Upping my annual mileage 2-the need for speed (but not mine)
Discussion
Well, it seems some people might have appreciated my ramblings from last weekend. If you're not able to ride out yourself hopefully reading another's trip bring some joy. So with a couple of things happening on Friday afternoon last week I thought I'd best make the most of the predicted good weather yesterday to add a few more miles on the bike.
Fluid levels checked - fuel needed.
Chain tension and lube - check.
Waterproofs & maps present - check.
Fly still on from last weekend - check.
Alarm set (& ignored) - check. I didn't get quite so early a start this weekend - I had my 2nd jab last week and didn't get much sleep that night (I hear quite a few people have had some side effects) so when the alarm went off the snooze button was promptly pressed, which resulted in me not leaving until around 0845hrs.
With my reminiscing of the bike rides from 20 years ago up to Hartside, and with the best of the weather looking to be in the West I had plotted a rough route to the Lakes going over the old roads I'd enjoyed. On route I discovered there was a horse event at Belsay Hall - why do I mention this? Because I nearly got covered in diesel spilling from one of the horse boxes going around a corner. But to know that I'm only 20 minutes or so from the middle of the country - Northumberland really is a great place to live.
The Military Road with it's creasts and gentle curves is a great alternative to the A69 to get over towards Hexham. And by chance the Wentworth cafe has only just reopened so a lovely bacon sarnie was a great way to start the day.
Heading out from Hexham up to Alston I couldn't help thinking how bad the roads in this country are becoming. It was never alpine smooth 20 years ago and time hasn't helped, but its still a great road to ride. A mix of 'muscle memory' and 'Old age memory fade' kept speeds sensible but fun but the road didn't seem to be as long as I remember it - I was up here once last year so maybe old age really is kicking in with the grey cells. And you forget just how remote it can be up on the top of the moors.
I stopped at the new fuel station in Alston (I noticed on passing the old fuel point at the Northern end was cheaper by the way) to fill up. Judging by the number of bikes at the rear of the forecourt compared with the number of bikers at the top of the pass, this must be the new meeting place. I know Sunday was the traditional meet up day, but I also used to go up to the Hartside cafe on Saturday's and there used to be far more bikes.
From here we used to decide where the good weather was and where we'd go - West to the Lakes, North to Hawick, South/East to North York moors.
Heading down to the West was never my favourite bit of this road - it felt like it was putting too much on the front end. I got more used to this feeling doing track days (I used to live on the doorstep of Donnington - going down Craner Curves makes you get used to this) and funnily enough at the speeds I find myself doing these days, it wasn't a problem. You've got more time to look around you too.
The old bakery in Melmeby looked to be doing a decent trade too.
I should've anticipated the heavy traffic around the M6 (people leaving after the half term) but pushed on to Ullswater.
Continuing South took me over the Kirkstone pass.
The going was slow and steady due to the amount of traffic. I had planned to go around the bottom of Windermere (which was very busy) but saw the sign for Coniston by ferry (£2 for bikes).
This is where the 'need for speed' comes in to it - I had planned to visit the Ruskin museum at Coniston (pay gift aid and your ticket's valid for a year) but with the late start and the number of people I decided not to. I went to the lake to take a picture:
And got in a conversation with another biker - turns out we work(ed) in the same industry and both looking to do some miles this year.
Heading North saw me going through Ambleside on the A591 and Keswick (again both nice places it's be good to spend more time in) and continuing up the A591 to Bothel. This was a nice stretch of road with some nice flowing corners at the Northern end. The route took me towards Carlisle which I went through the centre of (I've never spent any time here, but the castle looked worth a visit) and out onto the A7 towards Hawick.
This is a road we occasionally went on, but riding it yesterday I can't understand why we didn't ride it more often - good surface, nice scenery and only the odd sheep by the road to look out for.
This got me to Hawick just after 5 o-clock, unfortunately just missing out on being able to visit the Steve Hislop room (the other 'need for speed' element of this route).
Consulting my little A5 map had me following the A6088 back across towards the A68. What a little gem of a road this is, but watch put for the tightening bends in places.
The A68 is a lovely road and I had to stop here to take a photo.
Funny thing was, at the other side (the Northbound side) when I was pulling in to the Southbound viewpoint, I swear Si King (Hairy Biker) was standing looking as if he was taking a selfie (phone at arms length)!
Heading past Otterburn (the battle site is remembered at a car park at the North end of the village) had me peeling off towards Rothbury and at Elsdon I saw the sign for Winter's Gibbet. This is a place I remember going past as a kid, and being told what it was. I've past it a few times over the years since but could never remember where it was. So now I'm recording it.
From here there was a wonderful view to the East coast.
From here it was simply a case of heading East and back home. When I got there I found I'd got temptingly close to 300 miles for this trip (if I'd known how close I'd have gone the long way home) and my time estimation was a bit out - nearer 10 hours than 6-8 I'd anticipated.
And I'd added a few fly's to the collection.
But another fantastic trip on the TL, and again I didn't feel bad at all the next morning.
The reason I had to get another trip in this weekend is I start another job Monday morning, but I'm around 850 miles in for this year already. If I can get a these trips once a month for the next few months though, it should be a vary good year indeed.
If I'm boring people now, let me know. It won't stop me doing these trips (I'm loving it) but won't waffle on about them on here.
Enjoy the good weather!
Fluid levels checked - fuel needed.
Chain tension and lube - check.
Waterproofs & maps present - check.
Fly still on from last weekend - check.
Alarm set (& ignored) - check. I didn't get quite so early a start this weekend - I had my 2nd jab last week and didn't get much sleep that night (I hear quite a few people have had some side effects) so when the alarm went off the snooze button was promptly pressed, which resulted in me not leaving until around 0845hrs.
With my reminiscing of the bike rides from 20 years ago up to Hartside, and with the best of the weather looking to be in the West I had plotted a rough route to the Lakes going over the old roads I'd enjoyed. On route I discovered there was a horse event at Belsay Hall - why do I mention this? Because I nearly got covered in diesel spilling from one of the horse boxes going around a corner. But to know that I'm only 20 minutes or so from the middle of the country - Northumberland really is a great place to live.
The Military Road with it's creasts and gentle curves is a great alternative to the A69 to get over towards Hexham. And by chance the Wentworth cafe has only just reopened so a lovely bacon sarnie was a great way to start the day.
Heading out from Hexham up to Alston I couldn't help thinking how bad the roads in this country are becoming. It was never alpine smooth 20 years ago and time hasn't helped, but its still a great road to ride. A mix of 'muscle memory' and 'Old age memory fade' kept speeds sensible but fun but the road didn't seem to be as long as I remember it - I was up here once last year so maybe old age really is kicking in with the grey cells. And you forget just how remote it can be up on the top of the moors.
I stopped at the new fuel station in Alston (I noticed on passing the old fuel point at the Northern end was cheaper by the way) to fill up. Judging by the number of bikes at the rear of the forecourt compared with the number of bikers at the top of the pass, this must be the new meeting place. I know Sunday was the traditional meet up day, but I also used to go up to the Hartside cafe on Saturday's and there used to be far more bikes.
From here we used to decide where the good weather was and where we'd go - West to the Lakes, North to Hawick, South/East to North York moors.
Heading down to the West was never my favourite bit of this road - it felt like it was putting too much on the front end. I got more used to this feeling doing track days (I used to live on the doorstep of Donnington - going down Craner Curves makes you get used to this) and funnily enough at the speeds I find myself doing these days, it wasn't a problem. You've got more time to look around you too.
The old bakery in Melmeby looked to be doing a decent trade too.
I should've anticipated the heavy traffic around the M6 (people leaving after the half term) but pushed on to Ullswater.
Continuing South took me over the Kirkstone pass.
The going was slow and steady due to the amount of traffic. I had planned to go around the bottom of Windermere (which was very busy) but saw the sign for Coniston by ferry (£2 for bikes).
This is where the 'need for speed' comes in to it - I had planned to visit the Ruskin museum at Coniston (pay gift aid and your ticket's valid for a year) but with the late start and the number of people I decided not to. I went to the lake to take a picture:
And got in a conversation with another biker - turns out we work(ed) in the same industry and both looking to do some miles this year.
Heading North saw me going through Ambleside on the A591 and Keswick (again both nice places it's be good to spend more time in) and continuing up the A591 to Bothel. This was a nice stretch of road with some nice flowing corners at the Northern end. The route took me towards Carlisle which I went through the centre of (I've never spent any time here, but the castle looked worth a visit) and out onto the A7 towards Hawick.
This is a road we occasionally went on, but riding it yesterday I can't understand why we didn't ride it more often - good surface, nice scenery and only the odd sheep by the road to look out for.
This got me to Hawick just after 5 o-clock, unfortunately just missing out on being able to visit the Steve Hislop room (the other 'need for speed' element of this route).
Consulting my little A5 map had me following the A6088 back across towards the A68. What a little gem of a road this is, but watch put for the tightening bends in places.
The A68 is a lovely road and I had to stop here to take a photo.
Funny thing was, at the other side (the Northbound side) when I was pulling in to the Southbound viewpoint, I swear Si King (Hairy Biker) was standing looking as if he was taking a selfie (phone at arms length)!
Heading past Otterburn (the battle site is remembered at a car park at the North end of the village) had me peeling off towards Rothbury and at Elsdon I saw the sign for Winter's Gibbet. This is a place I remember going past as a kid, and being told what it was. I've past it a few times over the years since but could never remember where it was. So now I'm recording it.
From here there was a wonderful view to the East coast.
From here it was simply a case of heading East and back home. When I got there I found I'd got temptingly close to 300 miles for this trip (if I'd known how close I'd have gone the long way home) and my time estimation was a bit out - nearer 10 hours than 6-8 I'd anticipated.
And I'd added a few fly's to the collection.
But another fantastic trip on the TL, and again I didn't feel bad at all the next morning.
The reason I had to get another trip in this weekend is I start another job Monday morning, but I'm around 850 miles in for this year already. If I can get a these trips once a month for the next few months though, it should be a vary good year indeed.
If I'm boring people now, let me know. It won't stop me doing these trips (I'm loving it) but won't waffle on about them on here.
Enjoy the good weather!
Overcast this morning so took the opportunity to remove the flies:
The chain's a little slacker than it was (could explain the couple of false neutrals I got) but I'll leave it - I'm paranoid since I learnt that having the chain on these too tight can cause huge damage to the gearbox output bearing due to the TL's set up with suspension geometry.
And I've lost one of the rubber grommets that wrap around the front brake line as it goes over the front mudguard. I've put some spiral wrap around this for now (coated braided lines fitted so no immediate worries) until I can source another rubber grommet.
But all ready for the next trip now
The chain's a little slacker than it was (could explain the couple of false neutrals I got) but I'll leave it - I'm paranoid since I learnt that having the chain on these too tight can cause huge damage to the gearbox output bearing due to the TL's set up with suspension geometry.
And I've lost one of the rubber grommets that wrap around the front brake line as it goes over the front mudguard. I've put some spiral wrap around this for now (coated braided lines fitted so no immediate worries) until I can source another rubber grommet.
But all ready for the next trip now
Another great write up, Thankyou.
I've been riding again for just under 2 years, and your photos of endless horizons, aand descriptions do bring up those wonderful feelings of " where next ......This rings a bell.......... aaah yes that's where it brings you out" etc etc. Always good to hear reports of good food stops too!
I've been riding again for just under 2 years, and your photos of endless horizons, aand descriptions do bring up those wonderful feelings of " where next ......This rings a bell.......... aaah yes that's where it brings you out" etc etc. Always good to hear reports of good food stops too!
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