Author Topic: What have you done with your bike today? (Read 239089 times)

Brockett · « **Reply #3080 on:** February 11, 2023, 22:36:36 »

I went for a ride on the Stone today for the first time for a month or three. 115 miles in 10 degrees and no hot grips..... yeah that's how tough I am. But seriously I have really missed getting out and about and I stopped half way for a coffee and a cheese roll (can't spell baguette).

Barbel Mick · « **Reply #3081 on:** February 12, 2023, 09:30:29 »

You can't spell 'cob' either.

At least you didn't call it a breadcake, barm cake or tea cake!!

Fat Rat · « **Reply #3082 on:** February 12, 2023, 09:33:19 »

A Cob is a type of horse. I know you northerners will eat anything but..........

Barbel Mick · « **Reply #3083 on:** February 12, 2023, 09:41:27 »

It's also a male Swan but at least it hasn't got jam, cream or currents on/in it like a cake has.

Fat Rat · « **Reply #3084 on:** February 12, 2023, 10:24:56 »

I bet you still put gravy on it....

Barbel Mick · « **Reply #3085 on:** February 12, 2023, 10:55:09 »

Not on a cob, but a slice of bread & butter is used to mop up any left over gravy on the dinner plate.

Fat Rat · « **Reply #3086 on:** February 12, 2023, 11:18:38 »

I don't like butter.

2112 · « **Reply #3087 on:** February 12, 2023, 11:26:49 »

I had a very interesting and remarkably eventful run out on the tigger. The day started with a rendezvous with Morpethmatt at Fairmoor garage which is just off the A1 North of Morpeth. It started to go 'udders skywards' when Matt's GS got away from him and he tested the integrity & quality of the SW Motech engine bars, this is before even leaving the garage. SW Motech have done a great job in designing the bars as no other part of the GS hit the ground and they only suffered a bit of chipped paint, very impressive. So, after picking the GS up (surprisingly easy I have to say) we headed off West for a run to Kielder Reservoir. Only 20 mins into the run and we found a stricken chap on an 850GS who had ended up in a ditch and the bike was stuck fast. He's got a wheel onto the grass, lost control and slid into a 2' deep gully which did not want to give up the GS without a fight. Much struggling, grunting and straining between the three of us saw the GS freed from it's boggy captor. The bike was covered in mud & grass and we left him to pick it clean after a thankful handshake.

We had a nice run to Kielder through Bellingham but discovered to our dismay that none of the cafe's had opened yet. Bugger, we headed up to Kielder Castle (cafe closed) and then it was off to Jedburgh via some tiny little back roads and a very welcome pot of tea & bacon sammich at the Abbey Bridge Coffee House. From there we hit the little roads and headed to Wooler via Kirk Yetholm and stopped for another cuppa and a scone (we're not animals after all...).

It was in Wooler I noticed Matt's bike was quite clean while mine was absolutely minging. Hmmm, perhaps those 'Mudsling' plastic's you get for GS' really do work ? Anyhow, we had a nice run home through Longframlington & Longhorsley before heading in our own directions at Morpeth. I had a new pair of Merlin Adventure boots on and after one or two missed gear changes at the start of the day they started to break in really well and I can tell they will be like slippers in a few months time. Will they be waterproof ? Probably not but I can live with that. A furious amount of soapy love saw the tigger restored to it's former glory. Great day out

Upt North · « **Reply #3088 on:** February 12, 2023, 13:22:31 »

2112, I'm guessing it was "Grinders" from where you stopped?
I'm not surprised someone ended in the ditch, the roads are real shitty.
Upt'North.

Barbel Mick · « **Reply #3089 on:** February 12, 2023, 14:35:40 »

Quote from: Fat Rat on February 12, 2023, 11:18:38

I don't like butter.

What, not even with bread & gravy?

2112 · « **Reply #3090 on:** February 12, 2023, 14:38:15 »

Quote from: Upt North on February 12, 2023, 13:22:31

I'm guessing it was "Grinders" from where you stopped?

Indeed, very bike friendly and cracking food & drink

Brockett · « **Reply #3091 on:** February 12, 2023, 17:09:58 »

While they do say it only takes an Englishman to open his moth for another to hate him I take a different view. Take the French (correct me if I'm wrong) their language, both spelling and pronunciation is vigorously policed to ensure uniformity. Here we have regional accents and vocabulary that enriches our language and gives us a sense of belonging. All over the country people with their own accents who are united by their dislike of Londoners.

endintears · « **Reply #3092 on:** February 12, 2023, 17:41:28 »

@2112
Other than the unscheduled dismount/s very envious.
On my 'to do' list to plan a mission up there.
I have some knowledge of the area particularly the coast, but family holidays rather than bike oriented.
Even though I can make Alnwick in four hours if the traffic is favourable and my bladder lets me get their without needing a pee stop in practical terms it's too far for just a day out.
Given that I might try and pick your brains for routes and biker friendly B&Bs sometime.

TLPower · « **Reply #3093 on:** February 12, 2023, 19:04:04 »

Barbel Mick · « **Reply #3094 on:** February 12, 2023, 20:58:13 »

Neil we spent a few days in & around that area in 2019, we really enjoyed it.
We found accommodation on the fly, stopped for refreshments at ~~lunch~~ dinner time and used Booking.Com to find somewhere we fancied next, never had a problem, all good and all good breakfasts!!

2112 · « **Reply #3095 on:** February 13, 2023, 06:58:27 »

The Northumberland 250 is a decent place to start (www.northumberland250.com) and gives a flavour of what Englands least populated County is about. It would be a long day, but would split nice into two. I shall be trying it out and see just how long a day it is once the Forest Drive at Kielder is open in April. There are a LOT of better roads than this on the route but it's a decent place to start. You can download a free map off the website too.

2112 · « **Reply #3096 on:** February 13, 2023, 07:46:33 »

P.S. happy show people around some of the more 'interesting' roads around Northumberland while they are up here. Just PM me and we can make it happen

Rixington43 · « **Reply #3097 on:** February 13, 2023, 08:26:40 »

NL250 was a great ride last year, we did it over 5 days I think but 2 days were getting to the start and back, we also added in an extra day to come home via the Lakes. The main route in 2 would be a good stretch, plenty of nice places to stay and lots of quiet roads, did take a while to wash all the sheet shit off though when I got home

mr_diver · « **Reply #3098 on:** February 13, 2023, 10:44:17 »

Fitted a flush mount power port for the Gering heated jacked and ACF50'd the bike.

Took it out for a spin to check the new relay loom and Gerbing set up was working before this week's bike commuting.
Nice little spin to porthcawl and toasty warm I was.

Woke up this morning and my daughter wanted to help clean out the Guinea pigs so it took twice as long and I ran short of time to get the gear on & bike unlocked so jumped in the car - promptly got stuck in new roadworks on the way to work

endintears · « **Reply #3099 on:** February 13, 2023, 17:24:30 »

Many thanks for the Northumberland info/links 2112 (and others) also the kind offer of sharing your local knowledge.
I read somewhere that originally over a thousand years ago Northumberland meant literally that as in everything north of the Humber.