Motorcyclists Corner.....

[Fozzer]

Not to forget this sign Paul:
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Log...

It took me a while to figure out what the; "X ing" painted on the road was meant to mean!

Warning: "Crossing Ahead"... ...!

Over here, we don't get such pre-warnings of Pedestrian Crossings, etc, ahead.
The traffic just collides with the pedestrians crossing the road, and gets shunted up the rear-end if slowing down to allow then to cross!

On my Bike, I seem to spend a lot of time peering into my rear mirrors, and waving my right arm, and tapping my brake lights, indicating that I am slowing down when approaching Pedestrian Crossings and Traffic Lights to prevent being "rear-ended"!.... ..!

Being rear-ended on a Motorcycle never results in a good outcome!... ...!

I am always amazed at just how well USA roads are sign-posted, with many of the markings painted on the road, constantly in view!

Paul...a sign of the times!.... ...!

[Tug002]

The only thing with signs is sometimes they get carried away and you get information overload.

Keep smiling
Tug

[Fozzer]

The only thing with signs is sometimes they get carried away and you get information overload.

Keep smiling
Tug

I (would) love it when that yellow, diamond-shaped sign, on the side of the road, with the squiggly line on it, remind me that I'm never going to safely get around the twisty bends ahead of me, at the speed I am presently travelling!.... ...!

Over here...with no signs, its far too late!... ...!

Paul... ...!

[logjam]

Was it this one?



or this one?



or maybe this one?

[Fozzer]

Some examples of some of the signs I like, en-route, (including the wonderful, smooth, well maintained road surface. Look Ma, no pot-holes, trenches, and drain covers!)... ....

Sit back and enjoy the trip; (Yosemite National Park)!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7QXHOh27EI

Paul....Wish I was there!.... ...!

[Fozzer]

A stark wake-up call for us....>>>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGG4g13 ... 351.851858

Now that Spring and Summer is on its way again, and we will be back on the road enjoying our favourite past-time, a reminder to always take care, and ride safe on our bikes!

A very sad tale.

Paul.

The Angeles Crest Highway (Highway 2) over the San Gabriel Mountains in San Fernando Valley/Los Angeles.

[logjam]

Just be careful near Symonds Yat there Paul. There's lots of buses and coaches to piss you off.

[Fozzer]

Just be careful near Symonds Yat there Paul. There's lots of buses and coaches to piss you off.

Hello Log...!

Symonds Yat Rock.

A regular route for me between Hereford (A49) and Coleford, Cinderford and Lydney, in the Royal Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, where many of my Children and their families live.
....about 20 miles down the road from me, amongst some wonderful forest scenery.

I just have to be aware of; "Foresters" with their bows and arrows and spears, lying in wait for; "Outsiders" like me!... ...!

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/eng ... ndsyatrock

Paul.... ...!

P.S...after listening to that Video again, you wouldn't believe how much care I take on my Bike to stay safe!
Observation and sensible speeds.

[logjam]

Paul, Symonds Yat is no stranger to me. In 1960, just after our 1st child was born and prior to my induction, We took a day coach trip there from Coventry. Enjoyed the break so much, rowed the river and wowed everybody with our enjoyment as a young family. After that, Symonds Yat was a regular trip on our Royal Enfield and sidecar. Just wish I owned a camera back then, although I did manage to steal my Dad's Brownie once, but I exposed the film when I took it out of the box. It was a dream ride for us, until we got posted abroad. After we came back, in '65 I had a spell at Shawbury and made it to the Yat once or twice. That's the last time I went, sorry to say, as I got another overseas posting, and ended up being tied to a new career in Canada. If I ever go back to Blighty, the Yat is on my list.

[beaky]

Speaking of winter and motorcycles...

This winter, in addition to the heated grips, I've got some home-made lowers and very silly-looking but very effective Hippo Hands on my baby.
With insulated/windproof clothes, I am good to go as long as there's no snow or ice on the road . It was in the low 20s (F)when I took this snapshot last month 9note the half-frozen reservoir in the background)... a lovely day for a ride!

[Fozzer]

Good to hear from you Sean, and ta for the photo!

Winter Riding!.....You must have a lot more fat on you than I have, (weight:150Lbs) to keep the cold out!

I find that if I am bundled up with lots of warm clothing it severely restricts my ability to swivel around and safely observe my surroundings (traffic)!

I find it really uncomfortable to be out in the cold nowadays, so each day I hope its going to be warm enough to go for a ride!

I'm eagerly waiting for Spring and Summer to arrive now, to tour the countryside!

While its cold, I am restricted to short Shopping trips on the Bike!... ...!

Its my Birthday today (82), and a nice long ride would have been very enjoyable, if it wasn't for the bloody cold!.... ...!

Cheers Chums...keep in touch!.... ....!

Paul.... ...!

[beaky]

Happy birthday, young man!!

I'm not sure how well I'd fare in winter without the enormous fairing and oversized (Goldwing) windshield (which I install for the winter).
But as it is, I need only dress for the ambient temperature, because I don't get hit with much of the much-colder slipstream. There's still the ambient temp. to contend with, but I'm usually running an hour or so max when commuting, so I never reach that point where the cold becomes a nuisance (or a danger).
The longer, more waterproof Sedici touring jacket is a bit restrictive, but this winter I've been using a Fulmer mesh jacket I got last summer, which does fine with the insulated liner in place and a fleece pullover underneath. If it's above freezing, I'll wear the Kevlar-reinforced cargo pants with long johns underneath; if it's colder or raining, I have the excellent Sedici overpants, which are completely waterproof and have a very snuggly removable liner. Coming back from New Orleans last month, I spent about 12 hours on the road, in steady rain, with temps between 45-35F, and with the Sedici jacket and overpants I was dry and warm enough.

My feet are still vulnerable, only because I don't have much insulation in the boots... but the Lexan lowers I fabbed this year are a huge help in keeping the wind blast off my tootsies. I even get a little heat off the downpipes with the lowers in place.
Anyway, I don't have more trouble "checking my six" with the winter gear on...the key to this is protecting my neck with a baclava instead of a big scarf or something. gotta have something... as the air flows up and over the windshield, even with a high collar, those icy fingers claw at the back of my neck on really cold days.

[Fozzer]

I have a love-hate relationship with "Windscreens" since 1950!
The built-in fairing windscreen on my Honda CBR 600 Super Sports Bike was fine. but the removable windscreens on all my other naked bikes was/is a real pain when travelling at speeds over 35 MPH!
The wind would curl around and over the windscreen to attack me on all sides, due to the vacuum created behind the large, upright screen!
I notice (You tube) that many of the Harley riders with the "sports bikes", (Fat Bob, Iron, 72, 48, etc), prefer to go touring without a large "National Cycle" windscreen....
...there must be a good reason for that!.... ...!

I try my screw-on screens on my Honda CB500RR and Honda Rebel and Yamaha bikes now and again...

...but then quickly remove them.....I cant stand the wind buffeting!... ...!

I just get wet and cold.... ...!

Paul.... ...!

[Fozzer]

Hello Chummy-Chum-Chums...!

The weather is very slowly getting warmer outside, (apparently), and my thoughts go to touring the countryside again, and taking some more videos of my journeys on my trusty Cruiser (Motor-cycle!).... ...!

My video camera SJ Cam 4000 Camera (Go-Pro type) only has a built-in Microphone, (no external connection) so the audio only picks up local ambient wind noise/engine sounds.

The camera can be fitted either to my bike, my helmet, or my chest harness

It would me nice to live-record my voice on my videos whilst riding, for the coming season, which would require a suitable in-helmet Microphone, and a digital "sound recorder" in my pocket.
The sound can then be added to the videos during the Movie-Maker editing process.

Have any of my Biking Chums got involved with recording sound (vocal) onto their Bike cameras, etc, as the ride?

Typical examples...>>> http://www.youtube.com/user/gargantus5 ... =0&sort=dd

Paul....In glorious Dolby Surround Sound... ...!

[beaky]

Might be a little spendy for you, Foz, but this is a neat gadget... allows recording live narration directly to the camera. The audio result can be heard in the video. It also works as an interface, via Bluetooth, with your phone, so you can make or answer calls (via voice commands, I think), or listen to MP3s from your phone.
I've been thinking bout getting one of these. Another cool feature is that it can be set to work where, instead of continuously recording, it will only save 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after you press a button... so you only get the most interesting parts when it's time to review the video. Very handy for "dash cam" use, where you need some video evidence in court, LOL.

http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/sena-10c-bluetooth-headset-camera