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32
General Discussion / Around the world in 80 days
« on: August 18, 2017, 08:07:57 PM »
...no, not Phileas Fogg, but Mr Mark Beaumont.
Mark is one of those ultra distance cyclists. He was the former round the world record holder (unassisted), he cycled the length of the American continent(s).....
.....and is the world record holder for Cairo to Cape Town.
Mark is a fellow Scotsman and, after I met him a couple of years ago, struck me as a thoroughly nice bloke.
Anyway, he left Paris 49 days ago, cycled through Eastern Europe, Russia, Mongolia a bit of China, across 'stralia and is currently heading towards the north tip of New Zealand where he will catch a flight to Alaska and head down through Canada and then cross the US of A.
The rules are simple. Two crossing points in the north and southern hemisphere and 18,000 miles minimum. That's around 240 miles a day.
No drafting.
If any on our American cousins come across Mark on their scooter travels, give him a toot of the horn and some encouragement.
Live tracker & other info
http://www.artemisworldcycle.com/live-update/
Mark is one of those ultra distance cyclists. He was the former round the world record holder (unassisted), he cycled the length of the American continent(s).....
.....and is the world record holder for Cairo to Cape Town.
Mark is a fellow Scotsman and, after I met him a couple of years ago, struck me as a thoroughly nice bloke.
Anyway, he left Paris 49 days ago, cycled through Eastern Europe, Russia, Mongolia a bit of China, across 'stralia and is currently heading towards the north tip of New Zealand where he will catch a flight to Alaska and head down through Canada and then cross the US of A.
The rules are simple. Two crossing points in the north and southern hemisphere and 18,000 miles minimum. That's around 240 miles a day.
No drafting.
If any on our American cousins come across Mark on their scooter travels, give him a toot of the horn and some encouragement.
Live tracker & other info
http://www.artemisworldcycle.com/live-update/
33
General Discussion / USS George HW Bush
« on: August 11, 2017, 01:40:55 PM »
....comes to Scotland
USS George HW Bush & HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carriers, plus an assortment of USN & RN frigates and destroyers
The USS George HW Bush and the Royal Navy nuclear submarine, HMS Torbay.
The Americans are on their way back home now, but their next deployment is rumoured to be the Straits of Taiwan, keeping an eye on all those friendly Chinese military divisions just across the water :-)
Our local news channel get a trip to the Bush.
https://stv.tv/news/features/1395137-uss-george-bush/
USS George HW Bush & HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carriers, plus an assortment of USN & RN frigates and destroyers
The USS George HW Bush and the Royal Navy nuclear submarine, HMS Torbay.
The Americans are on their way back home now, but their next deployment is rumoured to be the Straits of Taiwan, keeping an eye on all those friendly Chinese military divisions just across the water :-)
Our local news channel get a trip to the Bush.
https://stv.tv/news/features/1395137-uss-george-bush/
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Eye Candy | Videos and Pics / Park Life
« on: July 09, 2017, 06:31:00 PM »
Down at the park this morning. A few ducks but no swans today. Loadsa seagulls though 
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Eye Candy | Videos and Pics / Sunset
« on: June 17, 2017, 03:08:17 PM »
....I'm sure there was a thread on sunset pictures on here a few hours ago?
Never mind, I'm probably going senile. Here's my offering taken 10 years ago.
I hope to get a run out at night next weekend, just after the summer solstice (weather permitting of course!)
Never mind, I'm probably going senile. Here's my offering taken 10 years ago.
I hope to get a run out at night next weekend, just after the summer solstice (weather permitting of course!)
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General Discussion / New Kymco!
« on: June 02, 2017, 11:49:25 AM »
BREAKING NEWS: Kymco Motors have today announced a new coal powered scooter exclusively for the US market. The Kymco Trumptown will be available for release immediately.
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Eye Candy | Videos and Pics / Scorcher
« on: May 27, 2017, 12:29:32 PM »
...as our weather reporters would say. Most unusual in Scotland and even more unusual for a Holiday weekend, where it normally pishes down relentlessly for the duration.
And because most of my bike clothing is geared towards a cooler climate it's, dare I say it, too warm for riding. So a cold beer and the F.A. Cup and/or Scottish Cup final (that's football btw) on the telly later on seems to be the order of the day.
Still, I popped out for a couple of hours this morning to one of the many small fishing villages dotted along the coast. With small fishing villages comes small locally producing ice cream shops. And I didn't want to offend anyone by not sampling the local brew <slurp>
A quick nip into the office first though....
Then off for some ice cream and a bit of scenery...
Catch of the day.
And if anyone's interested, last week I came across a few vehicles that Henry F built about 100 years ago....
And because most of my bike clothing is geared towards a cooler climate it's, dare I say it, too warm for riding. So a cold beer and the F.A. Cup and/or Scottish Cup final (that's football btw) on the telly later on seems to be the order of the day.
Still, I popped out for a couple of hours this morning to one of the many small fishing villages dotted along the coast. With small fishing villages comes small locally producing ice cream shops. And I didn't want to offend anyone by not sampling the local brew <slurp>
A quick nip into the office first though....
Then off for some ice cream and a bit of scenery...
Catch of the day.
And if anyone's interested, last week I came across a few vehicles that Henry F built about 100 years ago....
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Eye Candy | Videos and Pics / Down town...Up country
« on: April 03, 2017, 07:28:54 PM »
One more from me.
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Downtown 300 / Drive Belt Inspection
« on: April 02, 2017, 03:56:25 PM »
Havign finally got the cover of with the help of a very large rubber persuader, i got a look at the drive belt today. I was worried that it might be on the way out as there was a screeching noise coming from that area after quite a number of miles. It hasn't repeated itself since then, but most of my journeys have been relatively short (less than 20 miles).
I don't know much about drive belts, so I look a few pics and a few measurements while I was it at. Any thoughts would be most welcome.
The belt itself would appear to be as new. There are no cracks or missing teeth. The maximum deflection when pushed is about half an inch (should have measured this more accurately, I know). Measured over several different points, the belt is 22 mm wide and at it's narrowest (at the tip of the teeth, its 16mm). The cogs etc all seem to be in good condition.
As I said, any thoughts (particularly in relation of the screeching when warm) would be appreciated.
I don't know much about drive belts, so I look a few pics and a few measurements while I was it at. Any thoughts would be most welcome.
The belt itself would appear to be as new. There are no cracks or missing teeth. The maximum deflection when pushed is about half an inch (should have measured this more accurately, I know). Measured over several different points, the belt is 22 mm wide and at it's narrowest (at the tip of the teeth, its 16mm). The cogs etc all seem to be in good condition.
As I said, any thoughts (particularly in relation of the screeching when warm) would be appreciated.
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Downtown 300 / Screech on take off?
« on: March 28, 2017, 12:06:30 PM »
I've just remembered something I was going to ask.
When I was out for my Sunday run all was fine until after about 100 miles when I had to stop at a junction. On take off there was quite a large screech from the back end (the bike's, not mine).
I tried slowing right down to almost falling over pace over and over again and it wouldn't repeat itself. The next time I stopped however, the screech came back when I took off again.
When I stopped for lunch for about half an hour, the screech stopped altogether for the rest of the trip home. So it only seems to happen when it's hot.
I took the bike up to work the next day (just a short 10 mile hop) and despite stopping at multiple junctions in town it wouldn't make the sound again.
It sounds a little like a loose car fanbelt, so I guess the finger of suspicion points to the drive belt (which is 3000 miles / 2 and a half years old)
When I was out for my Sunday run all was fine until after about 100 miles when I had to stop at a junction. On take off there was quite a large screech from the back end (the bike's, not mine).
I tried slowing right down to almost falling over pace over and over again and it wouldn't repeat itself. The next time I stopped however, the screech came back when I took off again.
When I stopped for lunch for about half an hour, the screech stopped altogether for the rest of the trip home. So it only seems to happen when it's hot.
I took the bike up to work the next day (just a short 10 mile hop) and despite stopping at multiple junctions in town it wouldn't make the sound again.
It sounds a little like a loose car fanbelt, so I guess the finger of suspicion points to the drive belt (which is 3000 miles / 2 and a half years old)
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Eye Candy | Videos and Pics / British Summertime
« on: March 26, 2017, 01:49:33 PM »
....officially starts today!
We all got an hour less in our beds because of the clocks going forward, but that's ok...because winter is OVER! (well, maybe :-))
There's still some snow on those distant hills though
We all got an hour less in our beds because of the clocks going forward, but that's ok...because winter is OVER! (well, maybe :-))
There's still some snow on those distant hills though
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Anyone follow it?
The world's. premier motorcycle racing class goes under the floodlights in Qatar this weekend for the season opener with factory entries from Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Ducati (the 218mph Ducatis!), Aprillia and KTM.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2017/01/23/2017-motogp-calendar-confirmed/218151
23rd of April they're in Texas. 27th of August they're in dear ol' Blighty.
Turn it up
MotoGP California
Luv it.
The world's. premier motorcycle racing class goes under the floodlights in Qatar this weekend for the season opener with factory entries from Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Ducati (the 218mph Ducatis!), Aprillia and KTM.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2017/01/23/2017-motogp-calendar-confirmed/218151
23rd of April they're in Texas. 27th of August they're in dear ol' Blighty.
Turn it up
MotoGP California
Luv it.
45
Eye Candy | Videos and Pics / Out and about
« on: March 19, 2017, 04:26:12 PM »
All seasons in the space of an hour today - and I even tried out my fake GoPro with some decent results (including multiple roundabout approaches for my American cousins :-)
You'll have to wait for that though, I need to figure out some editing software.
In the meantime, a trip to the beach was in order.
Looking west towards the lighthouse - note WW2 anti tank landing defences in the water.
And looking North East - next stop Norway
Finally, the same shot....but a close up of my new screen :-)
You'll have to wait for that though, I need to figure out some editing software.
In the meantime, a trip to the beach was in order.
Looking west towards the lighthouse - note WW2 anti tank landing defences in the water.
And looking North East - next stop Norway
Finally, the same shot....but a close up of my new screen :-)