Isn't France Brilliant!

Wow, I just got back from my first time riding in France. It was ace!

1st day: Le Havre to Angouleme lots of lovely hot weather, bike aware
drivers and roads that seem to have been specially laid for me, smooth
and grippy and designed for over 100mph.

2nd day: Angouleme to Lyon. The twisty way - this took 14 hours with
hundreds of mountain hairpins and stunning scenery, some snow still on
the ground in Ambert. It was a real bum killer but well worth the pain.
The highlight was the "racetrack road" the D710 to Les Eyzies. Amazing.

3rd day was spent at a friends wedding in a tiny village near Lyon,
again stunning scenery and weather with great food and beer.

4th day: Lyon to Perigeux. A much more direct route using main roads but
no motorway, again the common theme is the quality roads and weather.
Passed through some ski towns stuck to the side of mountains. Met up
with a group of riders who were also going back to Le Havre the next day
and went out for dinner and beers with them.

5th day: Perigeux to Le Havre. Lots of fast and smooth riding with the
group, lots of coffee breaks because of the heat. 2 speed traps in
villages which we were warned about by other drivers. Dinner in Hon
Fleur at a fantastic restaurant by the quay. Back to the port about 40
bikes all in a row going over the Pont du Normandie in the dark -
lovely. Lightning and rain chucked down 1 min before boarding, the first
bad weather seen for the whole trip.

Trip home from Portsmouth characterised by lashing rain, slippy roads
and bad drivers.

Black visors rock when the sun is shining all day. French bars and
restaurants serve fantastic cheap food and the people are very friendly.
All in all, I can't wait to go back!

Brilliant!

 

<overlays map of France in minds eye>

Now that sounds like a fun day!

Oh, and it was!

I'm jealous - not been to France on a bike for a little while. Must
sort that out this year.

 

AOL

 

Champ emerged from their own little world to say

It does, doesn't it.

AOL, although it's only 8 months

 

<makes faint coughing sound>

 

Yes, yes - I am well aware of your plans.

Life is, however, complicated.

 

AOL, 11 weeks. And off-roading in Cyprus in 5 weeks

 

AOLCOTSENTL, although it's only been ten minutes.

--
_______
..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
\`\ | /`/ GSX-R1000K3
`\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2
`\|/`
`

 

It was more of a coughing sound to say "Don't forget to factor in a visit to
Cahors when you *do* find the time"....

And if any Rossi fans are out there a trip to the area is essential as just
about everything has a great big "46" plastered on it, due to Lot being
Departement 46

Dave

 

No,

Full of arsey frogs.

 

Needs new tyres now and there is a nasty vibration from the front under
braking which probably means warped discs!

It performed faultlessly especially considering the heat and negotiating
French town centres when the roads signs disapeared and we had to go
into town to find the way.

I got some lovely knee down action on the roundabouts - the first proper
knee down on the 9R. I prefer left hand than right hand for knee down.

I dusted a couple of RSV's but was left behind by a gixxer thou on the
straights - caught him up on most corners though. I was really getting
into the swing of it and realised that I have never ridden it properly
in the UK - I just can't justify it here. But it was made for the riding
we did in France.

I dont want to sell it now :-(

 

That could be the tyres as well - get them sorted first, before you
worry about the discs.

 

**** off. ;-)

 

A gixxer makes significantly more power than a 9R, however you slice
it. It certainly *ought* to lose him down the straights.

 

He said frogs, not ex-pats

 

**** off. ;-)

 

I thought that could be the case - might be a flat spot on the tyre as I
only did 1300 miles in the last year, sat on those tyres. Tyres first
then see. Ta.

 

I did but with some used ones I got from ebay - not the best idea but
was cheap.

Heh, we will see what happens.
I certainly dont like riding in the UK anymore. I kept having to remind
myself not to GLF like I was a few hours earlier in France.

 

Unlikely to be a flat spot, probably just the way the tread pattern has
worn.

 

This is *UK*.rec. motorcycles, not **** me mother don't wash froggie twat
group, so **** off yerself.