2011 UK Tour

[Lonewolf]

Dont know about a GPS tracker, but I can guarantee you there will be a few pics of the trip accompanied by a write up. I might even do it as I go along, I have been looking at these tiny little netbooks I think they are called. Something that small will just fit into a pannier nice and easily.

[Nygie]

Dunno what phone you have, but I have an app for the iphone called bikehub and it tracks your ride and plots it on a map and it can be shared via ~Facefook. You would need roaming data package tho!

[Lonewolf]

I have the new iPhone 4. I'm not a fan of Facebook though. What's this roaming data package thing?

[Kwikasfuki]

If you've just got you iPhone on contract you'll have a data tariff, so nothing to worry about. That app sounds good though, so well worth downloading

[Lonewolf]

Just at work at the moment cruising round in the pouring rain. I'll have a look at the app later and see what it does.

[Kwikasfuki]

I didn't realise but this heart monitor watch I purchased will log your journey via GPS and you can replay back using Google maps.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Garmin-Forerunner-305-Wrist-Worn-Personal/dp/B000FMQ296

[Rusty]

Just going through this "old" thread ... what time of year are you planning to go ? Sounds really good and the overnight stays look very welcoming ... scrambled eggs and Haggis for Brekky ? Yum Yum !

[Lonewolf]

I'm off work from the 16th to 21st June but will be away from the 17th to 20th, i.e. Friday to Monday. It's only a shortish trip, four days and three nights but it's the first trip I've done like this for well over twenty years. My other half, Mrs Wolf ain't too keen on me not coming home at the end of the day.

I'm really looking forward to it, Scotland is a beautiful location especially the bit I'm concentrating on, the West Coast. If you ever get an opportunity to go, do it!!

[Rusty]

Oh don't worry Mr Wolf ... the West coast of Scotland, and the rest of it is on my " to do list " and will get ticked off in good time !

[Bondu]

Went up to Ullapool today, don't miss this road during your trip (Inverness - Ullapool).

[Lonewolf]

Nice one! Now those are the roads I'm talking about up in Scotland. Just under three months till I go, seriously looking forward to the trip.

I like where you have your Tax disc, never seen a disc there before.

[Rusty]

Now those 2 pics are the very reason for me wanting to go to Scotland ... just lovely scenery ! Tax Disc ? Mines in the drawer at home, couldn't find anywhere decent to put it ! I know I know,,,,£200 for failing to display ......

[Kevin]

I'm sure you'll get better weather than we did over the last week. I was struggling to keep the GTR upright on the way up the A1 especially while riding slowly negotiating overturned vehicles on a couple of occasions; I was sure we were off once when a gust hit us when we were crawling along. There were two or three instances of dust blowing across the motorway and visibility was only a few feet. We then had a few days of torrential rain, hail and still high winds - we took refuge in the Invergarry Hotel (highly recommended both for the hotel itself and surrounding roads) once as the hail was almost horizontal.

It did improve a lot once we got out of Scotland. I think this is the first time ever we got to the Lake District and it stopped raining, that's usually where it starts! The last couple of days were really pleasant and sitting outside a pub on the Wrynose Pass having tea and cake in glorious sunshine after being over the Hardknott Pass twice that morning is a pleasant memory.

Having said all that it is early and last year at this time we had to abandon a Scottish trip because of snow so at least we got there this year. The roads are still mostly fabulous but they have deteriorated a lot over the Winter. Here's where we went - http://spotwalla.com/tripViewer.php?id=28ba4d94536599a23.

Kevin

[Kwikasfuki]

My tips on riding in high winds (regular occurance on my commute accross Penines)

1. Use the gyro effect and drop a few gears
2. Lean into the wind
3. Tuck elbows in and lossen grip on handlebars
4. Speed up. Again, the related to the gyro effect

I have to admit, riding slow on the GTR in high winds can be scary. I always keep in low gear and try to speed up which I find help immensely.

[Kevin]

[Nods] Yep, good tips and I do all that. I had no problems with the wind at all at speed, the problems occurred when I had to slow. This was firstly when an army jeep and trailer had gone over and I was filtering through the jam; I quickly realised that was not a sensible thing to do as the gusts of wind coming under the trucks were very unsettling given the confined space I was in and the slow speed I was riding at. The 'nearly off' incident occurred when a flat-bed truck had gone over and I was behind a VOSA car which was going slower and slower in front of me and driving diagonally to block the two outside lanes as it approached the incident. I had nowhere to go and was slowed to a crawl manoeuvring round the VOSA vehicle, the accident and a queue of trucks to my left when a huge gust of wind nearly had us over.

I learned my high-wind riding technique by trial and error during years of coming back from the Le Mans 24-hour which always seemed to involve riding at 45 degrees leaning into the wind.

Edit: I skip read and missed 1. Do you really think the gyroscopic effect of the engine will make much difference? I'd have thought the gyroscopic effect of the wheels would be much greater. (That's a genuine question in case it comes over sarcastically!)

Kevin