9/1,978/1/3/10 - SV650.org

rictus01 · 28-09-10, 12:01 AM

what’s that you may say?

9, Nine days of bike riding, covering a lot of my favourite roads as well as finding many more.

1,978/ Miles in that time, starting from South London, across the south to Exmoor (yeah the same as I did on the AR Friday) then back up across the bridge and up into the Brecons, did the other end this time starting up from Pontneddfechan (awesome road), from there up to Elan valley, then across the mountains coming out at Cwmystwyth, down to the coast to a booked B&B just outside Aberystwyth, all in all a good day.

Wake to the sound of beating rain, but no matter a nice breakfast and off I go, stick to the A487 to get some distance in, reach Snowdoina despite the rain covered some of the mountain roads and moved up to Betws-y-coed for lunch, set off for a Liverpool and my ferry that evening, 3 hours on it and arrived at Douglas at 11.30, a quick run over to Peel and find the campsite, tent up, brew made and relax about 1 o’clock.

Merely shifted myself for food and that’s about all the following day, I was shattered.
Met up with Matt and his lovely other half Rachel the following day after a ride around the bottom of the island.

Joined by JP, Neil & Becci and of course Matt & Rachel camping on the Saturday night.

Covered just about ever road they have, including several circuits of the TT course, saw 150mph over the mountain simply mind blowing!!!!

My thanks to those above for their hospitality, seriously if you’ve never been to the island out of session, you should try it, you have the place to yourself mostly.

Tuesday morning saw me at the docks in Douglas, the morning ferry to Heyshem my transport back to the mainland.

Lunchtime see’s the ferry docking, and the bikes (all three of us) are off first, grab some grub in a café as I call my son up to find out where he is, down to Preston to do a quick inspection for his Mum, Give Dave a bell and head the couple of miles over to his.

Crash there for the night and as expected get the warm welcome from himself & Gemma, then off first thing up to dalesbridge, pitch the tent and shoot down to see the lovely dizzy one, Baby doing well and Lou does a very yummy mummy  , sat chatting until way to later, headed off back to the campsite, got soaked about 20 miles short of my destination (in draggins and a dark visor….yeah I know), the site has a nice warm drying room which I made use of.

Up early and on the road before 7 am, up to the lakes and done my favourite route; across to Ulpha and up Hardknott and wrynose, down into Ambleside and then Kirkstone, circuit around Windermere & Coniston, blat up the road to Wast water and then around to come back down passed Buttermere and Ullswater, down to Kendal, and shoot off to meet up with Maria at the little chef (AR07 start point), I nice lunch and we’re away, a very nice ride across the dales, following Maria on her YBR was a nice winde down from an adrenaline filled week of manic riding. Ended up back in Halifax and another evening chatting with Lou & Pete, Chris dropped in for a while, then escorted his better half on her way home, Off I go back to dalesbridge to sleep.

Up early once again, head across the dales and up to Hartside, a quick cuppa and I’m away, over to Kendal again, I start making my way down country and then make the call not to use my B&B in Glossop, So it’s down to snake road and back across the small middle roads to hit the A515 coming out at Ashbourne, I play on some of the back roads to Tamworth then tiredness starts to close in, Jump on the A5 over to the M1, straight down to London, finishing in Soho at 6.45pm.

1/ one bike truly awesome for that perfect road, glad I took it, it may not be a natural for touring, but the time I had it luggage free, like on the mountain I couldn’t have wished for better, the last day taxed and tired it was definitely the wrong bike, I just needed to sit back and relax and basically cruise down the motorway, but it’s just not that kind of bike, it was hard work when I really wasn’t up to it, but every bike has it’s limitations I guess.

3/ three days of sleep, waking only for food and the odd chat with the Mrs, didn’t move off the sofa where I’d slept those three days.

10/ ten hours in a hot bath until the ache in my knee final settled enough for unmedicated sleep.

Few pics on facebook Link 1 Link 2

Cheers Mark

Treacle · 28-09-10, 06:25 AM

That's alot of miles Mark. Sound's like you had a hoot.

28-09-10, 06:48 AM

Epic! 150 @ TT!

Glad you had a great time.
Did you log your trip on the infored?

ethariel · 28-09-10, 10:39 AM

Welcome back, glad you had a good time, really makes the IoM seem like a good out of seaon bet.

Biker Biggles · 28-09-10, 04:49 PM

Good to hear you are fit and able enough to do that.At one time it seemed like you never would be again.

rictus01 · 28-09-10, 07:05 PM

fit and able is perhaps overstating a bit, more stubbon and a decent knee brace, but yeah it's nice to still be able to manage by myself.

No Lucas, the Superduke doesn't have inforad unfortunately, but to punch a bike across the mountain in glorious sunshine at those speeds, all perfectly legal to, was awesome.

Cheers Mark.

28-09-10, 07:47 PM

Glad you had fun Mark!

28-09-10, 07:53 PM

Wow I was so jealous reading about your epic journey, at times I felt I was there. Glad you had a great time.

28-09-10, 12:01 AM	#1
rictus01 Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: South London Posts: 9,799	9/1,978/1/3/10 what’s that you may say? 9, Nine days of bike riding, covering a lot of my favourite roads as well as finding many more. 1,978/ Miles in that time, starting from South London, across the south to Exmoor (yeah the same as I did on the AR Friday) then back up across the bridge and up into the Brecons, did the other end this time starting up from Pontneddfechan (awesome road), from there up to Elan valley, then across the mountains coming out at Cwmystwyth, down to the coast to a booked B&B just outside Aberystwyth, all in all a good day. Wake to the sound of beating rain, but no matter a nice breakfast and off I go, stick to the A487 to get some distance in, reach Snowdoina despite the rain covered some of the mountain roads and moved up to Betws-y-coed for lunch, set off for a Liverpool and my ferry that evening, 3 hours on it and arrived at Douglas at 11.30, a quick run over to Peel and find the campsite, tent up, brew made and relax about 1 o’clock. Merely shifted myself for food and that’s about all the following day, I was shattered. Met up with Matt and his lovely other half Rachel the following day after a ride around the bottom of the island. Joined by JP, Neil & Becci and of course Matt & Rachel camping on the Saturday night. Covered just about ever road they have, including several circuits of the TT course, saw 150mph over the mountain simply mind blowing!!!! My thanks to those above for their hospitality, seriously if you’ve never been to the island out of session, you should try it, you have the place to yourself mostly. Tuesday morning saw me at the docks in Douglas, the morning ferry to Heyshem my transport back to the mainland. Lunchtime see’s the ferry docking, and the bikes (all three of us) are off first, grab some grub in a café as I call my son up to find out where he is, down to Preston to do a quick inspection for his Mum, Give Dave a bell and head the couple of miles over to his. Crash there for the night and as expected get the warm welcome from himself & Gemma, then off first thing up to dalesbridge, pitch the tent and shoot down to see the lovely dizzy one, Baby doing well and Lou does a very yummy mummy  , sat chatting until way to later, headed off back to the campsite, got soaked about 20 miles short of my destination (in draggins and a dark visor….yeah I know), the site has a nice warm drying room which I made use of. Up early and on the road before 7 am, up to the lakes and done my favourite route; across to Ulpha and up Hardknott and wrynose, down into Ambleside and then Kirkstone, circuit around Windermere & Coniston, blat up the road to Wast water and then around to come back down passed Buttermere and Ullswater, down to Kendal, and shoot off to meet up with Maria at the little chef (AR07 start point), I nice lunch and we’re away, a very nice ride across the dales, following Maria on her YBR was a nice winde down from an adrenaline filled week of manic riding. Ended up back in Halifax and another evening chatting with Lou & Pete, Chris dropped in for a while, then escorted his better half on her way home, Off I go back to dalesbridge to sleep. Up early once again, head across the dales and up to Hartside, a quick cuppa and I’m away, over to Kendal again, I start making my way down country and then make the call not to use my B&B in Glossop, So it’s down to snake road and back across the small middle roads to hit the A515 coming out at Ashbourne, I play on some of the back roads to Tamworth then tiredness starts to close in, Jump on the A5 over to the M1, straight down to London, finishing in Soho at 6.45pm. 1/ one bike truly awesome for that perfect road, glad I took it, it may not be a natural for touring, but the time I had it luggage free, like on the mountain I couldn’t have wished for better, the last day taxed and tired it was definitely the wrong bike, I just needed to sit back and relax and basically cruise down the motorway, but it’s just not that kind of bike, it was hard work when I really wasn’t up to it, but every bike has it’s limitations I guess. 3/ three days of sleep, waking only for food and the odd chat with the Mrs, didn’t move off the sofa where I’d slept those three days. 10/ ten hours in a hot bath until the ache in my knee final settled enough for unmedicated sleep. Few pics on facebook Link 1 Link 2 Cheers Mark __________________ Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, 'Wow! What a Ride! Last edited by rictus01; 28-09-10 at 12:08 AM.

28-09-10, 06:25 AM	#2
Treacle Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Shabby Wood Posts: 990	Re: 9/1,978/1/3/10 That's alot of miles Mark. Sound's like you had a hoot. __________________ "If Carlsberg made ginger bloke's............................. "

28-09-10, 06:48 AM	#3
Lucas Guest Posts: n/a	Re: 9/1,978/1/3/10 Epic! 150 @ TT! Glad you had a great time. Did you log your trip on the infored?

28-09-10, 10:39 AM	#4
ethariel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: London (for my sins) Posts: 806	Re: 9/1,978/1/3/10 Welcome back, glad you had a good time, really makes the IoM seem like a good out of seaon bet.

28-09-10, 04:49 PM	#5
Biker Biggles Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Barnet Herts Posts: 5,071	Re: 9/1,978/1/3/10 Good to hear you are fit and able enough to do that.At one time it seemed like you never would be again. __________________ On a clear day we stand there and look further than the ordinary eye can see.

28-09-10, 07:05 PM	#6
rictus01 Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: South London Posts: 9,799	Re: 9/1,978/1/3/10 fit and able is perhaps overstating a bit, more stubbon and a decent knee brace, but yeah it's nice to still be able to manage by myself. No Lucas, the Superduke doesn't have inforad unfortunately, but to punch a bike across the mountain in glorious sunshine at those speeds, all perfectly legal to, was awesome. Cheers Mark. __________________ Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, 'Wow! What a Ride!

28-09-10, 07:47 PM	#7
Cazza Guest Posts: n/a	Re: 9/1,978/1/3/10 Glad you had fun Mark!

28-09-10, 07:53 PM	#8
Devil Biccy Guest Posts: n/a	Re: 9/1,978/1/3/10 Wow I was so jealous reading about your epic journey, at times I felt I was there. Glad you had a great time.