Went up to Devils Bridge and back this afternoon. Nothing particularly interesting about that, went via my tried and trusted route. Wet and quite muddy in places but a nice enough ride. But, some jobsworth has decided to make the entire stretch of road from Preesall to Lancaster a 50mph limit. Been riding the road 25+ years and it’s always been a national limit. Not anymore. Even the circa half mile Cockerham straight, in the middle of nowhere, with great visibility, is now a 50. D1ckheads! On a more positive note I was sat having a brew at the Bridge and six 125’s rocked up. Riders got off, removed helmets and all were just young kids, all (bar one) wearing proper biking gear. I’m normally the youngest there and I’m 43. Was nice to see, maybe biking does have a future.
Well, I've been robbed £111 for the pleasure of taxing the bike . So cheered my self up with a ride to Glasson Dock and talk shite with fellow bikers. Oh and a brew as well Nice day
I forgot to sorn the Ducati on Friday so I got it on the road for another month, then it’s the blades turn from 1st May. I can’t abide paying tax for two bikes when I can only ride one, and I’m having to slalom around potholes everywhere I go to boot.
Off work this week and it’s a nice day so thought I’d get the Blade out. Not ridden it for a couple of months, done over 1000 miles on the Hornet since I bought it in February, Blades been tucked up in the garage. Took it off the Abba stand, checked the tyre pressure and all that. Leathered up and set to go, true to form she wouldn’t start. No matter what I tried she wouldn’t fire up. Had to shout the wife, she got her trainers on to give me a push and I bump started it. Left it to warm up whilst I got my helmet on, smoke billowing out of it like that Mercedes in the F1 yesterday, due to the ACF50. Eventually sets off, literally got 10 yards down the road and I catch a glimpse of a piece of metal flying off and bouncing down the road. Quickly stops to realise it’s the adaptor off the Abba stand, must’ve got stuck in the frame. Anyhow, I picked it up and set off, again. Jeez, I nearly binned it 6 times in 3 miles. Compared to the Hornet the Blade is like a cruise ship at low speed, it just doesn’t turn. Felt very odd. Eventually got onto the open roads and started to get a bit more familiarity coming back. Bloody uncomfortable though, never really noticed it before but the Hornet definitely has an easier riding position. Ploughed on up to Caton and then on to Hawes for a Panini and Cappuccino. It was lovely on the wide, open road between Ingleton and Hawes. Engine felt like a rocket in comparison to what I’ve been riding, overtaking was so easy. Came back via Sedbergh and then Devils Bridge. Think I did about 120 miles all together. I did enjoy it but I did find myself wondering if I’d have enjoyed it more on my other bike. Got a track day and then a trip to the IOM on the Blade in the next few weeks. Will see how I feel after that. Maybe a third bike is the answer, Hornet for winter, Blade for the track and a Street Triple for summer. I’ll see what the other half thinks.
Yorkshire Dales today first ride of the year and to be brutally honest didn’t really enjoy it as much as I thought I would,hopefully just one of those days
