Random rides

[Rynglieder]

A bit of a post-script to the run to Sharpness and Purton:

All four of my bikes were due MOTs in December, three passed without problems but the Z1000 failed due to a buckled front wheel. It was something that I had failed to notice myself, but as soon as it was pointed out to me the memory of hitting something in the road surfaced like an unexpected tax demand.

That little run has turned out to be expensive, a new front wheel is coming out at £700 

[O.C.]

There are some on fleabay, which may be suitable

[Rynglieder]

Cheers OC.

I'm looking on Ebay every 2-3 days but I haven't seen a decent front yet in the pattern I need.

There are plenty of rears available, I suppose I am just going to have to wait until some careless Z1000 owner backs into something at high speed.

[Rynglieder]

Monday 22/06/2020 Guys Cliffe & Kenilworth (79 miles)

Following on from the last problematical run on the GSX I had pulled the battery out and had it tested, the result came back OK so it was dropped back into the bike and I decided to venture out on a relatively short run to see how it behaved.

There was a bit of a dull dual carriageway run to the other side of Redditch followed by some better riding out to Warwick. I've visited Warwick for work many times over the last few years and had always intended to try to find the time to investigate Guys Cliffe manor to the north of the town.

The ruin is in private hands and only open to visitors on odd occasions but the GSX was parked up next to the very attractive Saxon Mill pub where a public footpath runs alongside, past the water wheel and over the weir bridge. It is only a couple of minutes' walk from there until you draw level with Guys Cliffe House which is on the opposite bank of the Avon. Views for the camera were limited but I took a couple of shots anyway. Back to the bike and it fired up without any problems again so I took a short ride north to Kenilworth for another pause.

The return run was via Birmingham city centre as I was stupid enough to let the Zumo pick the route. That aside, it was a nice couple of hours out and whatever was upsetting the GSX last time out seems to have cleared up. Hopefully re-seating the battery and remaking the connections may have perhaps dealt with a dodgy earth. At least I feel up for taking it a bit further next time.

[O.C.]

Thanks for sharing your report and lovely accompanying pictures.

It's  really refreshing and quite exciting to think about biking in these 'dark days'.

I'm now lookingforward even more to getting  out on my bike   

[Rynglieder]

Wednesday 24/06/2020 Staffordshire Moorlands and High Peak (c. 190 miles)

I do like the Peak District but always seem to put it off as the urban West Midlands stands between me and the limestone. It was the GTR's turn out and still having a plentiful supply of time on my hands as I was not having to go to work I decided to take the plunge and took the M5 and M6 up as far as the Stafford North Junction to clear the sprawl.

From there the proper part of the ride started and I followed the A34 up to Stone where I could take the A520 for Leek; A ride though the Staffordshire moorlands is always a pleasure.

Having passed through Leek it had been my intention to do a slight detour at Upper Hulme to take in the view from The Roaches, but somehow I missed my turn and having decided the GTR was too big a lump to spin round in the lane I aborted it until the next time I was going that way.

I was more than happy to be on the GTR on the main roads though with views of moorland hill to the front and sides. First proper stop was just on the southern outskirts of Buxton where I parked up at Lower Grin car park and locked up my lid in the cases in preparation for a bit of a walk.

From the car park there is a path leading up one of the hills above Buxton (as usual a bit of a trek with the bike gear on as I had chosen yet another warm sunny day). After passing a cratered landscape formed by old quarry workings which nature has taken the trouble to grass over I eventually reached Soloman's Temple – a folly constructed in 1896 that looks something like a carelessly misplaced castle tower. After the customary smoke and photos I trudged back down to the bike – much easier going down than up. 

Next up was bludgeoning my way through Buxton and taking the A6 for as short while before turning off at Dove Holes for Castleton & the Hope Valley which is a beautiful ride, only spoiled by an excess of other people who are also out to enjoy it and consequently getting in my way.

Turning north, my ride dropped me down at the southern edge of the Ladybower Reservoir and then along its northern arm where I reached the Upper Derwent Visitor centre. This was my ultimate destination for the day and at least provided a coffee and toilet break even if there were not any decent views from there for the camera without engaging in another excessively hot walk. There's no denying it, I'm getting lazy...

On remounting the bike I decided I was not really done with my ride out, so added a little loop to my return journey which took me over the A57 Snake Pass, a road that I had not travelled for ages and felt the urge to ride again. Once I had dropped into Glossop I turned back in the direction of Leek on the A624 to enjoy a different set of views and then from Leek back the way I came.

All in all a good day out, the GTR, the scenery and the roads were a perfect match – a proper day's entertainment for twenty quid's worth of fuel.

[Lonewolf]

Sounds like you still had a cracking day out despite missing your turn to The Roaches. Good photos too, when did you manage to get out of the bike?

[Rynglieder]

Sounds like you still had a cracking day out despite missing your turn to The Roaches. Good photos too, when did you manage to get out of the bike?

As per the haeder that was back in June - due to the problems we were all having with posting last yaer I have a bit of a backlog of "Random rides" that I may post up (plus a trip to Scotland that may be familiar to you  )

Perhaps I should let them lie, but there again a bit of traffic on the forum during these quiet times is perhaps not a bad thing?

[Rynglieder]

29/03/2021 Edvin Loach Old Church, Bromyard (c. 65 miles)

The Covid shackles have been eased a bit and the weather was good enough to pull a bike out. I'm unsure what "stay local" means exactly, but as I have been as far north as Norway, East as Croatia and South as Spain on bikes I reckon Herefordshire is pretty local. I decided to take the GSX out and save the GTR for a longer run, the other two bikes are both on SORN at the moment.

Just 65 miles around familiar roads to start off, it's been 6 months since my last decent ride so I thought I should ease myself in. Destination was Edvin Loach Old Church which is a small unstaffed English Heritage site with unrestricted access so no advance booking, social distancing or crowds to worry about. The church is a ruin, last used around 1860 when the new church was built adjacent – there was not much to look at but as always it is the ride out that counts.

Return home was via Bromyard and Worcester. It was good to be out again, I'm just watching the forecast for the next opportunity.

More photos in the usual place:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/rynglieder/albums/72157718810245646

[Lonewolf]

It does the heart and soul good to get out doesn't it? A respectable little ride and some very nice photos. I do like the GSX 1400, I used to own an XJR 1300 which I think is from the same era, mine was a Y prefix, 2001, twas a very nice naked bike and I had some great rides on it. 

All being well I shall be out on the bike tomorrow, the drone is in need of a good flight too so that will be accompanying me.

[Rynglieder]

31/03/2021 St Briavels, Forest of Dean (c. 138 miles)

Another nice day on the cards so it was time to pull out the GTR. Like most Englishmen I am currently banned from Wales but there was a bit of scope to flirt with the border.

My ride took me down the A38 through Worcester, Tewksbury and onward toward Gloucester. Aside from the couple of town / city centres this is a nice road to exercise the bike on as it was once the main artery between the midlands and south-west, before someone hit upon the idea of building the M5. It is therefore fairly wide and free flowing without too many hazards and has the bulk of the Malverns as a backdrop to the west and the Cotswolds rising to the east.

Once at the Gloucester bypass I swung onto the A48 and ran along the west bank of the River Severn. This is not a road I have used that often as when I am going the Forest of Dean or Chepstow I would normally go via Monmouth and the Wye Valley but the border restrictions at least gave me a chance to take a less familiar road. It turned out quite an enjoyable ride and I must factor it in again for a future run.

There was a brief stop in Lydney to feed the inner man before climbing up into the hills that form the Forest of Dean and then some B Roads into my planned destination of St Briavels. This small border town has a castle which in more normal times serves as a Youth Hostel although in these Covid days it is of course closed. I took a quiet walk around the moat and a few snaps with the camera before embarking on the return journey.

I managed to remain in England through the Forest of Dean taking in Coleford and Ross on Wye and then continuing north through Ledbury before climbing the Malverns. There was another brief break from the bike in Great Malvern where I parked up the bike to take a look at the exterior of Malvern Priory. I seem to have a lot of photos of ruined abbeys and priories in my photo collection, it is a bit of a change to see one with the roof still on.

In not much more than an hour I was back through Worcester and home again.

Additional photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/rynglieder/albums/72157718520005184

[GLA55Y]

It does the heart and soul good to get out doesn't it? A respectable little ride and some very nice photos. I do like the GSX 1400, I used to own an XJR 1300 which I think is from the same era, mine was a Y prefix, 2001, twas a very nice naked bike and I had some great rides on it.

All being well I shall be out on the bike tomorrow, the drone is in need of a good flight too so that will be accompanying me.

Did you get the drone up ?

[Lonewolf]

Did you get the drone up ?

But of course. You've seen the video haven't you, is your first name Mick?

[GLA55Y]

Not sure if I've seen it.
Yes it's Mick.

[Lonewolf]

Not sure if I've seen it.
Yes it's Mick.

This one


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NU-QqYnMQM