Weathers kinda nice - time to ride!

[SteveT]

Dear diary,

Day 5 of 2025 and still not ridden my bike! Anything that isn’t a trunk road is still white & frosty, leading to many slides whilst dog walking.

Giving consideration to getting togged up (including helmet) and just sitting on the bike in the garage, just to keep the muscle memory intact. May hold back on the “brmmm, brmmm” noises though .

Me, getting withdrawal symptoms . . . probably

 

[mspenz]

Dear diary,

Day 5 of 2025 and still not ridden my bike! Anything that isn’t a trunk road is still white & frosty, leading to many slides whilst dog walking.

Giving consideration to getting togged up (including helmet) and just sitting on the bike in the garage, just to keep the muscle memory intact. May hold back on the “brmmm, brmmm” noises though .

Me, getting withdrawal symptoms . . . probably

Get yourself an emtb, not the same but it will get you out on trails...I'm not old enough for one yet

 

[The Stimulator]

Well it’s taken a while this year, but finally got out on the bike yesterday. Not a long trip, but a decent few hours nonetheless. Must admit that once you’ve had a quick look around it for safety, modern bikes seem to make that first trip post winter much easier, as you just get on and everything falls to hand and works as it should. You can just concentrate on your riding then.

 

[Coppertop]

Lovely day for a ride down in the Borders today.

 

[Boxerboy55]

Was today the warmest day of the year? I saw 14 degrees before it clouded over and dropped to 11.

I'll admit it took more than one press of the Start button after nearly 7 months of silent hibernation.

The 10 year old battery didn't embarrass me (has never been removed).

Just a wee spin of 80 miles up Glen Devon past Gleneagles. And back home again.

Haven't lost the touch


AND - my day has just been spoiled by Falkirk Council announcing a rise of 15.6% on our Council Tax. Bastids!

 

[Coppertop]

Was today the warmest day of the year? I saw 14 degrees before it clouded over and dropped to 11.

I'll admit it took more than one press of the Start button after nearly 7 months of silent hibernation.

The 10 year old battery didn't embarrass me (has never been removed).

Just a wee spin of 80 miles up Glen Devon past Gleneagles. And back home again.

Haven't lost the touch


AND - my day has just been spoiled by Falkirk Council announcing a rise of 15.6% on our Council Tax. Bastids!

View attachment 390640View attachment 390641

Had to have been, it was lovely riding and not worrying about sliding down the road when leaning. Wish I didn't read your post now re the council tax rise.

 

[Hut van]

Monday wasn’t a bad day either, my first ride out to Anstruther, told the wife I’d be back in an hour, 4 hours later I had covered most of east Fife.

 

[gerarddwatts]

Was today the warmest day of the year? I saw 14 degrees before it clouded over and dropped to 11.

I'll admit it took more than one press of the Start button after nearly 7 months of silent hibernation.

The 10 year old battery didn't embarrass me (has never been removed).

Just a wee spin of 80 miles up Glen Devon past Gleneagles. And back home again.

Haven't lost the touch


AND - my day has just been spoiled by Falkirk Council announcing a rise of 15.6% on our Council Tax. Bastids!

View attachment 390640View attachment 390641

'Kinell...thought mine was bad at 11%...hoors of hell...

 

[bdastu]

I think they're all gearing up for the election next year. Council tax freeze anyone.......

 

[Boxerboy55]

With sun promised for the weekend, I set off for a longer jaunt. 100 to 200 miles.

Was aiming for Selkirk - Moffat - Elvanfoot - Sanquhar - Dalmellington, but a road closure on the A702 at Elvanfoot saw me meandering through Wanlockhead to the A76. Very scenic.

I decided to head south and go sprint up the A702 and enjoy the closed road to myself.

However, the bike started handling like a pogo stick and I found that the rear shock had dumped all the oil all over the rear wheel and the tarmac.

I guess the poor state of the road between Selkirk and Moffat - with one huge pothole that caught me out with a huge crash on the front wheel - wasn’t doing me any favours.

With over a hundred miles to home I simply dialled my cruise speed down to a docile 50 and I crawled home in 1 piece. 200+ miles.

Now got some cleaning and fixing ahead.

When I put the bike on centre stand in garage I found that the wheel has dropped onto the floor.

Hopefully the Maxton shock can be rebuilt ok.

 

[jags]

Monday wasn’t a bad day either, my first ride out to Anstruther, told the wife I’d be back in an hour, 4 hours later I had covered most of east Fife.

did she go in a huff for 2days? damhik.

 

[younger06]

Took my RS out for a nice 150kms or so.....first time out since the latter half of December.

It's been so long......I'd forgotten how to reset my trip.

Beautiful day for it over here in Kildare/Wicklow.

Huge amount of bikes out (and also a huge amount of Federalez)

 

[Hut van]

did she go in a huff for 2days? damhik.

No, not this time, it wore off after another couple of hours

 

[SteveT]

Thought I'd best pop up some piccies since its been a while since I did.

From last weekends bimble to Dunkeld for a brew & a blether . . .

And from todays 1st visit to the west coast . . .

SteveT

 

[jags]

thanks for the photos steve, great for those of us who don't get out much.

 

[MAR.600]

1st run of the year , up Tyndrum ,Glencoe, Appin, Inveraray back home.
Weather sunny but chilly. .

 

[The Stimulator]

Got another wee run out yesterday; decided it had been a while since I went to Skye, so trundled off early in the morning to do a circuit of the island (I had intended to run through Dunvegan and the west coast as well, but time was moving on to fast). Lovely day, but I’d forgotten how long it would take. I’d also forgotten just how much of a rip-off merchant the guy who owns the Gulf garage at the Kyle is. 169.9 for unleaded, compared to 139.9 if you can do the extra dozen miles to Asda in Broadford. Cracking fish supper in Uig for lunch. Unfortunately only 2 quick photo stops, as I had some miles to cover. For anyone wondering if the 1300GS is comfortable enough this kind of distance, I can still walk this morning

 

[SteveT]

That is a long days ride that is Ian. Not done the same route as you but one nearly as long to & from the island.

Looking at the odo on your steed, you appear to have "bonded" quite weill with it

 

[SteveT]

Latest addition to the man cave . . .

And some photos from yesterdays wander with a pal on the trusty F8GS . . .

SteveT

 

[The Stimulator]

Cracking day out today, not as long as the last one, but a good ride over the Lecht to meet an old friend at Glenshee for lunch, then back through Deeside and Strathdon towards the coast at Portsoy. Roads quite busy, and obviously many bikers had the day off work.