Welcome To Bikes And Travels...
...It's about bikes... and travels... mostly on bikes!
What's New?
The Kelpies - Again
It's Deja-Vu time for Ren and Sharon. It's traffic and town riding too. Sharon manages to find some lovely green stuff to brighten the day.
Into The Pyrenees
With improving weather Andy is still heading south. It's all terribly positive, even the diversions are opportunities to explore. The Pyrenees continue to impress.
Perfect Weather And Parking Problems
The weather is wonderful, the scenery is great, the bikes are behaving. Fear not Ren will always find something to moan about and a reason to be narky.
Smiling In The Rain
It's a soggy wet day through France for Andy, but that won't dampen his spirits. He stumbles upon 2CVs and climbing walls, straight roads and twisties.
A Day Out From Marlborough
Another easy rest day for the not so dynamic muppets. Sharon's happy with trees, Ren's happily mansplaining locks, and there's Curry for tea. What's not to like?
A long Ride to Gien
Big miles already on Andy's first day on the road. He's just getting settled into the ride and making his way south through France.
To The Southern Tip Of Europe
Title page for Andy Gray's Facebook posts following his trip across France and Spain - and back.
The Rhins Of Galloway
It's another grand day out for 5 fools in Kilmarnock. There's sunshine, forest, hills, a lighthouse, and a harbour. There's also guilt, a lack of tea, and all kinds of strange places.
An Easy Ride And A Woodland Sprite
It's a short ride today for the Dynamic Muppets and the accommodation transforms Sharon into an ethereal being. Ren is happy because he gets to be grumpy. Business as usual.
The Last Days And Words On The Polish Adventure
It's the final 2 days of the otherwise massive Polish Adventure on small bikes. After all that there's not a lot to say save for a few notes, thoughts and another ridiculously long day on the road.
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The Kelpies - Again
Upt'North ¹ said :-
I think you're describing being a tourist Ed.
Although I'm struggling to remember ever paying for parking on the bike here or abroad. They probably pick on you suvverners.
01/11/2025 18:54:14 UTC
The Kelpies - Again
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
I've been and seen the boat lift - see link. I found the engineering fascinating but the fascination was tainted by the tourism and commercialisation of the experience. I totally accept that these places need to be managed with paid for parking, appropriate cafes, shops and facilities, and that the locality should benefit from the visitors. That doesn't mean I want to be herded into managed car parks, directed through the cafes, nor contribute to the local economy. I wish them all great success.
https://bikesandtravels.com/biker.aspx?ride=803...
01/11/2025 15:43:04 UTC
The Kelpies - Again
Upt'North ¹ said :-
The boat lift is remarkable Ian.
01/11/2025 12:37:06 UTC
The Kelpies - Again
Ian Soady¹ said :-
I saw the kelpies a few years ago and was impressed. In the same area is the Falkirk boat lift which is a brilliant piece of engineering - didn't you go there?
01/11/2025 10:01:14 UTC
The Kelpies - Again
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Been thinking why we rode that far for a pizza. There were pistachio cannoli's and good coffee too.
It all makes sense now.
01/11/2025 09:45:09 UTC
The Kelpies - Again
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Long way to travel to see a horses head, OK two old nags heads.
But then again, Sicily is a long way to ride for a pizza.
Pffffffftttttt.
Upt.
31/10/2025 18:05:00 UTC
Into The Pyrenees
nab301 said :-
Some lovely scenery there and much better weather! As for the list of Tour De France competitors , Miguel Indurain , there's a blast from the past!
29/10/2025 15:37:52 UTC
Into The Pyrenees
Upt'North ¹ said :-
"Campsite restaurant buzzing as usual". Buzzing with blummin mossies I bet, or is that just me?
We booked a restaurant in Italy recently on the interwebthingymabob and turned up on schedule. I think it was near Montepulciano. "Your garden table is ready sir and madam",......"no ta me duck we'll sit inside". Wasn't possible apparently, we ate elsewhere. I was rude apparently? ME rude!
Pffffffftttttt.
28/10/2025 16:14:28 UTC
Into The Pyrenees
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Great - reminds me so much of similar trips I made (it shocks me to say) 20 -30 years ago on the Commando, especially the road lined with trees. Apparently planted by Napoleon so his troops could march in the shade.
My French routefinding was always: fold the IGN 1:1m map to the appropriate section and then draw an imaginary straight line to my possible destination for the day. Then look for the windiest D and N roads heading in that direction, preferably with the green line alogside showing a "scenic" route. The Tour de France climbs in the Pyrenees are magic, especially the Col d'Aubisque.
As for routes barrées: autumn is the season for them, often accompanied by copious amounts of gravillons. I was once tiptoeing along on the Tiger trying to avoid coming a cropper when I was overtaken by a teenage girl on a scooter with helmet on the back of her head and jacket sleeves flying in the wind. She slalomed off into the distance while I nervously wobbled after. All she needed was a Gauloise drooping from her lower lip to complete the image from a Truffaut movie.
28/10/2025 12:26:04 UTC
Perfect Weather And Parking Problems
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
I won't keep you in suspense any longer ROD - either we both were tired enough to sleep through any antics from the DoE yooofs or they didn't get up to any antics. Yes it's a lovely area. We hadn't fully realised quite how lovely.
We might well have visited Blobby's Field Bogger - alas I know not the precise location therefore I can neither confirm or deny our success of failure in visiting said field.
THE gas man Upt'? Is there only one gas man in the whole of Northumbria? I wouldn't be surprised, I believe they only got gas there a couple of years since. No wait... perhaps there is no gas there and you're waiting for THE Calor gas man (other bottled gas brands are available) to deliver a bottle to keep 'Er Indoors warm this winter? Maybe you mean gas as in petrol like the yanks call it gas? Oh I dunno, the suspense is too much!
23/10/2025 15:07:43 UTC
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Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
DOH!!!
30/10/2025 10:46:28 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Don't bite Ed, oh you already have...hook, line and sinker.
30/10/2025 10:16:24 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Wait a minute...hang on....!!!!!
"This is why you keep having to buy new ones...."
Right. OK. So. The current "68" plate CB500X was purchased in 2019 which means I've owned it for 6 years and put 60,000 miles on it (including 2 quiet years due to Covid). Before that I owned the '16 plate CB500X for 3 years and put 39,000 miles on it (traded in against the 68 plate). I also owned the CBF125 for 10 years and put 100,000 miles on it.
It's hardly like I'm having to swap bikes annually. It's not like each bike doesn't hardly get used. Oooooh the cheek and impudence of some folks!!!
29/10/2025 13:20:11 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Yes, we've seen your bikes Ren. This is why you keep having to buy new ones....
Refinishing the XBR tank and side panels did take a huge amount of time and effort which is one reason I'm farming out the Steib body. A proper paint shop has good professional machinery for flatting etc rather than the copious amounts of wet & dry or production paper I use. And I've never had the courage to attack what to me is the final finish with more wet & dry as I envisage it all ending in tears and having to do the lot again. Still that's some lowlife's problem now.
Just been checking what I've got and I have a surplus of the alloy trim strips which need a good polish. How on earth I'll get to the fastenings up near the nose beats me - I may have to enlist the help of the young woman who helps Electra with the gardening as she's pretty flexible. I've ordered a tyre & tube from demon tweeks.
29/10/2025 12:16:18 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
In my world the only purpose of paint is to prevent (further) rust.
I admire Glyn's efforts with the TZR panels and Ian's work on the XBR, but I would have neither the skills nor the patience to properly carry out the preparation and painting. I figure if I were truly "into" the aesthetic then I would find the patience, take time to learn, and put in the effort.
29/10/2025 08:12:22 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
You're right about where most of the costs are but it's a big thing and my energy isn't unlimited. Blasting / powder coating did cross my mind but (a) I'm looking for a pretty exact colour match and (b) the finish wouldn't be as good as a proper spray job. It would be cheaper though. The main problem is that when done it'll make the rest of the bike look very scruffy.
26/10/2025 14:23:25 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
I think most of the paint shop costs are down to the prep time. Do it ya'self and save a few quid. Deliver it in primer and let them finish it off.
Have you thought about sandblast and powder coat Ian or wouldn't it be suitable for this.
Upt.
26/10/2025 10:18:36 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Thanks Glyn, I think I spent about £50 on the tank and side panels. I got a local paint factor to scan one of the original side panels and fill aerosols for me - they used a silver base coat. The metalflake effect doesn't come out well in the photos but was quite evident in real life.
I'm happy using brushed coach paint - I use Paragon which inmy experience is better than Tekaloid - for most things but an area as big as the sidecar would stretch my abilities too much hence using a professional body shop. I've been quoted £550 which although sounds expensive is probably reasonable. I remember paying about £350 a few years ago for a Guzzi V50 tank and side panels.
26/10/2025 10:02:26 UTC
Glyn said :-
That paint looks great Ian. The real finish is obtained after the paint has been applied. Rolls Royce used to hand brush paint their cars and then the real work began. My local paint supplier says that many top bike restorers use rattle cans to great effect. It’s not possible to paint a car with rattle cans because of the large areas and large amounts of cans needed. I have a decent spray gun with a large compressor but I hardly ever use it. It’s such a faff to set up. I painted these panels with Rainbow aerosol cans specially mixed after being scanned on a spectrograph. The total invoice for the cans came to £159 so it’s not a cheap thing to do. After the 3-4 base coats are on, I knock it back with 1000 wet and dry until all blemishes are gone and ( if there’s enough paint still on the panel) apply 3-4 coats of Premium lacquer. Then after 3 days, take that down with 2000 wet and dry before polishing it up with T cut or similar. There was about 5 days work on those panels and I haven’t started the side cowls or tank yet.
26/10/2025 08:37:11 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Those look lovely Glyn, perhaps I should commission you to paint my sidecar! Do you have "proper" [ainting equipment or is it done with aerosols? I've had decent results with the latter although the metallic finish on my XBR tank was a bit fraught as it needed 11 coats each applied within 10 minutes of the preceding one. But it turned out well enough I think.
25/10/2025 10:06:04 UTC
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Upt'North ¹ said :-
Glyn, I really don't want to make this party political, I don't think it is really, it's just the aftermath of years of mismanagement of our nation and socially living beyond the means of the nations receipts.
I believe many retirees will be looking for work sometime soon, the bills get no smaller and the income becomes less. Retirement is perhaps an out of date ideal that will simply not be an occurrence in the future and those of us that have enjoyed retirement to date may see it slip away.
I'm just going to have a quick cry and then move onto the job adverts in the local paper....don't they do that anymore?
Upt.
01/11/2025 09:53:03 UTC
Glyn said :-
Unfortunately Ed, it’s also paying for the things you want to do, malarkey or not most people have the money and no time to enjoy or have the time but no money. It’s the curse of the workers.
01/11/2025 09:01:52 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Much to my shame nab301 since I've been working from home my annual mileage has dropped somewhat. I'm more of a weekend warrior nowadays, usually between 100-200 miles per weekend. I need to retire, this working malarky is getting in the way of the things I want to do.
31/10/2025 09:13:52 UTC
nab301 said :-
Ren just accept that maybe it's time to become a fair weather biker! or buy an older bike and fit a HID conversion....
Nigel
30/10/2025 16:26:14 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
I was taught if blinded by oncoming traffic, concentrate your vision on the N/S kerb, it works quite well. Although never forget to blast your own headlights in the face of the offending vehicle. I wasn't taught this it just came naturally. I know, I'm rude.
Upt.
30/10/2025 15:39:41 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
It might be worth trying polarised sunglasses which are supposed to be effective against reflected glare as it is polarised vertically and the sunglasses block that. In theory. Doesn't help with the idiots behind however.
30/10/2025 15:08:38 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Last Sunday on the bike I had the sun in my face AND a wet road. Even putting my left hand up to shield against the low sun was ineffective due to the glare from the wet tarmac. Of course I slowed down - then I gets to thinking any vehicles behind me will be equally blinded and unable to see me.
I have no sensible answer to this. Apart from parking up and waiting for the sun to set all you can do is "your best".
I duly noted the BBC is talking about the high levels of glare most modern headlights cause. There are - apparently - moves afoot globally to "look into this" and possibly change worldwide legislation. They did point out however "don't hold ya breath".
Last night's ride also included being blinded by a cyclist... and a walker! Eeeee when I wur a lad your Ever-Ready bicycle light had 2 large "D" batteries that would produce a little more light than a candle for about 30 minutes. Today's tech means a tiny battery can power a tiny light that produces several thousand candles of vivid harsh white light for many hours. The tech has improved and in many many ways has improved road safety (bicycle lights in particular are effective and easily seen) but this doesn't come without new issues.
30/10/2025 10:58:14 UTC
ROD¹ said :-
Yes, good point Ian.
I remember well the ACU instructor conveying this point in the class room 55 years ago.
30/10/2025 10:32:11 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Good points Rod. Another thing to remember with low sun is that if it's behind you, it's blinding people coming the other way especially if, as is common at this time of year, the road is wet. I'm sure some of the SMIDSYs are due to this effect. I always try to remember not just what I can see but what others can / can't.
30/10/2025 09:59:03 UTC
ROD¹ said :-
If, like myself you like to ride the country lanes, then we have a couple of months of wet leaves in unpredictable areas of these lanes.
These leaves stay wet and slippery even on dry sunny days.
I have been riding motorcycles for many years and in all road conditions, but I was caught out a couple of years ago on my RT. I was riding into a low sun, which temporarily blinded me coming into a corner. On this corner was a patch of compressed wet leaves. The bike lost traction,and luckily regained it's composure without any input from myself.
This could have ended much worse.
Don't underestimate this danger at this time of year. Just saying!
30/10/2025 09:18:15 UTC
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