More Ramblings From Cheehee..........
cheehee
Posts: 427
Any excuse to pic whore eh?
Today's Ride
Location: Country Park
Weather: Strong Easterly Wind, Temp 8*C
Underwear: Lycra Shorts
Duration: 2 Hours
Today didn't get off to a good start. Up at 4.30am go downstairs turn the lights on, pop, a bulb has blown and tripped the fusebox so I'm fumbling around in the early morning dark to reset it.
I am heading to Cadwell park in Lincolnshire for a motorbike trackday. My route is taped to the tank, my gear is in the tailpack, full leathers on with a jacket on top, helmet on and fastened, gloves on and I'm set.
It's now 5.45 am. I've got a 80 mile trip ahead of me, and need to be there for 8.00 am at the latest....plenty of time. I thumb the starter of my bike and it rumbles into life.............
0610: fuel stop, the automated pump won't take my card, try again, try another card, "pump says no" GGrrrrr. I have to pay inside....
0630: when is this rain gonna stop? The Metoffice didn't forecast this.....
0700: the rain is getting heavier, the sky darker and I'm getting wetter I've still got 50 miles to go and my vented leathers are starting to leak.
0710: It is coming down heavy now this is daft. I'm now freezing, wet and getting stuck behind artic after artic. A slow unrelenting lumbering convoy......I give up, at this rate I'm gonna be soaked to the skin when I eventually get to the track.......I turn around and head home. The return trip is more of the same....
I get home, lob the bike back in the lockup. Sorry old girl no track action for you today
Sodden kit off, and I'm cold, really cold, that cold that gets right into your bones cold. I warm myself with a coffee and put the fire on.
0900: The sky's lightning up a bit, as the trackday's out the window I decide to get better acquainted with my new Rockhopper.
I'm at the park now, I unload the bike off the roof of my car and it is bloody windy, not wind felt on face leaves a rusting wind...No this is the whole inconvenience felt when walking, trees in motion type stuff here. Oh well I'm not letting the weather get the better of me again. It'll be reet.
I don my Giro helmet, Endura gloves, Northface Jacket and Specialized shoes (thankyou ride2work scheme). What's that smell? oh ffs I've stepped in some dog sh*t in the carpark,( thankyou inconsisderate dog owner) :evil:
I ride down the hill to come back up, I'm still getting used to the SPD's and there are a fair few walkers millling about. I start to ponder, why do walkers need them sticks when walking? I mean do they use them for their day to day walking? Or just walking on paths etc?
I've only been here a couple of times, never on a MTB. Once on my motorbike just to have a chill and once with my bro to walk the dog. How we managed without them fancy sticks I'll never know I am riding back up the hill now clipped in to the bike, still getting used to the sensation and practicing getting in and out of them, twist heel out, clip back in, twist heel out, clip back in.......you get the idea
I'm flying down a loosley gravelled surface, the bike is feeling light beneath me, I'm swinging it round the bends, into the woods, this is lovely. Bend after bend, picking up some speed now, choose my line, trailing a bit of back brake, out of the bend and get that crank spinning on to next one. The tyres are being bounced around and sliding on the loose surface, but the Rockshox forks seem to be tracking the surface well. I have a bit of a moment when a tighter bend appears, I need to scrub off some speed and quick, but I'm not used to the brakes and don't want to get on them to hard......squeeze, squeeze a bit more, sorted round I go, phew. The Avids have less feel, but more power than I'm used to, but the Rockhopper and I are still in the getting to know you phase.
At the bottom of the descent is a field...a soggy field....a muudy field. Lets see how the bike copes. The tyres are really slipping and sliding in the quagmire. I get a bit more weight over the back to aid traction and eventually slip, slide and squirm my way across. This doesn't lead anywhere...there's only one way back, back through the mud.
Slower this time I'm still squirming and sliding. Not enough speed, front and back tyres slide at the same time, and I'm off No bother though, just a nice soft landing in a muddy field :oops: ...did anyone see that?....No.....good. Trying to get pedalling again in a boggy field, when your not used to Spuds is an experience tho.
What goes up must come down, and what goes down must go up. I ride back up through the woods. I prefered coming down , but this is where the Spd's really come into their own. I'm able to pull up on the pedals to help me climb. I get a bit carried and lift the rear wheel a couple of times with some over zealous up strokes :P . I stop at the top and have some lunch, a couple of chicken tikka sandwiches made by my own fair hand so of course they are luvverly . I wash them down with some Asdabrand Isotonic drink from my not 'camelback' hydration pack and check my text messages.
"How is your trackday going? Bit wet and windy for it?"
Perhaps, but I'm not bitter. I'm covered in mud, and other stuff :? , have fallen off my bike, scared myself a bit on a bend, stood in some dog sh**te, I'm out of breath but I'm smiling and glad I came.
Cheers
Cheehee
Today's Ride
Location: Country Park
Weather: Strong Easterly Wind, Temp 8*C
Underwear: Lycra Shorts
Duration: 2 Hours
Today didn't get off to a good start. Up at 4.30am go downstairs turn the lights on, pop, a bulb has blown and tripped the fusebox so I'm fumbling around in the early morning dark to reset it.
I am heading to Cadwell park in Lincolnshire for a motorbike trackday. My route is taped to the tank, my gear is in the tailpack, full leathers on with a jacket on top, helmet on and fastened, gloves on and I'm set.
It's now 5.45 am. I've got a 80 mile trip ahead of me, and need to be there for 8.00 am at the latest....plenty of time. I thumb the starter of my bike and it rumbles into life.............
0610: fuel stop, the automated pump won't take my card, try again, try another card, "pump says no" GGrrrrr. I have to pay inside....
0630: when is this rain gonna stop? The Metoffice didn't forecast this.....
0700: the rain is getting heavier, the sky darker and I'm getting wetter I've still got 50 miles to go and my vented leathers are starting to leak.
0710: It is coming down heavy now this is daft. I'm now freezing, wet and getting stuck behind artic after artic. A slow unrelenting lumbering convoy......I give up, at this rate I'm gonna be soaked to the skin when I eventually get to the track.......I turn around and head home. The return trip is more of the same....
I get home, lob the bike back in the lockup. Sorry old girl no track action for you today
Sodden kit off, and I'm cold, really cold, that cold that gets right into your bones cold. I warm myself with a coffee and put the fire on.
0900: The sky's lightning up a bit, as the trackday's out the window I decide to get better acquainted with my new Rockhopper.
I'm at the park now, I unload the bike off the roof of my car and it is bloody windy, not wind felt on face leaves a rusting wind...No this is the whole inconvenience felt when walking, trees in motion type stuff here. Oh well I'm not letting the weather get the better of me again. It'll be reet.
I don my Giro helmet, Endura gloves, Northface Jacket and Specialized shoes (thankyou ride2work scheme). What's that smell? oh ffs I've stepped in some dog sh*t in the carpark,( thankyou inconsisderate dog owner) :evil:
I ride down the hill to come back up, I'm still getting used to the SPD's and there are a fair few walkers millling about. I start to ponder, why do walkers need them sticks when walking? I mean do they use them for their day to day walking? Or just walking on paths etc?
I've only been here a couple of times, never on a MTB. Once on my motorbike just to have a chill and once with my bro to walk the dog. How we managed without them fancy sticks I'll never know I am riding back up the hill now clipped in to the bike, still getting used to the sensation and practicing getting in and out of them, twist heel out, clip back in, twist heel out, clip back in.......you get the idea
I'm flying down a loosley gravelled surface, the bike is feeling light beneath me, I'm swinging it round the bends, into the woods, this is lovely. Bend after bend, picking up some speed now, choose my line, trailing a bit of back brake, out of the bend and get that crank spinning on to next one. The tyres are being bounced around and sliding on the loose surface, but the Rockshox forks seem to be tracking the surface well. I have a bit of a moment when a tighter bend appears, I need to scrub off some speed and quick, but I'm not used to the brakes and don't want to get on them to hard......squeeze, squeeze a bit more, sorted round I go, phew. The Avids have less feel, but more power than I'm used to, but the Rockhopper and I are still in the getting to know you phase.
At the bottom of the descent is a field...a soggy field....a muudy field. Lets see how the bike copes. The tyres are really slipping and sliding in the quagmire. I get a bit more weight over the back to aid traction and eventually slip, slide and squirm my way across. This doesn't lead anywhere...there's only one way back, back through the mud.
Slower this time I'm still squirming and sliding. Not enough speed, front and back tyres slide at the same time, and I'm off No bother though, just a nice soft landing in a muddy field :oops: ...did anyone see that?....No.....good. Trying to get pedalling again in a boggy field, when your not used to Spuds is an experience tho.
What goes up must come down, and what goes down must go up. I ride back up through the woods. I prefered coming down
, but this is where the Spd's really come into their own. I'm able to pull up on the pedals to help me climb. I get a bit carried and lift the rear wheel a couple of times with some over zealous up strokes :P . I stop at the top and have some lunch, a couple of chicken tikka sandwiches made by my own fair hand so of course they are luvverly . I wash them down with some Asdabrand Isotonic drink from my not 'camelback' hydration pack and check my text messages."How is your trackday going? Bit wet and windy for it?"
Perhaps, but I'm not bitter. I'm covered in mud, and other stuff :? , have fallen off my bike, scared myself a bit on a bend, stood in some dog sh**te, I'm out of breath but I'm smiling and glad I came.
Cheers
Cheehee
0
Comments
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Inspirational stuff Cheehee, sounds like you turned a write-off of a day into a bit of a result.
And chicken-tikka sandwiches FTW yo. Less internal organs, same supertwisted great taste.0 -
Sounds like a good day and a good chance to get used to your bike !
My mate always says its good luck to tread in dog mess but it never feels that lucky to me :?0 -
how nice to be able to just go !
no week end work or animals that need feeeding like the old small holding!
love the ride to work bike
could you post some stuff up about how you got it?0 -
Yet again Cheehee, another ace post 0
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Nice post cheehee - out of interest - what motorbike do you have?0
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pyebibby4 wrote:how nice to be able to just go !
no week end work or animals that need feeeding like the old small holding!
love the ride to work bike
could you post some stuff up about how you got it?
For my sins I'm back to work this Saturday . Having time off in the week is good though, swings and roundabouts eh?
Waddaya wanna know about the ride2work scheme? I'll help as much as I can, but don't know that much about it. My employer advertised it in the pay bulletin, I applied, got the forms, ignored all the small print signed it, sent it back and got a voucher for a grand......kerrrrrChing
gcwebbyuk wrote:Nice post cheehee - out of interest - what motorbike do you have?
I have got a Honda SP-2 mate.0 -
Two nice bikes then!
I have a 2008 Stumpy HT and a 2007 Kwak Zx6r
No new toys planned for 2009.... yet!0 -
gcwebbyuk wrote:Two nice bikes then!
ahem.....two bees in a jam jar :twisted:
*disclaimer whilst I know very little about motor bikes, my mates dad restores classic bikes (BSA's, Triumphs, Sunbeams and more recently some classic italians etc) and takes part in the Manx Egg race every year. Whenever anyone talks to him about japanese bikes, he mumbles hmmmf fskin bees in a jam jar.Whenever I see an adult on a bicycle, I believe in the future of the human race.
H.G. Wells.0 -
ahem.....two bees in a jam jar
The Sp-2 sounds like Zeus in a really bad mood, with a hangover . A rumbling cacophony of mechanical menace and intent, it sets off car alarms, scares children and old ladies. It reverbarates and booms across this countries green and pleasant lands. Creating a din only matched by the sound of thunder from the heavens. I am a modern day Knight of the road, my leathers are my armour, my boots my spurs and the bike my steed.....men want to be, me women want to be with me........... I have a 2008 Stumpy HT and a 2007 Kwak Zx6r
The Kwakker ZX6R is an insane, raucous, maniac of a bike. It will howl and wail like a banshee all the way to it's 16,000 redline. The sound of it's 600cc inline four engine screaming down the road will send a shiver down the spine of the rider and a feeling of unease, trepidation and awe into the very souls of those caugt in the wake of it's auditory assualt....................
Two Bees in a jam jar, my arse
Cheers
Cheehee0 -
My eyes hurt now after reading that - Glad to see someone else going out in crappy weather, I was practically blown uphill at Stainburn the other day in the wind.0
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If you listen carefully to the exhaust of an SP, underneath all the roar and fuss you'll hear a small childish voice whispering "I wish I was a TL1000S"
Uncompromising extremist0 -
Northwind wrote:If you listen carefully to the exhaust of an SP, underneath all the roar and fuss you'll hear a small childish voice whispering "I wish I was a TL1000S"
and then you'll hear it say.........
'no I don't, otherwise I wouldn't have 2 WSBK championships, the Suzuka 8hr, the AMA, and if I was a TL I would've been tank slapped through a hedge a looooooong time ago...........'
:P0
