Chimay and ukrm feckwits (longish)

There is a wire loop, actually.

 

Presumeably for garotting the rider if they won't slow down?

Phil.

 

What makes you think that?

 

<flops about, wheezing with mirth>

 

If the pillion could unclench his fists from the ring-piece in the first
place, he could simply transfer his death-grip to the driver's neck.

 

Fair comment but the shopping area at departure is pretty good for food. By
the time you get onto the train, get gear off, drink coffee (1), take a
dump, clean visor.... you have arrived.

(1)Getting your coffee unspilled onto said train required some yet to be
patented technology though.

 

Gel or glass mat batteries *rock*

 

You had a pillion, didn't you? If you trundle gently, your pillion can
hold the coffee.

In fact, if the coffee place has those little cardboard trays for
carrying multiple drinks, your pillion can hold the coffee and still
hold on, if needed.

 

Did I mention the open-face helmet and goggles?

 

You must be blind, as Tog, Ginge and myself approached the area every 4th or
5th oncoming car flashed the headlights. He was cunningly tucked into the
corner of said bridge behind bushes though.

 

Aye, I was sat down low in the cage, and there was greenery and armco
between the carriageways there.

Alright for you rufty tufty biker types being able to see over the armco ;-)

On the way back I was flashed a couple of times by oncoming traffic, both
times were for unmarked white peugeot estates parked in laybys on single
carriageway roads.

No gendarmes wandering around, but in the boot pointing out of the rear
window were two hoofing great big camera lens (about the size of pudding
bowls).

Crafty beggars these French you know.

 

Not that crafty - cameras that only snap your front end are not going
to pick up many motorcycles... Of course, you were in your Mini, so
fair game.

(It's a nice car, is that.....)

 

Oh isn't it just. The outside lane crawlers, having had to observe lane
sense (or death) in France, need to get their fix. Much horn tooting and
light flashing as I undertook. The M25/M1 roadworks are a special torture
however, neither leave verge or lane width to filter.

My original plan was to ride back on Sunday, overnight somewhere half way
and get home Monday night. I didn't realise some people were staying over an
extra day before crawling out of the tent midday on Sunday (after the
hangover had subsided). It was a very pleasant evening and I enjoyed the
main beer tent. Half of you had already left, I was sorry to miss CIHAGM on
the Turbo and the 400/4. I decided to remain the extra day and a good
decision it was. We had the best campfire I've enjoyed in 15 years, everyone
else had left lots of wood behind and it was still burning on the Monday
morning. Good food had been had first in Hirson and wine acquired.

The downside was the ride home. It rained from Hirson, getting heavier all
the way to Cambrai and it maintained deluge status to the tunnel, through
Kent and all the way to Derby, where the clouds finally cleared and the sun
came out. It proved to me that good PVC waterproofs over leather are the
best option, not a trickle got through. It was 480 miles campsite to door
and I was glad of the fake "Corbin" seat conversion. Regular coffee stops
and one detour into a shopping area stretched the journey over ~12 hours
arriving Yorkshire 9ish.

The Chimay event is excellent, should have done it before and it's in the
diary for '08, probably with a couple of extra days tagged on the end. I
like the relaxed trackside atmosphere and the lack of officialdom. The bikes
(both racing and visitors) were amazing. A couple of the racing BMW's really
caught my attention, one sporting the largest sump conversion to be seen
short of a railway engine. Some cracking Nortons and Laverdas. I'd never
seen an NSU racer before. Loved a couple of the racing 50cc's. Saw one
completely new name with a vaguely Panther like sloping single. The noise of
some starting grids would have drowned out any approach of the German
Panzers.

The ST4S continued to win my admiration. I don't know of anything else with
touring pretentions and OEM hard luggage that can be loaded to the limit and
still handle perfectly. 140 on the motorway without any weaving. Braking
deep into bends and scraping round long sweepers it still feels much like a
solo 996. A lazy 5k, half way to the red line in 6th, is an indicated 97mph
and sustaining 110-120 returns 38mpg with 160 miles between fuel stops.

 

Sarolea? Old Belgian arms company, started building bikes in 1898. If it's
the one I'm thinking of, I've got a picture somewhere.

 

You're such a drama queen. I really doubt anyone there would be in the
slightest way inclined to do you any damage, other than verbally, and
even then it would only be by taking the piss.

You really need to stop being so paranoid.

 

That's the one!
Pictures were taken.

I *really* like the look of the newer Guzzi Cali type bikes. The ones with
panniers, screen, twin front Brembo 4 pots and wire wheels. Somewhat like
this:
www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/main.jhtml?xml=/motoring/2006/04/29/mfguzzi29.xml
One would be very you.

 

I'm sure at any UKRM meet-up a direct confrontation would have several of us
intervening to prevent any real trouble however a helping of Coventry might
be in evidence. I can only think of two or three people who would be so
unpopular though.

 

I need to own a Guzzi at some point. Calis I've sat on have certain
riding-position issues, though. Perhaps I'll get one next summer, see how I
get on with it.

 

Contrary to what you may believe words are quite powerful things -
whether delivered via Usenet or by mouth. There is very little
difference (in my eyes) to communication delivered via UKRM, via email
or via phone except for the lack of the audio clues in the voice comms.

You are what you say. When you spout stuff designed to make people
dislike you then people will dislike you. It's called human nature.

Phil

 

Succinctly and accurately put. I mean, some twat who's just scrawled
WOGS OUT on the nearest wall might as well ask: "Unpopular because of
what I wrote on a wall?"

If it's all you have to judge someone on, you go by that.