Motorcyclists Corner.....

[Fozzer]

Thanks for the great video Paul. I always enjoy the scenery of your rides although the driving on the left side of the road freaks me out a bit still starting to get used of it though. Looks like you had great weather for your ride, sunny and dry The Harley test ride is coming to Ottawa on Sept 22nd and I might go try out some of their new bikes although it may not be a good idea as I would likely buy one and the wife would club me with a bat when I get home

Keep smiling
Tug

I reckon a Clubbing with a bat is well worth the risk, Tug... ... ...!

I don't think that we get the luxury of free bike test rides over here!

I watch a lot of them on You-Tube, with the local Harley Davidson dealers...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qY_NOaZ1DF4

They go for a ride in small groups and video and sound record commentary their journeys!.

...and it looks like a lot of free fun!

I'm still not having any luck in locating a nice Honda CMX 250C Rebel cruiser so far....and the end of the year is rapidly approaching.... ....!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwJonQTagS4

Their owners love them!

My 1996 Honda CB500RR twin is still sleeping inside my house, unused for the past 3-4 years now, and I cant see me using it again. A bit too high (seat) and heavy for me now. I still cant forget it falling over onto me!

I need a seat much closer to the ground now, and a low centre of gravity...and very light weight like my little 2-stroke Bike...like a small Cruiser!

I just spend my time envying them on You Tube now!

Paul.... ...!

[Fozzer]

Tilting the head sideways and saying "pardon?" is a common sight with motorcyclists during a conversation.....

..caused by partial deafness due to wind, etc, noise when riding!

I always use ear protectors/ear plugs whenever on a fast journey travelling at speeds exceeding 25 MPH on the open road....

..therefore, it has come as a great surprise to me that various States in the USA ban the use of ear plugs in one ear, or both ears, by motorcyclists...>>> http://www.npr.org/2015/07/24/425978759 ... f-earplugs

Having been riding my bikes for the past 65 years would have resulted in me being totally deaf by now, without the regular use of my ear defenders during my journeys!

So I am very surprised that Ohio, etc, motorcyclists are getting tickets for breaking the Law!

Crazy stuff happens in the USA!.... ...!

Protect your hearing!

http://www.hearingtestlabs.com/motorcycle.htm

Paul....(With open face helmets for good visibility, and a big grin!)...... ....>>> http://motorbikewriter.com/love-open-face-helmets/

[Tug002]

I never did wear hearing protection while working for 37 years on the railway so I do have some hearing loss due to the loud engines and vibrations but on the up side it helps with my now part time job driving a school bus with 72 students aged 5 to 14 behind me as it is not loud, just a dull roar Also when my wife says something that I don't want to hear I just tell her " I didn't hear you say that"

Keep smiling
Tug

[Fozzer]

I never did wear hearing protection while working for 37 years on the railway so I do have some hearing loss due to the loud engines and vibrations but on the up side it helps with my now part time job driving a school bus with 72 students aged 5 to 14 behind me as it is not loud, just a dull roar Also when my wife says something that I don't want to hear I just tell her " I didn't hear you say that"

Keep smiling
Tug

"Selective Deafness", Tug... ...!

..you cant beat it.... ...!

Its got to the stage now, when visitors enter my room, the first thing they do is hold their ears, and turn the volume right down on my Radio/Television!
(The same thing that I used to do to my dear old Mum and Dad, many years ago)... ....1

Paul.... .....!

[Fozzer]

..of rocks and things....

One thing which always surprises me, as I watch the You Tube videos of the motorcyclists as they traverse the road through rocky canyons with towering cliffs on both sides, is the fact that the road is always completely clear of any rocks, stones, etc... ...!

...not a single rock to be seen!

Part 3/10: Tour through Zion National Park in Utah...>>>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWGbA5Ei21U

Its almost as though there is a constant stream of Highway Maintenance Vehicles travelling every road, 24/7, moving all the debris off the road to prevent accidents!

The USA Highways always impresses me with their well maintained road surfaces, road markings. and road signs!
Especially the orange signs indicating various road curves ahead!
Everything is very clear!
I love the bright yellow markings in the centre of the roads!

We get pot-holes, trenches, sunken/projecting drain covers, and worn-out/missing/no road markings.... ...!

So..there you go Chums....

...who is picking up all the rocks off the road in the Zion National Park?....and elsewhere...I need to know!.... ...!

Paul.... ...!

[Fozzer]

Sunday morning (20th Sept) was a really foggy "Septembery" start to the day, which slightly delayed my usual Sunday ride-out with the rest of the Bikers to Abergavenny in Wales!
The fog cleared by 10:30 leaving a nice sunny day, although getting rather cold. (I have to don my thermal underwear now!).
A nice leisurely ride there, to spot a wide selection of bikes, including some shiny Harley, Honda, Suzuki, etc, Cruisers!
I took some cheese and pickle sandwiches with me, together with a nice mug of hot tea from the 'Bus Station Café to warm me up!
On the return journey, I fitted my video camera (SJ 4000) on the back of my bike facing rearwards, to video all the traffic behind me, dying to overtake me...(as they do!)....
.....but I'm in no hurry...40-45 MPH....(50 MPH downhill with a big grin!), with a mere 98cc of 2-stroke engine howling under my Yamaha petrol tank!.... .... ...!

Back at home now, getting my Sunday Dinner on the go (Steak Pie), and sampling a glass (or three?) of South African Pinotage Shiraz, whilst I download the video off my camera to compile with "Microsoft Movie Maker", and publish, for my friends to watch...(or not...BORING!).... .. ...!

So, there you go, Chums!... ...!

Another joyous day, motor-biking, before the weather gets uncomfortably cold, and spoils my fun!

Paul.....Bike it!....You'll like it!.... ...!

Sorry, no photo's....I have to keep loading my camera with AA batteries before I can take a shot!... ...!

[Fozzer]

Photo's?.... ....

...but all is not lost!... ....

Biker's Sunday Dins!...>>>




Paul.... ....!

[Dave T]

Hope to get out on the bike this weekend before the weather turns nasty.

[Sinkrate]

Fozzer’s meals are so good I feel nourished just from looking at them….yummy!

On the subject of scenery, yes, we have some beautiful spots here in UK, but it’s not all roses. I once rode through Monmouth at the wrong time of year and got plastered from head to foot with flies, so much that I could smell the manure they’d been feeding on. When I stopped for fuel at Crickhowell, the girl behind the counter looked as if she was about to throw up!

I've seen bikers riding around in sparkling race rep leathers with nary a speck on them......how do they do it?

[Tug002]

I've seen bikers riding around in sparkling race rep leathers with nary a speck on them......how do they do it?

My guess is that they drive through the car wash when they get back in from being on the highway My jacket is covered in dead bugs, gives it that used look

Keep smiling
Tug

[Fozzer]

Fozzer’s meals are so good I feel nourished just from looking at them….yummy!

On the subject of scenery, yes, we have some beautiful spots here in UK, but it’s not all roses. I once rode through Monmouth at the wrong time of year and got plastered from head to foot with flies, so much that I could smell the manure they’d been feeding on. When I stopped for fuel at Crickhowell, the girl behind the counter looked as if she was about to throw up!

I've seen bikers riding around in sparkling race rep leathers with nary a speck on them......how do they do it?

They only take their bikes out in the; "Nice Weather".... ....!

The Sunday motorcycle meet-up at Abergavenny Bus Park is empty on; "Nasty Days"... .... ...!

I only live 20 miles (Hereford) from the Welsh border, so I only get to see actual; "Mountains", (grass-covered hills), when I venture over the Border into Wales!

The one thing I envy our USA Motorcycle Chums, is their absence of "Hedgerows" which severely limits our views of the surrounding countryside over here!. We ride through a tunnel of Hedges on both sides!
In the U.S. the farmers seem to install wire fences to enclose their live stock, rather than plant tall hedges, so the visibility on both sides is wonderfully unrestricted!
Hedges are nice for wild-life, but bad for bike riders.....we sometimes get buried in them!... ... ...!
As I video my Bike rides, no-one can see my countryside as they view my videos. All they can see is leaves and twigs!
A bike road trip in the U.S reveals breath-taking scenery all around, with nothing to restrict the view!
Following the "Eagle Riders" on their Harleys, on You-Tube, is a marvellous way of exploring the USA Mid-West and Coastal regions...with no hedge-rows in the way!... ...!
Its looking like its going to be a nice sunny day today, but cool, so I will don my "Thermals" and pop off for a gentle tour of the Countryside on my trusty steed, after Dinner!
Must make the most of the nice weather before the dreaded Winter arrives!

Paul.... ...!

[Tug002]

They only take their bikes out in the; "Nice Weather".... ....!

The Sunday motorcycle meet-up at Abergavenny Bus Park is empty on; "Nasty Days"... .... ...!

I only live 20 miles (Hereford) from the Welsh border, so I only get to see actual; "Mountains", (grass-covered hills), when I venture over the Border into Wales!

The one thing I envy our USA Motorcycle Chums, is their absence of "Hedgerows" which severely limits our views of the surrounding countryside over here!. We ride through a tunnel of Hedges on both sides!
In the U.S. the farmers seem to install wire fences to enclose their live stock, rather than plant tall hedges, so the visibility on both sides is wonderfully unrestricted!
Hedges are nice for wild-life, but bad for bike riders.....we sometimes get buried in them!... ... ...!
As I video my Bike rides, no-one can see my countryside as they view my videos. All they can see is leaves and twigs!
A bike road trip in the U.S reveals breath-taking scenery all around, with nothing to restrict the view!
Following the "Eagle Riders" on their Harleys, on You-Tube, is a marvellous way of exploring the USA Mid-West and Coastal regions...with no hedge-rows in the way!... ...!
Its looking like its going to be a nice sunny day today, but cool, so I will don my "Thermals" and pop off for a gentle tour of the Countryside on my trusty steed, after Dinner!
Must make the most of the nice weather before the dreaded Winter arrives!

Paul.... ...!

You may not like the hedge rows but I sure do as all I see where I ride is mostly flat open country with few trees in most places. I find all of your greenery over there wonderful . Likely as I have never been able to ride in a countryside like yours.

Keep smiling
Tug

[Fozzer]

Thanks for the comparison in "countryside", Tug.... ...!

Our English System:

If you zoom down to England, in Google Satellite Street View Maps, you will see a multi-coloured, very tight patchwork of randomly-shaped fields, every one bounded by hedges and trees, together with a maze of roads and tracks also bounded by hedges!
The "Field System".....>>>> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Field_system.
...followed by....
The "Enclosure System"...>>>> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enclosure.

I suppose its one of the things which makes our small Island unique... ...!

Its certainly very different from the wide open USA landscape!

....mind you I really would like to experience the Route 66 motor-bike desert scenery from Albuquerque to Barstow through some breath-taking scenery, not to mention Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon mountainous scenery in Utah....

....just for a change!.... ...!

Paul.... ....!

[Fozzer]

...after enjoying a nice Sausage Roll Dinner...>>>




Sausage Roll freshly baked in the Oven!

Paul.....Very Hot Madras Curry and Rice for Supper in a minute... ...!

[Fozzer]

P.S....It was a lovely sunny day today, Saturday, and I was all psyched-up to go for a nice bike ride this afternoon, but that "Sun" was very deceiving! It was bitterly cold anywhere in the shade, and especially on the Bike, so I gave that idea up (chickened-out) and just went shopping on my bike instead.
I may be very brave and go for a meet-up with all the bikers tomorrow, (Sunday), after wrapping up nice and warm for the occasion!
...and maybe take some photos!
...see wot 'appens...!

Paul....I don't like the cold!.... ...!