What did you do WITH your bike today.

[ColinWB]

Another day another ride. I met my mate Steve at Erskine and we headed to Ayr via the back roads, which was almost a novel experience for Steve since he rides a Suzuki 650 on motorways . So I was in front so he didn't either disappear into the distance or inadvertently lead me onto a motorway. It was a pretty uneventful ride but I got two lessons.

On the road between Beith and Burnhouse there's a z bend that has a short bridge in the middle of it I took the first part correctly but didn't set up properly for the second part so ended up heading for the outside of the lane on the exit, and three deep looking dimples that I didn't fancy going through, so I drifted over to the opposite direction lane because there was nothing coming the other way - yes, I was lucky; the road was damp so I didn't fancy trying to pull tighter to avoid them in case I came off.

The second lesson was even though I was catching up on a car on the dual carriageway, it was also giving me some protection from the wind, so when I pulled out to overtake, bam, the full wind was like braking and instead of passing quickly I started going backwards relative to the car. Steve had pulled out behind me to give me some protection, knowing what was going to happen when he saw me indicate to overtake. Yes, he mentioned my two gaffs when we stopped in Ayr.

Actually, I learned three lessons. The third one was don't try to eat a doughnut on Largs sea front, the seagulls will steal them when you put them up to your mouth and the genteel locals don't appreciate the gulls being told to go fornicate elsewhere. 

Edited August 17, 2024 by ColinWB

[JRH]

Good run out today to Baffle Haus near Pontypool.  Burger and coffee was consumed.

 

Edited August 17, 2024 by JRH

[RideWithStyles]

taking up two parking spaces and the disco parking ontop of the banking? Terrible habits

[AstronautNinja]

2 hours ago, ColinWB said:

Another day another ride. I met my mate Steve at Erskine and we headed to Ayr via the back roads, which was almost a novel experience for Steve since he rides a Suzuki 650 on motorways . So I was in front so he didn't either disappear into the distance or inadvertently lead me onto a motorway. It was a pretty uneventful ride but I got two lessons.

On the road between Beith and Burnhouse there's a z bend that has a short bridge in the middle of it I took the first part correctly but didn't set up properly for the second part so ended up heading for the outside of the lane on the exit, and three deep looking dimples that I didn't fancy going through, so I drifted over to the opposite direction lane because there was nothing coming the other way - yes, I was lucky; the road was damp so I didn't fancy trying to pull tighter to avoid them in case I came off.

The second lesson was even though I was catching up on a car on the dual carriageway, it was also giving me some protection from the wind, so when I pulled out to overtake, bam, the full wind was like braking and instead of passing quickly I started going backwards relative to the car. Steve had pulled out behind me to give me some protection, knowing what was going to happen when he saw me indicate to overtake. Yes, he mentioned my two gaffs when we stopped in Ayr.

Actually, I learned three lessons. The third one was don't try to eat a doughnut on Largs sea front, the seagulls will steal them when you put them up to your mouth and the genteel locals don't appreciate the gulls being told to go fornicate elsewhere. 

I remember pretty much swinging for several seagulls in my sons defence as they dive bombed him for his food. Upon reflection it was probably pretty funny watching a man frantically flailing at cackling gulls with a sugared doughnut in his mouth 

[ColinWB]

1 hour ago, AstronautNinja said:

I remember pretty much swinging for several seagulls in my sons defence as they dive bombed him for his food. Upon reflection it was probably pretty funny watching a man frantically flailing at cackling gulls with a sugared doughnut in his mouth 

A bit like Basil Fawlty thrashing his car with bough of leaves 

 

 

Hope that's allowed?

[AstronautNinja]

6 minutes ago, ColinWB said:

A bit like Basil Fawlty thrashing his car with bough of leaves 

 

 

Hope that's allowed?

Kinda. A little more Rocky than Basil. The main similarity being both Basil and I absolutely disregarded every aspect of dignity whilst I prepared to chin a seagull 

[ColinWB]

2 hours ago, AstronautNinja said:

I remember pretty much swinging for several seagulls in my sons defence as they dive bombed him for his food. Upon reflection it was probably pretty funny watching a man frantically flailing at cackling gulls with a sugared doughnut in his mouth 

Seagulls in Skipton???

[ColinWB]

3 hours ago, RideWithStyles said:

taking up two parking spaces and the disco parking ontop of the banking? Terrible habits

Didn't have their Weetabix that morning!

[S-Westerly]

Bloody detest shitehawks. Feathered vermin that crap everywhere and make enough noise to wake the dead.

[AstronautNinja]

8 hours ago, ColinWB said:

Seagulls in Skipton???

Glorious Rhyl 

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

On 17/08/2024 at 21:45, RideWithStyles said:

taking up two parking spaces and the disco parking ontop of the banking? Terrible habits

That's nothing compared to the parking at Aintree hospital this afternoon.  Two cars, both bearing blue badges, were actually parked on the pedestrian zebra crossing. Anyone with a wheelchair or pram didn't stand a chance. 

 

Annoyingly they have no motorcycle parking but I always leave mine in the cycle area as there's never a cycle in sight. 

[curlylegend]

16 hours ago, S-Westerly said:

Bloody detest shitehawks. Feathered vermin that crap everywhere and make enough noise to wake the dead.

During the last unpleasantness with Germany my dad was in the Submarine Service.  He took a total scunner to seagulls when he was sent out to recover the bodies of victims of a submarine that encountered a mine in the Forth of Clyde. All the eyes were missing and even as they pulled the cadavers on board they had to beat off the seagulls.

[S-Westerly]

Among seaman they have a shite reputation hence their name. Rumour has it they don't always wait until your dead before having a go. 

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

An update on my Richa GoreTex gloves that weren't waterproof. Richa have replaced them. Just need a wet day to see if the new pair are any better. 

[Simon Davey]

27 minutes ago, Mississippi Bullfrog said:

An update on my Richa GoreTex gloves that weren't waterproof. Richa have replaced them. Just need a wet day to see if the new pair are any better. 

 

That was quick. 

[Fish]

Richa replaced an old Infinity jacket that leaked badly, yet meant to be waterproof. As it was new, the store kept it and I upgraded to an Alpinestars goretex.

[AstronautNinja]

15 minutes ago, Fish said:

Richa replaced an old Infinity jacket that leaked badly, yet meant to be waterproof. As it was new, the store kept it and I upgraded to an Alpinestars goretex.

Thoughts on the Alpine stars gortex?

Edited August 22, 2024 by AstronautNinja

[Throttled]

Went for a little ride. It rained a bit once, was not too windy at one point got to 14 degrees, so the height of summer.

[Simon Davey]

3 hours ago, Throttled said:

Went for a little ride. It rained a bit once, was not too windy at one point got to 14 degrees, so the height of summer.

 

14 degrees, you must have broken into a sweat......

[Fish]

On 22/08/2024 at 17:54, AstronautNinja said:

Thoughts on the Alpine stars gortex?

It's been ok, the right sleeve does get caught on the velco and has sort of ruined it.

[JRH]

As it was dry, little ride out to H’s near Oxford. It was very busy with loads of bikes.

[ColinWB]

I meant to post this on Saturday. Took the bike down to Ayr on Saturday for its first service. The forecast was for wind and occasional light showers that turned out to be gusting strong winds and frequent short heavy showers. I've driven the A78 in my car forever but still hadn't appreciated how exposed it actually is for bikes in gusty crosswinds. The middle section from Fairlie almost down to Prestwick Airport was much nicer, the sun shone, the road dried out and had a bit of shelter because it is not right on the coast like the more northern sections. Happy to say that it was an uneventful ride apart from the weather, which gentle riding coped with.

[ColinWB]

Just a shirt ride this morning because I was meeting my sons in Glasgow for beers in the afternoon. The sun was out in Inverclyde, North Ayrshire and Renfrewshire today, probably to mock us because it has been so absent for the summer that officially ends on Saturday lol. So, at 9am I was on the road down to Largs, turned left at the Haylie Brae road because it has some big z-bends on it, and over to Kilbirnie, back to Inverclyde via Brookfield, worth a mention for the haulage company Malcolm of Brookfield (I think every village in the UK has a Malcolm of Villagename franchise lol) Bridge of Weir and Kilmacolm. Beautiful ride, the z-bends were nice, though going in the opposite direction will be more challenging, going downhill with the sharpest being a left hander through 180 degrees - less road and a sharper bend than going right hand uphill - maybe next challenge.

One thing I wasn't impressed with, and never have been impressed with. Going though Bridge of Weir I spotted a car coming out of a driveway, slowed down and moved to the centre of the road, looked directly at the driver, who saw me and stopped. Good on you, mate, thought I, you were alert for bikes. Then while waiting for me to pass he started putting on his seat belt!!! Why? Just why? Seatbelt should have been on before moving. Sadly, it is all to common to see that happening.

 

edit was changing pf to of, and wh to who!

Edited August 30, 2024 by ColinWB

[RideWithStyles]

Agree but at least the mofo saw you!!!! Id rather the nobber make a mess of their faces up than mess up some innocent bystander(s) life (bikers/pedestrians). 

[Trooper74]

Went for a run out yesterday with my GSon… Me on the V Strom , he on his Aprillia Tuono ….Lovely weather, sleepy roads from Maltby to Gainsborough, turn right onto the A1133 to Newark .. a great bike road… approaching Newark services he disappears from my mirrors….. his clutch cable has snapped !  He wheeled into the services and we called Green Flag. With you in 90 minutes…. Fine. After 90 minutes… sorry running late be there soon …. 4 Hours it took them to turn up!! …. Sorry mate I can’t fix that he says …. We’ve been telling GF on the multiple calls they made that it needed a new cable.   Or recovery.. they said it would be a recovery. Then … sorry I can’t recover you, I’m nearly finished shift, I can only take it to the Newark depot … !!??!!  Gave him the keys, GSon jumped on the back of me and we went home. 
We phoned GF at 1000hrs … the bike arrived back at ours at 2230hrs ..

At least we got it back …. But the refusal to recover the bike and rider.. as detailed in the policy, is something for all of us to be aware of …

£23 for a new clutch cable … sorted … Sorry ignore that .. £48 and 3 weeks for delivery …. For A Clutch Cable !!! From Aprillia … nice bikes ..rubbish support. 

Edited August 31, 2024 by Trooper74