Weekend debrief

[Andy M]

I did it, I actually got some bike activity in!

Friday I changed the Bonnevilles oil. What a joy to work on, filler out, drain out, filter off, reverse and fill. The whole job takes about 10 minutes, you press button, the oil light goes off and 5 minutes after you stop it you have oil in the centre of the sight glass. After years of Rotax engines with silly paper filters under O-ringed covers and external oil tanks that air lock, the Triumph is great.

Sunday I went to a Guzzi Club get together at Squires cafe, Sherburn. They seem like fun and it was great riding weather, me buzzing along behind my dads Nevada. The new Breva's look good but I'd still want to see one with 30K on the clock and no electrical hassles before I'd consider buying. Seems the idiots at MCN got Melinda Messenger to write the review which cost them a few more readers and nearly started a riot. Pointing out to a Kawaski 600 rider they'd just passed that they'd rather ride an old womans bike than ride like an old woman wasn't the most diplomatic thing I've ever seen!

Andy

[guest7]

I did manage to go into one of my garages and look at a bike this weekend, which is more than I usually manage. A brake fettling session is planned for next weekend, I need to get the outfit ready for the Dragon.

I had a good Saturday evening in the pub with Jethro, Julian and Rob and then on Sunday morning we all met up again at Rob's for a full breakfast. Rob has got my old GB400 looking lovely and it should shortly be on the road.

So there was some good biking chat this weekend, if not any actual biking.
GC

[squirrelciv]

Spent Saturday morning amusing No1 son and the afternoon working on a project for a family friend. Sunday spent with No2 son at football and was supposed to play tennis in a ladder match in the afternoon. Disaster struck in the first game when I put my back out and I'm home today in considerable discomfort after a sleepless night :-( Can't see me getting to work for a few days, as i've lost the use of one leg and will never get on the bike. Sulking big time, and to top it off I've finished my book so have little to do except type here or watch daytime TV (arrrghh!)

[guest7]

(snip) and to top it off I've finished my book so have little to do except type here or watch daytime TV (arrrghh!)

I can't get my head around this one book left to read thing... I'm at the other end of the scale where I am normally reading two to three books at the same time (I'll pick up whichever is closest when I get a chance to read) and there must be about 10 books here waiting to be read.

I suspect that Pat's approach is the better of the two.

It will give you some idea of my book buying habits when I tell you that every time I go into the bookshop I use, they make me a cup of tea.

GC

[Andy M]

I can combine the two approaches. Yes I have at least 2 books on the go, but I can also read one in about 3 hours when I get going. I'm currently rationing the ones I got for Christmas so i've got one left for the Ferry next week. It's that or buy shares in Amazon!

Sorry to hear abour your back Pat, hope you are up and about soon.

Andy

[squirrelciv]

Cheers AndyM. While we're on the subject of books, anyone got any reccomodations apart from the obvious??? Tend to prefer travel with a bite, or historical exploration, something that shows us how pathetic we all are nowadays. Motorbike chucked in there for good measure wouldn't go amiss either:-) Still got my Borders vouchers I had for Christmas to use.

[Steve H]

I take it youve read Jupiter Travels.

[squirrelciv]

I take it youve read Jupiter Travels.

Yep, and zen and the long way round(yawn!) Done Shipton and Hillary as well as touching the void too. Was thinking of something about Sir(?) Randolf fiennes (spell?) Looks like I'll have plenty of time to read too. Took myself to a chiropractor and got some very very bad news indeed. Hip is dislocated and I've popped a disc, possibly two. Things are such a mess, she couldn't do any manipulation and it's ice, ice and more ice to get the swelling down. Off work for at least a week, and banned from riding the bike for at least two :-( which probably means two weeks away from work as the bike is the only form of transport. I think the expression is piss, pants poo! Anyone around during the day are welcome to visit and make me tea :-)
Heyho, keep smiling :-)

[guest18]

Hi Guys,
Sorry to hear about your back Pat, you should read "Shadow Divers", it's a bit fawning about one of the main characters but it is a 90+% true account of the finding and discovery of a German U-Boat off the American coast in the early nineties.
It's got history, adventure and unfortunately death too(!) Not a "classic" but very much worth a read (and readable for non divers as well before anyone asks ;-))

[themoudie]

This doesn't sound good Pat, I hope the Captain Birds Eye peas work quickly so that the 'gentle' manipulation can commence sooner rather than later.

Whilst not being an expert or having any MD qualifications, may I suggest you start getting some homeopathic Arnica tablets to the power of 6 down yoiur neck and apply arnica cream to the bruised areas. It'll help get rid of the bruising.

Andy230 may also have a suggestion or two.

As for reading matter, try these three.

1.  Flying Minnows [Memoirs of a World War I fighter pilot, from training in Canada to the Front Line, 1917 -1918] "Roger Vee" (Vivian Voss), Arms and Armour Press 1977. ISBN 0 85368 121 X.  I can see there being a run on this by all the would be Boys Own Paper, Brylcreem Boys and written in fine 'What ho?' style.

2. The Not so Little Book of Dung, Caroline Holmes, Sutton Publishing 2006, ISBN 0 7509 4051 4. It is what it says on the cover, written in an easy factual style, yet talking about "scatology" and "coprophilia"! Yep, 002 and SteveL, lavatorial!

3. The Old Patagonian Express, Paul Theroux, Penguin, ISBN 0 140 24979 6. Travelogue written in a slightly 'novelesc' style by a novelist. Boston to the end of the railway in Argentinian Patagonia. Still reading this and a bit slow to start. Right up your street Pat.

Oh, more work on the "Minx" and firewood to keep the stoves happy. Someone filled a skip at work with stud work 2x2, facings etc, toasty!

Chill, Bill

[Bruce]

Yes I have read that book its quite something.

[Steve Lake]

'won' an srx600 barrel and crankcase on Ebay.....which means the track bike (which andy230 might be using) can get fixed, thats about it for bike stuff, rest of time spent in the age old labour of hedge laying......must remember to not give up the day job!

Pat......just finished reading 'Brunel, the man who built the world'...............bloody good read (and plenty of pictures, so you'll be ok), seriously.....what a man, died in his 50's and such a legacy of fantastic works......anyway......give it a go

[guest27]

Books - dont talk to me about books - SWMBO cannot pass a book shop without spending two weeks food money.  Still we have some wonderful books and No1 son who is 5 in March can read pretty well - so soome good.  (Oh and I love books too)

Suggestions - anything by Ranulph Finnes or his oppo Mike Stroud are good reading, Chuck Yeager's autobiog is something to behold - holds the record for the longest out of control spin - 100,000+ feet to shhhiiiiiiiittttt inches.

Richard Bach's "Biplane" and "A gift of wings" are not well written but give some idea of 3D motorcycling - he was a barnstormer in the US west post Vietnam.  "A Bridge across forever is pretty poorly written too - but the sections on crashing a P45 Mustang (is that right) is pretty good.

R

[squirrelciv]

Cheers for the suggestions guys :-) I'll let you know what I get.

[GB500nz]

I've got a weird back, and after abusing it I found that hanging from a trapeze was very good. Once I could stand it, a few flexi swings straighten out the bones and let fluids get back in there. Check with a doctor (NOT a chiropractor) first though. My back's weird because a well-meaning chiropractor damaged it while attempting to cure my asthma.