Hey all
Firstly i want to wish anyone that does look at this blog a "Merry Christmas" and a "Happy New Year". i am hoping that you all get all you desire and that everyone stays happy and healthy.
well, i have had about 3 weeks on the bike now, and have grown more comfortable with how "Poppa T" rolls, and moves. i am definitely more confident with manoeurvering through traffic etc.
that brings me onto the traffic issue rather well... What the Frak....! for the past 3 weeks traffic has been a bitch, every day has seen me filtering through a long, long tail of traffic on the A13 right from the start to almost my junction.... i do not know why? i see no accidents, although there have been a fair few on this road over the recent weeks. mainly due to frakking muppets who SHOULD not be on the roads, because they have no RESPECT for the environment they are in, (weather, public roads, traffic, other road users...)
i can only guess that it is seasonal and due to the fact everyone needs to be shopping at ridiculous times. To be honest if you have not done your shopping NOW, then frak it. give up until the New Year, the items will be 50% cheaper on Boxing day anyway!
Last week was a cold week, and got to -3 on a couple of my travels. i was riding home from work i think on Weds evening and it was foggy, in fact freezing fog, and by the time i got home ice had formed around my gloves whilst on the bars.... madness indeed.
this week has been much milder and has seen me strip off layers of clothing to accommodate the higher temperatures. i am getting used to the bikes gear as well now, feeling which gear i should be in for a given corner. i can still do better and will do better as time goes by.
I'll keep in touch
Friday 21 December 2012
Monday 10 December 2012
New Bike, New Journies..
Well i have officially had my first week on the new bike commuting to work. Monday was an eye opener, because i really was not familiar with the bike at all. This was apparent as i was nervous filtering and taking small openings.
As the week progressed things became a little bit easier, although Thurs was a really cold night and saw some ice in places. i decided to shelve the bike on this day and take the train. ordinarily i wouldn't have done this but because of my unfamiliarity of the bike and the harsh conditions i thought it safer for me.
By Friday evening on the journey home i felt much more comfortable with the bike, and was able to slip through little gaps easily, and control the engine better with the clutch, throttle and brake.
For anyone that has never ridden a bike before, it is not straight forward at all.. Yes you still have the gear shifter, clutch, throttle and brake, but not ALL by your feet, you hands have to be multifunctional. Not just steering the bike, but using the fine control of the throttle and clutch with indicators, horn etc...
It is fun and practical, and well worth the investment in time and money, because the rewards are greater.
i have managed to monitor my fuel spend since getting the bike, and it appears that i am getting 50 mpg, which is not what i thought. all the stats and reviews and especially (Fuelly.com) indicate i would be getting at least 60 mpg.
i am hoping that is down to the bike being new, and my unfamiliarity of the ride, because i started the week using the wrong gears, too high a rev etc, etc..
This week may be different, I'll wait and see.
The only hiccup last week was in my pocket... i am still getting used to not having a fuel gauge, and thus the fuel light flashes when i have 0.8 gallons of fuel, the stays permanent when you have 0.4 gallons. Because i am not sure about the MPG this could mean anything, but last week i saw 24 miles from the light flashing to becoming permanent, and when i did fill up, after 50 miles i filled up and only put in 10 litres. the tank is 14.5 litres. so i still had some fuel left.
i think over the long term will correct this and i will become better at judging the fuel levels.
Other than that all good...!!!!
As the week progressed things became a little bit easier, although Thurs was a really cold night and saw some ice in places. i decided to shelve the bike on this day and take the train. ordinarily i wouldn't have done this but because of my unfamiliarity of the bike and the harsh conditions i thought it safer for me.
By Friday evening on the journey home i felt much more comfortable with the bike, and was able to slip through little gaps easily, and control the engine better with the clutch, throttle and brake.
For anyone that has never ridden a bike before, it is not straight forward at all.. Yes you still have the gear shifter, clutch, throttle and brake, but not ALL by your feet, you hands have to be multifunctional. Not just steering the bike, but using the fine control of the throttle and clutch with indicators, horn etc...
It is fun and practical, and well worth the investment in time and money, because the rewards are greater.
i have managed to monitor my fuel spend since getting the bike, and it appears that i am getting 50 mpg, which is not what i thought. all the stats and reviews and especially (Fuelly.com) indicate i would be getting at least 60 mpg.
i am hoping that is down to the bike being new, and my unfamiliarity of the ride, because i started the week using the wrong gears, too high a rev etc, etc..
This week may be different, I'll wait and see.
The only hiccup last week was in my pocket... i am still getting used to not having a fuel gauge, and thus the fuel light flashes when i have 0.8 gallons of fuel, the stays permanent when you have 0.4 gallons. Because i am not sure about the MPG this could mean anything, but last week i saw 24 miles from the light flashing to becoming permanent, and when i did fill up, after 50 miles i filled up and only put in 10 litres. the tank is 14.5 litres. so i still had some fuel left.
i think over the long term will correct this and i will become better at judging the fuel levels.
Other than that all good...!!!!
Monday 3 December 2012
Learning to Ride :)
Hey everyone.
i got it...i got my first "big boys" bike and i got it new.... the reasons for the new bike were simple, i was looking at a bike about 6-12mths old, but my bike came along and was only £300 more than the prices i was looking at and it was brand new...!!!!
i had to make the decision. for the extra £300 i got:
so you can see the decision was simple. In the end i did pay a bit more than i intended but i think the benefits outweigh this fact.
i was very nervous on Saturday when i picked it up because it was so cold and i was mindful of Ice. especially as i was not familiar with the bike or how it ran. i kept it steady at a constant 70mph, or did i.???? i thought it was 70mph until i realized that most cars and lorries were overtaking me... the digital speedo was set for KPH rather than MPH so i was doing actually about 50mph..
once i realized this i upped the notch a bit.. not too much because i had my eldest following me in his car which isn't as swift as a 650cc motorcycle... aahhhhhh.
once i got home the first thing i did after a cup of tea... was change the speedo from KPH to MPH, because it is a digital display this was very easy to do, much happier now.
after finding a way to store my bike, i was left to Sunday for a joyride, although again it was colder and icier so i was driving too careful. The true test came this morning on my commute to work.
wow.... after the first 10 miles i was settled into the routine of filtering and controlling the bike which felt good. actually it felt safer and more stable than what i was used to (125cc). which made the experience a lot more happier.
the weather was grotty, not much rain, but lots of spray and crap which basically covered my visor and made things a bit slimy. i made it though, and in good time (55 mins) which is good as i was taking it easy, possibly this time will be improved upon....
so here it is "Poppa T"
i got it...i got my first "big boys" bike and i got it new.... the reasons for the new bike were simple, i was looking at a bike about 6-12mths old, but my bike came along and was only £300 more than the prices i was looking at and it was brand new...!!!!
i had to make the decision. for the extra £300 i got:
- New Bike
- only 1 mile on the clock
- ABS
- 62-plate not 12 which i was looking at
- almost 3 years warranty
- almost 3 years AA cover
- 3 months left on TAX
- Free 1st service (if i take back to where i bought it... unlikely)
- Touring screen thrown in for half the price.
so you can see the decision was simple. In the end i did pay a bit more than i intended but i think the benefits outweigh this fact.
i was very nervous on Saturday when i picked it up because it was so cold and i was mindful of Ice. especially as i was not familiar with the bike or how it ran. i kept it steady at a constant 70mph, or did i.???? i thought it was 70mph until i realized that most cars and lorries were overtaking me... the digital speedo was set for KPH rather than MPH so i was doing actually about 50mph..
once i realized this i upped the notch a bit.. not too much because i had my eldest following me in his car which isn't as swift as a 650cc motorcycle... aahhhhhh.
once i got home the first thing i did after a cup of tea... was change the speedo from KPH to MPH, because it is a digital display this was very easy to do, much happier now.
after finding a way to store my bike, i was left to Sunday for a joyride, although again it was colder and icier so i was driving too careful. The true test came this morning on my commute to work.
wow.... after the first 10 miles i was settled into the routine of filtering and controlling the bike which felt good. actually it felt safer and more stable than what i was used to (125cc). which made the experience a lot more happier.
the weather was grotty, not much rain, but lots of spray and crap which basically covered my visor and made things a bit slimy. i made it though, and in good time (55 mins) which is good as i was taking it easy, possibly this time will be improved upon....
so here it is "Poppa T"
 |
| Poppa "T" |
Wednesday 28 November 2012
I Did It......................
Well folks.
i did it....!!! i actually did it..... i took my Module 2 and passed it..... :) here's the story....
"Once upon a time........................"
i arrived 30 minutes late in the morning due to the extremely bad weather, which had caused major flooding and road accidents dotted around.
when i finally arrive i actually beat the trainer, because he got caught in the trouble as well. Not to worry i thought, so we had a cuppa tea.
went through some questions, of course i got them right..:) and then we got a bike out, which apparently was a decent one. instead it wouldn't start so we had to get another bike..... well
then as we were about to trek off, the heavens opened and more rain came down... so as of this time i felt that the day was not going right my way....
i arrived at the test centre absolutely bricking myself and thinking nothing but negative thoughts. i didn't have long to go before i was called in to be radioed up.
they hooked up the radio and we were off.
the examiner fired some questions at me which i answered just fine, then he said start your bike then move off.
i did and at the first junction i was confronted by a white van man who flashed me. 1st issue here i managed to dodge bu shaking my head. if i had gone i would have failed.
then i came to the next junction and a lorry was waiting to turn and flashed me and i did not go (same reason) but this time the examiner told me to move on.
for the rest of the ride i didn't ride like a fool, but certainly did not ride as i should have. i thought i had made many mistakes and had failed.
but..........
as you all know i didn't i PASSED, at which point i melted after the exhaustion. so now i am looking at my options for a bike to make my commute easier.
I'll keep you informed.
i did it....!!! i actually did it..... i took my Module 2 and passed it..... :) here's the story....
"Once upon a time........................"
i arrived 30 minutes late in the morning due to the extremely bad weather, which had caused major flooding and road accidents dotted around.
when i finally arrive i actually beat the trainer, because he got caught in the trouble as well. Not to worry i thought, so we had a cuppa tea.
went through some questions, of course i got them right..:) and then we got a bike out, which apparently was a decent one. instead it wouldn't start so we had to get another bike..... well
- the throttle kept sticking so i had instant cruise control
- the clutch biting point was a bit flaky
- the 1st gear would not get in all the time
- the engine was as smooth as a walrus with a cough!!!!
- and the bike seemed to be unwieldy..
then as we were about to trek off, the heavens opened and more rain came down... so as of this time i felt that the day was not going right my way....
i arrived at the test centre absolutely bricking myself and thinking nothing but negative thoughts. i didn't have long to go before i was called in to be radioed up.
they hooked up the radio and we were off.
the examiner fired some questions at me which i answered just fine, then he said start your bike then move off.
i did and at the first junction i was confronted by a white van man who flashed me. 1st issue here i managed to dodge bu shaking my head. if i had gone i would have failed.
then i came to the next junction and a lorry was waiting to turn and flashed me and i did not go (same reason) but this time the examiner told me to move on.
for the rest of the ride i didn't ride like a fool, but certainly did not ride as i should have. i thought i had made many mistakes and had failed.
but..........
as you all know i didn't i PASSED, at which point i melted after the exhaustion. so now i am looking at my options for a bike to make my commute easier.
I'll keep you informed.
Thursday 15 November 2012
Whoopeeeee!
Hey
i passed my Module 1 (DAS) motorcycle test, i am well chuffed.. really excited now, and ready for progression onto the (DAS) module 2.
the Module 2 is a practical on-road test where you are followed by an examiner on a motorcycle. it is quite unnerving riding along receiving Sat Nav instructions from an alien voice.
but..
i need to make sure i get all my "Mirror, Observation, Indicator" Moves in each time i turn left and right. Also, i have to concentrate on which lane to be in on a roundabout along with speed limits.
i should be OK otherwise.
i passed my Module 1 (DAS) motorcycle test, i am well chuffed.. really excited now, and ready for progression onto the (DAS) module 2.
the Module 2 is a practical on-road test where you are followed by an examiner on a motorcycle. it is quite unnerving riding along receiving Sat Nav instructions from an alien voice.
but..
i need to make sure i get all my "Mirror, Observation, Indicator" Moves in each time i turn left and right. Also, i have to concentrate on which lane to be in on a roundabout along with speed limits.
i should be OK otherwise.
Monday 12 November 2012
Pay Day.. :)
Well.....
the insurance has paid out finally, from the claim i made against the theft of my faithful "Poppa". so i am now in the market to look for a replacement. It also has occurred to me that when you have something taken from you, you actually become a victim in more than 1 way?
first and primarily you're the victim of society's bottom feeders, those that felt the need to take from someone else without putting any effort into working towards buying the object themselves.
Second your then mugged by the insurance companies.... they literally have you over a barrel from the day you take out insurance. i am sure the government are in on the scam.... It is like gambling in a casino, "the house always wins!".
To start with my premium wasn't bad, but i had to have it if i wanted to drive on the road, but when it came time for me to take something back, it took longer than the 10 Min's it took me to part with cash at the beginning, for the insurance company to part with their cash at the end (4 weeks).
It was almost like i had to give over a pint of my blood (in triplicate) before they coughed up. Then.... then said that they go from sellers guides to come up with a repayment value..!!!
i bought the bike NEW, so paid almost full price, given that it was only 4 months old, looking in the trade showrooms etc, not much chance of picking 1 up for much less..
but they depreciate it the moment it starts ageing. This ends up with you not getting enough cash (minus the excess) to actually buy one that is even close to the bike you lost. Now i appreciate that this is insurance in general and applies to any object or claim, but why? why do we let them rape us of our hard earned cash like this. They are big companies using our money to trade in the money markets etc..
Question: Have you ever known of a poor insurance salesman.?
Answer: NO
just like estate agents, they are are as close to the criminal classes as the illegal criminals.
anyway....
i have my Module 1 in 2 days, with my first day of training tomorrow. i am bricking it...! can't sleep, can't think... ticker going into overtime...
feels like a first date.!
I'll keep you posted.
the insurance has paid out finally, from the claim i made against the theft of my faithful "Poppa". so i am now in the market to look for a replacement. It also has occurred to me that when you have something taken from you, you actually become a victim in more than 1 way?
first and primarily you're the victim of society's bottom feeders, those that felt the need to take from someone else without putting any effort into working towards buying the object themselves.
Second your then mugged by the insurance companies.... they literally have you over a barrel from the day you take out insurance. i am sure the government are in on the scam.... It is like gambling in a casino, "the house always wins!".
To start with my premium wasn't bad, but i had to have it if i wanted to drive on the road, but when it came time for me to take something back, it took longer than the 10 Min's it took me to part with cash at the beginning, for the insurance company to part with their cash at the end (4 weeks).
It was almost like i had to give over a pint of my blood (in triplicate) before they coughed up. Then.... then said that they go from sellers guides to come up with a repayment value..!!!
i bought the bike NEW, so paid almost full price, given that it was only 4 months old, looking in the trade showrooms etc, not much chance of picking 1 up for much less..
but they depreciate it the moment it starts ageing. This ends up with you not getting enough cash (minus the excess) to actually buy one that is even close to the bike you lost. Now i appreciate that this is insurance in general and applies to any object or claim, but why? why do we let them rape us of our hard earned cash like this. They are big companies using our money to trade in the money markets etc..
Question: Have you ever known of a poor insurance salesman.?
Answer: NO
just like estate agents, they are are as close to the criminal classes as the illegal criminals.
anyway....
i have my Module 1 in 2 days, with my first day of training tomorrow. i am bricking it...! can't sleep, can't think... ticker going into overtime...
feels like a first date.!
I'll keep you posted.
Thursday 18 October 2012
R.I.P CBF :-(
Today is a SAD day
i woke up at 0600 as normal, got dressed ready to brave the new morning by taking the dog for the usual wee and walk. Bleary eyed and half asleep, walked down my side way out into the street. i pulled my collar up because the wind was finding its way down my neck and i really wanted to keep the sleep time warmth in my body for at least 5 more minutes.
i noticed it was damp, so we had had rain. i got to the end of the road and my mind wandered... i felt something nagging at my conscious? what was it.. not sure!
i walked the dog round by which time my senses had come to at least 40% activity, as i turned back into my sidewalk, there it was!!!! or wasn't in this case.
my nagging consciousness had picked it up before my mind had a chance this this morning. Someone had "Nick'd" my motorbike :-(
i have not yet had it more than 4 months, it was also not much older than that in terms of newness.. and it was gone. Not even a footprint, stray chocolate bar wrapper or cut chain left behind.
so, whoever took it had to literally "Lift and Shift" i hope they feckin' hurt themselves trying to cut the chain and disc lock off.....
i called the Police, got a crime reference number, they said all the right things although i knowingly nodded in all the right places, felt that i will not see "Poppa" again.
i am sooooo P'd off more to the point that my local town is becoming a shite place to live, because this is the 4th theft locally i have heard of. What is happening to it all. If i ever caught em, i would knock the shite out of them with the chain.
The only positive to come out of all this, is that it was insured so should expect recompense to the fullest amount, and i have my full bike test in 4 weeks, so i will wait no for the test results and replace "Poppa" with a bigger more long term bike "Poppa Mk2".
i woke up at 0600 as normal, got dressed ready to brave the new morning by taking the dog for the usual wee and walk. Bleary eyed and half asleep, walked down my side way out into the street. i pulled my collar up because the wind was finding its way down my neck and i really wanted to keep the sleep time warmth in my body for at least 5 more minutes.
i noticed it was damp, so we had had rain. i got to the end of the road and my mind wandered... i felt something nagging at my conscious? what was it.. not sure!
i walked the dog round by which time my senses had come to at least 40% activity, as i turned back into my sidewalk, there it was!!!! or wasn't in this case.
my nagging consciousness had picked it up before my mind had a chance this this morning. Someone had "Nick'd" my motorbike :-(
i have not yet had it more than 4 months, it was also not much older than that in terms of newness.. and it was gone. Not even a footprint, stray chocolate bar wrapper or cut chain left behind.
so, whoever took it had to literally "Lift and Shift" i hope they feckin' hurt themselves trying to cut the chain and disc lock off.....
i called the Police, got a crime reference number, they said all the right things although i knowingly nodded in all the right places, felt that i will not see "Poppa" again.
i am sooooo P'd off more to the point that my local town is becoming a shite place to live, because this is the 4th theft locally i have heard of. What is happening to it all. If i ever caught em, i would knock the shite out of them with the chain.
The only positive to come out of all this, is that it was insured so should expect recompense to the fullest amount, and i have my full bike test in 4 weeks, so i will wait no for the test results and replace "Poppa" with a bigger more long term bike "Poppa Mk2".
Monday 15 October 2012
DAS...Boot?, nahhhh
Guess what ? wonderful peeps. i have gone and done it.... booked my motobike DAS license course. i am totally and utter "bricking it" right now, because i fall to bits with any sort of test. i think maybe i have OCD because i cannot handle chaos in my little Solar System.
anyway the dates are in 13th/14th Nov for the module 1 and 27th for module 2.. so as of no i am officially in practise mode.
wish me luck peeps. i'll post nearer the time and may get some pics.
anyway the dates are in 13th/14th Nov for the module 1 and 27th for module 2.. so as of no i am officially in practise mode.
wish me luck peeps. i'll post nearer the time and may get some pics.
Monday 8 October 2012
Football (with traffic)
This morning had a small issue with a BMW driver. He was not going to let me through the traffic via filtering, (Knob...!) but i did manage to get through.
anyway the lights were nearby and we met again, but this time he gave me a sarcastic nod, and sped off round the next corner.
during this proces though he drove over my foot..... OOOOOOWWWW it hurt a bit, but i had new boots on which seemed to have a bit of support. This helped a lot i think.
i actually caught him up on the next bend (He didn't get far....) gave him a salute and filtered off into the morning to meet my destination.
foot is swelling up a bit, but it will be alright.
anyway the lights were nearby and we met again, but this time he gave me a sarcastic nod, and sped off round the next corner.
during this proces though he drove over my foot..... OOOOOOWWWW it hurt a bit, but i had new boots on which seemed to have a bit of support. This helped a lot i think.
i actually caught him up on the next bend (He didn't get far....) gave him a salute and filtered off into the morning to meet my destination.
foot is swelling up a bit, but it will be alright.
Monday 1 October 2012
Parking Woes
Hey All
today i got a parking ticket courtesy of "Westminster Council". admittedly, it was my fault.... i failed to see and read a notice to say the bike bay was suspended, and carried on as usual...
what save the bike from being towed was the fact that i was having a chat with the doorman of my offices, and he is a bike as well. In passign he happened to mention that he had to park further away...blah blah blah..
i shot back to my office got changed and legged it to the parking bay.....
phew i was OK, the bike was not towed, but had a bloody traffic wardens love note pinned to my screen. £65 please....
ker...ching....
needless to say i have learnt another effing lesson.... always check the parking surroundings before leaving you bike...
today i got a parking ticket courtesy of "Westminster Council". admittedly, it was my fault.... i failed to see and read a notice to say the bike bay was suspended, and carried on as usual...
what save the bike from being towed was the fact that i was having a chat with the doorman of my offices, and he is a bike as well. In passign he happened to mention that he had to park further away...blah blah blah..
i shot back to my office got changed and legged it to the parking bay.....
phew i was OK, the bike was not towed, but had a bloody traffic wardens love note pinned to my screen. £65 please....
ker...ching....
needless to say i have learnt another effing lesson.... always check the parking surroundings before leaving you bike...
Monday 10 September 2012
Mission Accomplished..... Sar....!
following on from my "Autumnal Computing" post i though I'd post about my "First" manual mechanical surgery to my little 125 bike beast... now, in beast terms i refer to rats n mice as the 125 is far too meek to be anything bigger, but hey...
you know what, i get some pitiful looks from bigger motorcycles at the lights, and i do get a bit of "Pen!s envy" going on. the only bikes/bikers that give me a nod are the other learners, and they are the ones on scooters.
i am going to soldier on though, because i see this as my rite of passage to progress onto a bigger bike. I'll work through the looks at the lights, and the cold winter ahead, and the rain, sleet and cross winds... all whilst riding my lil' Honda.
At the moment in military terms i think i have moved from being "Private Foxtrot" through "Lance Corporal Foxtrot" to now being "Corporal Foxtrot". i say this because i have managed 2.5 months (10 weeks) biking from home to "Marble Arch". i have experienced
anyhoo. with regard to the pending Autumnal equinox, i have actually purchased some heated grips. "R&G Racing Heated Grips". i looked at Oxford grips which are double the price nearly, but in the monthly rags, the R&G grips are recommended as best buy, so i ordered some. The reason i am told is that even if the weather temperature drops to freezing the grips help keep the fingers moving. i was nervous fitting them, as i had to remove my stock grips and wire in the new grips to the electrics.
i found a useful set of tips though from a blog by "CBF125Rider" who has already done this procedure, and has recommended a solution to wire in the live so that it is switched to the ignition, meaning that the grips will not draw power whilst the ignition is off.
i ruined my hand a little until i found that use a wooden plat and a mallet helps bash the grips onto the bars, rather than my palm. (Sorry Palm....).
you know what, i get some pitiful looks from bigger motorcycles at the lights, and i do get a bit of "Pen!s envy" going on. the only bikes/bikers that give me a nod are the other learners, and they are the ones on scooters.
i am going to soldier on though, because i see this as my rite of passage to progress onto a bigger bike. I'll work through the looks at the lights, and the cold winter ahead, and the rain, sleet and cross winds... all whilst riding my lil' Honda.
At the moment in military terms i think i have moved from being "Private Foxtrot" through "Lance Corporal Foxtrot" to now being "Corporal Foxtrot". i say this because i have managed 2.5 months (10 weeks) biking from home to "Marble Arch". i have experienced
- West End Traffic
- City Traffic
- A13 Traffic
- Local Traffic
- Being pulled out upon whilst filtering
- Being almost side-swiped by a Merc or Park Lane
- Being accosted after tapping a wing mirror at Parliament
- Enduring Heavy downpours
- Travelled 2600 miles on the bike
- Dark mornings & evenings
- Bitter cold weather
- Wet/possibly icy weather
- impossibly more mileage
anyhoo. with regard to the pending Autumnal equinox, i have actually purchased some heated grips. "R&G Racing Heated Grips". i looked at Oxford grips which are double the price nearly, but in the monthly rags, the R&G grips are recommended as best buy, so i ordered some. The reason i am told is that even if the weather temperature drops to freezing the grips help keep the fingers moving. i was nervous fitting them, as i had to remove my stock grips and wire in the new grips to the electrics.
i found a useful set of tips though from a blog by "CBF125Rider" who has already done this procedure, and has recommended a solution to wire in the live so that it is switched to the ignition, meaning that the grips will not draw power whilst the ignition is off.
i ruined my hand a little until i found that use a wooden plat and a mallet helps bash the grips onto the bars, rather than my palm. (Sorry Palm....).
The picture here shows that the negative is placed straight onto the battery
This Pictures hows how i attached the live, by adding it directly into the local fuse panel.
This picture shows the overview from front to back.
The new grips before being plugged in.
i took the bike for a ride afterwards. to ensure that the a) the grips worked, b) the grips did not pull off and c) that the power did not totally disappear.
and to my utter surprise, they worked. Now i am ready for the bitch of winter to bring on the fun....:)
til next time..
Friday 31 August 2012
Autumnal Commuting
This morning gave me a hint as to what it would be like to commute in the winter... well at least a dry, sunny winters day.
It was lovely & sunny, but the temperature was a bit raw... i think it was about 6-8 degrees C, when i left according to the thermometer.
my body was really warm and did not feel the cold, but my lower face\chin and hands felt cold. i was wearing summer gloves, so have no insulation, my fingers were going numb. by the time i got to work my hands were stiff and my chin felt like it was someone elses.
so, conclusion.... gotta buy some winter gloves & some heated grips for the pinkies, then a winter muff for my chin.
lets see ehat that does, because today was a grin, but winter could be very cold indeed.
It was lovely & sunny, but the temperature was a bit raw... i think it was about 6-8 degrees C, when i left according to the thermometer.
my body was really warm and did not feel the cold, but my lower face\chin and hands felt cold. i was wearing summer gloves, so have no insulation, my fingers were going numb. by the time i got to work my hands were stiff and my chin felt like it was someone elses.
so, conclusion.... gotta buy some winter gloves & some heated grips for the pinkies, then a winter muff for my chin.
lets see ehat that does, because today was a grin, but winter could be very cold indeed.
Tuesday 28 August 2012
Faster... Faster.....
Possibly because of the kids school holidays, but my journey in/out of London is taking me 50-55 mins... excellent... like i said not sure why. i am expecting it to be because of the school holidays, and hoping that when everytone gets back to work, it does not extend too much.
i think my route home is better though, deffo, and i am gonna keep that up. and it's kind of pleasant riding past "Ol' Buck' ouse'" and seeing my ol' mate "Big Ben" each day.
then there is the jaunt down embankment by the river... kinda nice scenery.. better than through the City. i do that in the morning, and a lovely morning this morning.
i got a coupla bits of news to add to this blog which you may/may not find interesting, but hey i've started so i'll finish. a la "Mastermind".
First: i got a helmet camera... now some of you will be on the floor laughing and tittering at this statement, and i can see why... i am actually with you on the basis of the quote, but i mean a camera for my motorcycle lid. The initial idea came from reading other blogs, and magazines about motorcycle commuters into London. It is primarily used as a kinda backup for insurance etc. as it documents the car driving idiots that do stupid things where bikes are concerned. i'm not sure how long the novelty will last before i decide it is too much bother, but for now to get a few trips down and placed on you tube will be worth it anyway. it may be good to also use for please when on some real nice rides, but that is way in the future. keep checking the site, because i'll post links to you tube here.
Second: i have decided after a long and hard study of magazines and the like, that my upgrade to a proper bike (i say this only because i am on a 125cc with an L-plate, which is considered bottom of the stack in the motorcycle world, and shown absolutely no respect on the road.) i think this is a good thing, as it teaches you to be humble and earn your stripes. it shouldn't be that anyone can do a DAS in 3 days and then go onto the road with a 650cc.. i think anyone that sticks a term on a 125cc with an L-Plate earns there right to complete the Module 1 & 2 and then as a badge of honour remove the L-Plates and slide across an upgrade 650cc of their own... anyway i digress. the bike i am looking at is a "Kawasaki ER-6N".
i think my route home is better though, deffo, and i am gonna keep that up. and it's kind of pleasant riding past "Ol' Buck' ouse'" and seeing my ol' mate "Big Ben" each day.
then there is the jaunt down embankment by the river... kinda nice scenery.. better than through the City. i do that in the morning, and a lovely morning this morning.
i got a coupla bits of news to add to this blog which you may/may not find interesting, but hey i've started so i'll finish. a la "Mastermind".
First: i got a helmet camera... now some of you will be on the floor laughing and tittering at this statement, and i can see why... i am actually with you on the basis of the quote, but i mean a camera for my motorcycle lid. The initial idea came from reading other blogs, and magazines about motorcycle commuters into London. It is primarily used as a kinda backup for insurance etc. as it documents the car driving idiots that do stupid things where bikes are concerned. i'm not sure how long the novelty will last before i decide it is too much bother, but for now to get a few trips down and placed on you tube will be worth it anyway. it may be good to also use for please when on some real nice rides, but that is way in the future. keep checking the site, because i'll post links to you tube here.
Second: i have decided after a long and hard study of magazines and the like, that my upgrade to a proper bike (i say this only because i am on a 125cc with an L-plate, which is considered bottom of the stack in the motorcycle world, and shown absolutely no respect on the road.) i think this is a good thing, as it teaches you to be humble and earn your stripes. it shouldn't be that anyone can do a DAS in 3 days and then go onto the road with a 650cc.. i think anyone that sticks a term on a 125cc with an L-Plate earns there right to complete the Module 1 & 2 and then as a badge of honour remove the L-Plates and slide across an upgrade 650cc of their own... anyway i digress. the bike i am looking at is a "Kawasaki ER-6N".
It is a 650cc, and is classed as a "Naked Sports" bike, because it has no fairings. but is ideal for commuting as the running costs are meant to be low, and the bike has an upright position with a half decent seat. i do want a decent upgrade that i could have fun on as well. i plan to attempt a few bike trips and rallies when i upgrade, see more of the country on two wheels, because it looks superb. an the experience i have had on my 125 has been fantastic. i am trully a convert to 2 wheels. Watch this space.. of course Module 1 & 2 first, and maybe next spring i will consider the upgrade.. get a winter under my belt.
Third, Final: i think i may created a hells angel out of the missus. She brought up a few weeks back about a friend that went on a bike trip with her hubby on the back of a bike, and seemed quite keen on the idea, but more that that i think she seems quite keen on riding herself.... i think she feels why should i have all the fun..... it is common for people in the biker community to go abroad on trips riding through Tuscany on 2 wheels as part of a pack.... even across the US on a Harley (my Dream...) so maybe it could present a few holidays in the future and a chance to meet new types of people. More than this i think she may start by getting a 50cc scooter for back/forth to work, which is just 6-7 miles away... a scooter would be ideal for such a journey. Quick, cost effective, easy to park, but more importantly giving here a taste of 2 wheels. i suggested the scooter, becuase she was a bit unsure she would a) like it, or b) be confident on a geared bike. so, a scooter would provide the stepping stone to a geared 125cc. the best part is for a 50cc she just needs a bike and a helmet, no other license or qualifications needed. then she can take a "theory" and "CBT" for a geared 125cc. i think the future is bright, and can imagine the missus on a "Suzuki GSX 650".... get in..... i am gonna push the scooter idea, and even keep looking for deals.
Thursday 16 August 2012
What a Pleasure....!
Well
last night i decided to take a different route home, to mix up the journey a bit. The weather was nice, i wasn't in a specific hurry to get home.. so.....
i decided to go from work down Park Lane, down to Parliament and then Embankment all the way to Limehouse Link.
the journey took 50 mins.... a record..... :)
i think this is attributed to the lack of traffic on the roads though by holidays and school breaks. i doubt very much it is gonna be the norm.
but, great.. and to add to this, my inward journey took me 60 Min's, again a record. i have changed this as well..
it is a good idea to break up the journey because you start to learn alternative routes, and how all the roads connect, which bears you in good stead when traffic problems occur.
i know this blog is turning into a Bikers blogs, but at the moment i am just recording events that seem to make a difference to my life.
i have also noticed that my control of the bike is much better with time, i can manoeuvre the bike easier at low speeds using fine control of the clutch, break & throttle.
this holds good stead when coming to do the "Direct Access". which i may take soon :) i think maybe next month.....
last night i decided to take a different route home, to mix up the journey a bit. The weather was nice, i wasn't in a specific hurry to get home.. so.....
i decided to go from work down Park Lane, down to Parliament and then Embankment all the way to Limehouse Link.
the journey took 50 mins.... a record..... :)
i think this is attributed to the lack of traffic on the roads though by holidays and school breaks. i doubt very much it is gonna be the norm.
but, great.. and to add to this, my inward journey took me 60 Min's, again a record. i have changed this as well..
it is a good idea to break up the journey because you start to learn alternative routes, and how all the roads connect, which bears you in good stead when traffic problems occur.
i know this blog is turning into a Bikers blogs, but at the moment i am just recording events that seem to make a difference to my life.
i have also noticed that my control of the bike is much better with time, i can manoeuvre the bike easier at low speeds using fine control of the clutch, break & throttle.
this holds good stead when coming to do the "Direct Access". which i may take soon :) i think maybe next month.....
Tuesday 14 August 2012
Traffic Woes
Actually, today the lanes were mostly open, so the journey was'nt too bad 1hr 10m again. different route, but oh so many bloody traffic lights in London.
at present i am not an agressive driver, and remain calm and cautious most of the time, hence i sit a bit back in traffic if i have to then overtake when moving.
the weather was horrendous, piddling with rain all the way until i hit the City....
this is the piece to take in though... "i got flashed... doing 38mph entering the Limehouse Link..." which is a 30mph limit. so expect points soon and fine...
i do not think it is me that is unlucky, rather than me not being used to London traffic really. the roads and laws, actual and unspoken are quite different, and the only way to learn them is to experience them.
oh well.... i'll be doing 30mph all the way home tonoght...:)
at present i am not an agressive driver, and remain calm and cautious most of the time, hence i sit a bit back in traffic if i have to then overtake when moving.
the weather was horrendous, piddling with rain all the way until i hit the City....
this is the piece to take in though... "i got flashed... doing 38mph entering the Limehouse Link..." which is a 30mph limit. so expect points soon and fine...
i do not think it is me that is unlucky, rather than me not being used to London traffic really. the roads and laws, actual and unspoken are quite different, and the only way to learn them is to experience them.
oh well.... i'll be doing 30mph all the way home tonoght...:)
Monday 13 August 2012
Post (Main) Olympics
Hey Ho
since my last post i have had a "Week Off", "Olympics - Done" and "got my bike back". Well i actually got my bike back at the start of my week off, RESULT.....
so i was out over the weekend and the week ahead for at least 30-60 mins each day.. finding excuses to get on the bike... ".... We need milk!", "....need to post a letter!" etc but taking the long route to get the items.
Anyway had some great moments, and 1 bad moment. Now, everyone has said thus far, that with biking it is not you (the biker) that gets into trouble rather than other people causing it for you.
this is what happened.....
last Sunday i was out on a jaunt going down the country lanes near Laindon where i had not seen a single exhaust for ages. i pull up to a give-way, which is a T-Junction with a curving bend (should be a STOP, really), anyway. i see to my right a Van indicating left into the Junction, and i see to my left a small Silver car driven by a "Silver surfer".
so, i am in right hand side of my lane indicating to go right, i have a White bike, Hi-Viz and it is a clear sunny day with the sun high and to my left (ie behind the silver surfer) causing no blindness at all and showing me to be highly present The silver surfer reaches the junction first and decides to try to cut the turning, as obviously i was not seen.... until...... i see this happening in slow mo, but i know what the outcome may be.
she is on a direct course to hit me square on the left side, as she has totally cut the corner and is turning into the my left hand lane, oblivious of me..... i start frantically back pedalling the bike as i cannot move forward because of a following car, or right because of the van..... she notices me... (i guess it is the whites of my eyes she actually sees now....) and stops... cms from my legs...
now first i am surprised she has not keeled over with a heart attack, second i wonder what the Bloody hell she was thinking cutting a corner, and third so, so surprised i got away with it...
the van man stopped and checked all was OK, and suggested he would be a witness if needed, but as actually no harm done, i was keen to get out of there..
so, the lesson has been drummed into me... ride defensively, ride like everyone wants to get you, ride like every car and drive cannot see you, as bikers (yes, i do class myself as a semi-biker, until i get my full license) we have a rough deal, that is all other drivers, and the road itself (pot holes, drain covers, mini roundabouts......)
Round 2
Now that is done, i am back to work after a fantastic week off with the family, and back to work, and the first time into London since the Olympics started.
What i noticed straight away was that although the Olympics had finished, the lanes were still operational.....? why...? They were only meant to ferry players/VIPS around for the games. Now the games have finished, what are they for?
the Para-Olympics yeah, but that is not for a coupla weeks. so it is obvious, it is for the "Sett Blatter" types out there associated with the EOC, that need taking to the airport, bar, strip club.... without being bothered by us commuters and residents of London. Screw em......
my journey this morning was a little different though to try to avoid the biggest Olympic lane hotspots, and only took me 1 hr 10 on the road as opposed to 1 hr on the road. i think ,mainly due to the unfamiliarity of the route.
Quite liked the change of route though, so may keep it in the mix. although most of my biking over my break was on lanes and local towns, it was apparent i was a bit out of practise with regard to filtering, i am sure i'll get my nerve back.
since my last post i have had a "Week Off", "Olympics - Done" and "got my bike back". Well i actually got my bike back at the start of my week off, RESULT.....
so i was out over the weekend and the week ahead for at least 30-60 mins each day.. finding excuses to get on the bike... ".... We need milk!", "....need to post a letter!" etc but taking the long route to get the items.
Anyway had some great moments, and 1 bad moment. Now, everyone has said thus far, that with biking it is not you (the biker) that gets into trouble rather than other people causing it for you.
this is what happened.....
last Sunday i was out on a jaunt going down the country lanes near Laindon where i had not seen a single exhaust for ages. i pull up to a give-way, which is a T-Junction with a curving bend (should be a STOP, really), anyway. i see to my right a Van indicating left into the Junction, and i see to my left a small Silver car driven by a "Silver surfer".
so, i am in right hand side of my lane indicating to go right, i have a White bike, Hi-Viz and it is a clear sunny day with the sun high and to my left (ie behind the silver surfer) causing no blindness at all and showing me to be highly present The silver surfer reaches the junction first and decides to try to cut the turning, as obviously i was not seen.... until...... i see this happening in slow mo, but i know what the outcome may be.
she is on a direct course to hit me square on the left side, as she has totally cut the corner and is turning into the my left hand lane, oblivious of me..... i start frantically back pedalling the bike as i cannot move forward because of a following car, or right because of the van..... she notices me... (i guess it is the whites of my eyes she actually sees now....) and stops... cms from my legs...
now first i am surprised she has not keeled over with a heart attack, second i wonder what the Bloody hell she was thinking cutting a corner, and third so, so surprised i got away with it...
the van man stopped and checked all was OK, and suggested he would be a witness if needed, but as actually no harm done, i was keen to get out of there..
so, the lesson has been drummed into me... ride defensively, ride like everyone wants to get you, ride like every car and drive cannot see you, as bikers (yes, i do class myself as a semi-biker, until i get my full license) we have a rough deal, that is all other drivers, and the road itself (pot holes, drain covers, mini roundabouts......)
Round 2
Now that is done, i am back to work after a fantastic week off with the family, and back to work, and the first time into London since the Olympics started.
What i noticed straight away was that although the Olympics had finished, the lanes were still operational.....? why...? They were only meant to ferry players/VIPS around for the games. Now the games have finished, what are they for?
the Para-Olympics yeah, but that is not for a coupla weeks. so it is obvious, it is for the "Sett Blatter" types out there associated with the EOC, that need taking to the airport, bar, strip club.... without being bothered by us commuters and residents of London. Screw em......
my journey this morning was a little different though to try to avoid the biggest Olympic lane hotspots, and only took me 1 hr 10 on the road as opposed to 1 hr on the road. i think ,mainly due to the unfamiliarity of the route.
Quite liked the change of route though, so may keep it in the mix. although most of my biking over my break was on lanes and local towns, it was apparent i was a bit out of practise with regard to filtering, i am sure i'll get my nerve back.
Friday 3 August 2012
Olympics
Well Hey
Peeps...
i have
not been Motor biking it, because the steed has been in the garage with a
faulty Fuel Pump.... which is what i thought it may be due to other issues
reported on the web. so, the start of the Olympics has been by train and
tube... not Boris bike (as most bike parks have been shut down....)
i have
got to say my journey into & from work has been excellent both ways.. even
better than before the Olympics ever happened... i think people have literally
decided to avoid London in its entirety and gone away or are working from home.
i hope to
get the bike back this weekend, so i am expecting to start commuting as normal
soon. so to all that are at home.................. STAY THERE...:)
Wednesday 18 July 2012
Commute (Pre Olympics) cont...d
Hey All.
i have some interesting developments within my own self discovery i would like to share. the main being that my journey is now down to 1hr 5m. i am 5 mins off my goal of an hour.
this is mainly because of my confidence on the bike and using the roads as my playground. i can control the bike much better without too much thinking now, although i have still managed to stall a few times at lights and through tight gaps.... LOL
i must admit it is embarrassing, but is mainlt because i try to accelerate too quick either in 2nd or in Neutral, then try to slip in 1st but miss the revs....
learning curve.... :)
i am becoming more bold with my positioning and speed as well, especially if it is dry, because i know the road has grip. i have even pushed the bike to 65mph which is its limit.
1 thing i would like to share is this. My journey is a tale of 2 halves. 1st being A-Road driving which has a speed limit of 50mph and is quite free flowing, and 2nd being inner London City roads..
on the A-Roads because my bik has an upper limit of 65mph it is not good for aggressive driving, as it has no power beyond 45mph.
0-40 is fast, and quick and in general beats most vehicles (except bigger motorbikes) from the lights.
40-50 is not bad, as long as the bike is not already in top gear.
50-65+ takes a while, and against the wind is slower still.
so in essence, when i am on the A-Road, if i am going 50mph, like most traffic i am stuck in the lane i driving in as i cannot be bold around the traffic any further. This is OK, as i accept this as the limits of the bike, but already my confidence is outstripping this limit.
for the 2nd part, the bike is perfect. It is small, nimble, light, and quick through traffic so is ideal for darting beside the queues to gain an advantage. this is where i am making up the time i think, becaus ei am learning where i can filter (outside, inside around etc) and what speeds i can get away with and the trouble zones.
overall then much better, and bike is acceptable for the type of journey i am doing, although i think a 250cc would be ideal, to accomodate the A-Road driving and still be small enough for the City drive.
we will see what happens. i said i would wait a year before taking my DAS course, but i need to chekc out the DVLA site, as i think the law is changing, so i might need to get in before then.
toodles..
i have some interesting developments within my own self discovery i would like to share. the main being that my journey is now down to 1hr 5m. i am 5 mins off my goal of an hour.
this is mainly because of my confidence on the bike and using the roads as my playground. i can control the bike much better without too much thinking now, although i have still managed to stall a few times at lights and through tight gaps.... LOL
i must admit it is embarrassing, but is mainlt because i try to accelerate too quick either in 2nd or in Neutral, then try to slip in 1st but miss the revs....
learning curve.... :)
i am becoming more bold with my positioning and speed as well, especially if it is dry, because i know the road has grip. i have even pushed the bike to 65mph which is its limit.
1 thing i would like to share is this. My journey is a tale of 2 halves. 1st being A-Road driving which has a speed limit of 50mph and is quite free flowing, and 2nd being inner London City roads..
on the A-Roads because my bik has an upper limit of 65mph it is not good for aggressive driving, as it has no power beyond 45mph.
0-40 is fast, and quick and in general beats most vehicles (except bigger motorbikes) from the lights.
40-50 is not bad, as long as the bike is not already in top gear.
50-65+ takes a while, and against the wind is slower still.
so in essence, when i am on the A-Road, if i am going 50mph, like most traffic i am stuck in the lane i driving in as i cannot be bold around the traffic any further. This is OK, as i accept this as the limits of the bike, but already my confidence is outstripping this limit.
for the 2nd part, the bike is perfect. It is small, nimble, light, and quick through traffic so is ideal for darting beside the queues to gain an advantage. this is where i am making up the time i think, becaus ei am learning where i can filter (outside, inside around etc) and what speeds i can get away with and the trouble zones.
overall then much better, and bike is acceptable for the type of journey i am doing, although i think a 250cc would be ideal, to accomodate the A-Road driving and still be small enough for the City drive.
we will see what happens. i said i would wait a year before taking my DAS course, but i need to chekc out the DVLA site, as i think the law is changing, so i might need to get in before then.
toodles..
Monday 9 July 2012
Motorcycle Commute (Pre Olympics)
Right,
start of a new week saw a great commute this Mon morning, the rain held off and the roads were dry so excellent. also the traffic was well light this morning, so easy flick through the traffic.
i am also becoming more aware of how to filter properly and where i can filter on the roads used on my journey into town. so today Clock to Clock (door to door) 1hr 10 mins.. now that is cool especially as it involves time to lock/unlock the bike and walk to the office from parking bay (3 mins). so actual travel time is about 1hr.
now, this is the worrying bit. Next week sees the Olympic lanes being open and am totally uncertain how this is goingt oaffect my journey. it may not, as i can filter, but it is to the extent i am allowed to filter. because i will have to take a little space from the olympic lanes every now and then to get past the sumper trucks....
we will have to wait and see. i intend to go my usual route tonite on the way home, and hope that it will represent a full journey without making wrong turns, because so far i have not achieved a home journey in the same time span.
i will let you all know.
start of a new week saw a great commute this Mon morning, the rain held off and the roads were dry so excellent. also the traffic was well light this morning, so easy flick through the traffic.
i am also becoming more aware of how to filter properly and where i can filter on the roads used on my journey into town. so today Clock to Clock (door to door) 1hr 10 mins.. now that is cool especially as it involves time to lock/unlock the bike and walk to the office from parking bay (3 mins). so actual travel time is about 1hr.
now, this is the worrying bit. Next week sees the Olympic lanes being open and am totally uncertain how this is goingt oaffect my journey. it may not, as i can filter, but it is to the extent i am allowed to filter. because i will have to take a little space from the olympic lanes every now and then to get past the sumper trucks....
we will have to wait and see. i intend to go my usual route tonite on the way home, and hope that it will represent a full journey without making wrong turns, because so far i have not achieved a home journey in the same time span.
i will let you all know.
Monday 25 June 2012
Motorcycle Heaven
Hey Peeps.
In a bif to improve my commuting experience from Home to Work has turned my attention towards "Motorcycling"....! yep i know...
right my experience today has been as follows, door to door
Train, Tube - £311 / month - 1hr 50 mins.
Train, BorisBike - £250 / month - 1hr 50 mins.
Motorcycle - £150 / month - 1hr.
it is obvious which path i am gonna try to take.... so
taken my CBT, passed that
Got my Theory Thurs 28/6/12
gonna get myself a nice little Honda/Yamaha 125cc to practise on, and use, which by the way does about 100-120mpg... have that Mr Ford Mondeo.
earn some stripes, then apply for my DAS 1 & 2 before embarking on a new journey with a 600cc.
well, thats the plan (Below is my 'Head Shell')
i'll keep in touch and update with details of my adventures, but they do move on!!
Things have progressed.
1) Purchased ALL my motorcycle gear (bloody expensive)
2) Purchased a New bike (Great Deal) and lovverly. nicknamed "Poppa"
3) Passed my BIKE theory test.
wow, all in 1 day..... pick the bike up on the weekend, so no picture yet, but for those that cannot wait
according to "Googlemaps" the journey from Postcode to Postcode is 27 miles, and in midday traffic in a car will take (1hr 15mins) so on a bike slipping traffic (1hr) i have had this confirmed by a seasoned motorcycle commuter travelling to similar location.
Here is "Poppa"......
What a weekend we have had. When i picked "Poppa" up on Saturday i think i was suffering Anxiety at actuallt committing to buying and riding a bike. i heard all the stories, and laments from various people about motocycling that i got myself tied up in knots. Don't get me wrong, everything people say is correct, and i have found out alread that you have to be master of the beast, because it will tear itself away if you let it....
so the art of any new motorcyclist is "Slow and Steady", remember this and follow all the lessons taught on the CB. Thats looking, waiting, looking again....
anyhooo.. after the first 30 minutes, i was at ease and comfortable, and on the 2nd day, even more confident as my speed was picking up slight, not fast i mean, but better than the day before where i was holding up traffic doing 25....
i almost feel like a normal biker, except i have not experienced tearing rain, or blisteringly cold winter. when i achieve these, i may feel lik a biker.
next stop now, is some experience, DAS test, license then "Harley".....
In a bif to improve my commuting experience from Home to Work has turned my attention towards "Motorcycling"....! yep i know...
right my experience today has been as follows, door to door
Train, Tube - £311 / month - 1hr 50 mins.
Train, BorisBike - £250 / month - 1hr 50 mins.
Motorcycle - £150 / month - 1hr.
it is obvious which path i am gonna try to take.... so
taken my CBT, passed that
Got my Theory Thurs 28/6/12
gonna get myself a nice little Honda/Yamaha 125cc to practise on, and use, which by the way does about 100-120mpg... have that Mr Ford Mondeo.
earn some stripes, then apply for my DAS 1 & 2 before embarking on a new journey with a 600cc.
well, thats the plan (Below is my 'Head Shell')
Things have progressed.
1) Purchased ALL my motorcycle gear (bloody expensive)
2) Purchased a New bike (Great Deal) and lovverly. nicknamed "Poppa"
3) Passed my BIKE theory test.
wow, all in 1 day..... pick the bike up on the weekend, so no picture yet, but for those that cannot wait
according to "Googlemaps" the journey from Postcode to Postcode is 27 miles, and in midday traffic in a car will take (1hr 15mins) so on a bike slipping traffic (1hr) i have had this confirmed by a seasoned motorcycle commuter travelling to similar location.
Here is "Poppa"......
From Behind....
What a weekend we have had. When i picked "Poppa" up on Saturday i think i was suffering Anxiety at actuallt committing to buying and riding a bike. i heard all the stories, and laments from various people about motocycling that i got myself tied up in knots. Don't get me wrong, everything people say is correct, and i have found out alread that you have to be master of the beast, because it will tear itself away if you let it....
so the art of any new motorcyclist is "Slow and Steady", remember this and follow all the lessons taught on the CB. Thats looking, waiting, looking again....
anyhooo.. after the first 30 minutes, i was at ease and comfortable, and on the 2nd day, even more confident as my speed was picking up slight, not fast i mean, but better than the day before where i was holding up traffic doing 25....
i almost feel like a normal biker, except i have not experienced tearing rain, or blisteringly cold winter. when i achieve these, i may feel lik a biker.
next stop now, is some experience, DAS test, license then "Harley".....
Monday 2 April 2012
Commuting..
The 2nd Phase of my commute is basically from "Fenchurch Street" to "Marble Arch" but to make things easier for me in regards to fitness, cost & time, i have decided to try to Bike this journey. Below is a picture of my vehicle.
i wanted to let all know how it went on my first journey into the office this morning. The stats are listed here.
Arrived Fenchurch Street : 0722
Arrived Marble Arch: 0800
Journey Time: 38 mins
Cost:£ nil
Fitness: +100% (over existing journey's)
so all in all the timing could be better, but i expect that most of this is due to my uncertainty of the route, as i had to stop multiple times to check the map, and also i stopped at every red light, when i could have stepped off the saddle and walked as a pedestrian. i did observer that many of the other cyclists did NOT do this and flaunted the law by going through red lights.
The journy was longer, the saddle is rock hard and hurt my a$$, and i failed to think of a new shirt as the one i wore was soaked!!!!
failing this i need to discover a more direct route, and bring a change of shirt. watch this space as i update after this evenings route.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Right
the evening session is not much better, 40 mins..... bloody london streets and road works.... i have to get a route sorted otherwise it is not going to go down to 30mins... This evening i managed to go half way round London.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey All
found a decent, straight route now, which basically goes through St. Pauls then Holborn & Oxford Street, Done it in 30 mins on the way in this morning... woohooo
i can now concentrate on this time and knock off another 5 mins with ruthless cycling, or a faster bike!
Arrived Fenchurch Street : 0722
Arrived Marble Arch: 0800
Journey Time: 38 mins
Cost:£ nil
Fitness: +100% (over existing journey's)
so all in all the timing could be better, but i expect that most of this is due to my uncertainty of the route, as i had to stop multiple times to check the map, and also i stopped at every red light, when i could have stepped off the saddle and walked as a pedestrian. i did observer that many of the other cyclists did NOT do this and flaunted the law by going through red lights.
The journy was longer, the saddle is rock hard and hurt my a$$, and i failed to think of a new shirt as the one i wore was soaked!!!!
failing this i need to discover a more direct route, and bring a change of shirt. watch this space as i update after this evenings route.
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Right
the evening session is not much better, 40 mins..... bloody london streets and road works.... i have to get a route sorted otherwise it is not going to go down to 30mins... This evening i managed to go half way round London.
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Hey All
found a decent, straight route now, which basically goes through St. Pauls then Holborn & Oxford Street, Done it in 30 mins on the way in this morning... woohooo
i can now concentrate on this time and knock off another 5 mins with ruthless cycling, or a faster bike!
New Frontiers...
Hey All
you may/maynot be aware that i have achieved the impossible and have managed to get myself back into employment... how happy am i. i now work for a small and growing IT business called "Synergy Associates".
i'll keep you all up to date though. Challenges await....
you may/maynot be aware that i have achieved the impossible and have managed to get myself back into employment... how happy am i. i now work for a small and growing IT business called "Synergy Associates".
i'll keep you all up to date though. Challenges await....
Thursday 1 March 2012
Nomura - No More
Hey All
You may be shocked, or maybe not to hear that after 11 years faithful service "Nomura" have decided that i am the latest casualty of the banking industry cuts.
i am now on the redundancy heap, with countless others.
for all the others in the same boat, you have my sympathies, for everyone else, keep 1 eye always open.
You may be shocked, or maybe not to hear that after 11 years faithful service "Nomura" have decided that i am the latest casualty of the banking industry cuts.
i am now on the redundancy heap, with countless others.
for all the others in the same boat, you have my sympathies, for everyone else, keep 1 eye always open.