Squirrel Hunters Redundancy Ride 29th May 2010

[squirrel_hunter]

At the end of May I become unemployed and unemployable. To celebrate my redundancy I am proposing the Squirrel Hunter Redundancy Ride on Saturday 29th May. Hopefully there will be a job for me at the end.

We shall be using the Tour Of The Ancients route that Xan led back in 2006. The tour is a trek around Wiltshire, Somerset, and the Bristol area taking in some of the old monuments such as the Stones at Avebury, the White Horse at Westbury, and Cheddar Gorge. Though in honour of said redundancy I am Outsourcing the finer points of the ride details including led to someone who is cheaper. Strechie.

Start and end point will be Morrison's Supermarket in Chippenham as it fairly central to where a few of us are based and is in easy reach of the M4 for those further a field. There is a cash machine, toilets, and a Petrol Station on site. We will be somewhere obvious as you arrive before the start time of 10:30. It will be a full day ride so there will be a lunch stop on route, Strechie will confirm the location, but I think it will be the same place as 2006 though if you want a sandwich one can be bought at the start point...

At the end of the ride you are all welcome to join me in precession to my local job centre to camp out ready to sign on first thing Monday morning.

Ride Details:
Date: 29th May 2010
Meet Point: Morrison's Supermarket in Chippenham (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=SN14+6UZ&sll=51.399206,-2.109375&sspn=0.037806,0.07699&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Chippenham,+Wiltshire+SN14+6UZ,+United+Kingd om&t=h&z=16)
Depart: 10.30am
Finish Point: Morrison's Supermarket in Chippenham (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=SN14+6UZ&sll=51.399206,-2.109375&sspn=0.037806,0.07699&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Chippenham,+Wiltshire+SN14+6UZ,+United+Kingd om&t=h&z=16)
End: 5.30pm (approx)
The Drop Off System (http://www.gwent-advanced-motorists.org/bikes/drop_off.htm) will be used.

Anyone interested?

1. Squirrel Hunter

[wyrdness]

I've been in Wiltshire for nearly a year and haven't met any of you yet. So hopefully I'll be able to make this.

1. Squirrel Hunter
2. Wyrdness

[Beenz]

1. Squirrel Hunter
2. Wyrdness
3. Beenz

[BaP]

Only people I've met thus far are Beenz and Xan - so count me in too please. Just reading the drop-off system as I've never used it before, hope this doesn't pose a problem?

1. Squirrel_Hunter
2. Wyrdness
3. Beenz
4. BaP

[Beenz]

Just reading the drop-off system as I've never used it before, hope this doesn't pose a problem?


Don't worry, it'll be explained on the day. Most of us have used it plenty of times before. The 2006 version was a good one, some good roads.

[gruntygiggles]

My first rideout........WOO HOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1. Squirrel_Hunter
2. Wyrdness
3. Beenz
4. BaP
5. Gruntygiggles

[Zombie Jesus]

I would accompany you at the job centre but they've cut my welfare since march.

1. Squirrel_Hunter
2. Wyrdness
3. Beenz
4. BaP
5. Gruntygiggles
6. Zombie J

[gruntygiggles]

Yay...Zombie Jesus....I'm not even going to come anywhere near you...lol, if I try and follow you through a band I really will kill myself...hehe!

Will be good to see you xxx

[Wideboy]

1. Squirrel_Hunter
2. Wyrdness
3. Beenz
4. BaP
5. Gruntygiggles
6. Zombie J
7. Wideboy

:p

[_Stretchie_]

1. Squirrel_Hunter
2. Wyrdness
3. Beenz
4. BaP
5. Gruntygiggles
6. Zombie J
7. Wideboy
8. Stretchie

Suppose I better come...

[wyrdness]

Just reading the drop-off system as I've never used it before, hope this doesn't pose a problem?


Don't worry. You'll find that it's a very simple and effective system which helps to avoid anyone getting lost.

My first rideout........WOO HOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It will be good to meet you and Stretchie, as you only live just up the road from me now.

[metalhead19]

1. Squirrel_Hunter
2. Wyrdness
3. Beenz
4. BaP
5. Gruntygiggles
6. Zombie J
7. Wideboy
8. Stretchie
9.metalhead19

Not met many orgers before, would be good to go on a propper ride out and meet you all

[Wideboy]

Not met many orgers before, would be good to go on a propper ride out and meet you all

dont worry, most of them are safe

[metalhead19]

dont worry, most of them are safe

Is that including or excluding you ;)

[cuffy]

1. Squirrel_Hunter
2. Wyrdness
3. Beenz
4. BaP
5. Gruntygiggles
6. Zombie J
7. Wideboy
8. Stretchie
9.metalhead19
10. Cuffy

[gruntygiggles]

Yo Cuffy! I see this is going to be a good ride......I'm going to go out and get more practise in this afternoon...lol.

[cuffy]

Yo Cuffy! I see this is going to be a good ride......I'm going to go out and get more practise in this afternoon...lol.
If you're about Friday afternoon and want a practice parter i finish at 1pm so could follow you about if you want.

[BaP]

I'm about this afternoon if you wanna go for a blast? Gotta love being a student

[gruntygiggles]

Oh no......I'm too late for this afternoon BaP....I've been out since 11.30, back half an hour ago and knackered. I had an awesme ride today, apart from having to get the AA out :-(

Cuffy, you will have PM shortly!

[BaP]

Oh no - what happened??

[metalhead19]

Sounds good, apart from the AA. Bike all better now?!

[gruntygiggles]

Nope....Noticed that the left fork is leaking as there's oil sitting on the dust cap and going down the fork :-(. Had them done about 6 weeks ago so called the guys this evening and i will be taking it down in the morning. The guy I spoke ot said that occasionally when the fork seal goes back in, it doesn't sit purely flush and so allows oil through. He said it hardly ever happens, but they will be sorting it out for me as a matter of priority as I told them I needed the bike for Thursday night.

There's an issue with too much fuel going through and I also need to get a new, good battery asap as this one is foobarred.

Other than that, i couldn't be enjoying it any more!

[BaP]

At least they're gonna sort it for you asap! Glad you had a good
time other than that :) on a side note, where do you ride to get sone practice in? I'm also a new rider and tend to frequent the same old roads - only go on new ones on rideouts

[metalhead19]

Ah it's a shame about the forks, but at least they said they would fix it for you before Thursday. That for the Weston bike meet? Could you not get them to have a look at the fueling issue for you quickly when the do the fork seals?!
Glad to hear your enjoy the babyblade!

[gruntygiggles]

All over the place really. Saturday went through the roads past Calne and Wooton Bassett to go and get Squirrel_Hunter from Swindon. Had never done them before, even as pillion, but they were fantastic and I believe some of those roads will be done on this rideout.

Yesterday, I was faffing about around Bristol and had sme fun on the ring road (be careful and stick to the speed limits though as there are police everywhere...but the roundabouts are fab) and today I went A46 towards Stroud, turned off towards Cirencester until I got to the roads around Kemble Airfield, then towards Malmesbury to get back to the M4 junction back to Chippenham.

I can't give any advice as I am so new....but I would imagine it is a good idea to do the roads you know well to get confidence and all that.....but to also do other roads so that you don't get overconfident.
I would think that if I did the same roads all the time, I'd get used to them and be able to do them well, then maybe think I was better than I actually am when out with other people on new roads and end up getting myself into trouble.

Does that make any sense? lol

Well have to go out together soon x

[gruntygiggles]

Nah...I'm taking just the fork in.....no charge that way :-)

The fuelling issue is not stopping me riding.....a new battery will mean I will not have starting problems and we can sort the overfuelling whenever we get the time.

[cuffy]

I can't give any advice as I am so new....but I would imagine it is a good idea to do the roads you know well to get confidence and all that.....but to also do other roads so that you don't get overconfident.
I would think that if I did the same roads all the time, I'd get used to them and be able to do them well, then maybe think I was better than I actually am when out with other people on new roads and end up getting myself into trouble.

Does that make any sense? lol


Perfect sense, that's how i came a cropper, was used to riding the same roads and doing them at silly speeds, then it came to the Usk road which i'd only done once before and it was "good night Irene"...well good night triumph :(
A culmination of unfamiliar roads and riding above my ability, never play catch up...it's like a dwarf with learning difficulties.
It's not big and it's not clever :D
Learnt my lesson the hard way, but at least i was lucky enough to walk away from it.

[gruntygiggles]

Perfect sense, that's how i came a cropper, was used to riding the same roads and doing them at silly speeds, then it came to the Usk road which i'd only done once before and it was "good night Irene"...well good night triumph :(
A culmination of unfamiliar roads and riding above my ability, never play catch up...it's like a dwarf with learning difficulties.
It's not big and it's not clever :D
Learnt my lesson the hard way, but at least i was lucky enough to walk away from it.


Shame it so badly disfigured your face eh! Maybe cutting your hair would make you look a bit more like your old self!!! :smt044


Yes I'm talking about his avatar guys and gals....he can take it. Actually.....he has no hair so maybe that's why this avatar was chosen ;-)

[metalhead19]

.it's like a dwarf with learning difficulties.
It's not big and it's not clever :D


Haha i like that!
Sorry to hear about the off though.

[gruntygiggles]

Haha i like that!
Sorry to hear about the off though.

He has such a way with words :cool:

When was that off Cuffy? Was it on the long road going into Usk coming from Chepstow?

[BaP]

Yup, makes sense. I'm just off the ring road so use it often and I agree, the roubdabouts are excellent - especially when the lights are green :d

Will try some of the roads you just mentioned and have a look on google maps. Been over the bridge a few
times and I must say I thoroughly enjoyed myself, even though I wasn't that quick!!

[the white rabbit]

At the end of the ride you are all welcome to join me in precession to my local job centre to camp out ready to sign on first thing Monday morning.

You won't have much luck, Monday after is a Bank Holiday :lol:

[squirrel_hunter]

At the end of the ride you are all welcome to join me in precession to my local job centre to camp out ready to sign on first thing Monday morning.

You won't have much luck, Monday after is a Bank Holiday :lol:

Its a conspiracy.

[squirrel_hunter]

Nope....Noticed that the left fork is leaking as there's oil sitting on the dust cap and going down the fork :-(. Had them done about 6 weeks ago so called the guys this evening and i will be taking it down in the morning. The guy I spoke ot said that occasionally when the fork seal goes back in, it doesn't sit purely flush and so allows oil through. He said it hardly ever happens, but they will be sorting it out for me as a matter of priority as I told them I needed the bike for Thursday night.

There's an issue with too much fuel going through and I also need to get a new, good battery asap as this one is foobarred.

Other than that, i couldn't be enjoying it any more!

Don't worry about the fork to much, there are ways round that if it is going to stop play for you on Thursday. And its something that I've done myself. Replaced the seals on my SV and within a couple of days it blew again. When I did it I didn't think it went in quite right and guess what...

As for the battery/ fueling, answer in your other thread.

[squirrel_hunter]

Now to the subject of new riders...

New riders are more than welcome. We were all one once. The only thing to remember is to ride at your own pace and for yourself.

Oh, and be sure to enjoy the ride.

[_Stretchie_]

Not met many orgers before, would be good to go on a propper ride out and meet you all
dont worry, most of them are safe

Now to the subject of new riders...

New riders are more than welcome. We were all one once. The only thing to remember is to ride at your own pace and for yourself.

Oh, and be sure to enjoy the ride.

Seconded, and it won't be at breakneck speed either... Because I'm leading and I've not done this route before

; )

[Drew Carey]

Wish me and Lily could come and play, but its the day after my leaving party in Cheltenham. :(

[_Stretchie_]

: (

Well, I'll have the route saved in the Satnav so we can always do it again

; )

[Drew Carey]

Coolio. When we doing "that thing" again? :D

[fizzwheel]

I'm already doing a ride that day, on my pedal bike. Word of warning. The route I am doing is going up Cheddar Gorge and then down Burrington coombe. Its quite a popular ride. Theres almost a 1000 people on the entry list, IMHO you'd be wise to avoid that area...

But if you are going that way, let me know. I could use a tow up the gorge ;-)

[_Stretchie_]

Bloody cyclists, think they own the roads

[fizzwheel]

Bloody cyclists, think they own the roads

:(

[Bris-Rob]

1. Squirrel_Hunter
2. Wyrdness
3. Beenz
4. BaP
5. Gruntygiggles
6. Zombie J
7. Wideboy
8. Stretchie
9.metalhead19
10. Cuffy
11. Bris-Rob

[Catflap]

Sounds like something I might enjoy. But I might have prior.

[Scoobs]

1. Squirrel_Hunter
2. Wyrdness
3. Beenz
4. BaP
5. Gruntygiggles
6. Zombie J
7. Wideboy
8. Stretchie
9.metalhead19
10. Cuffy
11. Bris-Rob
12. Scoobs

Go on then.

[carternd]

1. Squirrel_Hunter
2. Wyrdness
3. Beenz
4. BaP
5. Gruntygiggles
6. Zombie J
7. Wideboy
8. Stretchie
9.metalhead19
10. Cuffy
11. Bris-Rob
12. Scoobs
13. Carternd

If you'll have me!!! Hopefully not unlucky.

Nice to meet some organs in the flesh... :smt077

[allantheboss]

1. Squirrel_Hunter
2. Wyrdness
3. Beenz
4. BaP
5. Gruntygiggles
6. Zombie J
7. Wideboy
8. Stretchie
9.metalhead19
10. Cuffy
11. Bris-Rob
12. Scoobs
13. Carternd
14- AllantheKing

[Wideboy]

Go on then.


fancy hooking up for some one on one before hand?

[Catflap]

Stretch, my thought's following the recce would be to cut out Bristol and Cheddar completely, start at the car park just off J18 of the M4 then belt down to Bath on the A46 then take the A363 to Westbury via Bradford on Avon. Throw in a flypast Stonehenge then take the A360 to Devizes and on to Avebury. Would flow better.

Of course if you want to be true to Xan's original route be my guest.

[Scoobs]

fancy hooking up for some one on one before hand?

Sounds delightful.

That's a yes by the way.

[Wideboy]

ok. wont be going to mad will be scrubbing a new rear on the way thar

[gruntygiggles]

Catflap, I took the boys out to some roads I liked around Kemble airfield today.....they are fab, so not doing the tour of the ancients anymore. What we'll probably do is start that way, maybe meeting at the Cross Hands, Old Sodbury....easy to find and then do the Wiltshire side later on.

Stretchie can update you though as he's the routemaster!

[metalhead19]

Route sounds good, not heard of any of the places, but if thursdays was anything to go by should be fun :D
Am heading from Gford to this ride out so not as far this time :D but heading to Plymouth when it ends....so epic long way :( lol

[squirrel_hunter]

Just to confirm following the recce on Saturday with a load of 30, 40 and 50 limits plus those pesky Lycraists closing the Gorge the route will take a significant change. But do not fear, change often presents opportunities, much like a redundancy...

The new route is being finalised and details will be published shortly.

[gruntygiggles]

I like the postitive mental attitude there Stephen!

[_Stretchie_]

Route is roughly this

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j11/Stretchie_/Picture1.jpg

Don't forget the starting point is a big morrisons so fill up BEFORE we start, but when I get home and plan the route properly and add the stops in I'll re-post as you might want to pick up a sarnie and bottle of water or two if the weather continues to be nice like this is a requirement, I don't want people getting dehydrated...

[BaP]

Route is roughly this

Looks good, if not a touch confusing at the moment :D



Don't forget the starting point is a big morrisons so fill up BEFORE we start, but when I get home and plan the route properly and add the stops in I'll re-post as you might want to pick up a sarnie and bottle of water or two if the weather continues to be nice like this is a requirement, I don't want people getting dehydrated...

I'm praying for good weather - just not as hot. I had to peel my leathers off yesteray - not pretty

[_Stretchie_]

EWwwwww

[gruntygiggles]

I'm praying for good weather - just not as hot. I had to peel my leathers off yesteray - not pretty

Yeah.....my textiles are going in the wash before I ride again!

[wyrdness]

Route is roughly this

<map>

Don't forget the starting point is a big morrisons so fill up BEFORE we start, but when I get home and plan the route properly and add the stops in I'll re-post as you might want to pick up a sarnie and bottle of water or two if the weather continues to be nice like this is a requirement, I don't want people getting dehydrated...

Which way round are you going? Are you starting off towards Cirencester or Devizes?

IIRC, there's no petrol station at that Morrisons, so people may need to find somewhere else to fill up before the start.

[BaP]

Yeah.....my textiles are going in the wash before I ride again!

On a side note - been revising in the garden today without realising half of me was in the shade. I look ****ing rediculous. That is all.

[gruntygiggles]

On a side note - been revising in the garden today without realising half of me was in the shade. I look ****ing rediculous. That is all.

That was a "spit your drink all over the keyboard" moment!

[cuffy]

Which way round are you going? Are you starting off towards Cirencester or Devizes?

IIRC, there's no petrol station at that Morrisons, so people may need to find somewhere else to fill up before the start.
Towards Cirencester.

It's the morrison's in Chippenham that they're refering to, which does have a petrol station.

[wyrdness]

Towards Cirencester.

It's the morrison's in Chippenham that they're refering to, which does have a petrol station.

I stand corrected. I've just checked Morrisons web site and it does indeed have a petrol station.

[_Stretchie_]

Getting back to it


1. Squirrel_Hunter(Wiltshire's own sheep worrier)
2. Wyrdness
3. Beenz
4. BaP (Crashy McGhee)
5. Gruntygiggles
6. Zombie J
7. Wideboy
8. Stretchie
9.metalhead19
10. Cuffy - Shamone
11. Bris-Rob
12. Scoobs
13. Carternd
14- AllantheQueen

[allantheboss]

Getting back to it


.......
14- AllantheQueen

Well you're just a giant scrotum aren't you

[_Stretchie_]

Yes

; )

[BaP]

1. Squirrel_Hunter(Wiltshire's own sheep worrier)

Read this first as 'warrior', but now...:lol:


4. BaP (Crashy McGhee)

No fair - last time I came out to play it was incident free!

[metalhead19]

Anyone else seen the forecast for Saturday?! Looks bad :(

[wyrdness]

Anyone else seen the forecast for Saturday?! Looks bad :(

Not too bad, according to Metcheck, though I don't trust any weather forecasters.

http://www.metcheck.com/V40/UK/FREE/7days.asp?zipcode=Chippenham

[Wideboy]

I wont be attending if its going to rain as im ghey "and yall aint worth it, thats my choice"

[metalhead19]

i look on metcheck last night, said heavy rain over most of Southern UK.....hoping that will have changed by saturday tho

[BaP]

iPhone says rain too :(

[metalhead19]

Yeah but which iphone app you using? the default one is always wrong....and well the met office one thinks i live in stoke.....so dont really trust that either lol

[BaP]

iPhone one is Yahoo - told me rain today and I've had nice weather so point taken. Let's hope that continues :D

[metalhead19]

Yeah, lets hope its all wrong and it will be a nice day like thursday......but maybe not as hot? :D

[Wideboy]

metalhead, are you going to still be in Farnham?......... if we are going i think me and scoobs are meeting up down here before we go, wish to tag along?

not sure on chosen route as the man in question is abroad i think :confused:

[metalhead19]

Sounds gd. What time you meeting?

[metalhead19]

Yeh i will be heading to the ride out from Farnham and then continuing to Plymouth afterwards.

[Wideboy]

Sounds gd. What time you meeting?

no idea, was going to contact the scoobsman later..... maybe loomies but could be out of the way??

[metalhead19]

Loomies is kinda going the wrong way for me, depending on which way your getting to chippenham, but could meet you guys slightly further along your trip up?

[Scoobs]

no idea, was going to contact the scoobsman later..... maybe loomies but could be out of the way??

I'm back.

[Wideboy]

Thats a shame

[allantheboss]

Yaow guyis, i iz stiwu ghoeen, butt i az 2 leev lait avturnoown b-kos i az gawt un afleticks cowmpitishun

fanks

[squirrel_hunter]

Just let us know roughly when you'll be parting company so we don't think we've lost you.

Having said that I think most are already lost by what you've just written.

[gruntygiggles]

Just let us know roughly when you'll be parting company so we don't think we've lost you.

Having said that I think most are already lost by what you've just written.

+1....did you have a big gold chain with your name in fake diamonds under your leathers on Sunday??? ;-)

[blue curvy jester]

Have a good one mate was going come up and join you but taking the board to west wales to catche some waves instead

[gruntygiggles]

So that means...


1. Squirrel_Hunter(Wiltshire's own sheep worrier)
2. Wyrdness
3. Beenz
4. BaP (Crashy McGhee) - going very slowly if wet to laugh at gg
5. Gruntygiggles - going very slowly if wet
6. Zombie J
7. Wideboy
8. Stretchie
9.metalhead19
10. Cuffy - Shamone
11. Bris-Rob
12. Scoobs
13. Carternd
14- AllantheQueen

[allantheboss]

I'm not a Queen! But as you can see from my grammar I am a chav/foreign.

I think about 3ish I will be parting, My first event is at 4, I am waiting for clarification now..

Also, Im 90% sure my friend who rides a Bandit (Makes crucifix with fingers) will be coming along, if that's alright?

[Wideboy]

looks like im going to be a nay, the weather is looking pretty bad

[gruntygiggles]

Well Sunday is looking good, so if Squirrel is free, I know Dan is as we won't be out late Saturday night and I can join a ride mid way after my mate has gone home.....we could always wait til Saturday, see what happens with the weather and delay it a day???

[Wideboy]

yeah i can do anyday this weekend, i was going to travel on to Pembroke afterwards but i cant be bothered looking at the weather

[BaP]

This would be excellent

[Scoobs]

yeah i can do anyday this weekend, i was going to travel on to Pembroke afterwards but i cant be bothered looking at the weather

Same here.....apart from the Pembroke bit.

[Wideboy]

stop copying me

[metalhead19]

I can't Reli do Sunday, Saturday is better apart from the weather of course. Would be going from Plymouth on the sunday n that may be abit too far for me, 150 mild jus to get to the rideout lol might be a gd call to jus call it upon the weather in Saturday

[wyrdness]

Well Sunday is looking good, so if Squirrel is free, I know Dan is as we won't be out late Saturday night and I can join a ride mid way after my mate has gone home.....we could always wait til Saturday, see what happens with the weather and delay it a day???

The metcheck forecast isn't too bad for Saturday - just a little shower. Of course, even that might be too much for Mr Widepants.

I'd suggest stick to the original plan of Saturday. If the weather looks really crap then pm everybody early and delay it to Sunday.

[gruntygiggles]

That's what I was saying :-).

Wait til Saturday and if it's bad, see if peeps want to delay it.

[wyrdness]

That's what I was saying :-).

Wait til Saturday and if it's bad, see if peeps want to delay it.

Yes, I was agreeing with you :p

[carternd]

Well I'm up for either day, and I don't mind riding in the rain. I's well lkin 4wd 2 mtin u lot innit!
:tiesto:
(where's the smilie for CHAV!)