Had a smashing ride

[Itsme]

Hi all

I had a day off work yesterday so took the Mighty Midget out for a ride around Derbyshire. Started at the Woodside Cafe on the Via Gellia from Cromford to Newhaven. Great brekkie for a fiver. Then went to Hartington Station on the Tissington Trail and walked to Parsley Hay and back, a 4 mile round trip on easy paths. After that I went round the back lanes to the Yondermann Cafe in Wardlow for a cuppa and had a lovely chat with an old boy who has been riding since 1960 and last year bought himself a new Honda Monkeybike which he loves, 185 mpg! Then home via Bakewell and Matlock Bath for another, well deserved, cuppa.

One of those perfect days when I realise how lucky I am to ride a bike and live in such a lovely country. The Mighty Midget performed faultlessly and didn't cost the earth to go out on for the day.  I saw a really nice Velo, a Ducati 450 Desmo and a Ducati 750 twin as well as a load of other bikes out having fun. I just feel sorry for my mate who decided there was too much salt on the roads for him to bring his Harley out for the day! I bless the fact that my cosmetically challenged, cheap thumper isn't so soft.

Spartacian

[Moto63]

Great little story Ian. Really getting me fired up and in the mood.
Salt!!!!! I laugh in the face of salt. I’m defo out on Sunday on my shiny new trident. Salt or no salt. At the end of the day you can wash it, granted it takes a bit longer if it’s covered in salt but can still be wash off. It’s never stopped me from getting out and it’s not going to stop me now. 😉
Cheers, Michael

[iansoady]

Sounds great. I haven't seen any salt at all in sunny Worcestershire (other than at Droitwich of course).

[mthee]

If Carlsberg made great days out!😁👍Thanks for posting.

[spooky]

I had a smashing ride out as well today,  (actually i do most days !! ) only 30 miles but was out 2 hours, narrow roads and in the main all potholes, i did find one bit of fresh tarmac though, i was so surprised i had to take a photo ! Stopped at cafe in Penpont for coffee and cake , also 2 cherry scones for later, ie now....

[themoudie]

Looking good Rufus!

We had a canter today of 90 miles in glorious sunshine, with snow on the tops and muirburn creating great plumes of reek!

Kat was out for the first time since breaking ribs in October, on the "Boy Bros".    However, I nearly lost her on the way home, as she was leading about a quarter of a mile in front of me, on the 'Duke'. Round an open, quick corner at ~50mph ( quick for Kat) only to be faced with a Golf on her side of the road overtaking a tractor, with a 13 tonne excavator on a low-loader, followed by a large motorhome, luckily not making the same manouvre!    Kat took the Bros into the gutter, opened the throttle and squeezed through. I came round the corner at 60mph as the Golf tried to find it's correct side of the road and still had 2' of car on my side of the carriageway to negotiate, whilst the motorhome was indicating to follow the Golf!

Made it home in one piece and made a veggie curry, whilst Kat had a strong mug of sweet tea and a knap to restore her nerves.

Grand to be out, but watch out for the "Grockles", "Zwiebelköpfe" and "Dick cinn"!

Good health, Bill

[Ian]

Bl00dy hell Bill you seem to have more than your fair share of lesser brained tin can 4wheeled operatives round your neck of the woods. So glad you both managed to get back to base relatively unscathed 👍🏍?👍

[mthee]

the "Boy Bros".

Does your good lady fancy going faster, Bill? 😁

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-bros-750-engined-special-650-400-ultimate-bros-cafe-racer-/165357535259?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

[themoudie]

Behind me Satan! 

There have been discussions!    In fact we talked about it whilst eating the curry! But we are thinking that for the good of our health it might be best not to go there. I have to admit that something like it has been discussed and mulled over for many years now, as Kat has had the Bros since 1997 and put over 100,000 miles under the wheels.

I will post an image for info! 

Thank you and good health, Bill

[mthee]

A lot of bike for the asking price!?
Part of me wishes I could "unsee" it. The other part wishes I could successfully retract my promise to the missus to slow down. Hmmmm.... W650 in the for sale section 😁

[Moto63]

Yep, that certainly looks like a proper scratching tool..... go on Matt, you know you want it. If fact no. You know you NEED it 😁😉🤘
Name withheld to protect the innocent 😇

[xbally]

That looks to be be some tool. If only I was 10 years younger............

[Itsme]

This is why I like the Thumper Club so much, lots of riders interested in strange old bikes (and some new ones too) out having great rides and telling interesting stories. It is a brilliant antidote to the get it out in summer (oooeer missus) polish it and make sure everyone knows how expensive it was brigade that come out at this time of year.

Bill I am glad you survived the latest incident but fear they are getting more common. I ride lots of smaller roads and regularly meet cars, mostly 4x4s, infringing on my side of the road because they're too damn big for the tiny lanes. And they drive too fast for the conditions. I find that screaming at them in my open face helmet gives them the shock of their lives, they wonder if they are about to be attacked by a mad man.

I won't stop riding the lanes as I enjoy them so much but I wouldn't want to do so on anything bigger than the Mighty Midget as I know that if push came to shove I could ride it up the roadside verge and out of harms way.

Keep riding folks and see you around.

Spartacian