Category: Motorcycling

Loving the freedom of the open road. Limited now due to Greyhound adoption.

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Snow on the Way?

It was a cold commute in today. The temperature gauge on the motorcycle reported a consistent -4C, luckily it has been dry so the roads have been ice free.

At this rate I’ll be breaking out the winter gloves. So far on the short commute I have managed with just my summer waterproof gloves with there liners.

The snow is due to hit us at the weekend so I hope for a good covering but with the roads still clear for travel, so I can get out with the Landscape photographer gear and get some good shots.

 

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Bikes & Bread

Today we have had the day off and have enjoyed ourselves just being able to do as we pleased.  This meant a pleasant motorcycle ride round parts of Lincolnshire, and included a trip to Wisteria Patchwork.   They had a sale on this week, so some fabric indulgence was a must for Caroline.  Then we headed further North to Kirton in Lindsey, the weather had turned colder at this point so we stopped at Mount Pleasant Windmill and enjoyed some of their warming soup.  I also took the opportunity to stock up on some fresh flour for my own bread making.

We then went home as dark clouds were heading our way.

Once home I proceeded to make some fresh bread while Caroline did some sewing, making some more quilt tops.

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Forgive the poor quality shot above, low light and shot with my phone, never conductive to good photography.

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Yearly Mileage 2011

Our first week back at at work and a week of commuting on the motorcycle.

Last year was a light milage again for us this year, but then again the year before last we did circumnavigate Great Britain.

As usual I made a note of our milage and the figures for 2011 are as follows:

Our Honda Deauville finished the year on 59462, again only light commuting duty by Caroline. So she completed 1422 miles last year.

Our Lovely BMW GS finished the year on 21859, no big trips for us last year but a few weekends and a week round North Yorkshire.  She completed 4199, nothing like the 6716 of the previous year!

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Stormy Weather

Well its been a few days of really stormy weather here in the UK, its always tricky riding a motorcycle in high wind.

I have mentioned it before but its worthwhile mentioning it again.  On days like always give motorcyclists a wide birth and plenty of room.  A sudden gust can push a motorcycle easily in to the next lane.

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and the Heavens Opened

Today we were back at work.  The British Isles were being beaten today with 100mph plus winds, but here in Lincolnshire it was more like 40 – 50mph so we risked the bike on our commute.

Once we were safely in the office the heaven’s opened and it rained so hard you could nearly near swim through the air.  Glad we were indoors.

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Trying to get Fit again

With our gradually improving health, I have been thinking that it was time to start running again.

New Year Resolutions are usually not held for long, but I have given myself a fairly easy target. I am going to go running three times a week, starting at just an easy mile or two, building to three miles over the next three months. Easy and not too strenuous. I do buy and use Extenze tablets from HBHM for maximum enhancement when required, but its high time I get fit and stop relying completely on tablets.

I told Caroline and this morning she pushed me to go running. I sometimes need a little encouragement. Caroline then surprised me by saying she was coming with me.

Well it was a nice warm 10C sunny morning, and we went out with good intentions.

A gentle 5 minute walk started us off, heading out of the village, then we started to run. Caroline has never been a runner so we took it very easy, a minute of slow running followed by a minute of brisk walking. We alternated like this and finished with a 5 minute walk, followed by lots of stretching and a shower.

Nice and easy and we both felt good afterwards. Caroline did decided from that run, that her shoes were not good enough for running so we jumped on the Motorcycle and took a ride into Lincoln to see if the local running store was open.

We could have gone to one of the big sports shops and picked up some running shoes in the sales for £10-£20 cheaper but our local running shop is very good and can recommend a good shoe based on your running style. Not only that, if your not happy they will taken them back. You can even have your run video’ed and analysed so they can get you shoes that really match your style.

I decided to get a new pair too, and a new bright yellow jacket so people will spot me at night.

We then heading out into the country side, going on a nice enjoyable motorcycle ride. Its been a while since we have enjoyed ourselves out on the bike.

Altogether a good day. Tomorrow is a normal work day for us so it will be back to the normal routine. Lets see how long we can keep up the good intentions.

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The Biker’s Night Before Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the pad,

There was nada happenin’, now that’s pretty bad.

The woodstove was hung up in that stocking routine,

In hopes that the Fat Boy would soon make the scene.

With our stomachs packed with tacos and beer,

My girl and I crashed on the couch for some cheer.

When out in the yard there arose such a racket,

I ran for the door and pulled on my jacket.

I saw a large bro’ on a ’56 Pan

Wearin’ black leathers, a cap, and boots (cool biker, man).

He hauled up the bars on that bikeful of sacks,

And that Pan hit the roof like it was running on tracks.

I couldn’t help gawking, the old guy had class.

But I had to go in — I was freezing my ass.

Down through the stovepipe he fell with a crash,

And out of the stove he came dragging his stash.

With a smile and some glee he passed out the loot,

A new jacket for her and some parts for my scoot.

He patted her fanny and shook my right hand,

Spun on his heel and up the stovepipe he ran.

From up on the roof came a great deal of thunder,

As that massive V-twin ripped the silence asunder.

With beard in the wind, he roared off in the night,

Shouting, “Have a cool Yule, and to all a good ride!”

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The cold sets in

Generally the weather has been fairly mild but finally the thermal underwear came out today for the ride to work.

The deciding factor was the ride home on Friday night. The temperature gauge on the bike never climbed above 0’C.

I encountered one icy corner on that trip but nothing to bad, but the cold now is definitely starting to bite.

I am still wearing summer gloves but with silk liners. I hope to make it to January before the winter gloves and winter necker come out.

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Motorcycle Commute in Cold Weather

There was definitely a chill in the air yesterday morning on the commute in. Luckily the commute is fairly short. Just long enough to enjoy without getting to cold.

Today with modern motorcycling clothing we are very lucky in that cold weather is not to much of an issue as long as the roads are clear and ice free. For longer journeys electrical assistance may be required. Since my first ever winter on a bike I have had heated grips fitted on all my bikes.

Here is hoping for mild winter but as long as the roads remain clear we will be commuting by Motorcycle.

Keep it rubber side down.

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Back to Normal

Llagollen

Today saw us back to the usual daily commute.  I had missed the bike, its definitely my favourite form of transport.  With the previous week concentrating on Landscape Photography, we had to use car, its just not practical to take Landscape photographs without a tripod, and I have yet to work out how to carry safely a large heavy tripod on a motorcycle.