The Last word (AE07)
 

Re: The Last word (AE07)
 

Good first parade advise there, See you soon, Looking forward to this now..:)

Re: The Last word (AE07)
 

Strangely I was about to post a plea for people to check their bikes in view of experiences in the past.

We all know what the law requires on tyres, I know of one guy who had a ruined trip to the south of France because by Lyon his front brakes were metal to metal and it cost him not only the set of pads put a pair of disks as well.

If you have any "bodges" on your bike, check that they are sound (Gear lever bolts or tie wrapped mudguards sound familiar).

We don't know the weather, so a good set of waterproofs.

A quick check on your tyres, chain, lights, indicators, brakes, oil as Rictus has said. Bike shops are not within easy travelling of the site/route, so best avoid having to find one. For once go sensible with baffles/plates a large group in this area will attract plod attention and it would be a shame to get the whole group pulled over because one obscenely loud exhaust woke up a sleeping plod etc.

It might also be worthwhile carrying your docs. Just incase there are any pulls. The quickest way to get moving again is to stop him writing a producer.

Re: The Last word (AE07)
 

Can't find mine, so will be bringing a small lump of wood to spread the load on the sidestand through the mud. :thumbsup: I can probably score some more of these if people want, but I won't bring any extras unless people get in touch direct with me.

Re: The Last word (AE07)
 

Sidestand puck? Use a flattened beer can, I'm sure I can be convinced into drinking the contents for anyone in need :D

Re: The Last word (AE07)
 

Whilst being sound logic, for those arriving first, they're likely to have to park in a field whilst drinking that can. The field will undoubtedly be soft at least (due to the rain) so the inevitable could happen even whilst the first person is drinking the first can.

Hence me bringing wood ;)

Re: The Last word (AE07)
 

SOFT?

its going to be a mud baph :rolleyes:

Re: The Last word (AE07)
 

if hes wanting to demonstrate an oil change, i will voulanter my bike:takeabow:

Re: The Last word (AE07)
 

What on earth is a side stand puck ?

As for everything else....

I took my bike in for an interim service yesterday and asked them to look at everything. Picked it up today and asked the salesman if there was anything of concern. He said "NO" and that was the end of that conversation.

So I'll trust that my bike is in good nick. As for spare nuts, bolts,fuses etc might as well be talking to me in the local language of Timbuktu.

Melody:)

Re: The Last word (AE07)
 

A bit of plastic that you get when you buy a new bike. All it does is spead the load from the side stand to prevent the side stand digging into the floor & the bike falling over (distinct possibility in the middle of a wet field).

Also, don't ask salesmen any questions where the answer could be important, ask a technician if you have to (just not a sales technician or a customer technician). ;)

Re: The Last word (AE07)
 

A side stand puck is basically a thick(ish) bit of plastic that you put under the bottom of your side stand to stop it sinking into soft ground. Anything the right size and toughness will do (hence suggestions of crushed beer cans and pieces of wood). Basically it spreads the load from the weight of the bike over a larger area.

Re: The Last word (AE07)
 

You know something, I suspect you may be the only person smiling the next day ;)

Pucks are all well and good but a bit of strong 6"x6" plank will be a whole lot better considering the amount of water you may find in the field

Guess someones going to ask if its flooded before you all arrive ;)

Re: The Last word (AE07)
 

Yeah, I have a Cunning Plan in case it's too wet for pucks. But most campsites are well drained, and many have hard standings available if the surface really is bad. If it's as wet as some expect (and I very much doubt it tbh) then two things come to mind. One is that I'll be more worried about camping in a lake than whether my bike falls over, and the other is that if you pop in your mirrors, it probably won't matter if your bike falls over, since chances are it'll just get muddy and maybe break indicators and levers. Unless it falls on you while you sleep and kills you instantly of course.

I shall add another note to the general sensible suggestions, slightly pessimistic this one, but- if you have spare levers and puncture repair kits, it is wise to bring them. You can tape stuff like this securely inside fairings if you're suitably careful, so they take up no space at all but riding home with no front brake would kind of suck, and it really doesn't take much to snap one off. Hope for an upright weekend but plan for a crash, is my advice :) Trust one who knows!

I've got some curvy spares left over so I plan to bring whatever I can find as well as my own, but don't rely on it. Also, duck tape- the small rolls you can buy in camping shops- is a great thing to have, it fixes tents, it's brilliant for fairings, you can use it to protect fairings from bungees or even to tape on or waterproof luggage, and it can be pressed into service as insulating tape, or to attach a small rock to a gear lever to replace a toe section, all sorts of things. Duck tape is brilliant, it's not the best at any one thhing but it's OK at everything, and these rolls are really small

Also, spare gloves- everyone knows to bring waterproofs, right? RIGHT? But gloves get wet too, and there'll be no radiators, so, bring a spare pair.

I shall have the jump leads :)

This may be overpessimistic, but it could be the difference between ruining your weekend by dropping the bike in the car park or in the campsite, and not. I prefer Not.

Re: The Last word (AE07)
 

do you think Northy likes Duck tape?


this has turned into a thread Rictus!

I would add..

surgical gloves..!

tesco sell them in a packet of 10 ..

ideal for under gloves if cold or wet and under already wet gloves- a dry hand is a warm hand.

see you all there.

Re: The Last word (AE07)
 

In my day they were the lids from Golden Virginia baccy tins. Do they still exist?

Re: The Last word (AE07)
 

I'm getting worried now. All this talk of what could potentially go wrong:(

I'm now anticipating my bike falling over (side stand puck or not), my front brake lever snapping off, my indicators snapping off, a punctured tyre, soaked hands, wet clothing and watery bed to go to after the end of a long windy route in the Dales.

But wait......I'm booked into a B&B , so a warm and dry bed for me:mrgreen:

And as for everything else, I'll just play the damsel in distress.

Bring it on I say

Melody

Re: The Last word (AE07)
 

B&B?

Cheat!

Re: The Last word (AE07)
 

I wouldn't brag about the B+B to much cause if it's ****ing it down you might have 20 od wet bikers squezing into bed with you:p

Re: The Last word (AE07)
 

:smt046 Can't wait!!!

Re: The Last word (AE07)
 

room for a little one?

Re: The Last word (AE07)
 

At request of a few folks with concerns I have just called the campsite to enquire about the state of the field. The lady, she say (I'm parapharasing BTW)....

The field has drainage (being a camping field) but obviously this is limited. The field WILL be wet/damp at least by the time we get there!! In her words "obviously we can't help it if it's raining"... I don't think she understood my point, but ho hum.

BRING SIDE STAND PUCKS!!!

However, should anyone forget, she's also said that there is a carpark we can make use of. I'm not sure of the size of the carpark, so I wouldn't advise that everyone assumes they'll be able to fit in here!! The car park I suspect will be "farmers tarmac" (gravel on top of mud more likely - if this is the case, the bikes still may dig in!!).

HTH.

Re: The Last word (AE07)
 

The carpark is not big but it will hold quite a few bikes, however we will have to be careful due to ramblers being at the site as well!

Re: The Last word (AE07)
 

Plus any cars said ramblers have brought along too.

If I remember right, we're in the spare field and one of the BBQ's is booked up, so I'm expecting a fairly full campsite.

Re: The Last word (AE07)
 

Hmmm might just bring a second groundsheet

Re: The Last word (AE07)
 

Cheers for the last minuters Rictus :thumbsup: really looking forward to this now. Bit worried about the puckstand idea now lol, thing i might rob one of the wooden planks out of my garden lol

Re: The Last word (AE07)
 

I have a cunning plan to prevent bikes falling over as a last ditch solution, but I'm not disclosing it yet because I really don't want things to come to that.

Re: The Last word (AE07)
 

:smt026Please tell.....

Re: The Last word (AE07)
 

think i might take a brick for a stand....at least its thick enough not to sink too much...bit like me really..thick

Re: The Last word (AE07)
 

He's going to sleep under it. :safe:

Re: The Last word (AE07)
 

oh yeah and comes in handy to launch at im indoors if his raptor breaks down again!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: The Last word (AE07)
 

A brick would be too tall to put your stand on. Plus it's heavy to carry. You want something fairly thin with a large surface area to distribute the weight.

Re: The Last word (AE07)
 

Or she could bring her yellow one and it wouldnt be much the worse for a bit of mud on it :p

Re: The Last word (AE07)
 

Nope, more incentive for folks to make provisions if they're not molly coddled. ;) I'll tell you on the AR what my thoughts were/are though if you're still curious.

Re: The Last word (AE07)
 

If my tent was bigger I'd put the bike inside lol

Did do last weekend in Masham, the Parents caravan awning was my garage for a while :D

Re: The Last word (AE07)
 

my sidestand leans further, waiting to fit a new one. it stands on a flag stone in the shed so a brick would do. And as fer chris, wait til i see you next, cheeky git.. At this rate both sv's will be making an appearance,

Re: The Last word (AE07)
 

I'm thinking about taking the bike cover with me is anyone else doing this?

Re: The Last word (AE07)
 

We bottled out. We're going in the car!!

Re: The Last word (AE07)
 

Seriously??! :-s

Re: The Last word (AE07)
 

Thats being more of a pussy than staying in the B&B!!

Re: The Last word (AE07)
 

nope

HTH