Cubtestdummy
Active member
Popped out for a bit of a jolly as the weather was glorious and herself was meeting the girls from the office.
Got fuel and started with some twisty tarmac and one of those back roads with grass and a stream down the middle.
This was followed by the first decent hill and 60mph on the gps. Speedo conversion is a tad out, going to be sorted next week.
Then a ride through town to get coffee and cake and then a run along the promenade and out towards Groudle Glen.
Back onto the main road for a mile of so then the Creg Ny Baa back road.
I spotted a green lane that I've walked part of before and thought " new plan". It started well but at the bottom of the valley turned from hard pack to cobbles and shrapnel with the regularly spaced head sized rock. I've not ridden off road in 40 years and it showed very quickly.
Not quite quickly enough for me to have the sense to turn round. I'm bouncing around like rubber nuts on a bouncy castle. Appalling throttle control finally tipped me off at about 3mph... the first damage. A brief thought of get a picture followed by "no you twat, pick it up it's still running". I pressed on and stopped for a couple walking their dogs, "bit rough for a little bike like that isn't it"? He stopped looking smug when I pointed out it had got me this far...
The stock tyres are dreadful on wet stones and muddy grass verges with 10 to 12" drop offs and I came close to washing out two or three more times before getting back onto the road.
From here the Creg is about 1/4 mile away then it's TT circuit all the way back into town. Once again saw 60mph on the gps (46mph on the speedo) as I went round Brandish and dropped down towards Hillberry. Then down to Governor's and the Grandstand.
Another loop around town, grabbed another coffee and headed into the countryside and a brief sit down to enjoy caffeine and sunshine.
After 15 minutes of watching the world go by time to head home and assess the damage which was minimal thankfully. At least it's done and I can stop worrying about getting it scratched.
Also got to try the new helmet out, a Shoei Ex-Zero. Very comfortable but a little on the noisy side, if I was going anywhere quickly I think ear plugs would be required.
I'm so pleased with how well this little bike handles and instills confidence in it's abilities. A little bike that can.
Got fuel and started with some twisty tarmac and one of those back roads with grass and a stream down the middle.
This was followed by the first decent hill and 60mph on the gps. Speedo conversion is a tad out, going to be sorted next week.
Then a ride through town to get coffee and cake and then a run along the promenade and out towards Groudle Glen.
Back onto the main road for a mile of so then the Creg Ny Baa back road.
I spotted a green lane that I've walked part of before and thought " new plan". It started well but at the bottom of the valley turned from hard pack to cobbles and shrapnel with the regularly spaced head sized rock. I've not ridden off road in 40 years and it showed very quickly.
Not quite quickly enough for me to have the sense to turn round. I'm bouncing around like rubber nuts on a bouncy castle. Appalling throttle control finally tipped me off at about 3mph... the first damage. A brief thought of get a picture followed by "no you twat, pick it up it's still running". I pressed on and stopped for a couple walking their dogs, "bit rough for a little bike like that isn't it"? He stopped looking smug when I pointed out it had got me this far...
The stock tyres are dreadful on wet stones and muddy grass verges with 10 to 12" drop offs and I came close to washing out two or three more times before getting back onto the road.
From here the Creg is about 1/4 mile away then it's TT circuit all the way back into town. Once again saw 60mph on the gps (46mph on the speedo) as I went round Brandish and dropped down towards Hillberry. Then down to Governor's and the Grandstand.
Another loop around town, grabbed another coffee and headed into the countryside and a brief sit down to enjoy caffeine and sunshine.
After 15 minutes of watching the world go by time to head home and assess the damage which was minimal thankfully. At least it's done and I can stop worrying about getting it scratched.
Also got to try the new helmet out, a Shoei Ex-Zero. Very comfortable but a little on the noisy side, if I was going anywhere quickly I think ear plugs would be required.
I'm so pleased with how well this little bike handles and instills confidence in it's abilities. A little bike that can.
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Would love to be over for it again this year but wasn't on the cards.