the midlands rideout to wales

virus · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Aug 2006 Karma :

well we met at malvern at 9, me and matt bumped into each other on the way and had a little race there, nick was already there with his new tarty speed four, and colin and alex finally got there after missing the turn a few minutes later Laughing

Alex working out a route and colin being confused by my pannier.
https://img237.imageshack.us/img237/1685/s8000584wq2.th.jpg
So off we went, nick on his new speed four, me on the cg, matt on his hire bike sv650, colin on his tt600 and alex was off in the distance on his fireblade. We went towards leominster, then through onto ryader, I would recommend the A44 to anyone, the corners are fantastic and theres some very nice scenery too.

Piss stop on the way to rhyader.
https://img237.imageshack.us/img237/8835/s8000585zn1.th.jpg

So after a quick piss and a chat, plus a few tips from colin and alex on how to get around corners faster we set off again towards rhyader, amazing roads, hairpins, sweeping up and downhill bends. Really raised my confidence on the bike thats for sure.

Parked up outside the cafe in rhyader. (colin decided to park lone ranger style, in a bush)
https://img462.imageshack.us/img462/5384/s8000587kp9.th.jpg
so we sat down and had a bite to eat in the cafe at 12, alex continued to plan a route therough the elan valley, devils bridge and back via bulith wells, whilst the rest of us warmed up, thinking this was the coldest it would get
Rolling Eyes

https://img168.imageshack.us/img168/2900/s8000588wk5.th.jpg

On we went through the elan valley, untill we got to the second dam, so whilst we had a look around and planned ahead, Colin went for a wander (im sure matt will put up pictures soon Laughing

)
And me and the Cg did a bit of off roading, (videos courtesy of matt at some point)

https://img467.imageshack.us/img467/5997/s8000590kp2.th.jpg
Then we set off again, through the mountain roads to devils bridge, testing the suspension of all the bikes and the waterproofing of everyones gear. almost killed a few sheep (suicidal i tells ya) and then we headed back to leominster. everyone filled up (exept me) at beula(?) and had a piss and a drink, we were soaked through but still in a good mood.

Then off we went again, only stopping to fill up the cg after i hit reserve on a tight bend on the a44. Then alex and colin went there seperate ways at leominster, matt me and nick went flying down to worcester until we got caught in a slow moving tailback, nick disapeared somwere around bromyard, and me and matt went on to worcester.

All in all a great rideout, And to anyone thinking that a 125 cant keep up, ask colin, he just couldnt loose me in the twisties Laughing

The route we tookhttps://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=Malvern+Link,+Great+Malvern,+United+Kingdom&daddr=leominster+uk+to:rhayader+to:tregaron+to:Builth+Wells,+Powys,+United+Kingdom+to:leominster,+uk&mra=pr&sll=52.190772,-2.969055&sspn=1.20724,2.570801&ie=UTF8&z=9&om=1

Cheers
John
____________________
own: 81 xs1100g...
owned: 85 rat CG (sold), 91 GS500e (stolen), 84 gsx400f (scrapped), 81 z250 (siezed, siezed, scrapped), 83 cb250rs (sold), 84 gpz750r ratfighter (killed) 84gpz400 (sold), '80 cb650 ratfighter (wrote off) 95gsx6/12f ratfighter (killed) 91 xj900 (sold)
stinkwheel Well I just had my hands up a pigs fanny. Which makes your concerns pale into insignificance.

Matt06 · World Chat Champion Joined: 18 Nov 2006 Karma :

It was an awesome day. Had a bit of everything. And yeah, 125 kept up when we got the the gravel roads. They were scary. Felt sorry for Nick on his new bike Laughing

.

Virus, I didnt know we were racing to Malvern Shocked

? We were going half the speed I usually do along there Laughing

.

I had lots of fun and im pretty sure my riding is loads better now aswell. Trying to keep up with Alex when I was behind him was fun, hes like a bullet Mr. Green

. Must do it again some time. And nice to meet you guys for the first time.

Anyway, my pictures....

First pic I took of our bikes outside the cafe. Waiting for all day breakfasts, bacon and sausage sandwiches. Colin parked under a bush under a PRIVATE PARKING sign Rolling Eyes

.
https://img488.imageshack.us/img488/4743/1609071153ag8.jpg

Elan Valley pictures. Nice weather up to and including this point. Got stung by the Welsh rain not long after we left Elan Valley.
https://img488.imageshack.us/img488/8782/1609071304bn2.jpg

Bit of Nicks finger in this... Twisted Evil

https://img153.imageshack.us/img153/9895/1609071311an3.jpg

Some scenery pictures....
https://img138.imageshack.us/img138/2651/1609071305bc2.jpg

https://img138.imageshack.us/img138/5900/1609071306br2.jpg

https://img488.imageshack.us/img488/1870/1609071307zo9.jpg

Colin decides to go for a little walk...
https://img138.imageshack.us/img138/7172/1609071308jb4.jpg

He ends up sitting waaay up there. If it wasnt for the Rossi Rep gear, you might not see him Cool

. Sorry, my finger this time.
https://img153.imageshack.us/img153/1796/1609071313sd5.jpg

More scenery.
https://img488.imageshack.us/img488/1033/1609071320ad4.jpg

https://img153.imageshack.us/img153/1949/1609071321ga2.jpg

https://img153.imageshack.us/img153/815/1609071330zi4.jpg

Nicks sexy new Speed Four...
https://img488.imageshack.us/img488/8633/1609071322nb0.jpg

Cool picture of it.
https://img488.imageshack.us/img488/6554/1609071316tl4.jpg

Last picture taken by me just before the gravel road.
https://img138.imageshack.us/img138/2120/1609071439mn0.jpg
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Phoenix · Twisted Firestarter Joined: 01 Aug 2002 Karma :

ram_doom · World Chat Champion Joined: 25 Mar 2006 Karma :

Looks like a nice ride out Laughing

read a few familiar names in there, like Beulah, Rhayader, and Devil's bridge, so you must've enjoyed some very good roads and scenery.

When you doing another one? Mr. Green

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TL1000s, KDX200

Matt06 · World Chat Champion Joined: 18 Nov 2006 Karma :

Not sure when, but I'll defo be up for it.
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neatbik · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Karma :

ok, my pics

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y205/slider2/avon053.jpg
Taken from the cafe upstairs window

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y205/slider2/avon054.jpg
Parked up in the elan valley

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y205/slider2/avon071.jpg
john does some off roading cg125 styleeeee

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y205/slider2/avon072.jpg
a bit more off roading

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y205/slider2/avon070.jpg
and a bit more..

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y205/slider2/avon060.jpg
colin goes for a walk

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y205/slider2/avon061.jpg
see if you can spot colin Laughing

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y205/slider2/avon055.jpg
a dam!

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y205/slider2/avon063.jpg
and finally a shameless shot of my bike Embarassed

Thanks again guys, i had an ace time, even if it did get cold and wet..but thats wales i guess Rolling Eyes

Alex, you are an awesome rider, you and colin just disapeared most of the time, even on those wet gravelly singletrack roads.. At times all i could see in the distance was colins bright leathers Laughing

Colin was a great help in explaining some riding techiniques, very very helpfull Thumbs Up

Matt was just good to hang out with, really chilled out like everyone else really and quite fast on that 33bhp sv650.
John provided some comedy value offroading the cg, even if you didnt attempt the river crossing Wink

, plus he flung that cg round those twisties at sometimes quite an alarming rate Shocked

Im def up for another rideout soon, maybe along the a422 to stratford or something?
Thumbs Up

colin1 · Captain Safety Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Karma :

it has to be said, that no one thought john could get it up the little bank, and he did it

nice ride, nice pics, it was good getting to know you all (though i already know alex)

sods law that we get rain after weeks of sunshine, the last few miles in rain were a slog, but worth it for all the bits before

johns use of his cg125 riding with us on the road, and going offroad, have inspired me to maybe take my ttr250 out on road rideouts and maybe do some offroading in wales or similar places. Altbough to be honest i dont think i could have kept up the pace on a smaller bike as well as John did.

I got the feeling that alex would have preferred to have been on a faster paced rideout, but one of the last rideouts he went with were people from his work, some of whom are ex-racers and that was a bit too fast.

I quite liked it that i was about middle speed, so I could ride with the fast ones for a bit or ride with the slower ones for a bit.

It made me think i should get out to mid wales more often and not just rely on planned rideouts to get me off the sofa.
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colin1 is officially faster than god

McGee · O RLY? Joined: 24 Jun 2005 Karma :

So people, whats Colin like in person Laughing

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Its pronounced Jixxer!

neatbik · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Karma :

Colins ace Laughing

Anytime any of you lot want to head into wales again i'm up for it, i'll just make sure i dress warmer Thumbs Up

colin1 · Captain Safety Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Karma :

nick is more ace than me, although i did suggest he take the pic of his speed four from that angle as it was catching the light nicely (which makes me fairly ace)

as i had panniers on my bike, i could have actualyy brought waterproofs and warm clothing quite easily ( but i didnt)

in some ways though i think the weather did us a favour as the roads werent too busy, so we didnt have to do much overtaking
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colin1 is officially faster than god

neatbik · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Karma :

i was a bit slow to be honest, i think it was a combination of having a new bike and later being wet and very cold - im all snuffly again today, i think my colds coming back with a vengeance

neatbik · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Karma :

i was a bit slow to be honest, i think it was a combination of having a new bike and later being wet and very cold - im all snuffly again today, i think my colds coming back with a vengeance

Matt06 · World Chat Champion Joined: 18 Nov 2006 Karma :

Matt06 · World Chat Champion Joined: 18 Nov 2006 Karma :

colin1 · Captain Safety Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Karma :

To be honest i think it wd be dangerous to try to keep up with alex a lot of the time as he knows what hes doing.

I know my limits.

Id prefer ppl ride within their limts than try to keep up with someone a bit faster.

Its good to push it a bit sometimes on the tail of someone faster, but its also good to not try too hard.

Not only was alex quicker on the fast roads, he was quicker on the wet fine gravel on the road after tregaron where we were going 10mph to 20mph for a few miles, where his big heavy bike shd have put him at a disadvantage.
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colin1 is officially faster than god

virus · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Aug 2006 Karma :

it was a great ridout, deffinatley will do it again,

Glad i held my own, on and off road Wink

try keeping up with me on mud alex Laughing

oh and colin is cool, even if its just for the comedy value of seeing a blue and yellow dude wandering around a river Thumbs Up

no but seriously, he knows his stuff, fair play col i would have binned it if i hadnt remembered what you said halfway around a corner

definatley bring the ttr next time colin, ive heard that there are some propper tracks up there and by that time ill have the high level can on Thumbs Up

It was nice to go at a faster pace than i would normaly go on those roads, ive learnt how to corner a bit faster now and i think i scared nick a few times, and i think theres more lean in the cg yet.

note to self: next time pack warm clothes and waterproofs in the bomb box lol

Cheers
John Laughing

____________________
own: 81 xs1100g...
owned: 85 rat CG (sold), 91 GS500e (stolen), 84 gsx400f (scrapped), 81 z250 (siezed, siezed, scrapped), 83 cb250rs (sold), 84 gpz750r ratfighter (killed) 84gpz400 (sold), '80 cb650 ratfighter (wrote off) 95gsx6/12f ratfighter (killed) 91 xj900 (sold)
stinkwheel Well I just had my hands up a pigs fanny. Which makes your concerns pale into insignificance.

colin1 · Captain Safety Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Karma :

virus · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Aug 2006 Karma :

looks like a great route colin, definately up for that
oh and take the ttr, you know it makes sense Thumbs Up

ill take camera batteries and warm clothes this time though Laughing

Cheers
John
____________________
own: 81 xs1100g...
owned: 85 rat CG (sold), 91 GS500e (stolen), 84 gsx400f (scrapped), 81 z250 (siezed, siezed, scrapped), 83 cb250rs (sold), 84 gpz750r ratfighter (killed) 84gpz400 (sold), '80 cb650 ratfighter (wrote off) 95gsx6/12f ratfighter (killed) 91 xj900 (sold)
stinkwheel Well I just had my hands up a pigs fanny. Which makes your concerns pale into insignificance.

colin1 · Captain Safety Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Karma :

that route, id do on my tt600, as i like doing the road between crossgates and newtown on that one
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colin1 is officially faster than god

Matt06 · World Chat Champion Joined: 18 Nov 2006 Karma :

Looks like a nice route. I'll come better prepared next time Wink

.

John, think you will have the Z working by then? I want to see it.
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virus · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Aug 2006 Karma :

If the zed has a new engine by then then yes, if not is a probably, if i do ill bring tools to unsieze it if it dies and more oil Laughing

Cheers
John
____________________
own: 81 xs1100g...
owned: 85 rat CG (sold), 91 GS500e (stolen), 84 gsx400f (scrapped), 81 z250 (siezed, siezed, scrapped), 83 cb250rs (sold), 84 gpz750r ratfighter (killed) 84gpz400 (sold), '80 cb650 ratfighter (wrote off) 95gsx6/12f ratfighter (killed) 91 xj900 (sold)
stinkwheel Well I just had my hands up a pigs fanny. Which makes your concerns pale into insignificance.

Steve - RS125 · Spanner Monkey Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Karma :

Looked like a top day out folks, annoyed that I missed it.

Would have loved to have come, unfortunately either the back tyre or insurance is out of my budget and I could not afford or ride without both.

But alas, monies are freed up and I "should" have the RS back on the road by the 2nd of October!! Mr. Green

So, on one hand I am pissed that I missed it but the other I am glad you had a great time and more inportantly all got back safely.

Thumbs Up

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Suzuki VL Intruder 125cc - September 2004 to July 2005
Aprilia RS 125cc - July 2005 to Present
Suzuki RF600RR - May 2006 to October 2006 (RIP RF600)

neatbik · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Karma :

That route looks good col, im up up for it Thumbs Up

We'll have to sort out out when everyone is free again Thumbs Up

Matt06 · World Chat Champion Joined: 18 Nov 2006 Karma :

Well, I have more holiday for the 21st of October. Could do something then.
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virus · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Aug 2006 Karma :

yeah go for it, hopefully the zed will have a new engine by then

Cheers
John
____________________
own: 81 xs1100g...
owned: 85 rat CG (sold), 91 GS500e (stolen), 84 gsx400f (scrapped), 81 z250 (siezed, siezed, scrapped), 83 cb250rs (sold), 84 gpz750r ratfighter (killed) 84gpz400 (sold), '80 cb650 ratfighter (wrote off) 95gsx6/12f ratfighter (killed) 91 xj900 (sold)
stinkwheel Well I just had my hands up a pigs fanny. Which makes your concerns pale into insignificance.