Wales Bank Holiday Monday rideout (Mon 29th) - Organisation

[Phoenix]

Maurice, what time you planning on stopping at Bala? And where abouts round Bala are you thinking of (a pinpoint on multimap would be good) save us riding round the whole lake looking. Put a time and we'll meet you there.

Not sure what we'll do from there though, as were planning on going south and back home via Craven Arms rather than round in a loop back to the start.

Will check back in morning.

[EuropeanNC30R...]

12.30-1ish at a guess, I'm planning on taking us on a very twisty convoluted route so can't be any more accurate.

I only know of one place by the lake, the main carpark area on Bala side, there's also the main street which I guess we could well be using with it being lunchtime.

Was thinking about stopping off at the Ponderosa cafe on the way back, it's a little close to Macdonalds to be stopping off at on the way out.

[NSR Mick]

Looked at the weather this morning decide to change my gearbox instead.
____________________
If you dont like the way that I ride.......Stop trying to keep up!!!

[Phoenix]

...no posts,

any of you lot actually home yet?

got soaked twice, once on the way to bala and an absoloubt pelting on the way home.

I was sooo cold and numb I was just following the faint red light infront that was the back of Phoenix's Blade at most points.

Saw a KTM, blade and fazer thou on a mission, overtaking in the most stupid places, on bridges where there was no way of knowing if anything was coming the other way or of getting out of it's way should something come over headcases.

GPZ was minging again after i'd cleaned it hoping to get some pretty pictures but Phoenix gave her a wash over.

nice to meet Nath and Extreme 3d, don't think anyone else introduced themselves.


Hope everyone is home safe and sound.
Simple

[EuropeanNC30R...]

[Nath]

Left Nottingham at 9am, returned at 10.30pm - What a day!

It was nice to meet everyone, and thanks go to Maurice for doing a sterling job of leading the rideout taking us on some fantastic roads and maintaining a 'spirited' pace

Simple, we thought it odd that you and pheonix went straight home after meeting us at Bala. After we left there we enjoyed sunny weather, dry roads, and generally had a really good ride. Road most of the way home with NSR Sparkie but he had a fair bit further to go so hopefully he made it the rest of the way okay.

The Bros took a fair bit of stick with me riding at full throttle an awful lot in order to keep up the speed (think Maurice and Jimmy were the only ones who's bikes didn't have 3 times as much power as mine), however it got me home okay so I guess there's still plenty of life left in the thing.
____________________
Hard livin', hard luck.

[EuropeanNC30R...]

You did a great job of keeping up on the Bros Nath, especially on roads you didn't know. Fair play I was impressed, and a little suprised, you could keep well in contention even when we were taking some corners at the bros's top speed.

Not that we were riding like hooligans, safe but making good progress would be more how I'd describe it.

[colin1]

I had a good time. I spoke to everyone a bit which is how I like it and I liked everyone which is even better. Maurice took us on some great roads, and through some great scenery. I was a bit off the pace, and in particular I need to get better at overtaking. It was good riding with people who are faster, as I pushed myself a bit without feeling people expected me to. Generally I didnt try to run before I could walk, but there was one dodgy overtake. Not exactly a near miss, but a bit dangerous.

I think Im gonna push myself a bit more when I ride by myself so I practice riding a bit more confidantly and swiftly. I liked Johns advice of getting to know a particular road and taking a particular bend a bit faster each time. If Im gonna practice riding faster, I should do it on roads I know. Extreme3d also had a tip about pointing my shoulder into the turn which I havnt quite made sense of but I'll give it a go. Also sensible stuff I already know like braking before the turn not during it, and accelerating out of it.

Not sure I want to be completely up to speed with everyone, as I still like slowing down a bit for blind bends as you never know what is round the corner. There is an idea of always being able to see as far as your stopping distance, and reducing speed accordingly when you cant see far ahead. I wont stick to it rigidly but I do still bear it in mind. However, on fast bends with good visibility, Ive got plenty of room for improvement.

Fortunately I left the house in padded winter leathers with no vents, and winter waterproof gloves, so I didnt get cold or wet. Im still getting used to my arai helmet and its vents tho, and twice got caught out when it steamed up in sudden down pours. I think I have got the hang of the vents now, but it still steams up more than my hjc which has a breath guard.

By the time I got home, my grip on the brake and throttle was pretty weak and my forearms and wrists were killing. Probably just because I dont do many long rides, but I think next time I go to wales, I'll go by myself on the yp250 with its comfortable upright seating position. A lot slower tho and would have been a real problem on this kind of 'spirited' ride.
____________________
colin1 is officially faster than god

[John C]

Tired!!

Got up at 7:00am to give myself time to get from Doncaster to Llangollen.
Did it in 2 hours so I was the first one at Macdonalds, Since no one was there I went to the toilet and sat under the hand blower for 20 minutes.

Some of the roads (and views) around North Wales are fantastic and well worth being frozen to the core for. Anyone who lives in or close to a National park doesn't know how luck they are!!! it's 50 miles in any direction from my place before you get to the green bits on the map.

Thanks to Maurice for some quality planning,
EX3D for letting me dry my gloves on your exhaust
Dodsi for comedy value
Nath for Navigation through Stoke-on-Trent, and
Everyone else for waiting for me whilst I danced about with cramp.

My speedo packed in altogether as I was going though the Meir Tunnel (I suspected tunnel + roadworks = camera), which is why I went very slow though it if you where wondering nath. Also thats why I shot up the M1 instead of going to Ollerton.

Got home for 10:55pm after 400+ miles.

It's now 5:54am and I'm off to work...
(I can't even have a kip when I come home because Top Gear is on )

[Phoenix]

[Luke_Retrofly]

Hi
Why is north wales so far away (jealous)

Ive been through horseshoe pass (in a car) was top notch drool material.

Nice one

Luke
____________________
Flounced - Long overdue
Fuck you bitch I'm in the top 10 list I can do the what the fuck I want!

[extreme3d]

Just got back!!!!

Ride home was the usual boring motorway slog, except for one moment of fun... There had just been an accident ahead, I mean just as we could smell the burnt rubber still. (didn't look to serious thankfully). By coincidence there was a police car a few cars back (possibly the cause from someone panic braking??) which then stopped all the traffic by moving slowly in the middle lane with his hand out of the window making the 'stay behind me' hand signal. The second officer was out of the car picking bits of car/rubber off the road. We had filtered past the few cars in front of us to the very front and took up position in the fast lane. Another bike soon joined us and we all waited for the police to give the all clear...... with miles of clear roads in front of us..... he did by giving us the thumbs up (he knew what was going to happen )..... we hoofed it big time

Anyway, thanks go to Maurice for organising a great bank Holiday ride-out. Scenery was fantastic, roads were great and everyone got on well and had a good time. Bike of the day award goes to Nath on his Bros 400 - he really made that thing move, yet at the same time he was always willing to stop and make sure everyone stayed together. In fact that was what for me made it overall, the fact that everyone waited so no one felt left out or compelled to ride beyond their limits.

[RealNinja]

Indeed a top day was had by all

I was in sooo much trouble when I got back at about 9.30, I had to stop at my parents house in the way cos i couldn't ride any further, my hands were welded to the bars and I couldn't stop myself shivering

Am paying the price for being tense in the wet today, cos my leg muscles seem to be filled with sulphuric acid!

Anyway it was nice to meet everyone new, and some I had met before (sorry Maurice ) when I eventually found my way there.

I must really head out that way more often cos some of those roads were just pornographic Not so much of a fan of the roads that you can't see over the hills and drops though!

I can't believe none of you have mentioned a particular sam brown belt
____________________
You will become my force of retribution. Where you tread, doom will follow. Go now and claim your destiny

[Nath]

[colin1]

i took it off for when walking around bala and forgot to put it back on.

I remembered about it on the way back when visibility was a bit low but it was still in my pocket. Its hi-vis on one side which u saw (good in the day, but the other side is that reflective material which is good at night.)

It is probably more use around town than on fast roads though.

Ok maybe Im a bit sensible, but i was also sensibly warm as i wasnt in rat bike chic army trousers, or vented summer gloves and leathers like some others who got a bit cold

I have a passing interest in credibility but I prefer being sensible

Im thinking of asking fuzz to help me with tightening the chain as i know he knows how to do it and will have the right tools. I havnt mentioned this to him yet tho.

Im definitely gonna give the chain a good lubing tho with spray grease and have a go at fitting the scottoiler dual injector thing, as my scott oiler doesnt have a proper nozzle on it. I thought it was still working but i think the chain has been running dry, so that chain has gone quite slack from getting too much wear.

I had to google what sam brown belt was its my reflective wotsit

I also have a reflective bib thing i have used a few times too but its now more grubby than hi-vis so i need to give it a wash Ive also got a hi-vis jacket like the ones that workman wear complete with hi-vis trousers. Cheap waterproof and abrasion resistant and can be worn over leathers.
____________________
colin1 is officially faster than god

[Simple]

[EuropeanNC30R...]

With regard to aching wrists/arms and comfort Colin, it's probably more a of a riding stamina thing than overly sporting riding position. About a week ago I took my first ride for about 6 weeks since I'd fixed my bike, it was only a gentle 60 miles but my wrists ached for a day afterward

If you start regularly doing distance riding you'll find like any other sporting activity the aches and pains will get less. Also making sure your arms are nice and loose with your elbows dropped puts most of the stress on your shoulders giving the lower arms and easier time of it.

[Simple]

[extreme3d]

[Simple]

[EuropeanNC30R...]

[colin1]

[Simple]

[colin1]

[quote="extreme3d"]

[Simple]