Featured What you been doing with your TRIUMPH today??

@PatW, glad to read that you're doing the DGR. I'm sad to report that Tucson doesn't have a ride this year. There are only two in Arizona and the closest is in Phoenix. And that's NOT a city I'd like to do that ride in. But that said, I've done the DGR twice in Tucson and, like you, I was nervous about riding in such a group. But the Tucson ride organizers had it dialed in. They hired a group of retired MC cops who do just such things as the DGR, funeral processions, and the like. The group monitored intersections and the rides each year ran like clockwork and were very safe. Additionally, the speed was very sedate. I'll be eager to hear how the ride goes for you and Mrs. W. Hopefully your experience will be positive as mine has been. Good luck with both the fundraising and the ride!

 

The DGR that I have done were also well managed and yes the pace was very sedate. You should be fine @PatW

 

@Wessa West Mercia have spaces on all of their courses - I know that you come into West Mercia from your ride reports, but no idea how far away for you the courses would be.

I have bitten the bullet and booked one; a bit nervous as I am so new to riding but I figure now is the time to maximise my learning....

 

It's not the pace @Sandi T, it's being corralled in a tight group of potential idiots.

 

Yep, I understand, @PatW. And one never knows just when and where those idiots will show up. But luckily for the two DGR's in which I participated, the idiots stayed home. It was amazing how "well behaved" everyone was. I think that was partly due to the pre-ride briefing but mostly due to the Southwest Rangers traffic control service who led and swept the group and controlled intersections throughout the entire 50-ish mile loop. They've been in service in Tucson since 1999. This first photo is one I took at the DGR in Tucson in September of 2019, the last time that Tucson had one, I think. This was at a mid-route stop at a mid-town park for refreshments and photo-ops.


This was prior to the ride at the staging area. One of the two primary sponsors, RestoMoto, is located right next door to the SW Rangers headquarters and their joint parking lot was where the ride began. You can see a couple of the officers in the background near their offices.


From the SW Rangers FB page And, BTW, man oh man, can those guys ride their bikes!!

 

Thanks for that, I will have a look. What are are you based in?

 

Yesterday after work the weather was wonderfull, about 18° Celsius. So after dinner I put on a pair of motorcycle jeans, threw on a leather jacket and took a detour to the ice cream parlor. No pictures taken, as unfortunately, the ice cream parlor was closed . But hey, at least I got to ride some .

 

West Mercia @Wessa - covers a huge geographical area - Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin.

 

@Sandi T: Your outfit is/was great!!!

 

Since the weather here is slowly changing from winter to spring, we have extreme temperature differences during the day. In the morning at -2 degrees Celsius (28,4 F), with the TIGER into the office and in the afternoon at 22 degrees Celsius (71,6 F) back home. Clothing-wise, I'm in multi-layer mode on the road and still have an additional summer pair of gloves with me. The beautiful weather I have then still used to ride out with the BONNIE. This time alone, because my dear wife had to stay longer in the office. After a change of clothes I rode a beautiful route through 2 provinces. On my favorite route over a part of the alpine foothills, the Wechsel, the BONNIE showed what it is made of and "snuffed" a DUCATI MULTISTRADA on the mountain road. I love the acceleration! For a short break I stopped at a café in Bad Tatzmannsdorf. After parking the bike, I walked from the parking lot to the entrance of the café and realized upon entering that I had forgotten my wallet and all IDs in the other motorcycle jacket at home. Therefore, I had to leave again without coffee and delicious cake and arrived home safely after a 170 km (105 mi) tour.

In the following some pictures.

My BONNIE in front of the café.



The billboard advertises the availability of the best coffee in the province. If you like strongly roasted coffee, then this is true!



My collection of bugs after the tour.

 

@Markus
Sounds like a beautiful ride, Markus! What a shame you forgot your wallet and ID. I recently did the same when I went out for a little local afternoon ride. Funny how when one doesn't have one's ID / drivers license handy, every white car in the rearview mirrors looks like a police car.

On another note, dang those are some big bugs plastered to your windscreen! I'd definitely be wearing a full face helmet with face shield snugly in place with those things coming at me at speed.

 

I took it to work today.

 

Soldered a nipple on the clutch cable to complete the modification.



Now cable more closely matches the brake hose I did last week in appearance and extra slack available.

 

I had better luck at the ice cream parlor today

 

I took mine to work and back today, about 36 ish miles each way. I also took a few hour's leave off the end of my day so that I could meet @Helmut Visor at a Steel Horse Bike Night on the way home. The traffic was horrendous with everyone trying to get away for their holidays, which did me a favour as it encouraged me to filter and exploit gaps in traffic more, which is currently something I am wary about, although getting better each time I do it. There were loads of bikes at the meet, a real mixture and loads more coming in as we left to come home. I am nowhere near @Sandi T's standard but we did actually take some photos for a change!!

 

A few more...

 

Filtering takes some practice, but it's worth it! Keep looking ahead, expect no-one sees you, stay on the ball. And as been said before, moving front tyres of cars are a tell tale sign!

 

Thanks @Vulpes at the moment the concentration of it is quite tiring somehow, but I'll keep on at it!

 

It'll get easier with time, practice makes perfect! You'll get there, I'm sure of it!

 

I get very tired after a long ride, its not a physical tired but a mental one. Bikes require much more concentration than driving a car. I think it's pretty normal for most folk, shows your paying attention too.