yen_powell

The day my bike went back to zero https://www.xrv.org.uk/threads/rollover-rideout.53860/

Proper manly camping. https://www.xrv.org.uk/threads/hotel-africa-twin.32479/

I was searching through the ride reports I did on XRV.ORG just now. Last time I looked, which was quite a few years ago, all the pictures had disappeared due to the Photobucket crisis (refused to pay the robbing bastards). Most of the pictures now show up again, although they have a Photobucket logo plastered across them. I found some of Wiltshire with Bob, although Bob's added pics have disappeared now. This was my Isle of Wight 'rally poo run' trail ride, hopefully you can see it without being logged in. https://www.xrv.org.uk/threads/isle-of-wight.26569/

Just cleaned up my rear caliper and give it a coating to fight the corrosion from road salt. The brake pads still seem like new thickness wise. Can't seem to wear them out. They have done about 14,000 miles since they went in. The first set that came with the bike were replaced, nearly worn out at 13k so it's all a bit odd. I'm still on the original front pads so they have done 29,000 miles. I have a new set ready to go in, but they still looked good a few weeks ago when I cleaned up the front brakes after the winter saltfest, so I never put them in. I swear I do use the brakes and they work fine so not sure what is going on. I also wire brushed and painted most of my centre stand. It was a rusty nightmare. I can't get used to not having chain oil all over that part of my bike, preserving it.

Harleys have gone 12 volt now have they?

Bob, your outfit should be accessorised with a nice tommy gun in a violin case.

Not sure, I first saw it on Monday afternoon but had traffic behind me so didn't stop to take a picture that time. I think it'll be okay, pretty quiet where I live, I'm the scum here, everyone else seems pretty decent.

One of my work minions (the not too bright one) has gone and got himself a full bike licence and bought a Suzuki Gladius. He was in at the same time as me today. I was parked behind Whitechapel station inside one of our site work fences, he had wedged his bike in with the hospital car park motorbikes. We walked out together, then separated. I spent ages extracting my bike, with a helpful Bulgarian in a hard hat opening the fence for me and helping me pull my bike backwards over a small gravel pile that wasn't there when I went in. I then rode down a small side road over the top of the railway line, fought my way through the never ending peds using the market and turned left out into standing traffic on Whitechapel Road, I ended up pulling around the queue and going down the outside to the signalled pedestrian crossing at the station. There I saw said Minion, easily recognisable with his hard shelled back pack, at 45 degrees across the road and with the surrounding vehicles pulling away to leave him in the middle and him frantically pushing at his starter button. I pulled up behind him, still trying to start it. He finally realised who was behind him, turned and shouted, "I just dropped my bike for the first time ever". Looks like he'd over balanced pulling right out of the hospital entrance into the traffic. I suspect a bit of front brake whilst handlebars on full lock action took place. If that Bulgarian had been a bit quicker I'd have been able to watch him go over!

On my way home from work this afternoon. Top of my road I see this, pulled over and got the camera out.

Punch Yellow......

Not sure if I mentioned it, but I have now got a second home, smack in the centre of trendy Shoreditch. A pied-à-terre I think they call it. It'll be lovely when I get the nets up and the scatter cushions in there, perhaps a window box or two. Perhaps a rug and some doilies. Okay it's a really site hut, but it means I have somewhere to park my bike (inside a traffic warden proof fence), seats, table, kettle, toilet, heater and a microwave. This is for an upcoming job, I said I wouldn't do it unless I got one. Unfortunately the job it's for was meant to start on the 11th and has been delayed until at least May 9th as the building site is behind schedule. I've just got off the phone to Mr Angry who is living next to the two huts (one for me, one for the actual real workers). It seems that only one of the huts is solar powered, the other is a temporary generator type which the hirer will replace as soon as they get another solar type. Turns out it has been switching the generator on and off through the nights, no idea why, it's not in use. I have calmed him down, also told him he is living on top of a giant medieval cemetery, I think he appreciated me letting him know. The actual job is rebuilding a couple of roads that has been removed and put into storage 4 years ago by the developer. The first part, an old York stone alley way, even has a plan showing where each piece of cut, cracked and heavily worn stone came from and is meant to go back. Small sample screen shot below of a small part of the plan. Unfortunately the developers record keeping was not up to scratch and it has become a giant jigsaw. I always start at the corners myself. There is also a couple of granite sett roads, but we can put that back how we want, no English Heritage following us about for that bit.

Back in the 90s I had a Kent trail ride planned, 2 weeks beforehand I rode the whole thing with two mates. One lane, downhill, narrowish, chalk surfaced, with a semicircular cross section like a water course and lots of bends. I would just let the bike run at it's own speed in first or second and go up and down the smooth sides at each gentle bend, always liked it, felt like a roulette ball at slow speed. Two weeks later I turned up with about 10 people, stopped at the gap in the trees at the top of the lane and let two people go first, told them to enjoy it as I knew they were proper quick riders and I didn't want to dodder in front and hold them up. One was a back up rider for the British Enduro team, but even he was white faced at the bottom when I next saw him. The other person lost the front half of his front mud guard somehow. Turned out that someone, I assume the local council, seemed to have tried to smooth it out with some sort of concrete type material. Instead of a nice gentle semi circular cross section it now had a deep rock solid square rut that snaked hard left and right with no give in it. You didn't see the rut till it was too late if you were going fast. At my plodder speed I managed to stay out of it and ride along one edge. The two waiting for me were in a bit of a state.

That's an outrageous thing to say, it's not 5 miles....It's 8.04672 Kilometres.

That's one half of a joke isn't it? You lot. You're an arsehole, you're an arsehole and you're an arsehole. I'm not an arsehole. Okay, get over there with the c*nts then.

Ban Eye Brick Knob. It has a nice ring to it. Adds to the stress of the SAS selection as well, let's see them pronounce when puking up their lunch at the end of a run, that'll separate the men from the boys.

Taken yesterday, but forgot to post. Note the Jewish year next to the Anno Domini year.

Our gift to the world, but are the buggers grateful? Bit worried about the nasty looking knife in your picture! Even more worried about why it is resting on a jar.

Say hello to the Croatianons for us.

Same bloke could drive a nail into a rafter with one blow of his hammer, I was mocked for taking longer (tippy tap tippy tap is more my style). On the other hand I would have to go and get the box of plasters from his car every few days when he hit his own finger.