Featured What you been doing with your TRIUMPH today??

Went for a sunny, albeit cold ride today. Just a quick two hour trip, as I had other things planned in the afternoon. I went to Val-Dieu abbey again, but is was too crowded to enjoy a quick cup of coffee. So I just took these quick pictures and continued my ride.

 

@littleade , yes I have done that one but for a good while. You’ve reminded me that it needs a re-visit next time I’m out that way

 

Had bimble out on the thruxton. Called for a cuppa Broxton tea hut and there were quite a few bikes out.

I then headed off to J&S in Delamere. There were loads of bikes there and I spotted this thriumph with a cool decal set...

 

Sounds like you had a good day . I have had a look on my local bikesafe site and put my name down for a course. There is a waiting list, but it does not say how long the list is. We will see.

 

Yes sadly there are to few young riders, which unless more take up riding our numbers will significantly reduce over time.

 

Ride out to meet friends from Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire for the Bottesford Easter Egg run.
About 500 bikes and donating Easter eggs for children and families in need around the area.
Only 1 degree when I set off at 7:30 and wishing those Triumph heated grips were a bit more effective!

 

Yeh, but remember when we were young...and knew it fuckin' all?

 

Solo spin out for a couple of hours, I'm not one for riding in groups, I can go out with lifelong friends, we started out on pushbikes aged about 7 and grew up together moving on to motorcycles, on the rare occasions I'm back in Somerset we usually meet up for a spin out and it's just like old times-I trust them implicitly but honestly I just don't trust other motorcyclists I don't know, a hangover from a catastrophic accident I was involved in over 40 years ago, I've ridden in huge anti helmet rallies in the 70's and 80's with hundreds of other bikes through London and riding up to brands and other race meets, but these days I prefer to just ride with Mrs W on the back.

 

I concur with that. An old riding friend of mine passed away in 2017 in his mid eighties and I've rode alone ever since but don't make any preconceptions about his age. At the time of his passing he had almost 30 years on me, owned a Fireblade and up to the onset of his illness, he could ride it! I still miss him.

 

Me and Mrs W are going to the Distinguished Gentlemens ride in May, I'm genuinely nervous about that one but it's for a great cause so deep breaths...

 

Big breaths are better than deep ones, I read it on the internet...

 

On the Internet eh? Must be true then

 

@PatW, glad to read that you're doing the DGR. I'm sad to report that Tucson doesn't have a ride this year. There are only two in Arizona and the closest is in Phoenix. And that's NOT a city I'd like to do that ride in. But that said, I've done the DGR twice in Tucson and, like you, I was nervous about riding in such a group. But the Tucson ride organizers had it dialed in. They hired a group of retired MC cops who do just such things as the DGR, funeral processions, and the like. The group monitored intersections and the rides each year ran like clockwork and were very safe. Additionally, the speed was very sedate. I'll be eager to hear how the ride goes for you and Mrs. W. Hopefully your experience will be positive as mine has been. Good luck with both the fundraising and the ride!

 

The DGR that I have done were also well managed and yes the pace was very sedate. You should be fine @PatW

 

@Wessa West Mercia have spaces on all of their courses - I know that you come into West Mercia from your ride reports, but no idea how far away for you the courses would be.

I have bitten the bullet and booked one; a bit nervous as I am so new to riding but I figure now is the time to maximise my learning....

 

It's not the pace @Sandi T, it's being corralled in a tight group of potential idiots.

 

I did the Cheshire course last year, well worth it.

There were about six of us in the classroom/seminar part only one was in his thirties, the rest of us around 60. The police instructor did observe that the young “power rangers” were the target audience but they tend to believe in their invincibility a little too much.

I was fortunate to get a one to one escorted ride on a lovely sunny Sunday afternoon. My guide (Jim) asked what I wanted to work on and set up a route that helped me get the guidance I wanted and enabled him to observe and assess my strengths and weaknesses.

Best bit was pulling onto the A49 just as a young “power ranger” hared past our junction. Jim overtook me to show me how it’s done (therefore now between the “power ranger” and me) and suddenly the “power ranger” was observing the speed limit.

We can always learn so have fun Wessa when your turn comes.

 

I’m sure you’ll find it really useful, so much of riding is in the mindset and the teaching, free roadcraft book, and escorted ride did wonders for helping me regain my confidence, my observation and my thinking. Enjoy it.

 

Yep, I understand, @PatW. And one never knows just when and where those idiots will show up. But luckily for the two DGR's in which I participated, the idiots stayed home. It was amazing how "well behaved" everyone was. I think that was partly due to the pre-ride briefing but mostly due to the Southwest Rangers traffic control service who led and swept the group and controlled intersections throughout the entire 50-ish mile loop. They've been in service in Tucson since 1999. This first photo is one I took at the DGR in Tucson in September of 2019, the last time that Tucson had one, I think. This was at a mid-route stop at a mid-town park for refreshments and photo-ops.


This was prior to the ride at the staging area. One of the two primary sponsors, RestoMoto, is located right next door to the SW Rangers headquarters and their joint parking lot was where the ride began. You can see a couple of the officers in the background near their offices.


From the SW Rangers FB page And, BTW, man oh man, can those guys ride their bikes!!

 

Thanks for that, I will have a look. What are are you based in?