It has been a while since I went on a Sunday Morning ride. My shuttle between London and Cork doesn't help my biking either. On the weekends I'm in London, there is so much to catch up that I find myself strapped for time to go out on a leisure ride. During my last visit, the weather wasn't great. So just went for a spin locally. I decided that if the weather holds good then I'm doing a leisure ride of about 100 miles.
The weather on Sunday was good and I was just rearing to go. My wife said she too was interested and would like to join me. To ride two-up with her is always something special for me. Took my bike out and went to my usual Barking Tesco to fill-up and check air. To my bitter surprise, I found that they have installed a pay-and-use air. I decided I was not going to pay 20p to fill air and then headed to the Beckton Sainsburys.
The bike feels very different when the recommended tyre pressures are not maintained. I've been told that even 1 or 2 psi would make a drastic change to the feel of the bike. This is not the first time I have ridden at lower tyre pressures and so am gaining the feel of the bike. The front tyre was 4psi below the ideal and no wonder the bike felt abnormal while turning. After filling up it was time for our leisure ride.
This ride had only one purpose, at least, as far I was concerned - ring the neck of my Yam in the lower gears. I decided to take to the A406-M11-A414-A12-A406. The trouble with "ringing the neck" is that in reality it will never happen without seriously breaking the speed limit. On the 50mph sections I was always on 1st and 2nd just to listen the engine at around 6k. On the 70mph sections again stayed on 1st and 2nd - as ever love the engine note at around 9k. I have to find out a way to record this wonderful sound, perhaps strapping a small point-and-shoot camera to the petrol tank would do.
Getting off M11 at Junction 7 to A414, I practised some braking. On long trips, I downshift to slow down and then am gentle on the brake, but not today. Staying within bottom 3 gears there is no drastic speed reduction during downshift, so had to trust the brake. I didn't feel sponginess while braking, methinks it is more to do with my constant reminder that my bike is getting to a year after service and that needs some check-up.
Anyway with Junction 7 done and dusted, A414 to Maldon greeted with the usual busy Sunday Morning traffic. This section has got some nice flowing right and left handers but you won't be leaning too much if you are within the limits. As I hate to sit behind a slow car on these nice curves, I would drop myself from the car ahead and then carry the corner speed before catching up with the traffic. It is a nice feeling to take the corners in the lower gears when the bike is in its power band wanting to break free.
On this section, I spotted a police car at the end of a left-hander. Before taking the corner, I dropped myself from the car ahead to carry the 50mph corner speed in first gear. I felt so good going through the corner, and after seeing the police car (and the police man), I can see why they are there. Anyone who is lured to speed through the corner will be caught after they have taken it and they can't see the police car while they go through the corner. As I don't take chances, okay most of the times, I may not have got their attention except for the 1st gear scream of the engine.
There are a couple of roundabouts on this section of A414 heading to Maldon where they meet 30mph sections. These roundabouts let you practice downshifts and braking and if they are clear can practice cornering as well. With about 3 miles to Chelmsford there are two roundabouts within a space of a mile or so that lets you whack the throttle and bring it down. With a clear road ahead, behind and in the rounadbout, it was time to improve my corner speed carry through. As I rode through the roundabout with more than my usual speed, I had a chance to practise left-right-left flip through counter-steer.
The feeling you get while leaning the bike had to be experienced first hand as words cannot describe it. And I'm not talking about knee-scrapping stuff, just more than gentle lean that would make you wonder how on earth these tyres grip the road to let you do what you always felt physics-defying. Exiting the roundabout, opened the throttle as quickly as I'd and within about 3-4 seconds I was over 70 in the 1st and 10k revvs, and the bike is still accelerating has it has another 30% power left in it. The acceleration was truly exhilirating. The purpose of my day's ride had been fulfilled.
I decided to return on the same route as I've never done A414 Chelmsford-Harlow. Unforuntately few miles down A414 from Chelmsford there was a traffic stoppage due to some plant movement and I turned around back to Chelmsford to take the A12 to return home. Throughout the trip, I stayed within the bottom gears and only very briefly i ventured to the fourth when I was stuck behind a gaggle of cars on the A414.
I had done about 85miles non-stop and by the time I was back home, the fuel meter was about to hit reserve. It's drunk about a litre for every 8 miles and that is not bad, because on long-haul trips it drinks a litre for every 8.5. Do I really care about the fuel economy when the machine gives me a lot of joy and fun?
Oh, forgot to mention my wife anywhere (Sorry dear, hope you wouldn't mind me enjoying the lust for this machine once in a while). Our next two-up ride is going to be a very special one and I can't wait. Do come back to read that entry.
Sunday 28 June 2009
Sunday 14 June 2009
Life in May
It's been a while since I'd updated the blog on my life. After taking up the work in Cork, I've been shuttling between Cork and London 3 weekends a month and that is taking up any of my spare time. When I'm home in London my priority is my family (and my bike) and certainly not blogging.
Life in May was fantastic. I'd been to a caravan park (Some pictures) for the first time. I have to say it is quite different to all my trips so far. I'd to join my wife and my friend's family who had to check-in at the caravan park on a Friday evening. After waking up early to catch up with the Indian election results, I was already running late by 2 hours. The weather prediction wasn't good - with heavy rain showers predicted for the entire weekend. After fuelling at my usual Barking Tesco garage, I set out on 130 mile trip to Great Yarmouth through A406, M11, A11 and A47. Apart from the nagging crosswinds I was fine on my own. On A11 I was pretty much on my own on the road. Having stretched my legs and arms at a road-side parking bay after an hour, I reached Great Yarmouth beach in just about 2 hours.
There was a display of iconic American cars and vintage british motorcycles. To see and hear the lovely V8 Mustangs of yesteryears is captivating. There is no completeness of the American cars without the Impalas and the Plymouths. There was also a Dodge Viper - one of my favourites.
We all spent some time in the beach and a mini pleasure park. By evening we all returned to the caravan park. I'd been very much looking forward to this trip, one reason being I can spend any available time with my friend's toddler boy and girl. They bring loads of energy. When we booked the caravan holiday, I assumed that we would get one of those "big" caravans displayed on the brochure. When we reached our caravan, I thought that "those nice caravans on brochure" are just for getting people to book-in. The caravan was a little bit bigger than a bunker but we were there to spend time away from the caravan anyway. The evening was spent in an entertainment hall for kids. The caravan park idea is more geared towards people with kids and aimed towards entertaining kids rather than adults or that is what I felt.
The next morning, we all had been to the swimming pool and spent a couple of hours at the pool. This was my first swim in ages - can't remember when was the last time I'd been swimming - perhaps during my visit to the Andamans in 2006. The afternoon was spent chatting and re-living our past and a look at our future plans. As this trip was meant for the kids, I was just happy to be there with them. Before we departed the caravan park, I took some pictures of my friend's kids on my bike and the boy tested the bike past its rev limiter at over 13k revs, on a stand of course. Earlier he would not like the noise of the engine but on this day he just seemed to love the music of the engine at it's max.
I liked the ride on the country roads on my return. After a long time, had a chance to lean the bike. But got to admit that I still have not got the confidence to trust the bike. In my supervised training with the Essex police, I was told numerous times to trust the bike - methinks it is time to do a track time to build confidence in the bike while leaning. On A47, having got stuck behind a caravan trailer for a long time, decided to pass and get-in lane. As I accelerated past the trailer, the traffic ahead started slowing and it was time to grab the front. The thing I love in these big sport machines are their acceleration and braking. This was the second time, I think, I'd a chance to test the front brakes.
Before we returned to London, we went to Cambridge town and went for a couple of historic sites. After a demanding return journey mainly due to the heavy crosswinds, had a dinner and was back to Cork earlier the next day morning.
On 30th,I'd been to the Volvo Ocean Race in Galway. First time in my life I got to see the big ocean yachts going around the world. They had a in-harbour race but the yachts were at least a mile from the shore making it impossible to take any proper photos or video. After watching the first part of the race from a cliff I got to the shore front to watch the race from the big display screens. Before the yacht race there was a wonderful display of the Red Arrows. Again, this was the first time I saw the Red Arrows up very close on their magnificent display. The acrobatics of these iconic jets were scintillating.
There are so many birthdays/wedding anniversaries in April/May/June that there is no big gap without having get together. I think I'd at least 4 lunches/dinners in May to celebrate the aforementioned events.
Certainly life is going great without many complaints.
Life in May was fantastic. I'd been to a caravan park (Some pictures) for the first time. I have to say it is quite different to all my trips so far. I'd to join my wife and my friend's family who had to check-in at the caravan park on a Friday evening. After waking up early to catch up with the Indian election results, I was already running late by 2 hours. The weather prediction wasn't good - with heavy rain showers predicted for the entire weekend. After fuelling at my usual Barking Tesco garage, I set out on 130 mile trip to Great Yarmouth through A406, M11, A11 and A47. Apart from the nagging crosswinds I was fine on my own. On A11 I was pretty much on my own on the road. Having stretched my legs and arms at a road-side parking bay after an hour, I reached Great Yarmouth beach in just about 2 hours.
There was a display of iconic American cars and vintage british motorcycles. To see and hear the lovely V8 Mustangs of yesteryears is captivating. There is no completeness of the American cars without the Impalas and the Plymouths. There was also a Dodge Viper - one of my favourites.
We all spent some time in the beach and a mini pleasure park. By evening we all returned to the caravan park. I'd been very much looking forward to this trip, one reason being I can spend any available time with my friend's toddler boy and girl. They bring loads of energy. When we booked the caravan holiday, I assumed that we would get one of those "big" caravans displayed on the brochure. When we reached our caravan, I thought that "those nice caravans on brochure" are just for getting people to book-in. The caravan was a little bit bigger than a bunker but we were there to spend time away from the caravan anyway. The evening was spent in an entertainment hall for kids. The caravan park idea is more geared towards people with kids and aimed towards entertaining kids rather than adults or that is what I felt.
The next morning, we all had been to the swimming pool and spent a couple of hours at the pool. This was my first swim in ages - can't remember when was the last time I'd been swimming - perhaps during my visit to the Andamans in 2006. The afternoon was spent chatting and re-living our past and a look at our future plans. As this trip was meant for the kids, I was just happy to be there with them. Before we departed the caravan park, I took some pictures of my friend's kids on my bike and the boy tested the bike past its rev limiter at over 13k revs, on a stand of course. Earlier he would not like the noise of the engine but on this day he just seemed to love the music of the engine at it's max.
I liked the ride on the country roads on my return. After a long time, had a chance to lean the bike. But got to admit that I still have not got the confidence to trust the bike. In my supervised training with the Essex police, I was told numerous times to trust the bike - methinks it is time to do a track time to build confidence in the bike while leaning. On A47, having got stuck behind a caravan trailer for a long time, decided to pass and get-in lane. As I accelerated past the trailer, the traffic ahead started slowing and it was time to grab the front. The thing I love in these big sport machines are their acceleration and braking. This was the second time, I think, I'd a chance to test the front brakes.
Before we returned to London, we went to Cambridge town and went for a couple of historic sites. After a demanding return journey mainly due to the heavy crosswinds, had a dinner and was back to Cork earlier the next day morning.
On 30th,I'd been to the Volvo Ocean Race in Galway. First time in my life I got to see the big ocean yachts going around the world. They had a in-harbour race but the yachts were at least a mile from the shore making it impossible to take any proper photos or video. After watching the first part of the race from a cliff I got to the shore front to watch the race from the big display screens. Before the yacht race there was a wonderful display of the Red Arrows. Again, this was the first time I saw the Red Arrows up very close on their magnificent display. The acrobatics of these iconic jets were scintillating.
There are so many birthdays/wedding anniversaries in April/May/June that there is no big gap without having get together. I think I'd at least 4 lunches/dinners in May to celebrate the aforementioned events.
Certainly life is going great without many complaints.
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