New Years Day Ride

[Bengt_Phorqs]

For some of us that live in a temperate clime we can usually ride year around.  Monte Miller and I are going to take a ride New Years Day to find some BBQ and begin the new year.  How many of you will try to take a ride, even if it's just around the block?

[Barry]

After 8 days without a ride I was getting withdrawl sysmtoms so we went out yesterday and did 14 miles before it got too cold. Ran out of fuel 3 miles from home and had to lift the tank off and tip it up to get the emergency reserve from the right side. My wife thinks I run out on purpose and wasn't amused. I could have made the excuse that the extra weight might have increased fuel consumption but I don't think that would have helped me any.

On new years day I have house guests but I'll try.  I have an invite to a meet at Wetton Mill in Derbyshire. On the way there is a 164 yard long tunnel to ride through. You can imagine that the bikers let rip just for the noise. It's a very erie experience as the tunnel is so narrow it feels like it's closing in on you and you better not meet something coming the otherway as there is hardly room for even two bikes to pass.

[Bengt_Phorqs]

I could have made the excuse that the extra weight might have increased fuel consumption but I don't think that would have helped me any.  

Good call on that one Barry!  That is quite a narrow tunnel.  The only thing about driving in the UK I find unsettling is that so many of the roads and lanes do not have a shoulder in the event of a mechanical problem, or in your case running out of gas.  But at my age, running out of gas often has a different connotation.  Hope you get to ride on the day!

[marcmax]

The local BMW club, BMWNEFL, has a New Years Day ride every year affectionately called the "Penguin Lunch Ride". Usually has 40 -50 people show up.The ride usually breaks up into a group of GS riders, a group of oilhead riders, and a small group of airheads (guess who I'll be riding with).

://www.bmwnef.org/Penguin_2014.pdf

[Bob_Roller]

I get my New Year's day ride in the form of my commute to work .

This year, 0330, start work at 0400 .

I usually see at least one single vehicle ' incident ' still steaming with no driver anywhere to be seen !!!!

I'll be riding the Guzzi this year, finally have gotten most of the 'bugs' worked out of it .

The installation of the aftermarket headlight harness has allowed me to operate the bike in night conditions again .

[Ed Miller]

The Beemershop still has my cylinder heads.  I cut trees down and started clearing out an old skid road on my place.  Today I hurt.  

[Lucky_Lou]

an invite to a meet at Wetton Mill in Derbyshire. On the way there is a 164 yard long tunnel to ride through. You can imagine that the bikers let rip just for the noise. It's a very erie experience as the tunnel is so narrow it feels like it's closing in on you and you better not meet something coming the otherway as there is hardly room for even two bikes to pass.

Is that the one in the "Manifold Valley" there is a café near by and some caves on the hillside overlooking it the caves were rumoured to be one of Robin Hoods hide outs. I went on a "Gabfest" BMW meet with Steve The Rev Light.
Lou
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?hl=en&biw=1366&bih=542&tbm=isch&tbnid=IsYEYOHumr9c9M:&imgrefurl=http://www.beenthere-donethat.org.uk/derbyshire/manifoldvalley06big.html&docid=mwr54ddlWhLunM&imgurl=http://www.beenthere-donethat.org.uk/images.big/manifoldvalley06big.jpg&w=855&h=641&ei=NsDFUvT_BcWShQfN44GAAg&zoom=1&ved=1t:3588,r:4,s:0,i:95&iact=rc&page=1&tbnh=194&tbnw=259&start=0&ndsp=13&tx=111&ty=74
https://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1366&bih=542&q=manifold+valley&oq=manifold+v&gs_l=img.1.1.0l10.4337.13196.0.15840.10.8.0.2.2.0.282.1437.1j4j3.8.0....0...1ac.1.32.img..0.10.1466.GsWNMrTBBEY#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=1-lBtZiByxDEzM%3A%3B73RGuCGiMx-6cM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fstatic.guim.co.uk%252Fsys-images%252FTravel%252FPix%252Fpictures%252F2012%252F5%252F3%252F1336058273998%252FManifold-valley-walk-grap-001.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.theguardian.com%252Ftravel%252F2012%252Fmay%252F12%252Fmanifold-valley-staffordshire%3B220%3B255

[marcmax]

I haven't had a chance to get a ride in yet. Woke up New Years Day to a steady downpour from a weather front moving through. I don't mind getting caught out on the road in the rain. I do have a hard time leaving a warm, dry garage when it is a frog strangler outside.

Instead I spent the time in the garage mounting the new tires my children gave me as a Christmas gift. I also mounted a small voltmeter that has been in my "junk box" since my Miata days. Made a little case and stuck it by the speedo.

Weather is supposed to be clear tomorrow but temps in the high 20* to low 30*. Time to bundle up and get out of the house.

[Motu]

I rode down to see some friends in Taranaki on New Years Eve, and came back on the 2nd...I didn't want to be on the road New Years Day as most places are closed.  Catch up time on New Years Day anyway.  I took all the back roads and turned a sub 4 hr ride into a 9 hr epic, both ways.  On The forgotten World Highway we go through a tunnel, this is the R65 on the way down.



And on the way back.



I posted these on my revisited thread.

[Motu]

I got schooled, big time !!!  Remote country, lots and lots and lots of corners, and the road goes over 4 saddles, seriously good motorcycle roads.   I stopped for a beer at the Whangamomona pub, told myself to just enjoy myself and don't do anything stupid.  Did the Whangamomona saddle, then at the beginning of the Pohokura saddle, coming out of a 2nd gear corner into the redline, an Airhead went the other way. I smiled to myself and thought he'll wonder just what the hell he saw and heard....over the other side and he's right up my arse  - he's come to see what the hell it is!

I've been on the road for 8 hrs, done over 350km of tough roads...and just had a beer - this is no time to engage in a duel.  He sat on my tail for awhile, and then just sailed past - everyone has heard the tail of someone riding fast, and a BMW reels them in and just walks away...now it's happening to me, and I'm on a BMW!  He obviously knows the road, and what's more, he's just come the other way a few minutes ago.  I can just stay with him on the line of sight corners and corner exits, but it's corner entry where I lose time, I just can't come into blind corners as fast as he does - push it any harder and there will be a big mess.   He lets me catch up a couple of times, and just before the Strathmore saddle he puts the hammer down and disappears.

As I expected he's at the top of the saddle waiting for me, I said ''I thought you'd have made me a cup of tea by now!''   Some old guy about my age, on an R80 Mono, practically the same bike as mine.  He bought an R65 new in 1987, has owned several and probably mine.  He thinks the R65 Mono is the sweetest Airhead engine, contrary to what we hear on the internet, but then the R65 Mono is not common in the US where most of the internet experts come from.

Schooled by practically the same bike as mine - but then he had superior road knowledge, and far more experience on monos than me. Great to see how fast they can move though....

[Bengt_Phorqs]

Nice ride report!  I especially liked the cup 'o tea line.  I know what you mean about corner entry.  There's a fellow I ride with that is fearless going into blind corners.  He's just that good.  When I asked him how he does it he told me "well, you paid for 100% of your tires, you might as well use all of them.  No chicken strips for him.

[Barry]

an invite to a meet at Wetton Mill in Derbyshire. On the way there is a 164 yard long tunnel to ride through. You can imagine that the bikers let rip just for the noise. It's a very erie experience as the tunnel is so narrow it feels like it's closing in on you and you better not meet something coming the otherway as there is hardly room for even two bikes to pass.

Is that the one in the "Manifold Valley" there is a café near by and some caves on the hillside overlooking it the caves were rumoured to be one of Robin Hoods hide outs. I went on a "Gabfest" BMW meet with Steve The Rev Light.
Lou
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?hl=en&biw=1366&bih=542&tbm=isch&tbnid=IsYEYOHumr9c9M:&imgrefurl=http://www.beenthere-donethat.org.uk/derbyshire/manifoldvalley06big.html&docid=mwr54ddlWhLunM&imgurl=http://www.beenthere-donethat.org.uk/images.big/manifoldvalley06big.jpg&w=855&h=641&ei=NsDFUvT_BcWShQfN44GAAg&zoom=1&ved=1t:3588,r:4,s:0,i:95&iact=rc&page=1&tbnh=194&tbnw=259&start=0&ndsp=13&tx=111&ty=74
https://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1366&bih=542&q=manifold+valley&oq=manifold+v&gs_l=img.1.1.0l10.4337.13196.0.15840.10.8.0.2.2.0.282.1437.1j4j3.8.0....0...1ac.1.32.img..0.10.1466.GsWNMrTBBEY#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=1-lBtZiByxDEzM%3A%3B73RGuCGiMx-6cM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fstatic.guim.co.uk%252Fsys-images%252FTravel%252FPix%252Fpictures%252F2012%252F5%252F3%252F1336058273998%252FManifold-valley-walk-grap-001.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.theguardian.com%252Ftravel%252F2012%252Fmay%252F12%252Fmanifold-valley-staffordshire%3B220%3B255

Yes that's the place.  It's a good ride out with some fantastic views on the way. Not normally a recommended destination at weekends as it gets too busy.  A mate of mine works mornings only so occasionally I take half a days leave and we have a ride out there on a week day afternoon.  very pleasant sat by the river with a brew.

[Ed Miller]

Nice ride report!  I especially liked the cup 'o tea line.  I know what you mean about corner entry.  There's a fellow I ride with that is fearless going into blind corners.  He's just that good.  When I asked him how he does it he told me "well, you paid for 100% of your tires, you might as well use all of them.  No chicken strips for him.

It's great fun until you come around one and there's a garbage truck parked in the other lane, and an SUV coming toward you in your own lane as he passes the garbage truck.