Was going to do this during the shortest night of the year but they sayin it going to rain for the next 10 years so I did it today 19-6-13 560 miles in10.5 hours. Not a bad average in daytime traffic. Only stopped to refuel and take a pish tho.
Nice going el-nicko. Well done. A proper ride out is that. What with only fuel stops, I'm guessing there's little point asking for pictures
Yor right there Gary. Here's a 'before'...... ......and 'after' tho. Simply 'coz I like posting pic's of me bike.
Copacetic, Nicko! I know some of that route. Beautiful roads. You must've been 'sucking rabbits out of the hedges' to maintain that average speed, no? Sending it on a bit!
Yor so right mate. I found some amazing roads in Wales with (in the middle of the day) no traffic on 'em for mile after mile. I was surprised by that high average myself too 'LL' but I took just those two pics; one wen i started out and one wen i arrived back. I checked the 'properties' of the pic's on my PC and, give or take a minute or two, that's the time i got. It might even be less than that coz I was in no hurry once i'd took 'em to get going or get 'clicking wen i got back. After-all, it wasn't a race, more an endurance test of both me and my 'blade and I'm not a fast/knee draggin rider. I do like to 'press-on' tho I must say tho that once I did get going, I didn't stop for food or drink. I think the last bit on the M4/M5 had a lot to do with it and it's possible I may have been a little above the 'National Speed Limit' on one occasion wen my attention wandered.. For the last bit I went up to Worcester on the M-way cos my daughter lives in Malvern and I thort i'd get a cup 'o tea there, but in the end i just carried on and didn't stop. Riding due west, into the sun, on the last leg slowed me down a lot too! I've fitted a 'gel' seat for comfort but 'numb bum' was the biggest problem. So often I hear riders say, "Sports Bikes! Thanks, but NO THANKS! An hour on one of them an I ache for a week." Well, considering the length of time I spent in the saddle I was a little surprised to wake this morning feeling fresh as a daisy and no aches or pains at all I am, after all 'gettin on' a bit and won't be seeing a 71st birthday again and I'm chuffed to find out that I can still 'hack it' and that my 'blade is a lot more than just a 'point n shoot' bike. I recon if I can do this on the UK's crowded roads a 1000 mile in one 'hit' shud be easy in mainland Europe. Must say, once or twice during this 'ride-out' I glanced down at the tank an thought, "FEK ME, BLUE SKY, FULL TANK, AN' I'M ON A FIREBLADE. HOW LUCKY AM I?" Honestly,I'm really bonding with this bike.
No nothing mate, honestly. I think, up to a point, we're more alert when we is hungry. I had a light breakfast at 0900 then nothing till, on me walk home, (I have to keep me bikes a kilometer or so away) I dropped in to 'The Oxford Arms' and had a couple of pints of 'Aunty Myrtle' and a packet of crisps. Very nice too.
The Ironman of Herefordshire! Good job! I can't stop scoffing when I'm on the bike. Or even when im off it, come to think of it.
The greatest respect dude you said you would do it and got on with it Fantastic ! I know what you mean about numb bum ,I also have the comfort seat but after a day in the saddle its hell hitting a motorway .Although age has some relevance for most old dudes you set the example of "" your as young as you feel" and bazzing about on a fireblade through Wales must give you great satisfaction.ps good job you got your winter fuel allowance as most of it properly ended up in the tank .
Scoffing... I can just see you storming around on your blade laughing down at people. "Ha ha ha ha, bugger off you lowly Gixxer rider! I scoff at you! hahahhaha....."
Must admit that I too was a bit suspicious about my times, (I figured on taking 12 + hours at least to do it) but here are the 'properties' of the two pics I took b4 and after. I think I somehow expected the bike to look different in some way so I took them 'for the record' but luckily pic's are also date/time stamped. The clock in my camera is a hour behind(?) but the elapsed time is unchanged. Hope I don't get any brown envelopes in the post for the next 2 weeks or so tho. I'm shittin myself now. Other than some driver in Aberystwyth, throwing their door open without looking behind, right in front of me, (God bless ABS! I say) I had an incident-free run. Unusual for me.
