Man Shouts at Clouds

For those following the progress of my bikes, everything is good this week.

The Venture Rides perfectly now, after a 250 mile journey two-up, it made me realise i have probably over tightened the steering head bearings a touch, a quick tap to loosen them ever so slightly and, hey presto, a perfect riding motorcycle.

This is very good news at the moment, as I sit writing this, it is pouring down with rain and the Venture is without doubt the best bike I’ve ever ridden when wet. So planted and so stable.

The VTX1300 is currently getting paint on the rear fender, that should hopefully be back on the bike in the next few days.

After my last blog, the Hayabusa is sitting in the garage, probably feeling unloved.

I took a bit of a risk with the weather today, choosing to take the Venture to work, despite the iffy weather forecast.

As the big Yamaha is a great mile-muncher, taking the ‘highway’ route (as opposed to the country lanes) still gives an excellent motorcycle ride. The roads were damp when I left, forcing my decision to take the A19 (a major ‘highway’ covering the North East of England down to North Yorkshire). Unfortunately, with no warning, the road was closed sending me the scenic route.

The roads in general were not an issue, they had mostly dried. However one small section really got my goat.

Maybe it was because I feared I may be slightly late, or was it the fact I’d been ‘forced’ on to this section, but I got quite annoyed. Its a mess!

A few years ago they laid it with stones. (Yes, for those reading, who are not in the UK, we have a policy, here in blighty, of just throwing down loose stones on the floor with a sticky tar … then using the cars rolling over it to press it down). Now this cheap, stupid and frankly (when first laid) dangerous layer has worn away, leaving a potted, marked up stretch of road about a mile long.

When they are first laid, on a motorcycle, they are treacherous, your wheel could spin up with the lightest throttle movement, corners must be taken at walking pace.

If you are in a car, say goodbye to any kind of immaculate paint work as the stones flip up everywhere.

Once its ready and the lines repainted, the ‘loose’ feeling is still there as your tyres search for grip.

I was still thinking about this stretch of road when I arrived at work. This lead my mind to wander into other areas, of travelling on the roads, that annoy me.

Cyclists…

Where….. to…… even…… begin.

Lets be clear, if you a using a Bicycle to ride to work, to pick up a few small items from the shop or taking a ride, on the numerous cycle paths for recreational pleasure… fine.

If you are doing the above for environmental purposes …. excellent, because lets face it, even if you deny the existence of man-made climate change, putting less pollutants in the air is just ….well….nice.

However, if you are on a racing Bicycle that Bradley Wiggins would be proud of, in a weird lycra suit (that offers Zero protection in the event of a fall) riding narrow lanes, two by two for your own personal …yes YOUR personal pleasure… You’re a ****.

Imagine any other sporting pleasure taking part in the middle of the road.

Should I get a ball and start playing with it, with friends, on the blind apex of a corner? What about a game of golf? Ill pop down to the aforementioned A19 and start hitting a ball with a 9-iron should I?

Of course I wouldn’t, because it would be inconsiderate to other people.

If you want to ride, with an aim (like work or the shops) fine… but roads are not somewhere you should ‘play’.

Trucks….

I’ve known a few truck drivers, however, I’ve never managed to ask the question….

Why do they insist on taking-over each other on two lane carriageways?

The A1 stretches from North to South in England. Many are dual carriageways, these parts are always jammed with traffic… the reason?….. a Truck travelling at 56mph is overtaking a truck doing 55mph.

It is unbelievably infuriating.

This happens all over the country. In many parts of continental Europe, this is banned. Trucks are to stay in the inside lane as it increases traffic flow. In my experience, this really works.

Thats not everything, tailgaters, lane hoggers, ‘Smart motorways’ ………the list of stupid and needless things on our roads seems endless.

But thats the great thing about riding a Motorcycle.

These things don’t seem to matter as much, its you, your bike and the road…and I love it!