Random rides

[Rynglieder]

23/07/2021 Lake Vyrnwy (c.176 miles)

Time for a proper ride out today and Wales was calling to me again, one for the GTR I thought.

To avoid repetition I took a slightly less direct route out than I usually would, the route from Shrewsbury through Rhos Common was particularly enjoyable riding and I can't recall having travelled that road before which adds to the pleasure.

The day was warm and sunny throughout and I found time to park up at a couple of different spots around the lake for a short walk and my reward of a coffee and a smoke.

I did a complete circuit of the lake and then, being in no rush to go home, road back to near the northern end where I had spotted a sign for Dinas Mawddwy when I had passed previously. I had not realised that a link existed between there and Vyrnwy but it seemed worth exploring.

It's unsurprising that I was not aware of it, it's barely visible on Google Maps being a single track mountain pass - sometimes these roads end up being a bit of a fraught ride with grass growing up the middle, but it turned out OK, practically nothing else was using the road so I had it to myself and the scenery and views from the mountain tops was stunning and is a route I intend to ride again. Annoyingly my Innovv camera decided it did not want to record this leg of the journey, but I have included a grab from Google Street View below to give you an idea.

The extra bit of concentration that was required over that stretch resulted in me feeling the need for a break at Dinas Mawddwy but that was followed by some spirited riding without a further break to get me straight through to home at a decent time.

A really good day out for the GTR even though it did feel a bit heavy on the mountain road.

[pross]

Lovely run by the sounds of it .
And a lovely writ up and pictures keep them coming Pete 👍👍

[O.C.]

brilliant write up with great pictures Pete as usual, thanks for sharing

[Rynglieder]

12/08/2021 The Malverns, Wye Valley & Severn Valley (c. 168 miles)

Although I am more than happy to ride out on my own at my own pace and in my own time it is nice to catch up with old friends and have some company now and again. I gave a shout out to a couple of friends, this time including an acquaintance from the GSX owner's forum. Having finally got a new tyre sorted out for the GSX it seemed right to use the day to break it in, so that was the bike that was selected for the day.

A rendezvous was arranged at Hopwood Park Services on the M42 and after introducing Chris to Mike and Steve we got one junction's worth of motorway under us before turning south to Bromsgrove and then Worcester on the A38. I took the guys through Worcester city centre to avoid the interminable roadworks on the bypass and then we began the climb of the Malvern Hills allowing us a stop and the first drink and chat of the day at the kiosk at British Camp on the A449.

From there we descended into Herefordshire where we skirted Ledbury and continued at good pace on the A4449 past Ross on Wye where there was a bit of dual carriageway riding to be done down to Monmouth.

On reaching Monmouth we took the A466 which meanders southwards alongside the River Wye, a good single carriageway road through pleasant wooded valleys. Eventually we reached the riverside village of Tintern where we parked up and headed into the Anchor Inn for lunch and a drink in their garden overlooked by the ruins of Tintern abbey.

Suitably refreshed, we continued south to the town of Chepstow to satisfy my desire for a quick view of the castle, a possible subject of a future ride out for myself.

My return route then took us north along the A48 with constant glimpses of the broad stretch of the River Severn all the way to the outskirts of Gloucester. From there it was a curvy stretch of A38 back to Worcester. Although a little out of my own way home I lead the guys up to Alcester as it seemed a convenient point to for everyone to break up and from there make their own way home.

The weather had been reasonable, there was a good variety of roads and landscapes involved and the odd monument passed, I'd had a good time and hopefully my fellow riders had too.

[pross]

Sounds like awesome ride out will have to try to join you next time work hours permitting .
Keep the rideouts coming and keep safe 👍.

[Rynglieder]

Sounds like awesome ride out will have to try to join you next time work hours permitting .
Keep the rideouts coming and keep safe 👍.

I'll look forward to that, keep in touch and let me know when you have a free day.

To be honest although I do ride through the winter months I need a bit of motivation, so a poke in the ribs may spur me on.

[O.C.]

Thanks for another great write up with pictures,      

[pross]

I'll look forward to that, keep in touch and let me know when you have a free day.

To be honest although I do ride through the winter months I need a bit of motivation, so a poke in the ribs may spur me on.

Will do Pete I'm the same trying to fit the fishing in aswell before the freeze .
A poke in the ribs needed but once setup and 🎣 fishing I'm as happy as a 🐖in💩🤣👍

[Rynglieder]

16/09/2021 The Wirral (c. 197 miles)

A road I had not ridden this year was the A41 which takes me from the West Midlands, through Shropshire, Cheshire and onto the Wirral. The Z1300 was still indisposed (now in a local workshop for a major service and set-up), the Z1000 too uncomfortable over this distance and the last one to take a turn was the GSX so the GTR was the natural choice for the day. The A41 is quite an enjoyable road to ride once I have broken out of Wolverhampton, single carriageway flowing bends in the main rather than twisties and other than skirting Chester fairly free of major towns until the Wirral Peninsular.

Wolverhampton was cleared within half an hour and from there it was straightforward cruising until I reached the Raven Café just south of Whitchurch where I took the time for a mug of tea and fifteen minutes off the bike.

Back on the A41 I rounded Chester and continued on to Birkenhead. First proper stop was at Birkenhead Priory where I took an hour for a walk round the ruins with the camera. That done I continued onward to New Brighton where the bike was parked up whilst I took some photos of the outside of Fort Perch Rock and New Brighton lighthouse.

The final box to tick on the day's planned schedule was the Leasowe lighthouse, now land-bound as the shifting coastline had built up in front of it. Unfortunately I had chosen the wrong coastal road car park and was left with a 10 minute walk along the sea wall wearing bike gear in strong sunshine before I reached it. On return to the car park I dropped into a café where the bike was parked where I was served with a cup of lukewarm tea without the requested sugar – I shan't be going back there.

The return loop started with a run down the spine of the Wirral peninsular which is somewhat speed limited and stop-start progress but eventually I returned to Chester. As time was running out yet again I took what I knew to be a quicker route home, passing Wrexham and then joining the A5.

Nothing to complain about on today's ride out and the GTR was the perfect choice.

[O.C.]

I thought for a moment that  your bikes reg  was FFS      

Interesting report with the usual excellent  pictures      

[Rynglieder]

20/09/2021 Bridgnorth (c. 53 miles)

As usual I had been watching the weather forecast for the next sunny day to get out combine a ride on a bike with a few photographs, a short run on the Z1000 was in order.

The road to Bridgnorth was a well beaten path but although only a short distance from home I had never visited the castle. The run out was the sort of rapid blast that you can have on a small(ish) bike on roads that you are very familiar with and know every safe overtaking point and bend like the back of your hand, always a buzz...

The castle and gardens are not big, but looked good in the sun and the outcrop on which it sits offers views down the Severn Valley including the terminus of the Severn Valley Railway – well worth a visit if you are in the area.

Not quite ready to go home I continued northwards through Broseley and into Coalbrookdale where I stopped briefly at some old kilns that I had passed many time previously. There are a number of museums and heritage centres along this section of the gorge and I will no doubt return when I have more time to look a little more deeply. The intention of a further stop and a coffee at Ironbridge was initially thwarted by a road closure but I followed the detour through the suburbs of Telford and made a new approach to Ironbridge from the North. Rather than parking up by the historic bridge as I usually would I pulled into the visitor centre a little further up river where I managed to get my drink.

Return home was through Much Wenlock and Bridgnorth, a perfect little loop for the hooligan bike.

[O.C.]

I really like your ride outs and pictures, thanks again for sharing

Nearest I got to that part of the world was many years ago (mid 1990s) when I was at a conference at the Telford Golf Club and Spa

[Rynglieder]

I really like your ride outs and pictures, thanks again for sharing

Nearest I got to that part of the world was many years ago (mid 1990s) when I was at a conference at the Telford Golf Club and Spa

Thanks O.C.

Within easy reach from home, but a chap on a motorcycle can easily find 2-3 days enjoyable riding around Shropshire.

[Rynglieder]

24/09/2021 Coughton Court (c. 66 miles)

The "rota" made this a GSX day, but annoyingly as I tried to roll it out of the garage I very quickly discovered that a 2" screw had decided to make a nest in the rear tyre which was only about 250 miles old. I manged to get enough air into it to rearrange the bikes in the garage so that I could pull the GTR out, I had promised to do a small job for my sister out in Warwickshire so sorting out the rubber on the GSX would have to wait.

The GTR was a bit low on fuel when I got it out and I was aware there seemed to be a national panic going on over petrol supplies. Personally I refuse to change my habits when this sort of thing goes on, I will not queue for petrol that I don't yet need (it only adds to the problems) and I set off confident that I would find something along the way.

The direct route out to Studley where my sister lives is a very dull dual carriageway which is OK in the car but not what I wanted on a bike so I set out on a more circuitous but interesting ride. The first garage that I passed seemed to have the forecourt closed off and the next had queuing traffic spilling out onto a difficult junction which I did not want to involve myself with but I was content to press on through Hagley, into Droitwich and out on the old salt road toward Feckenham and Alcester. The LCD display on the GTR was now nagging me about the fuel level but may patience paid off, I pulled straight into the service station at Arrow, onto the pump and was filled up and on my way again without any drama or waiting.

Five more minutes on the road brought me to Studley where I discharged my family responsibilites by fitting a new garden hose reel and mending a dishwasher rack slide in consideration of a free cup of tea. These things have to be done.

There was time left in the day so I rode back south to Coughton Court where I spent an hour around the gardens and purchased the obligatory National Trust latte.

The ride back was again through Studley and a bit of back-road navigation through North Worcestershire back past Hanbury and then picking up the route I had come by.

Another enjoyable day, soured slightly by having to order and fork out for another tyre when I got home.

[Rynglieder]

06/10/2021 Stokesay Castle (c. 73 miles)

Another ring of Avon rubber had been would round the rear wheel of the GSX so it seemed only right to make a start on the 100 miles of dry riding that they recommend before it is worked hard.

Not being sure where to go I decided that my favourite Shropshire loop would do, a combination of nice A and B roads through pleasant countryside.

To add a bit of interest I disregarded Ludlow where I would normally stop, but made a visit to the English Heritage site at Stokesay Castle. It is more of a moated and fortified manor house than a typical border castle, the grounds are quite small but there was a reasonable amount to look at within the castle and slightly unusually for an English Heritage property it did have a café by the car park where I took a break before continuing home though Cleobury Mortimer.

Nothing new or innovative about the route that I had taken, but I had put a few miles on the new rear tyre and it is always a good ride out there.