Great ride this morning

[Kilted Ginger]

What a joy to get up and see dry tarmac out of the window, patience does pay off.

I've steadfastly ridden through the crap weather of the past few weeks, 8 inch deep puddles, entire roads covered with soggy leaves, massive mud clods dropped from tractor wheels, sleet, torrential rain, howling wind, subzero temps.

Then this morning, mild, dry, calm. Is it my birthday, did i sleep through winter, brilliant, being able to see through the visor without left arm acting like window wiper, nipping across white lines and manhole covers without feeling like riding over an oil slick leaning right into corners with confidence again, squeezing on the throttle and tearing along the empty road after the road works without the back end squirming, rediscovering the joy of biking.

Sorry just had to share as i'm a happy bunny this morning, it will probably rain in time for me going home but its only water :lol:

[-Ralph-]

I had a similar ride in Fife on Sunday - its a great feeling when the weathers been as crap as it has been.

It's calm in your neck of the woods this morning? Here it's dry but blowing a bloody gale!!

[northwind]

Same here... I know how dogs must feel when they're let off the leash :)

[jim@55]

mark-i take it u never headed west?? its ab chucking it down here and blowing a gale ,its been like that all morning ,i used the bike on mon and it was semi-dry roads but you had to b wary of the leaves ,but today,,,no chance :roll: i long for those dry (not so cold )winter days ,but its just wet all the time here :?

[Kilted Ginger]

Jim, the engine still works in the wet :wink: or mine does anyway, just a bit slower when parting the sea of wet leaves, 2 cars have been off the road on the way up to my house with the leaves / mud lately, feet out and nice and slow until i can actually see some tarmac, and a car stalled in one of the big deep puddles (only about 8 - 10 inches), rode through at the side of it and nipped back with the car and wellies to tow her out

Northy, brilliant analargy, but unfortunately i'm a bit more like a bull in the china shop (or is it a coo with a gun) than a leadless dog :lol:

Looks like the west's weathers getting here now, wee bit windy and a slight smirn :wink: :cry:
Ralph its always windy at your hoose, something to do with the altitude :D

No matter still rather be wet and biking than dry and cagebound.

Is the bike the same as a car in that if you keep the air intake above water it will keep going or is that just foolish #-o :stupid:

[Blue Flame]

Well that was fun.

Took the bike to work only to find they shut the bridge to bikes after i got to work. Had a 45 mile journey home via the Kincardine Bridge - and the weather was manky over at Kincardine yet OK in Edinburgh and once I got home. What's all that about :roll:

[on yer bike]

Its been hellish gale force winds over here all day, 5 mins west off Edinburgh, but i've been told its quite clear in Edinburgh and Livingston, so it sounds like very strong local winds round exposed places

[Kilted Ginger]

Just got in, me and my big mouth, chucking it down and gusting badly all the way home, great youve gotta love it, keeps the concentration levels up anyway. didnt help that i had a 15kg bag of plaster in my rucksack.

Oh nearly forgot, had to do rapid evasion of an unmanned shopping trolley blowing out of the carpark in the dark as i went past, that fairly got the heart pumping, well i think it was the heart.

Might have to rethink transport for tomorrow if its like this again, plus i bought the wrong plaster so i've to take it back and get a sanding pole from my dads, sounds like the cage :(

[northwind]

Northy, brilliant analargy, but unfortunately i'm a bit more like a bull in the china shop (or is it a coo with a gun) than a leadless dog :lol:


I was thinking "Cry havoc! And let slip the dogs of woooooaaaaahhhh!" :)

[jim@55]

Just got in, me and my big mouth, chucking it down and gusting badly all the way home, great youve gotta love it, keeps the concentration levels up anyway. didnt help that i had a 15kg bag of plaster in my rucksack.

Might have to rethink transport for tomorrow if its like this again, plus i bought the wrong plaster so i've to take it back and get a sanding pole from my dads, sounds like the cage :(

ha haaaa,
my engine works in the wet as well ,after all its a honda ,just not much starting it from me on days like tdy
http://upload4.postimage.org/1791271/nelson.jpg (http://upload4.postimage.org/1791271/photo_hosting.html) :wink:

[STRAMASHER]

Right-oh , i'm preparing to go "windsurfing" as it sounds like it has'nt let up out. Also prepared for "When Wheelie-Bins Attack". :lol:

yup bikes are never boring 8) :roll: :)

[Sheila]

Holy moly.. Nice weather my *rse!! :shock: Never mind gale force winds.. near cyclonic more like!! :evil: Me and my bike were blown right over to the other side of the road at one point and this is in middle of Edinburgh.. I still can't believe it.. I mean I knew it was bad winds but that was ridiculous!!! Wasn't prepared for that very near mishap at all!! Just as well no oncoming vehicles at that point!! Phew.. so anyway made me think.. what's the best way to react when that happens?? Speed up, slow down or maintain speed?? :? As it happens I slowed down and ducked my head.. but I have a feeling I should have maintained my speed.. :?:

[Kilted Ginger]

Best way to avoud getting blown about too much is plenty of "ballast" i suggest a strict diet of pies and beer, works for me. :roll:

[-Ralph-]

what's the best way to react when that happens??

Anyway you like so long as you stay upright and don't hit anything! I don't think there's any textbook answer to that one...? Anyone...? When you see a car bonnet coming towards you you'll decide pretty quickly anyway.

[jimmy4237]

Wind - it creates havoc!! I was coming back down from Aberdeen with the artic tonight, and the trailer was fishtailing all over the place with the curtains blowing me across two lanes of traffic... yet stupid morons in cages still tried to overtake :roll: :roll: Half the drivers in Scotland shouldn't be given a licence or a car in the first place - they can't drive for s**t....

I mean which ****s drive a car at 43mph in lane 1 of a clear motorway, and varying between 45 to 60 with constant braking (for no reason!!) in lane 2??? Classic example - M8 from Edinburgh to Glasgow at 5pm at night. TOTAL FANNIES THE LOT OF THEM!!!!! Do your 70, get past the slower vehicles in lane 1 and GTF....... Then the traffic would flow ten times better!!!

I don't take a bike out in this weather - not worth the risk or the bother. (You've the right to call me a wuss now :lol: :lol: but I like my creature comforts during the winter time :lol:

[suicidesam]

I normally jump on the bike as long as the rain aint going sideways when i leave for work.. Dont like getting wet on the way in!.. this mornin i didn't even think about it :shock:
To say it's kinna windy up here is an understatement, just waiting for my shed to grow wings!! The not so good point about being in the middle of no-where :lol:
Just been hearing that there is another weather warning out for tonight/tomorrow... Car again by the looks of it :(

[-Ralph-]

M8 from Edinburgh to Glasgow at 5pm at night. TOTAL FANNIES THE LOT OF THEM!!!!!

Hear, Hear!

Lane 2 should have a minimum speed limit. And a **** load of coppers ignoring anybody doing less than 90 but pulling everybody who lane hogs, tailgates, undertakes (and lets face it undertakers are ****s, but without the lane hogs it wouldn't happen), jumps lanes ("before that faster car in my mirrors gets here or I'll have to wait for him to pass") or does anything to causes any other driver to brake or change direction.

Rant over....goodnight.