Welcome To Bikes And Travels...
...It's about bikes... and travels... mostly on bikes!
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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.
Mooching Around The Mach Loop
The Dynamic Muppets take on the Mach Loop! OK, it's far less impressive than it sounds. There's some countryside, a cafe, and all the things you'd expect.
To The Most Southern Tip Of Europe
Andy reaches the final destination of this trip. "You can see Africa from 'ere".
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Gerrin' Owd
Ian Soady¹ said :-
The one thing Electra (my wife not the bike) and I are concerned about is being left alone. Neither of us has close family and especially after Covid lockdowns etc we've been happy to live in a fairly small "bubble". So we have made sure that we have suitable arrangements to avoid that eventuality.
You occasionally see people "celebrating" their 100th birthday or whatever in care homes. A week in a place like that would send me demented if I wasn't already. More often you see them "enjoying" a singalong or a game of bingo. Shoot me first please.
24/03/2026 16:38:19 UTC
Gerrin' Owd
Glyn said :-
Well Ed I’m seeming aged halfway between you and your Dad and fully understand what you’re saying. My Dad is in his low nineties, still driving and enjoying life as best he can without Mum who died 18 months ago. He is in good shape both financially and physically. He also says that his income exceeds his needs. His experience with surgeons is minimal in comparison with mine. He always hankered after an Aston Martin and could afford it but he is over the moon with his Honda CRV these days and would never replace it. His main issue is loneliness and there’s not much respite from that as he has always been somewhat antisocial. He gave up daily jogging aged 75. I think he would tell you that life is great at 90 (if he still shared it with his wife). So it would appear you need to take good care of Sharon and watch the finances carefully as the government will expect you to live on about 50% of the minimum wage when you get to retirement.
24/03/2026 10:27:24 UTC
Gerrin' Owd
Ian Soady¹ said :-
I think you overestimate the lack of capacity of 70 year olds Ren. Most of my friends (the few that I have) are well into that age bracket and most still do things that are uncomfortable although I draw the line at camping! Rod is right to a point re needing less income although of course if you can do less for yourself then you have to pay someone else to do it. Through happenstance rather than good judgment both of us have decent occupational pensions as well as state pension so are able to donate substantial amounts to charity as well as enjoying full(ish) lives. The worst bit is that minor health issues that would have been shrugged off 20 years ago - eg my wrenched knee - take much longer to resolve. But I'm getting there.
24/03/2026 10:14:55 UTC
Much More Something That Is Nothing
Ian Soady¹ said :-
I have to agree with Upt' on both counts. That Triumph should be pout out of its misery.
24/03/2026 10:09:14 UTC
Gerrin' Owd
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
That chap was 69 nab301. I have a friend who's 70 and still gets out and about camping and riding quite a lot. But - for every septuagenarian out there camping and riding I'd estimate there's at least 100 that are no longer capable or just couldn't be bothered with the hassle and discomfort!
It's piqued my interest ROD your comment about not needing quite so much income in your 80s. My dad has - errr - more income than he needs. When the holidays go from Caribbean cruises to 4 nights in a local cottage, when the car shrinks from an executive to a runaround, when you stop going to the theatre and become happy with the odd pub lunch... My dad and his wife haven't given up on life, far from it, but their world has shrunk. As long as they're warm and fed, the house is clean and smart, and their health is fair - they're happy.
24/03/2026 08:20:09 UTC
Much More Something That Is Nothing
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Is there any better tipple than a cold beer after a days ride. I think not. Strange thing is I never drink cold lager at any other time but it does hit the spot in a warm climate.
I've got the urge for a drink now. Thinking...Coffee Stout it will be. Ta bogger.
Upt.
23/03/2026 21:11:55 UTC
Much More Something That Is Nothing
Bogger said :-
Of course there was beer. Good grief.
The Palais Cafe does serve Cafe, but more importantly it serves beer.
It is a French Cafe Bar.
For future reference, just because I don't mention beer, doesn't mean it's not been consumed.
Bogger
23/03/2026 21:01:26 UTC
Much More Something That Is Nothing
Upt'North ¹ said :-
That Triumph is an abomination. It hurts one's eyes to peep at it, so I won't. A crime against motorcycling humanity.
Pffffffftttttt.
Upt.
23/03/2026 16:40:26 UTC
Gerrin' Owd
nab301 said :-
Ren, this book was a reasonably enjoyable read,
Nigel
https://www.gillbooks.ie/biography/biography/from-tip-to-top#:~:text=From%20Tip%...
23/03/2026 15:57:55 UTC
Gerrin' Owd
ROD¹ said :-
Oops, should read:-
The 80 year old which Upt described.
23/03/2026 13:55:04 UTC
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Ian Soady¹ said :-
Just tweaking the toe-in and lean out. Whenever I adjust one thing everything else moves, so it's backwards and forwards with the planks and big setsquare. So I've stopped now for the day. A nice cup of cocoa and a Borders ginger and chocolate biscuit (highly recommended) await. When I've made them of course.....
24/03/2026 15:34:42 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Glyn, there are some cracking combinations available at prices from £3k up. Most seem to be through the dreaded FB - this page I've found very useful. Still I find most of the trikes I see are pig-ugly, expensive or crudely constructed. Or sometimes all 3. My outfit stands me in at around £4,600. I'd have been more sensible to go for a ready made combination but where's the fun in that?
https://www.facebook.com/groups/245881523066/...
22/03/2026 14:32:46 UTC
ROD¹ said :-
Ian, the sidecar looks very nice on the bike and in the correct proportions.
I look forward to the first ride report.
Well done!
22/03/2026 12:30:16 UTC
Glyn said :-
I think the majority of these bikes were daily commuters and so, more often than not, high mileage these days. I agree the 400 is probably a better bet.
22/03/2026 09:34:58 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
I had a 250 superdream which I used for year-round commuting duties in the 1990s. It was OK once I'd fitted a 400 engine as the 250 was just too gutless. I found it quite a pleasant machine which handled well.
AS I understand it, the 400 had better performance than the much-loved 400/4 although that was far prettier with its swoopy exhausts.
21/03/2026 10:04:33 UTC
Glyn said :-
The good weather is definitely coming and so it’s time to sort out what stays and what goes. The Triumph, too big, too tall and too heavy will soon be on the market. It is complete and pretty much faultless. The Suzuki 600 Intruder is nice and ready to ride (on sorn at the moment), is easy to manoeuvre around the garage, nice and low and, in my book attractive but really uncomfortable on my back. The TZR is a peach and great for looking at and shows but not really a daily rider. I might keep it but the prices are starting to fall as that generation of rider grows older and less nostalgic. It reaches it’s 40 year birthday on May 1st and will be tax and mot free. My memory of outfits is that when I wasn’t on the wrong side ( offside) of the road, I was in the near-side ditch. It is certainly a dilemma. I secretly fancy a 250 Honda Superdream from the 70s.
21/03/2026 08:07:10 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Thanks all. I don't know what I've done to my knee but I suspect it was actually getting on & off the outfit. What I have to do is: right foot on the pillion footrest (rider footrest is too far forward and also on a taper mount that I don't trust); stand up on that footrest and swing left leg over and navigate between the sidecar struts while holding the handlebars, then sit on the seat and bring right foot forward. Disembarking is the reverse. I think I may have twisted awkwardly doing this, but it's now been 3 weeks. It is recovering slowly with the help of an elasticated support but I'm very wary of damaging it further.
Your point re holding bikes up is one of the reasons for the outfit. I'm physically strong enough but once it crosses your mind that you may be vulnerable there's always that nagging feeling. A pity as I'm missing this good weather.....
20/03/2026 09:13:27 UTC
Glyn said :-
That is superb Ian. How is the knee hampering your progress? My knee is making me look at Trikes again because I don’t fancy keeping a bike upright ( especially one weighing 210Kgs).
19/03/2026 21:22:28 UTC
nab301 said :-
That looks great Ian , I'm sure Ren could drop over and massage your knee for you , we need to know if the outfit performs as well as it looks!
Nigel
19/03/2026 17:56:23 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Very nice Ian, can't wait to see Ed in the chair.
19/03/2026 16:19:14 UTC
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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
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Thanks Glyn.
I have been reading up on the batteries and performance and also spoken to two neighbours who have a Yaris and Corolla HEV's. They haven't had issues other than one dashboard warning saying 12V battery was low. This is over 6 or 7 years and they often sit for a week or so.
Toyota also advise putting vehicle into Ready Mode and in Park after a longer lay up, the 177V battery will then trickle charge the 12V. There's no information on charge rate or duration but it seems a sensible precaution after a bike tour type period of none use to carry out the above procedure.
Now I've seen the battery is lead acid I will obtain a lead for charging.
Ta me duck.
Upt.
18/03/2026 17:14:07 UTC
Glyn said :-
That is a standard Lead/acid battery. It can supply 240Amps for engine cranking. If you replaced it with a similar sized 90Ah it would last twice as long before it went flat. There must be a small drain to discharge that battery in 2 weeks. It must be maintaining a computer chip or two in one of the systems. The Optimate ( other types available) is likely to take care of that just fine.
18/03/2026 16:41:27 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
I found it, it wasn't easy.
39 Ah.
Upt.
18/03/2026 16:07:53 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
To clarify boys, I can't say what the Toyota will do on the 12V front, it's too soon. Just trying to cover the bases before the oh crap moment.
The Hyundai does struggle after 2 weeks plus of inactivity, but there is no drain as far as I am aware and if you check the forums (God help us) it's not unheard of for full hybrids to have no 12V's after only a few days. The manufacturers answer is to use the vehicle fir longer and more often or use a solar charger all of which won't happen.
I will check on the type of battery, it's on the to do list......when I can find it.
Pffffffftttttt.
Upt.
15/03/2026 21:52:49 UTC
Random Link - Carburettor Or Fuel Injection?