Featured What you been doing with your TRIUMPH today??

Have good one! I'm off to Spain next friday.

 

And I start my trip through France to Spain next Wednesday

 

@Helmut Visor and I had a lovely trip out today going from home to The Old Station at Tintern - the first time we had ever been here, previously we have always stopped a little further on at the Abbey. This place is lovely - great setting, friendly staff and good food and coffee. Helmut had a bacon and egg sandwich, I had two Welshcakes and both of us had a coffee; all were excellent .

Suitably refreshed, we continued on to Baffle Haus at Pontypool via some lovely scenic roads where we both had another drink and headed back home. There were some interesting bikes there in the main courtyard as usual - but we were too lazy to take photos!

The weather was gorgeous and the riding was great although the roads were pretty congested on the way home as you’d expect, especially through the tourist hotspots - but at least it gave me a chance to hone my overtakes .

 

I hope we all have a great time. Have fun
& safe travels

T

 

So yesterday had a strange start, woke up thinking I'll complete the 12k mile service today as I'd already part prepped it and had all the bits in the workshop.





But then I found myself with no clutter (wife going to in-laws, kids at Aunties).... umm

 

So a quick rebuild as was, the service isn't due on mileage for another 1500 miles, and despite a lie in we're ready to go by 10.30.



Pulled up on a hill thinking this chap had broken down



Raleigh 1920 ish

 

But he hadn't, he was waiting for some steam engines.
How about this for a family day out?

 

Onwards to Stanhope



Then to the Hartside cafe that was, sadly now totally gone. It was 19C at home but only 14C here and with just a t shirt under the jacket, pretty chilly, but the only thing on offer was an ice cream van



Then back to Alston for a coffee and fuel.

Need to get my skates on now as I'm a fair way from home and loads of places still to visit.

Tan Hill pub was busy as it was the Annual Reeth show day. A novel approach to the usual weather situation up here.

 

Stopped at Muker for a pot of tea and had a look in the art gallery. Some good pics and this caught my eye, black and white but with a subtle touch of colour in the stones under the water



So I decided to take a trip and create my own, Yorkshireman see



A bit later back than anticipated although a couple of texts stopped the worry and subsequent flack.
An enjoyable 253 miles round trip and back in time for tea the 765 just does it all, thrashing, touring, nice and light and averaged 52 mpg; great bike!

 

That looks like an excellent day out!

 

That looks like time very well spent @Eldon - love the steam engine!

 

@Mrs Visor that hill is a lot steeper than it looks, I took a video then pinched still shots out of it but you lose the "chuff chuff chuffing" as the engines slog away.
Must say one engine was running far cleaner than the other, maybe the mixture was a bit rich

 

So decided that the other day was the last one this year for the 765 and time to bring the 675 out.
Both are due an mot in September and it seems pointless with the 765 just parked in the garage over winter so sorn done, rebate being processed and then tax the 675 tomorrow, 1st September.
Mot booked for Friday so time to get it ready. It was wearing a set of Racetecs which are great in the dry but not so good in damp patches under trees etc plus they've had their day. A quick browse through the rack and I've got a choice of x2 sets of new Michelins or a set of near new Metzeler RRs.
Decided to fit the RRs as had these on a 675 before.
A mate had bought a new tyre tool which looked a good design so I'd borrowed his powdercoated mild steel item, blatantly copied it and made myself a fully stainless steel and plastic version. This provides fully plastic coated contact with the rim coatings.

Two tyres off and two back on. Quick fiddle with switches, horn, brake lights etc function check. Dip oil and check coolant then we're good to go.

765 sulking round the corner.


Proper recycling, note old previously crashed (was bent) 675 front spindle now machined down and providing centre pivot for tyre bar.




One down, one to go.



Adding a bit of knurling to aid grip for when, not if, blathered in tyre soap

 

That's all a bit clever!
Rim protection is paramount - I noticed a mark on my rear rim the other day, obviously caused by uncareful tyre change.

 

Without the simple tyre press, breaking the bead is nigh on impossible without marking the rim. With the over the centre arm, a simple press and the bead pops in a controlled fashion. I have added further pipe cladding to the lower support ring so that side is well protected.
The problem then is levering over the visible area of the powdercoated rim without marks or scratches. Plastic cut pipe things can be used but they are not only a faff but not infallible i.e. slip off and away we go.... oh FFS

 

Commute for me today, got a good soaking that I wasn't expecting from the forecast on the way back home.

 

Rain today? It has been beautiful up here in Cheshire. Had a fantastic run out on the Thruxton, lovely.

 

Rain today? It has been beautiful up here in Cheshire. Had a fantastic run out on the Thruxton, lovely.

 

It's been cloudy where I work then started to rain just as I left work at 1800hrs; dry roads about 12 miles from home and apparently been fine all day here too.

 

Spanish sunshine in a weeks time, Steve!