Over 700 miles, 4 days and a Desmosedici

Over 700 miles, 4 days and a Desmosedici

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MotorsportTom

Original Poster:

3,318 posts

160 months

Tuesday 9th September 2014
quotequote all
Firstly apologies for grabbing you in with the Title. I promise I'll get to the Desmo.

So about 2 weeks ago I saw No Limits post on their FB page that they had just released their out of season discounted TD's.
"I'll just have a look how much the out of season drops the price" Thinks I.

About 5 minutes later I'm trying to work out if I can get the time off work and can I afford to ride to Anglesey.

Another day or two and I was booked for 5th Sept, seen as it was only my second track outing and on my bike this time, Inters was the obvious choice. First time was at Anglesey again, renting a bike from Smallboy (fantastic bunch) although I fked it in the second session, over exuberance, lack of experience (I'd been riding 5 months) and a bike I didn't know saw me highside out of the final turn and end my day prematurely.

The closing days were spent fettling with the bike, cleaning the front brakes and tying up lose ends on the bike with all the while the niggling self doubt of "What if I shunt it again?"

I'd decided to make a long weekend of it so Thursday had rolled around and the last big job left was to fit the new tyre I purchased as the previous was just getting to the wear bar. I'm no Wedg1e, I knew it wouldn't last wink

The new tyre, a PR3 for all you rubber pervs, was swapped over for a tenner from my local bike chap, Winner!

As soon as I was home the wheel was shoved in, exhaust bolted up, lots of gear thrown on followed by a big meal and Viv ended up looking like this.




And that was me ready to set off.

Stay tuned for your next installment of disappointing drivel! thumbup

theshrew

6,008 posts

183 months

Tuesday 9th September 2014
quotequote all
This had the makings of a good thread.

Just out of interest what was the situation when you stacked the rental bike ? Does the cost include some insurance or did you have to pay ?

MotorsportTom

Original Poster:

3,318 posts

160 months

Tuesday 9th September 2014
quotequote all
theshrew said:
This had the makings of a good thread.

Just out of interest what was the situation when you stacked the rental bike ? Does the cost include some insurance or did you have to pay ?
Cheers! I'll try not to be too dreary when writing hehe

The main reasons for posting were nobody at work or home gives a st and I'm bursting to tell people, that and being fed up of MTB and what bike/test/gear threads.

The situation was you pay for what you break up to a cap of £400.

Break £399 worth of parts that's what you pay. Write the bike off you pay £400 so not the worst deal in the world.

Made for an expensive intro to the Track mind

moanthebairns

17,918 posts

197 months

Tuesday 9th September 2014
quotequote all
MotorsportTom said:
theshrew said:
This had the makings of a good thread.

Just out of interest what was the situation when you stacked the rental bike ? Does the cost include some insurance or did you have to pay ?
Cheers! I'll try not to be too dreary when writing hehe

The main reasons for posting were nobody at work or home gives a st and I'm bursting to tell people, that and being fed up of MTB and what bike/test/gear threads.

The situation was you pay for what you break up to a cap of £400.

Break £399 worth of parts that's what you pay. Write the bike off you pay £400 so not the worst deal in the world.

Made for an expensive intro to the Track mind
pish thread, pish photo, pish hedge, pish bike and pish title.


Tim85

1,742 posts

134 months

Tuesday 9th September 2014
quotequote all
That last corner of Anglesey almost caught me out on a smallboys bike aswell. Rear let go and had a big brown trouser moment....ermm I mean I saved it on my elbow mate...

moanthebairns

17,918 posts

197 months

Tuesday 9th September 2014
quotequote all
MotorsportTom said:
The closing days were spent fettling with the bike, cleaning the front brakes and tying up lose ends on the bike with all the while the niggling self doubt of "What if I shunt it again?"



And that was me ready to set off.
was this taken before the fettling began? Your worried about crashing this!?

MotorsportTom

Original Poster:

3,318 posts

160 months

Tuesday 9th September 2014
quotequote all
moanthebairns said:
MotorsportTom said:
theshrew said:
This had the makings of a good thread.

Just out of interest what was the situation when you stacked the rental bike ? Does the cost include some insurance or did you have to pay ?
Cheers! I'll try not to be too dreary when writing hehe

The main reasons for posting were nobody at work or home gives a st and I'm bursting to tell people, that and being fed up of MTB and what bike/test/gear threads.

The situation was you pay for what you break up to a cap of £400.

Break £399 worth of parts that's what you pay. Write the bike off you pay £400 so not the worst deal in the world.

Made for an expensive intro to the Track mind
pish thread, pish photo, pish hedge, pish bike and pish title.

moanthebairns

17,918 posts

197 months

Tuesday 9th September 2014
quotequote all
MotorsportTom said:
moanthebairns said:
MotorsportTom said:
theshrew said:
This had the makings of a good thread.

Just out of interest what was the situation when you stacked the rental bike ? Does the cost include some insurance or did you have to pay ?
Cheers! I'll try not to be too dreary when writing hehe

The main reasons for posting were nobody at work or home gives a st and I'm bursting to tell people, that and being fed up of MTB and what bike/test/gear threads.

The situation was you pay for what you break up to a cap of £400.

Break £399 worth of parts that's what you pay. Write the bike off you pay £400 so not the worst deal in the world.

Made for an expensive intro to the Track mind
pish thread, pish photo, pish hedge, pish bike and pish title.
I did, I am becoming a bit tired of people constantly mentioning how ste BB is these days yet no one can be arsed to post.

LoonR1

26,988 posts

176 months

Tuesday 9th September 2014
quotequote all
When's episode 2?

There's nothing else been posted here for days.

MotorsportTom

Original Poster:

3,318 posts

160 months

Tuesday 9th September 2014
quotequote all
Jesus wept, will someone give MTB his Irn Bru filled bottle back he's chucked it clear out the pram!

Why don't you post a thread moaning about the people moaning about the st threads?

Loon I'll try and chuck the next installment up tonight somewhen but I'm not promising.

LoonR1

26,988 posts

176 months

Tuesday 9th September 2014
quotequote all
Thicker skins required all round I think.

MotorsportTom

Original Poster:

3,318 posts

160 months

Tuesday 9th September 2014
quotequote all
Episode 2

So with a clean helmet and a fresh visor I duly set off to conquer the 250 odd miles with no great rush, I managed to leave at around 11:45am.

The first stint getting up to, through and out of Bristol was boring and uneventful, much like the beginning leg of Wales via the M4.

It wasn't until I started getting towards the Breacon beacons that Wales started to show what it had in store. I've popped over to Wales a few times but nothing could prepare me for Mid/North Wales. For those that haven't the only thing I can suggest is do it!

As long as the road isn't a duel carriageway or larger it's usually a pretty good road in my experience.

Without detailing every road I travelled the highlights are as follows;

A470-I rode many parts of this, usually quite large and open but lots of good scenery if the road isn't doing so well, I'll cover it more later.

B4518 (just after Rhayader all the way to Llanbrynmair) - Fantastic road if you can cope with bumps and the 30 limit interruptions every now and then. Some great views off this road, including a stunning, and I mean stunning reservoir.

In fact whilst admiring the views to the above mentioned reservoir I met a guy on a Bking 1300 who mentioned a road just after the Reservoir (heading South to North) signposted Machynlleth, he described it as a Welsh TT section. It wasn't far off! Massive unimpeded views of the road and it's where I managed to grab these shots.




I did have lots more shots but I dropped my phone late Friday eve and the shock dislodged my memory card and wiped over 100 pics ranting

Anyway back to the roads!

A4085 and A4086 - Words cannot describe the biking heaven, if it isn't fantastic twists and turns it's bombshell scenery. I.e. Every time you look it's like somebody has dropped another bombshell of beautiful scenery just where you happen to look!

After a couple of other detours and rest stops the I ended up getting to my destination a friends house to stay the night, at around 7:15pm.
Probably one of, if not my longest day on the bike yet also likely one of the best!

I managed to get off still in relative comfort even if I was a little tired mentally, after a catch up and beer I managed to hit the hay before midnight with a grin on my face but a couple of butterflies in my stomach for the day that lay ahead.

You stay classy BB!

obscene

5,174 posts

184 months

Tuesday 9th September 2014
quotequote all
Nearly did Anglesey as well but decided to goto Snett yesterday instead. Seemed like a hell of a deal at £69.

Hammerhead

2,698 posts

253 months

Wednesday 10th September 2014
quotequote all
Nice one, Tom. Look forward to further instalments.

LoonR1

26,988 posts

176 months

Wednesday 10th September 2014
quotequote all
Wales is beautiful, just a shame it's full of Welshies.

theshrew

6,008 posts

183 months

Wednesday 10th September 2014
quotequote all
LoonR1 said:
Wales is beautiful, just a shame it's full of Welshies.
They dont have much love for us either. Last time i went i stopped at Betws y coed for a Slush biggrin I love the way some of them convert to talking in Welsh when the realise your English idearolleyeslaugh

As you say its beautiful and fantastic roads. If the weather stays like this i will be going for a ride next week.






moanthebairns

17,918 posts

197 months

Wednesday 10th September 2014
quotequote all
theshrew said:
LoonR1 said:
Wales is beautiful, just a shame it's full of Welshies.
They dont have much love for us either.
Absolutely no one likes the English. Sorry its a fact.

Hooli

32,278 posts

199 months

Wednesday 10th September 2014
quotequote all
moanthebairns said:
theshrew said:
LoonR1 said:
Wales is beautiful, just a shame it's full of Welshies.
They dont have much love for us either.
Absolutely no one likes the English. Sorry its a fact.
Not even the English tbh.

theshrew

6,008 posts

183 months

Wednesday 10th September 2014
quotequote all
moanthebairns said:
theshrew said:
LoonR1 said:
Wales is beautiful, just a shame it's full of Welshies.
They dont have much love for us either.
Absolutely no one likes the English. Sorry its a fact.
punch

Prof Prolapse

16,160 posts

189 months

Wednesday 10th September 2014
quotequote all
theshrew said:
They dont have much love for us either. Last time i went i stopped at Betws y coed for a Slush biggrin I love the way some of them convert to talking in Welsh when the realise your English idearolleyeslaugh
I used to hate that when I lived in Wales.

Mostly because I'm Welsh but don't speak it. Made me feel like a right tit.