Weather, global warming etc etc

[guest18]

Well my friends who know these things assure me that global warming is actually a real, measurable thing now, so I was wondering if we are starting to see the effects..?

I've been riding bikes around the UK for a good few years now, in fact an educated guess puts my two wheeled experience over 200,000 miles in the last 20 years or so
(damn I feel old sometimes!)

Yet tonight on the way home I had a completely new experience... not being blown accross the road as I slowed, I've had that before in a force 10 gale I was once caught in, no, it was once I'd stopped and my bike and I were knocked over by a gust and I struggled to pick the thing up not because it was awkward but because the wind was pushing it down!!
We are not talking about up a mountain here, I was in roadworks just short of the Forth bridge. Yet I experienced tonight the strongest group of four or five gusts I've ever encountered, and my experience includes a full oceangoing force 10+ storm! (yes I was seasick enough to be completely useless, no it wasn't fun!!)

On it's own this wouldn't be *that* remarkable, unusual maybe... but... tornados in London, gales for the best part of a fortnight now, widespread flooding... all after one of the warmest summers ever recorded!?!

I wonder if this is a pattern of things to come? Blazing summers then unpredictable storms all winter! Well at least until the atlantic conveyor stops

Sobering stuff, maybe I'd better just have another dram and not worry

Smudge (stormcrow!)

ps. only damage to bike was scraped handguard and bent back brake lever (but only the unboltable bit, gotta love dirtbike technology only damage to self was an achy knee, so good result really!

[themoudie]

Aye Smudge,

Sorry to read of the 'nasty' and pleased to read that you and MZ are still servicable. Arnica for the bump and as I read, the universal cure all for all the other angst.

Bit ironic after writing tongue in cheek to 'Hackbridge' in the Army stuff thread.

Certainly quietened here and dried up over the past couple of hours. However, E. Ross is still getting hammered and has roads away from the last lot in the end of October!!

Keep chipper, Bill

[Bill Rutter]

It's not all bad news Smudge. According to the experts the "Hole in the Ozone layer" is actually healing itself and getting smaller. This is thought to be due to the end of CFC useage etc.

[guest27]

Ahh Bill

Hole in the Ozone layer is now as big as ever - growth of Chineese and Indian industry running on all the old crap we have sold them.  Global warming is real - and has been for years, and it now seems that the US EPA are being taken to court for failing to protect the US public.

Funny winter weather - probably like smoking and cancer - no real proff but you have to be a muppet or GW Bush to not see the link.

Growing gills in Wales

R

[Steffan]

I wonder if this is a pattern of things to come? Blazing summers then unpredictable storms all winter! Well at least until the atlantic conveyor stops

I thought the Argies sank her in those dim dark days when the UK had the capacity to put a taskforce to sea and to sort the "badies" out convincingly.....sorry old boy.

Steffan

PS Not a reflection on you chaps of course - merely your political masters.

[squirrelciv]

Hmm rather too big a subject for my little brain. have a great faith that the Planet is wiser than all of us and will prevail in the end. Trouble is how many of us will perish in the mean time?? As for me, I try to be as green as I can be, but fall short of selling the bike and buying a horse.

[guest18]

I thought the Argies sank her in those dim dark days when the UK had the capacity to put a taskforce to sea and to sort the "badies" out convincingly.....sorry old boy.

Steffan

As I'm sure you're aware, but for the benefit of those who are not(!) The Atlantic conveyor to which I referred is the system of sea currents which cause the effect we know as the Gulf Stream. That warm water current which provides our unusually warm weather (stop laughing at the back boy) for our latitude.
If/when we lose that we can expect winters more like the Canadian variety... and presumably smug grins all round from the Land Rover crowd

Good spot though Steffan!

[Steffan]

well Smudge, that explains why Scotland is universally recognised as the Balmy British Riviera :-o

[guest18]

Was that balmy or barmy...

I'm normally ok, I've got Glasgow to take all the rain so that I can enjoy clear skies and sunshine!
Has been somewhat damp over recent days though I have to admit....