Annual Rideout thread

[northwind]

I know we've already had one of these, but we're getting close now. I've just booked myself in from the Thursday to the sunday nights, but I might not be going down til the friday, just booked the extra night just in case. It's not massively far away really but always better to travel in company I reckon, you can all help pick my bike up :)

I've also got a spare set of throwover panniers, good Oxford ones with waterproof covers, if anyone needs them. And I might have a tailpack I can lend out too, again a big Oxford Lifetime one. And also, probably a decent Eurohike tent, in a tasteful union jack pattern :) (only bought it because I'd ripped the bag for my own tent, honest!)

If anyone's swithering about going, you should, it'll be ace.

(edit- also dawns on me I should have a pair of Renntec Sportsracks for the curvy which I can lend out, as I've got other plans- these are ace for carrying stuff like tents, they're no good for weight but they're brilliant for light, bulky stuff. ALso good bungee points. With a tailpack on the back seat and the tent and a mat across the back, it's all dead easy.)

[on yer bike]

I've booked in for the friday & sat nights, so can join up with ppl on the way down, but It looks like I may be heading south after, so will prob try and find other people to follow heading in that general direction. (& hopefully able to 'borrow' my dads gps, just incase I get stuck)

[kitkat]

i was booked then cancelled and considering re booking again. will be travelling down fri night though as I am working that day and have to take kids to perth before starting journey or maybe leave early saturday morning and stay one night.

[Blue Flame]

I a booked in for the Friday and Saturday nights but I have also arranged the Thursday/Friday and Monday/Tuesday off work so i am pretty flexible as well about when to go down etc.

[on yer bike]

Right I tried posting in the other annual rideout topic, but the forum went Rat Rsed* earlier and now it seems to have disapeared from the face of the web,

Anyway was just wondering who else was heading down and when? also if anyone was going with 4 wheels rather than 2? (yes I am trying to blag tent transportation here, lol... theres a couple of beers in it for ya!)

*technical term found in the dictionary

[SVTONYB]

Right I tried posting in the other annual rideout topic, but the forum went Rat Rsed* earlier and now it seems to have disapeared from the face of the web,

*technical term found in the dictionary

It happened here as well, posts were going to the start of the thread and the thread was dissapearing from the list :shock:

[kitkat]

there was some mention on the main AR07 bit about someones wife coming along in the car and will go to supermarket to get beer orders. tara and falc did it last year for us. saying that there was a pub on site last year. so when it got too cold round the bbq we were able to move to the warmer pub and help the locals play dominoes and insult the younger members of the group lol

[Blue Flame]

Had a wee play with Autoroute.
A couple of options for the trip down

AR07 Long (http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/gran****son/AR07/AR07_Long_Route.htm)

AR07 Medium (http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/gran****son/AR07/AR07_Medium_Route.htm)

Both routes start at the Tesco garage and avoid motorway and involve some B roads on the tail end of the trip.

Alternatively if the weather is poor there is still the Motorway:smt089

[northwind]

Sorry folks, was away for a few days. Either route suits me very nicely, they both avoid deadly Tebay services :smt045 and it makes sense to plan for all eventualities. If I do too many M6 runs I will lose my licence, so it's all to the good. Though to be honest, I'd probably be equally happy with going cross country like we did last year then down the M6. I am a persistent floater ;)

[Horney]

What time you guys reckon you'd be leaving from the Edinburgh area?

[Blue Flame]

Yeah

I would tend to agree with a similar route to last time round. The routes I had chosen above involve 'B' Roads for the final stretch which is maybe not what we want when all we might wanna do at that stage is to get to the site and get the tents up.

Here is the route I think we should do which is basically the A7 then hop onto the Motorway and come back off onto a couple of 'A' roads for the final leg.

AR07 Route Down (http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/gran****son/AR07/AR07_Final_Route.htm)

For this route I would suggest a midday departure which should get us there for about 4 (ish).

If you are all in agreement then the only thing left to decide is whether we go on the Thursday or the Friday but that decision is probably best left to next Wednesday to see how the weather is doing??

[northwind]

Also sounds fine to me, unsurprisingly. As long as you're happy to leave the day of travel open I certainly am, camping's fine, and riding's fine, but riding for 4 hours in the rain then pitching a tent in the rain is not a good start to a weekend so some discretion seems ideal.

[northwind]

Luggage! Just put an edit in the first post, but just in case, I should have a pair of Renntec sportsracks for the curvy (ie, enough for 2 bikes) which are dynamite for carrying camping stuff- tailpack on the back seat, tent etc on the rack. These are going spare as I've bought another rack, so anyone is welcome to a borrow. And I definately should be able to lend out my big Oxford tailpack and panniers to anyone who feels the need, though I've actually never used the panniers, I've always avoided the need. The tailpack's great though.

Alternatively, it should be no hardship for me to take an extra 2-man tent or roll-mat, maybe even 2 (need to check this) should load bearing be an issue for anyone. I'd rather not frankly, but it's an option ;)

[Horney]

Me and a mate are toying with the idea of going down, although he's not keen but he's coming round to the idea.
If we leave aberdeen at about 9ish, we'd be around the Edinburgh area at midday. Where are you Southies meeting at?

[northwind]

The huge-ass Tesco at the end of the A7, I believe.

[Blue Flame]

Yep. That is where I was thinkin about. Petrol station there to top up before we head off.

[northwind]

Not a bad spot to buy last-minute emergency stuff either. As long as you don't mind it all having pictures of cartoon characters on it.

PS, Ikea for easily portable camping stools, £3.

[Blue Flame]

Wired up a 12V lighter socket to the bike at the weekend so if you have an in car charger for your mobile (or indeed anything else that such as hair tongs ;) ) then bring it along for a free boost.

[on yer bike]

well thats me back, so from what I gather we're not leaving until friday (correct me if I'm wrong), are we still meeting at tesco at around midday?

[northwind]

That would certainly suit me perfectly... I think it's kind of my fault we're going a day later :) It's one less night of wet tent action, but also I'm still frantically throwing my bike back together, just spent the evening polishing up my new paint frinstance... So the extra day is a big difference for me

[Blue Flame]

I got an email telling me my new screen is in the post so with any luck it will arrive tomorrow in time for me to break it trying to fit it in time for goin away :)

[northwind]

My helmet cam arrived this morning :cool:

[Blue Flame]

Is that the oxford sceintific one you were posting about before? You going to fit it to the helmet or the bike?

[northwind]

Haven't a clue :) Just mucking about with it the now. Probably have to be the helmet strap for the AR but I might be able to knock together some sort of bar mount. Or something made out of cardboard and tape for a screen mount or something. I'd tape it to the fairing but all the paint'd fall off :)

It's kind of cool though :cool:

[kitkat]

have a great time guys.

not going to make it now.

have a wee lemonade for me and northy stay on the bike on the road - on the right road too

[carelesschucca]

Have a good un on the AR07...

[Blue Flame]

Thanks Im looking forward to it despite the rain :)

This arrived today. Screen and Headlamp covers. I like the screen but the headlight is a lot dimmer with the covers on. Not sure if its too chavvy. Whadda you think?

http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/gran****son/Photos_files/NewScreen.jpg
http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/gran****son/Photos_files/NewScreen1.jpg

http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/gran****son/Photos_files/NewScreen2.jpg

[on yer bike]

I can't work out if I love it or hate it

[Blue Flame]

Well that's a great help thanks;)

You can tell me what you think it looks like when you see it in the flesh tomorrow. :smt103

[-Ralph-]

Well you'll get twice as many bug splats, they'll be making a beeline for it (excuse the pun) thinking it's a potential mating partner! You might just bring a sexually aroused ET out of hiding too. :) ;)

[Blue Flame]

Ha ha. Good job she is tucked away in the shed. She would have gone in the huff with that remark. ;)

[northwind]

I like the screen. I'll hit you with sticks if you ride around with the headlight covers on though.

[Blue Flame]

Would that be ****ty sticks ;)

I don't know..... I keep changing my mind about them. I'll sleep on it and decide tomorrow. Probably bring them along and get your view on them when you see them in the flesh.

[northwind]

I made a camera mount for the wing mirror tonight. Don't know if it works. But the first version looked like a front wing :) Very stylish.

[Tiger 55]

Not sure if its too chavvy.
I am...

[on yer bike]

Thats me back, safe, sound and would have been dry if it hadn't been for that flood that jumped at me when going over the hill.

[SVTONYB]

Thats me back, safe, sound and would have been dry if it hadn't been for that flood that jumped at me when going over the hill.

It was quite a downpour, our street turned into a river for about 20 mins

Have you any photos or gossip

[SVTONYB]

This arrived today. Screen and Headlamp covers. I like the screen but the headlight is a lot dimmer with the covers on. Not sure if its too chavvy. Whadda you think?

http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/gran****son/Photos_files/NewScreen.jpg





Personally I like the screen but not the headlamp covers. I think you should shelve the covers and keep the screen. But thats just my opinion its what you think that counts. on another note if you were riding at night you would need to remove the covers cause the polis would spot you a mile off

[on yer bike]

erm, grich running round in his boxers almost jumping onto my bike/tent. the bbq last night was awesome, oh and I got a bit wet bringing a one man tent, forgetting I need somewhere for luggage. did I mention that this one man tent leaks more than a wet sponge.

[northwind]

Your tent is exactly as good as my wet weather cornering :) Legendary.

I decided to copy Nutty from last year and ride back with a deadly hangover. Ended up having to stop because I was sure I was going to throw up, then blacked out over a table in Gretna services for about an hour. Then rode the rest of the way home dodging lightning bolts.

So, obviously, GREAT weekend. Even the soaking-wet parts ended up being mostly fun. Very good indeed. On the whole i prefer sunshine though, we'll need to work on that next year and hold it in portugal or something.

[kitkat]

glad you had fun guys. irn bru and paracetamol staple diet of AR morning after

[SVTONYB]

glad you had fun guys. irn bru and paracetamol staple diet of AR morning after

And a full scottish breakfast