|
|
Post by pilgrim on Aug 16, 2013 10:32:52 GMT
We met up with Fergie yesterday to ride the annual event (with around 20,000 other bikers!). The route is about 70kms and takes about 3 hours to complete. The roads are shut off to general circulation allowing the bikes to ride a big one-way circuit. The route is nearly all countryside, passing through some villages, and along the route the spectators gather for hand slaps, cheering and sweets thrown from the pillion riders. Yesterday I saw two (real) nuns applauding from their abbey garden.......well it is a religious outing too. They break the ride up into groups with pairs of security riders spaced out every few hundred bikes to act as pace bikes to avoid racing or getting into enormous bottlenecks or 'bouchons'. It is a real experience!    Be back again next year! |
|
|
|
Post by rowlf on Aug 16, 2013 11:14:37 GMT
Looks like fun. Looking at the pictures, a thought occured to me  (Well, there had to be a first time !) The trouble with riding on the wrong side of the road is that when you stop at the kerb and put the bike on the sidestand, you lean to the left towards the traffic and you get off the bike into the road. Nowhere near as safe as the "proper" way of doing things. Just a thought. It happens so rarely I thought I would share it. |
|
|
|
Post by tomcat on Aug 16, 2013 12:42:21 GMT
Looks like fun. Looking at the pictures, a thought occured to me (Well, there had to be a first time !) The trouble with riding on the wrong side of the road is that when you stop at the kerb and put the bike on the sidestand, you lean to the left towards the traffic and you get off the bike into the road. Nowhere near as safe as the "proper" way of doing things. Just a thought. It happens so rarely I thought I would share it. I must admit, I had similar thoughts when in mainland europe earlier this year. I'm surprised these areas don't insist on alternative side stand positioning. It wouldn't be too hard, during manufacturing, to have a mounting point on each side of the frame. Impressive photo's though. |
|
|
|
Post by pilgrim on Aug 16, 2013 12:49:19 GMT
Very observant rowlf. If you take the facts a little further you could argue that the bike is more upright on the centrestand when on the RHS of the road whereas it leans over much further when stood on the LHS and possibly too far if the gutter is very deep. It's more weight to pick up also! Pros and cons to everything I suppose.  |
|
|
|
Post by teejayexc on Aug 16, 2013 16:40:09 GMT
Looks like fun. Looking at the pictures, a thought occured to me (Well, there had to be a first time !) The trouble with riding on the wrong side of the road is that when you stop at the kerb and put the bike on the sidestand, you lean to the left towards the traffic and you get off the bike into the road. Nowhere near as safe as the "proper" way of doing things. Just a thought. It happens so rarely I thought I would share it. I must admit, I had similar thoughts when in mainland europe earlier this year. I'm surprised these areas don't insist on alternative side stand positioning. It wouldn't be too hard, during manufacturing, to have a mounting point on each side of the frame. Impressive photo's though. What's wrong with parking on the other side of the road then  One advantage I can see from the photos is at least you reduce the chance of flicking the sidestand down on a road drain and then uttering the immortal words.. "feck it!".  Nice pics btw. |
|
|
|
Post by rowlf on Aug 16, 2013 17:07:53 GMT
Well, I guess you learn to adapt.
You just need to be careful getting your leg over when abroad.
|
|
|
|
Post by pilgrim on Aug 16, 2013 18:29:20 GMT
Well, I guess you learn to adapt. You just need to be careful getting your leg over when abroad. You can also learn to get off the bike the other side too! It's not difficult. I was doing it yesterday when the bikes passed by very close. BTW, did you spot the author of the 3rd photo in the mirror? |
|
|
|
Post by rowlf on Aug 16, 2013 18:41:42 GMT
BTW, did you spot the author of the 3rd photo in the mirror? Yeah, nice looking shoulder  |
|
|
|
Post by pilgrim on Aug 16, 2013 21:05:02 GMT
And the day ended like this........  Cheers!  |
|
(Well, there had to be a first time !)
