I have just spent the last 8 days on a bike. I'm not at my best, or sharpest,
but sun shine greeted me as I flung back the curtains.
A good omen.
Paul R and I had test run the route the previous day so at least I knew where we should be going, and I knew how long it would take me to get to the Chipping Norton Little Chef for the start. I somehow arrived there an hour early without a copy of the directions with me. Not such a good omen.
When I had arrived the previous day, Paul had been sitting in the car park on his new toy wearing shades and looking cool. I laughed so hard I nearly fell off the bike. Not that he looked silly, but more of a contact high, he obviously felt proud and was showing his new baby off to the world (I think the term I used at the time was 'F*$&$^* poser :).
This morning, even though I was an hour early, Paul and Debs were already there.
Two new bikes with proud owners looking forward to sunshine and open roads with
sticky tyres and grins.
Well almost.
When I got there they were mostly looking forward to the breakfast that had
just been served.
Back outside we waited for the hoard to arrive.
A number of bikes pulled into the car park but we correctly guessed that none of the many SP1s or R1s were there for a slow run.
As a Honda with small pillion pulled into the car park, Paul asked me 'Do you
know anyone with an anniversary VFR ?'
'Yes - but that isn't Dave & Jackie'
It was Leigh and daughter Emily. It's always nice to see new faces on a run.
Unfortunately Leigh informed us that Martin had posted at 4am to say that it was
unlikely that he would make it. Never mind - next time.
We waited.
10:30 - Leigh went to fill up.
11:00 - Emily demolished the 'Snakes' high score on Paul's phone.
11:05 - Jase and Cal pull up on the SP1.
I'm not sure who less comfortable. Cal having been on the back of an SP1 from London, or Jase having highsided a CBR6 at Donnington last week.
As Jase hobbled over to insult admire Paul's new toy, we began to suspect
that no-one else was going to turn up.
11:20 - Time to set off. Me leading, Debs second so I could run at her pace,
Paul riding shotgun for Debs and Leigh and Jase at the back.
Nice and gentle through the 30 limits and out onto the open road through Stow.
Touring down windy lanes, keep the lines precise, wave through the occasional
fast car, dodge the suicidal cyclists.
We all tend to prefer turning one direction rather than the other. If you look
at the rear tyre of most sports bikes and you'll find that the right hand side
is worn closer to the edge than the left. I don't know why, I've heard a few
theories, and invented a few of my own but ... as it turns out Debs is less
keen on right handers than left.
And down hill bends. She's not keen on downhill bends.
This is understandable. One of the things that you learn is that you have to
trust the front tyre It will take more than most people initially believe, but
this trust does have to be learned. And downhill corners do put rather a lot
of pressure on that small piece of rubber.
The outcome of this was that, even though I was trying to keep a steady distance
between me and Debs, at the bottom of a steep twisty hill, the gap had somewhat
increased.
Luckily, just at the bottom of the hill there was a garden center so we pulled in for some cold drinks & home cooking.
Suitably refreshed and having practiced the car park waltz we headed back to the open road.
Gently wandering through the countryside at 50 mph is very relaxing and refreshing and as the NCR is still being run in we didn't push over 60. When we came up behind the first slow car there was the dilemma, do I overtake or not. I didn't know how much riding Debs had done and what kind of pull the NCR has so didn't know if Debs would / could overtake a car doing 53 mph, But if you don't overtake on a bike - you might as well be in a car, so a quick burst and past. And at the first opportunity Debs is past too.
As the miles rolled past the day got hotter and I'm afraid I made a poor judgment
call. The run took longer than when Paul and I had test run it, and it was hotter.
When I started feeling thirsty and tired I should have stopped and we could
have taken some water on board. It's easy to forget just how dehydrated you
get on the bike and it was only another 11 miles to go. But we weren't traveling
at 90+ mph - we were doing 45 - 55.
Debs was on the longest run she had ever done, on the hotest day of the year
so far.
At the last junction, an up hill right onto an A road, with 5 miles to go, Debs missed her footing.
There's nothing quite so sickening as looking in your mirror and seeing a bike down.
We cleared the junction and got all the bikes to the side of the road, took deep breaths and drank some water. Debs was OK. Shaken but not stirred, the NSR had a couple of paint scratches - but no plastic damage.
Back at the Little Chef, over a late lunch, we concluded that a) a run at that speed wasn't comfortable on an SP1. b) Debs enjoyed herself and wants to do it again (without the falling bit).
Thanks to everyone who turned up, and ya boo sucks to those that didn't - we enjoyed ourselves.