Welcome To Bikes And Travels...
...It's about bikes... and travels... mostly on bikes!
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Better Weather, Getting High, Warm And Cold
Andy is still heading homewards while doing some serious looking around. Mountains, a castle, miradors, and architecture today.
A Rough Last Day
In keeping with the theme of this trip - the return home for the Dynamic Muppets is "wet" to say the least.
Much More Something That Is Nothing
Another lazy day for Bogger before some big miles tomorrow. Ice cream this time with no mention of beer but I'm sure some was involved.
Gerrin' Owd
It's a bit late for Ren to be having a mid life crisis - but that's not going to stop him from having one anyway. To ride or not to ride - that is a stupid question.
Heading North In The Rain
It's wet, it's cold and Andy is just getting on with the business of travelling. There's not a lot to see, just a few notes from the day - and a beer.
Lincolnshire - And Dryness
There's something new in Lincolnshire today - DRY! Contain your excitement folks, Ren has found a cheap cafe and there's an awful lot of flat.
The Art Of Doing Something That Is Nothing
Bogger has many plans for the day, alas the temptation of food and beer is more alluring. It's a chill day but that's fine, I'm sure there's more chaos to come.
Easy Home And Epilogue
An easy ride home today - and a few notes from Ren regarding ashes, Wales and... The Ikea Effect? Maybe Ren needs (another) holiday.
Good Weather, Good Scenery, Bad Surfaces
It's time for Andy to start the return leg of his big trip. It's all sunshine and hot weather, the views are still good too. The roads... well they're not quite as good. You can't have everything can you.
Feet Forward, Food, And Friends
It's a much more relaxed day for Bogger and Pete. There's a handful of miles to ride, people to meet, food to eat, and of course the odd beer.
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Better Weather, Getting High, Warm And Cold
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Very nice Andy, enjoyed that.
Upt.
31/03/2026 16:20:24 UTC
Better Weather, Getting High, Warm And Cold
Ian Soady¹ said :-
More great photos, thanks so much. I've never been to central Spain but it looks quite interesting. I love those aqueducts and keep meaning to go the Pont du Gard but haven't made it yet. Amazing how much the Romans built that's still in place - and often working - today. When you think how long HS2 is taking - will it ever finish? - it makes you wonder.
Our back garden abuts Icknield Street and I'm so tempted to dig up the tarmac and look for the Roman road underneath. Mind you if the potholes get much bigger I won't have to......
31/03/2026 16:04:57 UTC
A Rough Last Day
Bogger said :-
I've had 4 days continuous torrential rain on a trip to Spain, through France on me C90. It was actually on the way back. It never stopped day and night for four solid days, It was grim.
The weather was very, very poor all trip.
At the Pyrenees on the way down it rained all day and then we had a massive hail storm. The hail stones were as big as a Euro coin.
On the way back through France there were road closures everywhere. It took us ages to get anywhere.
It must have been bad as on two separate nights we hired a lodge and on the way back opted for a small Auberge type Hotel.
Bogger
30/03/2026 15:05:30 UTC
A Rough Last Day
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Both the instances I mentioned it rained solidly (well liquidly) all day without a letup. Actually intermittent is sometimes worse. Oh, the sun's out I'll take the overtrousers off. Damn, just as I set off it's pouring again so I'm soaked.....
As for rain cleaning the bike:
30/03/2026 10:05:32 UTC
A Rough Last Day
Upt'North ¹ said :-
What about from mid December 2025 to the end of February 2026 Ed? It never stopped, although as the STrom was sorned in the garage I didn't get wet riding it. That'd be daft.
Upt.
30/03/2026 09:20:01 UTC
A Rough Last Day
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
nab301 re not washing the bike. For my very dirty bike rain does wash off some of the dirt. For Sharon's pristine Kwakker rain leaves grit and dirt on the bike. Sharon spent several evenings angrily restoring the Z500 to it's shiny glory.
As for not riding in the rain? I daresay if you're going to use a motorcycle regularly in the UK you're going to get wet. If your bike is a plaything then you pick and choose your rides, if you use it like transport as I do then you're gonna get wet. It's the same with UK touring ROD - ya gonna get wet! I don't like wet but I can deal with it - I haven't learnt how to deal with snow and ice though.
Now regarding these terrible tales of terrible drenchings! I have tales of heavy rain ALL DAY too but here's a thought I want you to consider. How many days can you bring to mind where the rain was heavy ALL day? It does happen but nowhere near as much as we think it does. More often than not you'll get a heavy shower, then drizzle, then another heavy shower, then a dry spell, then regular rain, then a heavy bit...
30/03/2026 08:16:44 UTC
A Rough Last Day
Ian Soady¹ said :-
OK.
Abroad: In the Massif Centrale on the big Tiger. It was raining so hard the water was bouncing off the road higher than my head and there were small rivers running across my path. I decided to stop for a break after trying to slow down before a bend and the front wheel locked with the slightest pressure - probably like Upt' aquaplaning. I took shelter in a little cafe and enjoyed saucisson et pommes puree while dripping all over the floor.
Home: I'd been to visit my family in the Center Parc in the Eden Valley, again on the Tiger. I had a very pleasant ride up there sticking to the east of the M6 / A6 corridor and encountering some police vehicles doing high speed testing. Well it looked high speed to me. The return journey was in an absolute downpour and may in fact have been the start of that year's flooding in the NW. I decided to use the motorway. The worst bit was passing heavies and emerging from the spray unable to see a thing.
The Tiger was actually a very good bike for these conditions, as Upt' says a bit of weight helps, and the weather protection was reasonable. And a nice flexible 3 cylinder engine meant I could concentrate on safety rather than which gear I was in. I also am so pleased I abandoned my Mark 8 goggles which used to steam up as well as losing their elasticity for an open face lid with visor. The open face means that rarely if ever does it steam up, being well ventilated.
This is the view from my hotel window in St Nectaire showing the rain and sleet which had calmed down by this time. The Tiger is lurking behind the bushes.
28/03/2026 12:35:41 UTC
A Rough Last Day
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Go on, we can all play along...
THE WETTEST WE'VE EVER BEEN ON TWO WHEELS.....Two categories.....home and abroad.
For abroad, on the E17 from Ghent to Lille, the thunderstorm from hell, it'll only last a couple of minutes, two hours later I was very wet. Probably the scariest wet riding experience abroad, the spray off the lorries resembled waves. I was very glad I was on the Pan, 500 kg's loaded probably helped and Madame had a barn for everything to dry out; including my pants. Pffffffftttttt. Have you noticed how everything shrinks in the rain....just me then.
For Great Britain (are we still Great) riding from the Old Pines near to the Commando Memorial in Wee Bonny Jockland back to Staffordshire. Around 10 hours of constant heavy rain and motorway spray. Other than being literally soaked to the skin, gloves refusing to go back on including the spare pair etc; the scariest moment was aquaplaning in lane 3 of the M6 whilst Er'Indoors was asleep on the back. Double pffffffftttttti'ttttty Pffffffftttttt with knobs on.
Upt and staying dry.
28/03/2026 10:20:59 UTC
A Rough Last Day
ROD¹ said :-
Thanks Ren, that has really helped sell a motorcycling trip in the UK.
I much prefer NOT to be on motorways in very wet weather, but they get you to your destination via the quickest route.
28/03/2026 07:58:44 UTC
A Rough Last Day
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Pffffffftttttt, blummin rain. Don't like it, never have. Even if you're being paid to ride in it it's a very Pffffffftttttt experience.
No rush to repeat it. And as you succinctly stated young Ed me lad, after hours of it it's just an accident waiting to happen. Where's me spare warm dry gloves Ethel?
Upt.
27/03/2026 12:51:01 UTC
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Glyn said :-
I forgot to add that the Morris Minor / Mazda MX5 is fully insured by Adrian Flux in their full knowledge that it is a 2 Litre Mazda with 6 gears. Apart from bodywork it is an unmodified MX5 with many of the safety features intact. Given the modern brakes, steering and suspension mechanisms it is probably a lot safer than a period Morris Minor. So, in the event of an accident Mr Plod might not be overly concerned. It’s the revenue that could be missing out here together with the loss of the MOT fees. Grey area for sure. I understand that the government feels that a 40 year old vehicle generally belongs to an enthusiast but I am seeing more tatty old VW golf’s, full of rust, still on the road and I would feel happier if the MOT test was a requirement for all. I could understand “less stringent “ for vehicles with rod brakes and leather shock absorbers but they should still be covered by some sort of test in my mind.
01/04/2026 16:52:26 UTC
nab301 said :-
An interesting car modification story here, strange when there are tv programmes documenting major patch repairs to rotted A and B posts
Nigel
https://www.hagerty.co.uk/articles/maintenance-and-gear/dvlas-dos-and-donts-the-...
01/04/2026 16:49:07 UTC
Glyn said :-
I had not read that bit about the year after for historic vehicles. As my TZr is imported I had to have a dating certificate which I do hold that states the bike was BUILT on 1st May 1986. So it might seem that I will have to wait until 1st April 2027 to obtain the exemption. It will be a few weeks off 41 years old by then.
01/04/2026 16:37:25 UTC
nab301 said :-
This one is a bit of a longer read but interesting enough ...
Nigel
https://www.anthropic.com/research/project-vend-2...
01/04/2026 16:22:54 UTC
nab301 said :-
Excellent Ian although I believe the model used in their office vending machine became a bit like Hal when threatened with removal...
Nigel
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpqeng9d20go...
01/04/2026 16:19:49 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
I've fixed the compressor thanks to Anthropic's Claude. This is the conversation - if anyone's interested. I must say AI can be a great help.
https://www.iansoady.org.uk/claude/Conversation%20with%20Claude.htm...
01/04/2026 15:00:41 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Currently struggling with my air compressor which loses all its pressure when it reaches its target pressure. I got a cheap regulator box for a tenner from ebay but that hasn't saorted it out. Always something.....
01/04/2026 13:21:10 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Glyn's mate's car would definitely count as substantially modified so would fall foul of the rules, vague though they are. I have explained to my insurance company exactly what engine I have fitted and it's shown on the insurance schedule so I think I'm OK with that. Although we'll see.
Re the TZR: it's not 40 on its exact birthday but as I remember the start of the calendar year following that. And it's date of construction not first registration just to add confusion (although there are some weasel wordfs in the link). And to add more the wording for MoT says "built or registered" and seems to relate to the actual date of construction / registration not the 1st January. See link below.
There's a lot of discussion in sidecar circles about whether the leading link type forks lots have fitted are substantial modifications. I actually think they're more so than my engine change but what do I know?
https://www.gov.uk/historic-vehicles...
01/04/2026 13:19:55 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Re changed engines - or indeed a modern car with classic bodywork - it's not a problem until it's a problem. What happens if your local Morris Minor MX5 owner has an accident? That's when questions get asked, that's when insurance companies look for an "out", that's when PC Plod starts pondering if there's a case to be answered.
01/04/2026 12:34:34 UTC
Glyn said :-
Ref the changed engine Ian. Who will know? Locally theres a fella driving around in a Morris Minor Traveller who openly boasts about paying no tax or MOT as it’s number plate is over 40 years old. Under the immaculate body, there is the chassis, axles, engine gearbox etc of a Mazda MX5. He doesn’t get it MOT’d so who knows? Next month my TZR becomes 40 and so I will report back what steps I will go through for it to become historic.
01/04/2026 12:23:25 UTC
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Ian Soady¹ said :-
This one:
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=2621244144926636&set=pcb.10163053136898067...
30/03/2026 12:09:01 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
"Time for a “step through” do you think? " I thought that while I was waiting for my replacement hip so bought a scoot. One of the worst decisions I've ever made as documented in these pages some time ago. That's the only bike I've fallen over with in the shed and been pinned to the deck, fortunately managing to squirm my way out otherwise I'd have been there till Electra realised her morning coffee hadn't arrived.
Don't do it. I'd still recommend looking at an outfit. A lovely Triumph one on FB.....
I'm similar in that I need the (solo) bike on the side stand to mount but that's more the worry in the back of my mind that the whole plot may tip over to the right if I catch the seat awkwardly. Never used to be a problem when I was in my 20s (or indeed 40s). I always make sure I have a prop stand on my bikes even if I have to make it myself.
30/03/2026 10:12:33 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
I can't think of why you would mount a solo from the right Glyn, unless there's restricted access of course. I can do it even on the raised STrom but then again I could hunt geese with a net.
30/03/2026 09:23:09 UTC
Glyn said :-
I was reading again Ian’s account of how he gets up onto the outfit with his gammy knee. With my knee I find it only possible to mount the Triumph from the left hand side, whilst it resides on its side stand. The reason is that I can’t lift the right leg high enough to clear the saddle whilst holding the bike upright. The right knee is the one that received the replacement joint 11 weeks ago. For some reason I find it so unnatural to mount from the right hand side that I won’t even try. Time for a “step through” do you think?
29/03/2026 21:02:08 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Diesel was £169.9 Nidge. That's got to be around 2€ I would think.
Glad I ain't got the Beemer anymore although to be honest we don't do that many miles anyway. I'm just keeping my tanks brimmed just incase.
19/03/2026 17:25:58 UTC
nab301 said :-
72 mpg is economical motorcycle territory !, The only issue locally for me is petrol (and more so diesel which I don't use) is heading to 2022 prices , over €2 euro per litre...
Nigel
19/03/2026 17:02:10 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
On the Toyota Hybrid front after 250 or so miles it has returned over 72 mpg without trying. Also on the fuel front just bought some garden E5 petroleum and it was only 4 new pennies more than E10.
Strange world innit.
19/03/2026 16:40:28 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
All advice appreciated Nidger.
19/03/2026 16:37:54 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Life's an edumication, in't it.
Found out what a blum dowel and blum screw were today. Who knew I wanted 50 of them to make my life complete?
More DIY Ed, sorry.
Upt.
19/03/2026 16:40:46 UTC
nab301 said :-
Upt , 2 weeks seems poor for a 12v battery , as mentioned already there may be an excessive parasitic drain , amp clamps are handy for measuring parasitic drains without disconnecting the battery, maybe your local friendly garage person has one, and some sort of a graduated discharge test might reveal that the battery isn't performing correctly if the voltage drops too much too quickly. (maybe sitting unused in a showroom for too long and sulphated) , also , apparently a lead acid battery can lose 40% of its cranking ability at 0°C compared to 27°C.
Nigel
18/03/2026 17:52:14 UTC
Random Link - North Wales 2011 Short Break - Prologue