And today's commuting highlight is...

[sjtscott]

Sea Demon said:

As soon as I sat on the bike this morning I knew I had a puncture so pumped it up to 50 psi and hoped for the best, made to FWR from Maidstone - didn't go down much, couldn't face getting a train

Thats good going I though I was chancing my arm riding so 10miles across London with a tyre literally hemorrhaging air before.. pump it up.. bring the pump with me in a backpack just in case. Very few times I've needed to be recovered or been completely stranded by a puncture so far. That goes for euro trips too where a tin of tyre weld got me going again.

[Cbull]

The roads was as empty as they're ever going to get this morning, very boring ride in all be it a little chilly at speeds.

Had a good spin out last night with few mates over to the Raven. Getting a little better at cornering and trying to keep up with the experienced riders BUT doing increasingly risky speeds, trying not too but as soon you see that empty straight ahead it's bloody hard not too :\

[kiethton]

^^^^^

I think I'm weird in that regard, don't really like going hooning on the motorbike for some reason.

Went on a ride out with a friend shortly after passing my test earlier this year and haven't since. Although fun I actually prefer hooning around in the car (Exige), maybe it's my fear of death kicking in....well that and my relative inexperience/lack of confidence.

I think the way out is to get a little more bike specific tuition, I find I'm constantly worrying about a manhole cover/construction mud/a loony SE London driver that got their license in exchange for a goat that unless in perfect conditions (I have little confidence in the wet yet), with no traffic I don't enjoy ragging the bike (that and I'm going far too fast, far too quickly!)

Edited by kiethton on Friday 11th August 08:56

[308mate]

Cbull said:

trying to keep up with the experienced riders BUT doing increasingly risky speeds

Rather than lecture, I'll just highlight that sentence. Don't do it.


ETA: actually when I think about it, that's how i got faster back in the day, so who am i to say? Just be really careful. Or lucky.

Edited by 308mate on Friday 11th August 08:54

[CAPP0]

308mate said:

Cbull said:

trying to keep up with the experienced riders BUT doing increasingly risky speeds

Rather than lecture, I'll just highlight that sentence. Don't do it.

Have to say that's almost textbook for an impending off.

[CaptainSlow]

CAPP0 said:

308mate said:

Cbull said:

trying to keep up with the experienced riders BUT doing increasingly risky speeds

Rather than lecture, I'll just highlight that sentence. Don't do it.

Have to say that's almost textbook for an impending off.

I'm finding that the level of discomfort I experience cornering doesn't change, however, the speed is increasing...ie to quote the great Lance Armstrong "It doesn't get easier, you just get faster"

[Cbull]

Noted! Sometimes people just need to be told how stupid they are to keep them grounded, suppose I'm one of them. I'll certainly try and keep it down, too much to lose and can't afford the hefty fines. They should never have designed/built bikes over 250cc

[Angrybiker]

Never ride faster than your angel can fly.

[Andy XRV]

Angrybiker said:

Never ride faster than your angel can fly.

I hate that saying

[Fleegle]

Andy XRV said:

Angrybiker said:

Never ride faster than your angel can fly.

I hate that saying

I've never heard that saying before


Sheltered life I guess

[Andy XRV]

You, a sheltered life?

Whatever you do don't type it into google otherwise your screen will be full of patches, choppers and wings

[SteelerSE]

Had a great commute yesterday, helped by the M3 working now. I was heavily delayed by a CBF1000 rider with the full three boxes on the back complete with bits of foam stuck to the outside to protect them. He just wouldn't get out of the way when his barge couldn't filter. Deeply irritating.

Working from home today though so nice and relaxed trip to the laptop praise be.

[Cbull]

Wet and cold ride in this morning. The wife washed my jacket a while ago which I think has removed the water proof protection. Bought and applied the Muc-Off protection can for £9. It didn't work. The top half of my work shirt was drenched by the time I'd got in. Used a mini fan under the desk to try and dry the jacket off but it stopped and smoke was coming from the extension socket. Not a great start ha ha.

[kiethton]

Good weather down here in London, a crisp but dry commute into work that was totally uneventful.

Separately, being fairly new to bikes and this being my fist "big boy" bike a quick question....

When braking firmly from a low speed (<15mph) my bike seems to feel like it has ABS (it most certainly doesn't - '03 CBR 600F) - is it a sign of warped disc? - I'm also pretty sure the pads are a little too worn - linked?

Edited by kiethton on Monday 14th August 10:47

[Angrybiker]

kiethton said:

Good weather down here in London, a crisp but dry commute into work that was totally uneventful.

Separately, being fairly new to bikes and this being my fist "big boy" bike a quick question....

When braking firmly from a low speed (<15mph) my bike seems to feel like it has ABS (it most certainly doesn't - '03 CBR 600F) - is it a sign of warped disc? - I'm also pretty sure the pads are a little too worn - linked?

Edited by kiethton on Monday 14th August 10:47

Defo shouldn't be happening, could be either. get it checked out, only way to know for sure.

[Cbull]

Angrybiker said:

kiethton said:

Good weather down here in London, a crisp but dry commute into work that was totally uneventful.

Separately, being fairly new to bikes and this being my fist "big boy" bike a quick question....

When braking firmly from a low speed (<15mph) my bike seems to feel like it has ABS (it most certainly doesn't - '03 CBR 600F) - is it a sign of warped disc? - I'm also pretty sure the pads are a little too worn - linked?

Edited by kiethton on Monday 14th August 10:47

Defo shouldn't be happening, could be either. get it checked out, only way to know for sure.

Checked my discs at the weekend and they're out by lots according to his 20 year old dial. Here's the one I'll be looking on getting, reviews seem good on amazon, might be worth a try?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Digital-Probe-Dial-0-01m...

[kiethton]

Thanks guys, thought as much.

I've got a few days off work to sort out my garage later this month so I've booked the bike in with the very reasonably priced garage to sort this (and the big list of other jobs noted on the page before) out.

[CAPP0]

Today's commuting highlight was....commuting! First time in 3 weeks.

The RT felt VERY odd after all those miles on the GS recently. I guess I'll get used to it again. Or buy a GS!

44 mins door to door though taking it REALLY easy, as opposed to term-time 1hr plus. When school's in I can only just break an hour if I really try.

[black-k1]

I've spent the last 3 weeks "commuting" along the I4 in Florida to DisneyWorld, Universal etc. Back on the M11/A12 this morning but was pleasantly surprised with the volume of traffic. A good ride in for a first day back. I hope the dry weather and light(ish) traffic holds for the rest of the week.

[PTF]

The c**t in the little flat-bed lorry on the outside lane of the A14 this morning who sat with his left wheels on the centre line and refused to move over to let me lane split. Traffic was crawling at 5-10 mph and both lanes at same speed. Could see him looking over at me in his left mirror, but he simply wouldn't get over! Only got past when the inside lane went slightly quicker so made a gap so i could slip past and signal my displeasure.