…unlike cage drivers, us motorcyclist do not have (well we do, but…) a place to hang the ticket from our rear view mirror stem.
Instead we get presented with our ticket, and two strips of sellotape. Fair doos if:
@Wapping seem have pioneered the idea of attaching the ticket with a (first iteration from memory) household laundry peg.
These however in my experience generally have not got strong enough spring nor have deep enough jaw to keep hold of the fairly large piece of paper that is a ticket and thus are prone to pinging off into the path of a vehicle that happens to be driving along side of you, at the slightest of bumps being ridden over.
Wapping’ latest (second iteration) idea, is to use a peg stile woodworking clamp(s). These are fairly cheap, come in a set of multiples of 2, 4, or 6 and are available from any DIY or popular hardware stores, large online retailer or that auction site.
On his recent trip to northern France, he indeed used three (yes 3 of them) one for holding a ticket, the other to hold his passport between the border checkpoints. The third (here assuming) is to hold his gloves whilst traversing the no-man’ land between said checkpoints.
These clamps will have a far superior jaw depth, easier to operate with or without gloves on or indeed cold and wet hands, not least as these quite possibly have a fair bit stronger spring to by default.
But even with a single clamp, the clamping pad (orange bits) is only a bit of indented/textured plastic, are fairly small, and possibly prone to being easily knocked or affected by airflow/wind, thus resulting in uneasy and potentially distracting ticket shifting whilst riding a motorcycle about the port/terminal grounds, with number of likeminded travellers surrounding you, the concentration should be focused on riding, and not on a ticket slipping away in slow motion.
As mentioned earlier Wapping has had (yes had) three of these clamps linked with a bit of cord.
He has indeed since binned the idea, upon returning from his jaunt.
I am assuming here that having his ticket clamped to the windscreen, and having a hefty pair of gloves and a passport dangling on the opposite end, may have resulted in rotation and a much faster clamp removal from the windscreen. I am after all assuming here, so the man himself will have to confirm so, should he wished too.
Now then, here it the best bit.
I have by a sheer accident come up with a far superior solution
, thanks to my dear darling wife.
A few years ago, she had purchased some ankle boots, from one of the high street retailers. These did come linked together with one of these rather wrong and reinforced ‘pegs’. So I’ve seized the opportunity to keep it. With her being rather curious as to why?
It is a peg of sorts, that has two sets of clamping pads. It also had a plastic hook (similar to a clothes hanger), which I did cut away to minimise the overall size of the thing. In hindsight, I should’ve keept it, as the hook was made of same rigid/reinforced plastic, and would’ve been an ideal solution for hanging my (Held Air&Dry) gloves that simply link together with a strong metal popper. Hey ho.
However this isn’t the best bit about this ‘peg’, but a simple fact, that the clamping pads do have medium density rubber insets. Each being approximately 2cm x 1.5cm in size. Meaning whether your windscreen is dry or wet, or if you happen to be traveling in gale force winds, the ticket will stay put as well as not be able to rotate due to dual clamping points.
Here, I have placed a pound coin next to the rubber pad.
Here you can see the location of now carefully removed reinforced hook.
The complete ‘peg’ is around 6.5cm long x 6.5cm wide and 3.5cm high at the spreading pads. The hook would’ve been approximately 6-7cm long overall.
I have now successfully used this peg on a number of Ferry and LeShuttle crossings. I normally keep it in my tank bag, then use it during the crossing. However, there is no reason not to ring a permanent place for it, within an easy reach from the saddle.
So boys (and girls) next time you are shopping about with your other half or indeed a friend, keep an eye out on one of these
Bon voyage as they say and keep it rubber side down.
Ev
Instead we get presented with our ticket, and two strips of sellotape. Fair doos if:
- A: The day we travel on is nice and dry. We all know, that in the wet, the sellotape has as much sticky effect as would not having any in the first place.
- B: A tosser*, sat atop of his awesome steed, is actually able to reach around his wind screen to attach the thing and the sellotape that is now folded on itself, whilst flapping about in mildest of breeze.
@Wapping seem have pioneered the idea of attaching the ticket with a (first iteration from memory) household laundry peg.
These however in my experience generally have not got strong enough spring nor have deep enough jaw to keep hold of the fairly large piece of paper that is a ticket and thus are prone to pinging off into the path of a vehicle that happens to be driving along side of you, at the slightest of bumps being ridden over.
Wapping’ latest (second iteration) idea, is to use a peg stile woodworking clamp(s). These are fairly cheap, come in a set of multiples of 2, 4, or 6 and are available from any DIY or popular hardware stores, large online retailer or that auction site.
On his recent trip to northern France, he indeed used three (yes 3 of them) one for holding a ticket, the other to hold his passport between the border checkpoints. The third (here assuming) is to hold his gloves whilst traversing the no-man’ land between said checkpoints.
These clamps will have a far superior jaw depth, easier to operate with or without gloves on or indeed cold and wet hands, not least as these quite possibly have a fair bit stronger spring to by default.
But even with a single clamp, the clamping pad (orange bits) is only a bit of indented/textured plastic, are fairly small, and possibly prone to being easily knocked or affected by airflow/wind, thus resulting in uneasy and potentially distracting ticket shifting whilst riding a motorcycle about the port/terminal grounds, with number of likeminded travellers surrounding you, the concentration should be focused on riding, and not on a ticket slipping away in slow motion.
As mentioned earlier Wapping has had (yes had) three of these clamps linked with a bit of cord.
He has indeed since binned the idea, upon returning from his jaunt.
I am assuming here that having his ticket clamped to the windscreen, and having a hefty pair of gloves and a passport dangling on the opposite end, may have resulted in rotation and a much faster clamp removal from the windscreen. I am after all assuming here, so the man himself will have to confirm so, should he wished too.
Now then, here it the best bit.
I have by a sheer accident come up with a far superior solution
, thanks to my dear darling wife.A few years ago, she had purchased some ankle boots, from one of the high street retailers. These did come linked together with one of these rather wrong and reinforced ‘pegs’. So I’ve seized the opportunity to keep it. With her being rather curious as to why?
It is a peg of sorts, that has two sets of clamping pads. It also had a plastic hook (similar to a clothes hanger), which I did cut away to minimise the overall size of the thing. In hindsight, I should’ve keept it, as the hook was made of same rigid/reinforced plastic, and would’ve been an ideal solution for hanging my (Held Air&Dry) gloves that simply link together with a strong metal popper. Hey ho.
However this isn’t the best bit about this ‘peg’, but a simple fact, that the clamping pads do have medium density rubber insets. Each being approximately 2cm x 1.5cm in size. Meaning whether your windscreen is dry or wet, or if you happen to be traveling in gale force winds, the ticket will stay put as well as not be able to rotate due to dual clamping points.
Here, I have placed a pound coin next to the rubber pad.
Here you can see the location of now carefully removed reinforced hook.
The complete ‘peg’ is around 6.5cm long x 6.5cm wide and 3.5cm high at the spreading pads. The hook would’ve been approximately 6-7cm long overall.
I have now successfully used this peg on a number of Ferry and LeShuttle crossings. I normally keep it in my tank bag, then use it during the crossing. However, there is no reason not to ring a permanent place for it, within an easy reach from the saddle.
So boys (and girls) next time you are shopping about with your other half or indeed a friend, keep an eye out on one of these
Bon voyage as they say and keep it rubber side down.
Ev
Last edited:
Ouch, would be a tad to scratch for my tinted windscreen.
for all I care, you may wish to stuff your ticket thingy down your builders crack 
.
, so be warned and watch your mirrors.
