Cornwall – back home to find a flat!

Just back from a week camping in Cornwall with the family. Itching to get out for a ride with KES and what do I find? A semi-flat front tyre! Hopefully, this is just down to the age of the alloy front wheel and with a little fresh air inside all will be ok again! And yes, I will also check the rims in case of dirt etc as this is a common problem with alloy wheels – I also have the same issue with my car too.

Next ride – route to be planned, but 2nd Saturday in June – maybe pop up to Gloucester, across to Hereford via Ledbury, to Worcester, Stratford-upon-Avon to Burford and home again?

Another ride with eldest son!

What a good day Saturday was! Sunny, warm and dry. A good mix for a nice ride out for the afternoon.

As before, my eldest son, Richard, enjoys being a pillion on the back of KES.

Our route took us out towards Lechlade via Fairford airfield, Faringdon, Radcot (via the Witney road), Burford, Bibury and finally back home.

I still find it strange that there are some real arrogant idiots who insist on overtaking in a 30mph limit – we were doing 30 so I have no idea what is going on in their heads. Still, takes allsorts – and they would be the first to complain if they were involved in an incident of some sort!

Never mind, idiots aside, the ride took about an hour and a half – non-stop – along some really good roads (and some that were rather iffy too!!).

Total mileage around 50-60 – didn’t check but then who cares! Plenty of places en-route to stop for lunch or cuppa if you wanted too.

Ride to Warwick – Me and Billy!

Bit of wet start to what turned out to be a very very pleasant ride. Leaving the Town Hall car park around 8:10am, KES and I left Cricklade heading north along the A419. A couple of miles further on, the rain stopped!

At the Fosse Way junction, that’s the Little Chef services exit, we followed signs for the Fosse Way which is also the A429.

This is a good road. It does have many great straights and bends to test your riding skills. There are plenty of quaint Cotswold towns along the way such as Moreton-in-the-Marsh, Stow on the Wold, and Bourton on the Water to break up the journey a bit. Didn’t stop in any of these places as I was determined to get to Warwick in around an hour – which we did!

Rather than stopping at the castle car park, I decided to carry on through Warwick to see if I could get a good photo of the castle – which for me is one of the best in the country and is what I think of when I imagine a castle – it really is a castle’s castle! Next time, I must remember to bring my camera!

Out the other side of Warwick, we turned around and pootled back through. Very old wooden framed Tudor buildings dot the main road. The town of Warwick is well worth a stop and mooch about too if you have chance. Maybe combine it with a visit to Stratford-Upon-Avon where some famous writer chap lived a few years back 🙂

Anyway, as I was by myself, Billy no mates, I decided to head on home. A very nice gentle ride back to Cricklade – where it did start to rain again.

So, all in all a nice ride out. Shame rest of the lads didn’t turn up – fair weather bikers!

Nice route, approx. 110 miles or so all told.

Top Gear – not any more it seems

Genmtlemen Bikers quest to become the next Top Gear Presenters may have stalled.

Seems there are three high profile candidates that can start straight away!

Good luck to Ed, Nick and Nigel! Hope it goes well!

Proposed route – 9 May

Suggested route up the Fosse Way to Warwick or Stratford-Upon-Avon.

Start time Saturday 9th May, 8am from Cricklade Town Hall car park.

See here for route details http://www.rac.co.uk/route-planner/l/jH07

Return route to be decided – probably on the day at the coffee stop!