1st time out together

And the plan starts to come together.  One of the reasons for wanting to get back into biking was to give the Old Dragon and I something we could do together.  We were both very much into bike before we met so it seemed like a logical thing to do.  Today, for the first time, we ventured out on the GSX for a little run to Loomie's.  This was the first time for 25years as a pillion for the poor old dear and I'm so happy it proved to be a great success. Now the rest of the summer is going to be huge fun.
Next week we're off to the seaside for fish & chips !

Ride-out to Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum

Good news, the knee held up and I made it out on the bike.  Hurrah !

It took some thinking about but in the end I decided it was time I visited the Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum.  The run down through Romsey, Cadnam and Lyndhurst was wonderful.  The sun shone, it was warm enough and for the best part the traffic was light.  It gave me the chance to try out some techniques I read about on Visordown regarding relaxed riding.  It's brilliant, no achy shoulders or wrists and much smoother bike control.
Anyway, back to the museum.  Sammy has put together an amazing collection of bikes dating right back to the beginning of the last century.  There are some stunning examples of legendary marques that I had only previously read about.  There's more modern kit as well.  The scary bit was that I've ridden some of those.  Now that really does make you feel old when you see bikes in a museum that you remember riding.

If you fancy a ride-out through some gorgeous New Forest scenery I can recommend this as a destination.  The collection is fascinating.  Even better the coffee shop is a revelation.  You must try the home made ginger cake.  Outstanding.
Another great day out on the bike !

Stress & MOT's

The MOT was due this month, I hate it when that happens !

This is the first since I got the GSX so was a bit of an unknown quantity...and it failed.  I was not best pleased.  The bike is an import, which I knew, and it turns out it still has the Euro spec headlight.  Now it was a dealer that imported it and I thought they were obliged to change things like headlights if that was the case.  Not to mention the fact that I have a whole bunch of previous MOT pass certificates !  Is there no consistency in these tests any more ?  The other thing was 'excessive travel of the front brake lever'.  Of course had the tester just changed the span adjuster he would have found out there was no such thing.  Is it me or is there a lack of common sense amongst officialdom.

Anyway, enough ranting.  All sorted now and a day off on Friday.  Just got to decide where to go.  Maybe a visit to little brother up around Silverstone, or shall I go see the sea ?  Decisions decisions, why is life never easy.

Loomies Ride-Out

Curiosity got the best of me today.  I've seen links to the Loomies on the Weyhill Riders website along with pictures in the gallery and, as it isn't that far away from home, decided I just had to go there.

Loomies is a family run Café frequented by many many bikers and car drivers on the cross-roads of the A272 and A32 at West Meon in Hampshire and a oft used destination for club bike runs.  The A272 is a cracking bike road but be careful, especially on Bank Holidays, the Police patrol it with great diligence.  In fact it was along this road on a Bank Holiday that I picked up the only points on my licence in 30 years of motoring.  On arrival I had a chat with a lovely lady biker who told me, despite the100-150 bikes in the car park, that today was a quiet day!  The previous week the wasn't room at all in the car park. The staff were very welcoming and, as usual, the biking community made all welcome and I had a great chat over coffee.  If you're ever in the are, drop by.  It's well worth it.