Oh she's a fickle mistress...

[LeeR]

I love riding but some days it leaves me broken and dishevelled, it leaves me feeling as though I have no skill, and as though I'll never master the bike. It can bring on a black mood where I entertain thoughts of quitting, selling up, buying a Pug Diesel and sitting in the queues with the rest of the lemmings.

Take Wednesday evening as a case in point; I rode home across the Avonmouth bridge fully aware that it was gusting up to 30 mph, which is manageable. Anyway I crossed the bridge and yeah it was a pretty strong wind but nothing to worry about, I foolishly thought that'd be the worst of it. As I approached junction 17 (M5 North) I saw the stationary traffic a mile off, so I backed off moved out to lane 3 and prepared to filter. No problems, further on towards junction 14 there's a bit of a plateau where sometimes the wind is mental. Wednesday was one of those nights, I was battered and windswept as I approached the downhill section to junction 14. Worse was to come I was blown from lane 1 to 2, and had a real fight to get back over, cranked over as I was the motorway bends left then right before the junction, this was more than interesting. Prudently I left the M5 at junction 14, 40/50 zones would be my friends back to Gloucester, but even the A38 was rough in the continuing cross-winds. By the time I got home, 10 minutes later than normal just to keep it in perspective, I'd had enough, I was ready to quit.

Happily Thursday was a new day the ride in was good, the ride home was excellent if a little warm in my vented, but thermal textiles. I loved it, the tyres were still cooling down 20 mins after I got home, I made the journey in the best time ever, 37 mins door-to-door, 40 mins in total. I'd started quite slowly not wanting to filter to the M5 as there were trucks side-by-side, and a coach and car in the central reservation at junction 16, which kept speeds down. But South Gloucestershire, which had been an evil whore the night before was now a yielding lover, and I stroked it for all I was worth. When I got home my grin said it all and my wife was glad my demeanour had improved from the night before.

Today was good too, my Timing Retard Eliminator (TRE) arrived last night and I fitted in 5 minutes ready for today. Beautifully smooth and with a useable 6th gear my bike now brought me home end of the week tired but happy once more.

I've learned a lot this last year, but most of all the old adage still rings true, "sleep on it" before you make a decision.
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My claim to fame: Austin Vince nicked my pen...

[bigjim]

I had a day like that on Tuesday, trying to keep myself on the motorway in high winds as I dont want to die !!

For a split second I really believed I would be happier in a car with the rest of the BMW brigade It was only a split second, I then came back to my senses

Keep at it fella, the good days piss all over the bad ones !!

Jim
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'97 - Thundercat - Sold
'08 - R6 - The Pocket Rocket - Sold
'09 - Street Triple R - The Monster

[colin1]

id never heard of a TRE, so i googled it, and heres the better links for anyone else who was curious

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timing_Retard_Eliminator

https://www.oldskoolsuzuki.info/perversepolisher/product_reviews/tre/index.htm

https://www.pingelonline.com/timing_retard_eliminator.htm
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[LeeR]

Good point Col, I could have been more explicit sorry I didn't elaborate, I bought one from Clyde Valley on eBay.
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My claim to fame: Austin Vince nicked my pen...