Slowlycatchymonkey

I should have deleted them when they couldn’t come but I didn’t and two of them aren’t coming cos they are having a hard time and are enjoying the chat so I don’t feel like I can boot them off now. I’ll definitely bear it in mind next time. WTF am I saying what next time

Thats good news, hope it was sunny!

I’m having the “little too big” problem with my Shoei but I probably just need to buy a new liner.

Thanks I didn’t know that There is a WhatsApp group but it has a few people on it who aren’t coming. And at the end of the trip I delete the group and then the app from my phone cos it’s invasive.

Jeeezus Christ. That describes the feeling of being out it traffic brilliantly. I feel quite sick now. The flashbacks had only just stopped so thanks a fucking bunch It is impossible to understand how far away a vehicle is and how fast it’s going to be on top of you on a motorway. It almost doesn’t make sense. It’s also a shock how far you go before you stop. I too stopped looking as a lept to the hard shoulder, it was a stay here and definitely die or jump and maybe die. Brrrrrr. Thank for sharing that. It kinda makes me feel a bit better about it, not much though cos you were only twenty and didn’t want to risk killing someone. I was just being dumb as fuck!! Bet the traffic was even faster than usual cos everyone sticks their foot down and drives a bit more aggressively if they’ve been caught in a jam.

Yer well the group I’m going with are the ones who fail at the second man drop thing. So will have a tail and a lead and if I get to a straight and can’t see the tail I’ll slow down or pull over. If they all have the next stop destination in their sat nav it shouldn’t be too hard. If it is I’ll go back and get them but I don’t see that happening (famous last words) because they’re kind women but all of them underneath that are pleasingly tough. I’m sure I’ll be pleasantly surprised

Do they try though or do they drive as the crow flies to where they’d like to stop and then just stop dead

Oh the swept out to sea thing scares me!

Thats it! Is that Lawrence Hill?

Hmm yes. It’s never full proof is it Second man drop is something I’ve experienced twice and both times the second man forgot to drop and the group was split up for what felt like an eternity. On one occasion leaving me and one other up a mountain in the foggy dark in a foreign clime But it’s France not some remote spot so I’ve asked everyone to sort out some type of sat nav be it phone or otherwise. We will stop every hour or so for a ten min leg stretch (one of the group is well into her 60’s and aches a bit), those stops will be given as sat nav co ords so faster members who don’t want to spare the horses can scratch that itch, the slower will have someone to lead and someone bringing up the rear (that’s what she said ). If anyone gets split up they can then easily continue on route to the next stopping point. Everyone is using a locator app for a group I’ll create before we board the ferry (just for the trip) so should anything untoward happen it’s easy to find them or them us. They work really well for group trips, although not so well to prevent on the last Colts rugby tour 4 of them shaving off all their hair just before their uni interviews and one losing their virginity to a lady of the night

This is rather putting me off my upcoming group ride I’ll have to stick to the speed limit, slow down to accommodate the lowest common denominator and it’s going to be painful isn’t it I know for sure two of the women are race level fast but the others Heyho.

And die of boredom along the way

I’ve always been intrigued by how easy Murican driving and riding tests are. Over here it’s got to the point you have to know enough to complete half a degree to pass the theory test and then theres a simulated road test that’s an absolute bastid to pass, then the actual driving test followed by practical questions from the examiner. There are so many ways to fail its amazing anyone passes. Harley is still the number one womens choice here too though I think mostly because women are smaller and it’s the easiest bike to flat foot on. There was an American motorcycle platform called MC rider (probably still is) so in 2017 all full of new enthusiasm I joined in, it was full of newbies. Bloody hell the basic information these poor folk with a licence were released onto the road without was quite frightening I couldn’t hack it, they were too clueless. Then again in some countries you can still just go a buy a driving licence. There’s an area in Bristol behind Old Market (I think it’s Lawrence hill but I’m not sure, @boboneleg would know better) where I’m certain some of the fresh in population have bought their licence because the driving is sometimes unbelievable, like they’ve never driven a car!

Women just don’t think in innuendo to the same extent. I joined another forum recently (please don’t ban me, I know it’s not allowed and I’m sorry, I’ll leave there immediately.. oops no, thats the other place ) and as it’s a food forum I just type a sentence and post it, thats it. Here I re-read it, look at the possible innuendo and rephrase it if I’d rather the post read than a scene from a carry on Mind you it’s also funny to leave it as is and have a scene from a carry on At home all three of mine do “thats what she/he said” and “title of your sex tape” from bloody Brooklyn 99 So something innocent like squeezing a loaf of bread and saying “its gone hard” “thats what she said” Or “that was a mistake” “title of your sex tape” It’s a sport here to see who can pick them out fastest!

Not a chance in hell

Cheers Tango

I reckon it is You don’t get to go deaf in a nice uniform fashion so some sounds are far more audible than others, god in his infinite wisdom decided I should continue to hear feckin wind noise good n clear

This! I started off asking people what they wanted… MISTAKE Now I’ve booked the accommodation, am deciding the route and I’ll let them have that when there’s not enough time for them to consider what it consists of

I’ve organised a few trips (not group bike ones) but as Bob says it’s usually a thankless task and even if the majority are easy going there’s always one or two that moan with no idea of how much work goes into it and no intention of doing it themselves! Heyho. I like these women and they’re not whingers by any stretch so I sure it’ll be dandy. Got to go and search for the travel first aid kit, I have three of the feckers, ones in Spain but what the hell are the Borrowers doing with the other two?!

Thanks MooN I appreciate it. I saved your previous advice about riding in France and will be putting that together in an email bout riding in France. Perhaps if you don’t mind, when I’ve got that together you could check it over and see if it’s all correct. It will be mostly what you’ve said and some road signs everyone won’t be familiar with.. if I can find them I read its illegal not to carry spare bulbs in France but couldn't tell if this is all vehicles or just cars etc.

I think if you have a read up on Billy’s or in general the Pro is better than the Basic by quite a margin but whatever suits I wouldn’t go back to non flip lids now, they are just much easier. My C4 pro was about £340 two years ago. It’s definitely quieter than my Shoei although side by side testing on youtube etc showed little difference. I find the Shoei whistles at certain speeds, the Schuberth doesn’t. If I was buying now I’d go C4 pro or would wait for a few more C5 reviews and fork out for that. Flip lids are known for being noisy but they’ve kind of mastered them now, they can’t be put on with the flip down. You have to pull the sides out to get it on your head and when in locks into place it pulls the helmet in towards you head limiting the airspace that makes lids noisy. If you have a helmet city near you it’s worth asking them to get in the models you want to try. Doesn’t cost anything and they tend to know their onions.

Spent all day emailing peeps about the trip next week and haven’t got anywhere near sorting my bike out which was actual job for today. Started the route planning which isn’t anywhere near as easy to do for France as it is for Spain. I can see why folk recce the whole route before they take people with them. It’s just not at all stressful when you’re doing it only for yourself (who cares if it goes wrong, you’ll just find an away around or accept it) but with a group it feels like a whole different ball game. Honestly if I get any complaints there may be injuries

From the looks of her you’re about to become a daddy.

The ones worth anything choose to ride their own bike rather than accessorise someone else’s.

Sounds hideous.