Silverwing scooter I'd owned for 4 years.

Attended a biker workmates funeral on the R1 in April.

Decided to garage the R1 this year and run the RGV.

Got it mot'd in May and attended the Rugby and Daventry bike shows on it, also went to a couple of bike nights at a local pub and the Long Itch diner. Took it to work twice aswell, not an ideal commuter.

To end the year I've had to stop riding and driving for 6 weeks due to an operation.

 

 

 

[Steve_M]

57 minutes ago, fastbob said:

I wouldn't let my neighbour anywhere near my bike . What an odd reply . Solve a problem by giving it to someone else ? Not my style . 

In fairness, my neighbour couldn’t screw my bike up any more than my potential for screwing it up. Which is why I have Green Flag and pay for someone else (main dealer ‘ cos no independent around here) to service it. 

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

What is this end of season thou speakest of? It's time to put the thermals back into the kit and switch to autumn gloves. Later will come heated gloves and a few more layers. 

[Gerontious]

6 minutes ago, Mississippi Bullfrog said:

What is this end of season thou speakest of? It's time to put the thermals back into the kit and switch to autumn gloves. Later will come heated gloves and a few more layers. 

 

Indeed. onward and upward. looking back isn't for me, except immediately - talking about the previous week or fortnight. I'm already looking forward to next year. Germany or France in June.  34 weeks away. and then the Eifel/Luxmbourg in September soon after that. Just need to be better prepared for this excessive heat that seems to be the new normal. Fortunately the winter sales are just around the corner so Im poised to leap into action when the summer gear gets reduced.. even further than it is already.

 

My one abiding memory of last year was a campsite on the RDGA.  Just north of Sospel. A warm night sitting outside and surrounded by a lot of flying fireflies that were flashing as the flew. Ive never seen that before, though I have seen fireflies and glowworms. these little winking green lights dancing in the air was truly magical.

[Nick the wanderer]

1 hour ago, fastbob said:

I wouldn't let my neighbour anywhere near my bike . What an odd reply . Solve a problem by giving it to someone else ? Not my style

Hi,

I wouldn't let my neighbour anywhere near anything of mine the bloke is a nob.

But to be fair she did say her neighbour was good at fixing stuff so not that odd.

Should have changed the nacked screw last time you had the battery out. 

[Tinkicker]

End of season summary...

 

Sunny day in early spring.  Got bike out, gave it a wash to remove the winter storage silicone spray from it and give it a check over in anticipation of some great ride outs with my riding buddies and days out with missus sat on back.  

Rain, rain and more rain.

Early summer.  Sunny day, checked over bike and managed probably a 20 or 30 mile ride out to get everything settled in.

Tendonitis tendonitis tendonitis.

Mid summer.  Took bike for MOT.  Brought it home.

Rain and tendonitis in ankle again.

Early Autumn.  Sprayed bike liberally with silicone spray again and tucked her up for winter.

 

Grand total.  Probably 40 miles.

 

What can I say?  I am a disgrace.   Probably a tenner a mile in running costs.

Edited October 22, 2023 by Tinkicker

[veracocha]

My first year as a biker. Started end of March doing the NC500 + clockwise with deserted roads and glorious sunshine. Did it again, anti-clockwise in September. Spent nearly every Sunday over in Wales all unaccompanied. Approximately 7k miles and three bikes in. Just ordered a garage to park the new bike up for the winter. Roll on spring 2024.

[bonio]

Didn't ride so much at the start of the year because the wife was ill. But the consolation was a trip to Germany in June and another in September, both with great weather and great company.

[megaross]

Season never ends for me, I'll be riding all winter - always have done. Though this is the first year we've done camping on bikes to extend the riding.

 

Only got in a couple of bigger ones mind - Brecons and Elan Valley to Devils Bridge stopping for a camp in Penrhiw (highly recommended) and back up then Elan Valley/ through north wales.

 

Then last month Yorkshire dales with an overnight and very hungry camp in the north after discovering the place I thought was a pub was a hotel that stopped serving food before we arrived (though thankfully they let us have a lot of beer and crisps, though in hindsight 7 pints in under 2 hours was a mistake ).

 

Back down through the north york moors with a stop in Yorkshire. That was a couple of hard 12 hour days in the saddle on windy b roads taking in spectacular views, took my arse 3 days to recover. Great ride though, such good roads up there.

 

The rest of the (for pleasure) rides have been 150-200 mile Saturday/Sunday bimbles round the Cotswolds or through wales, or down the south coast. Stopping off at scenic points to drink coffee and chill or check out weird and wonderful museums.

 

Probably going to go down to Dartmoor next month, I enjoy a winter camp anyway. Just sling the trekking sack on the bike, go exploring, park up and I'll go find somewhere to go kip down and eat beans. Don't see why not really.

[RideWithStyles]

19 hours ago, Mississippi Bullfrog said:

What is this end of season thou speakest of? It's time to put the thermals back into the kit and switch to autumn gloves. Later will come heated gloves and a few more layers. 

Already at that stage with the heated grips and heated vest on now, all toasty.

 

This year has mostly been, once a week to college, odd Day off work to ride the areas around me, some Sundays might get the loop rides of an hour or two.
so not as bad as some previous years for seat time but looking like i wont be going further a field or a track day any time soon .