What did you do WITH your bike today.

[Simon Davey]

Collected my bike today, and had a great ride out for an hour.

Leaves were all gone and the roads were dry, still lots of mud about, but that was dry, and thankfully didn't affect my riding.

 

Note to self: Summer boots and gloves are no longer practical 

 

Darn, I just love that machine, so much faffing to get it right, and it now runs like an absolute dream. Just a shame it's not more comfortable 

 

Picking up a pair of these  tyre pressure indicators from my mechanic next week, he's recommended them.

Edited November 8, 2024 by Simon Davey

[KiwiBob]

14 minutes ago, Simon Davey said:

 

 

Picking up a pair of these  tyre pressure indicators from my mechanic next week, he's recommended them.

They're no good for me! .. I'm colour blind on red/green!

[Simon Davey]

10 minutes ago, KiwiBob said:

They're no good for me! .. I'm colour blind on red/green!

 

You don't need them for that nice bike of yours, you have reliable pressures. 

It's a good job traffic lights are vertical. 

[ColinWB]

On 08/11/2024 at 18:57, KiwiBob said:

They're no good for me! .. I'm colour blind on red/green!

Snap.

 

Today's ride was the first for two weeks and all the more enjoyable for that. It was an overcast day but thankfully dry, so i took myself across the water to Argyll via Western Ferries and Dunoon, then up past Loch Eck to Strachur on Loch Fyne. On the way I passed The Coylet Inn and The Whistlefield Inn before passing The Creggans at Strachur. They are all places I keep meaning to stop at for a bite to eat, but neve have. I couldn't today because I had to get to Bishopton to watch a rugby match, of which the least said the better (you can google the result if you're interested ). Back to the ride - it was one of those days when everything went smoothly and it all clicked, no fuss, no drama, pure fun. Even going over the Rest and be Thankful the traffic lights were with me and there was only a short queue. One wee gripe though. My clothing is definitely not windproof, even through 4 layers I got cold once over the Rest and Be Thankful, not bitterly cold but colder than I expected. Any recommendations for draught excluders?

I popped though Inverclyde and on down to Largs again after the rugby, it's becoming a bit of a habit. That took me to 2080 mile in total since I got my wee bike at the end of July.

Edited November 9, 2024 by ColinWB
Geography correction.

[bonio]

A lightweight running or cycling jacket underneath your bike jacket should do the trick.

[muldoon74]

4 hours ago, ColinWB said:

Snap.

 

Today's ride was the first for two weeks and all the more enjoyable for that. It was an overcast day but thankfully dry, so i took myself across the water to Argyll via Western Ferries and Dunoon, then up past Loch Eck to Strachur on Loch Fyne. On the way I passed The Coylet Inn and The Whistlefield Inn before passing The Creggans at Strachur. They are all places I keep meaning to stop at for a bite to eat, but neve have. I couldn't today because I had to get to Bishopton to watch a rugby match, of which the least said the better (you can google the result if you're interested ). Back to the ride - it was one of those days when everything went smoothly and it all clicked, no fuss, no drama, pure fun. Even going over the Rest and be Thankful the traffic lights were with me and there was only a short queue. One wee gripe though. My clothing is definitely not windproof, even through 4 layers I got cold once over the Rest and Be Thankful, not bitterly cold but colder than I expected. Any recommendations for draught excluders?

I popped though Inverclyde and on down to Largs again after the rugby, it's becoming a bit of a habit. That took me to 2080 mile in total since I got my wee bike at the end of July.

I got a pair of Regatta "Waterproof" trousers form Sports Direct for £20..

 

I hate this saying but... Total Game Changer. 

 

Honestly act more like a wind cheater (which it seems you are after) than anything else but even with a windchill factor of -6 last February, was barely noticeable. Wasn't toasty warm but heat from the little CB125Fs engine helped keep it fairly comfortable. Nearing the end of the ride (like any other) I noticed a bit of cold along with stiffness in butt-cheeks, knees etc.. I am 50 after all!

 

Not got an equivalent jacket yet but will look in January if it looks like the weather is going to be rideable. 

 

Not going to bother with heated grips on this bike as I intend to do DAS and move up by March/April. I did however see a pair of muffs () on Infinity Motorcycles website for about £25 which may be worth a look.. 

 

I find as long as my hands are warm, other parts are tolerable. 

[ColinWB]

1 minute ago, muldoon74 said:

I got a pair of Regatta "Waterproof" trousers form Sports Direct for £20..

 

I hate this saying but... Total Game Changer. 

 

Honestly act more like a wind cheater (which it seems you are after) than anything else but even with a windchill factor of -6 last February, was barely noticeable. Wasn't toasty warm but heat from the little CB125Fs engine helped keep it fairly comfortable. Nearing the end of the ride (like any other) I noticed a bit of cold along with stiffness in butt-cheeks, knees etc.. I am 50 after all!

 

Not got an equivalent jacket yet but will look in January if it looks like the weather is going to be rideable. 

 

Not going to bother with heated grips on this bike as I intend to do DAS and move up by March/April. I did however see a pair of muffs () on Infinity Motorcycles website for about £25 which may be worth a look.. 

 

I find as long as my hands are warm, other parts are tolerable. 

I've got a decade on you . I'm growing old disgracefully doing the things I put off when I was younger and had a "sensible" head on. 

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

On 08/11/2024 at 18:41, Simon Davey said:

Collected my bike today, and had a great ride out for an hour.

Leaves were all gone and the roads were dry, still lots of mud about, but that was dry, and thankfully didn't affect my riding.

 

Note to self: Summer boots and gloves are no longer practical 

 

Darn, I just love that machine, so much faffing to get it right, and it now runs like an absolute dream. Just a shame it's not more comfortable 

 

Picking up a pair of these  tyre pressure indicators from my mechanic next week, he's recommended them.

I'm a bit of a suckered for gizmos and gadgets so I looked at those. I tend to check my tyre pressures very frequently anyway.

 

What put me off is was a comment that they work by holding your valve open so the pressure is able to register on the indicator.  But if the seal in the indicator fails then you get instant deflation of the tyre. 

 

I've had valves fail but they have always been slow leaks. If one of these fails it's another story. 

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

12 hours ago, ColinWB said:

Snap.

 

Today's ride was the first for two weeks and all the more enjoyable for that. It was an overcast day but thankfully dry, so i took myself across the water to Argyll via Western Ferries and Dunoon, then up past Loch Eck to Strachur on Loch Fyne. On the way I passed The Coylet Inn and The Whistlefield Inn before passing The Creggans at Strachur. They are all places I keep meaning to stop at for a bite to eat, but neve have. I couldn't today because I had to get to Bishopton to watch a rugby match, of which the least said the better (you can google the result if you're interested ). Back to the ride - it was one of those days when everything went smoothly and it all clicked, no fuss, no drama, pure fun. Even going over the Rest and be Thankful the traffic lights were with me and there was only a short queue. One wee gripe though. My clothing is definitely not windproof, even through 4 layers I got cold once over the Rest and Be Thankful, not bitterly cold but colder than I expected. Any recommendations for draught excluders?

I popped though Inverclyde and on down to Largs again after the rugby, it's becoming a bit of a habit. That took me to 2080 mile in total since I got my wee bike at the end of July.

I have a cheap Oxford Rainseal jacket. Not only is it 100% waterproof which was a surprise,  it is also totally windproof. On very cold days I wear it over my usual jacket and the difference is amazing. 

 

The other trick is multiple thin layers underneath your jacket. Two thin sweaters are better than one thick one. 

[Mickly]

Took my new ( to me ) bike for its first dirty ride.

A relatively easy but very overgrown green lane took it tentatively, got into it & was quite a bit quicker on the way back, it’s 10 stone lighter than my last ‘adventure’ bike & bloody hell it shows, absolutely love it.

[Fiddlesticks]

Our first real group ride (we're normally quite antisocial ) with the advanced riding crew. Not quite the outlaw motorcycle gang you might imagine, but by 'eck they're quick. Had Mrs. Fiddlesticks on the back, really had to up my game. Good fun

[rob m]

I woke up this morning in one of *those* moods. Had a cup of tea, grabbed my crash helmet and then had a couple of hours on the bike which sorted my head out. It's the best therapy.

 

It was cold today and my feet were like ice blocks. Might be my last ride this year to be honest. I’ll use the time over winter to plan trips for next year.

Edited November 12, 2024 by rob m

[muldoon74]

Left it a bit late to do the sort of ride I wanted to before the weather sets in but had a wee 57 miler to Kincardine and back home. 

 

Warm(ish) mince and onion bridie in Kincardine from Baynes. Filled a hole..  

 

Changed to thinner gloves at Kincardine but pulled over 2 miles out on way back to put thicker gloves back on. 8degrees C  but wind chill at average 50mph took it down to 2c. 

 

If I go out tomorrow it'll be 3 t-shirts under jacket (hope I can zip it shut!), windproof trousers on and a coffee/bacon roll stop built in around the halfway mark.  

 

Looking to do DAS in March/April so not sure splashing out on heated grips is worth it for this bike... Maybe a set of handlebar muffs.. 

 

Although chilled to the bone when I got home, I felt great. 2 hours of therapy for the price of getting out the house. 

 

Funny thing... For a while after (like 2 hours) I had this feeling in my brain.. Couldn't place it until I realised it was the same feeling I used to get after a long day in the hills or being outdoors. 

 

Proper endorphines, the real feel good chemicals. 

 

Hope I can get out tomorrow.... 

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

I'm using the heated gloves for the first time of this winter. 

[S-Westerly]

About to get togged up to ride it. Going home the scenic way from near Shrivenham so will go via wherever I end up. 

[Mawsley]

Had a great ride out on Friday, then took it for breakfast on Saturday. Growing to really love it.

[S-Westerly]

Had a spirited ride via back roads and ended up in Gloucester via Stow. Then discovered that what used to be a free bike park isn't  any more. There's only one left now. Annoying. 

[Simon Davey]

Well It's been planned for a good few days, today was ride-out day, just for a couple of hours this afternoon.

Plan was to nip into the moto mechanics' in Haverhill, then up to Bury St. Edmunds, then to Stansted (not the airport) to collect drugs from the vets' house, then back into Sudbury, then down to Castle Hedingham to get some locally brewed beer from a nice lady I know.

Nope, nopety nope feckin' nope, it didn't happen like that 

 

Once again, I got more than halfway to Bury, and there were enough blue lights for a blockbuster movie, and we all had to U-turn, damn! Had to then ride back into the setting sun without really being able to see properly. Forty five minutes after leaving home, I'm driving back past then end of my road, off then to vets' house, and by the time I'd got to heading for my beer, it was quite cold and just about dark, so I decided to head home.

 

All the same though, I was out for 2 hours, did a good sixty miles and returned with a stupid grin as I always do. 

After letting rip in the nationals today, I found myself saying, "what a good girl, you're so good at that"....... Maybe I need to find a human girlfriend.

Edited November 26, 2024 by Simon Davey

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

Got on it this evening and it was covered in ice. I didn't feel cold on the 40 mile trip home, heated gloves are great. 

 

The only horrible bit was salt on the visor. 

 

But getting home our drive was like an ice rink. I had to waddle the bike backwards down the slope with my feet sliding all over the place just trying to keep it upright. Fortunately it is safely in the garage. 

[curlylegend]

On 26/11/2024 at 18:09, Simon Davey said:

then to Stansted (not the airport) to collect drugs from the vets' house, then back into Sudbury

That must be one greedy bugger of a vet !  I thought these people made more than enough money without resorting to selling drugs ?

[Simon Davey]

8 hours ago, curlylegend said:

That must be one greedy bugger of a vet !  I thought these people made more than enough money without resorting to selling drugs ?

 

I'm often riding there, we have 35 horses, so there's usually one that needs treatment. 

[Simon Davey]

8 hours ago, Mississippi Bullfrog said:

Got on it this evening and it was covered in ice.

 You're a brave soul, I'd have stopped right there and gone back in for a cuppa. 

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

36 minutes ago, Simon Davey said:

 You're a brave soul, I'd have stopped right there and gone back in for a cuppa. 

No option. I was in Liverpool so had to get home.

[curlylegend]

2 hours ago, Simon Davey said:

I'm often riding there, we have 35 horses, so there's usually one that needs treatment. 

So the drugs aren't for yourself then ?  It was just the beer ?

[Simon Davey]

2 hours ago, curlylegend said:

So the drugs aren't for yourself then ?  It was just the beer ?

Yes, they won't let me take the drugs. Maybe when I get worms