mcatrophy
Privileged to ride a 2018 FJR1300AS
As She was driving out, She wound down Her window, and said "There are a lot of leaves." I translate that as "There are lots of leaves that you will clear up." After 46 years of marriage I'm beginning to be able to do the translation.
These trees in paricular ...
(click on image for larger view)
... produce carpets of leaves
Today is Thursday, She's going away, back Monday.
Weather is damp, not actually raining. I get out the leaf blower/sucky thing, broom and other clearing-up stuff, and proceed to fill about a hundred plastic bags with leaves. Well, perhaps ten.
Why is this in the "Ride Reports" section? Well, I had to move the FJR out of the garage to get the garden trolly out. Then, She's away, the bike's out, the rain is just about holding off. Let's go find some more leaves!
I set off to do a loop. Didn't want to go too far (other things to be done at home), so I set off along my usual local start, heading generally towards the Derbyshire Dales. The temperature is very mild (14 C, 53 F). A little windy, but otherwise ok.
Traffic is light, bike feels good, I feel good. Although the roads I choose are mostly narrow and winding, I can find sufficient overtaking opportunities that I never feel frustrated, and can generally ride my own pace.
As I get into wooded areas, I'm concerned about leaves on the road. Mostly the roadway is reasonably clear, though often there are leaves between the car wheel tracks, so I'm not doing any rapid swapping from one track to the other - I generally move the bike to the side that gives the best visibility round the next corner. There were some road junctions where leaves seem to pile up, presumably because cars are travelling slowly here and don't blow them away.
After a while it starts to rain, I decide to head for home, so I tell Tomtom to find me a winding route. Tomtom takes me down a road I've never been on before, and before I know it, I'm going down a 1 in 4 hill with a couple of very sharp hairpin bends that's through a wooded area, so plenty of wet leaves on the road. Managed that without any drama, but it did have an affect in the sphincter region
Did get trapped behind a car following a heavy lorry (truck). They were travelling too quickly to ovetake safely, but obviously slower than I wanted to go. So, I found a side road, even narrower than the road I was on. After a few miles, it wound back onto the original road. I reached the junction, to see the lorry and car go by. Oh well, I pull in behind them, immediately find I can overtake the car. Followed the lorry for a few more bends, then click-click down two gears and I'm past him.
It's drizzling now, and my visor is misting a bit (pin-locks are good, but not perfect). I continue to follow Tomtom's directions until I'm on familiar roads, and home I go.
Arrive back on my road. The bike's behaved impeccably, the BT023's haven't given a moment's cause for concern. I ride up my drive ...
... to find the garden totally covered in a carpet of leaves.
The route (click on image for interactive map)
And Tomtom's summary
These trees in paricular ...
(click on image for larger view)
... produce carpets of leaves
Today is Thursday, She's going away, back Monday.
Weather is damp, not actually raining. I get out the leaf blower/sucky thing, broom and other clearing-up stuff, and proceed to fill about a hundred plastic bags with leaves. Well, perhaps ten.
Why is this in the "Ride Reports" section? Well, I had to move the FJR out of the garage to get the garden trolly out. Then, She's away, the bike's out, the rain is just about holding off. Let's go find some more leaves!
I set off to do a loop. Didn't want to go too far (other things to be done at home), so I set off along my usual local start, heading generally towards the Derbyshire Dales. The temperature is very mild (14 C, 53 F). A little windy, but otherwise ok.
Traffic is light, bike feels good, I feel good. Although the roads I choose are mostly narrow and winding, I can find sufficient overtaking opportunities that I never feel frustrated, and can generally ride my own pace.
As I get into wooded areas, I'm concerned about leaves on the road. Mostly the roadway is reasonably clear, though often there are leaves between the car wheel tracks, so I'm not doing any rapid swapping from one track to the other - I generally move the bike to the side that gives the best visibility round the next corner. There were some road junctions where leaves seem to pile up, presumably because cars are travelling slowly here and don't blow them away.
After a while it starts to rain, I decide to head for home, so I tell Tomtom to find me a winding route. Tomtom takes me down a road I've never been on before, and before I know it, I'm going down a 1 in 4 hill with a couple of very sharp hairpin bends that's through a wooded area, so plenty of wet leaves on the road. Managed that without any drama, but it did have an affect in the sphincter region
Did get trapped behind a car following a heavy lorry (truck). They were travelling too quickly to ovetake safely, but obviously slower than I wanted to go. So, I found a side road, even narrower than the road I was on. After a few miles, it wound back onto the original road. I reached the junction, to see the lorry and car go by. Oh well, I pull in behind them, immediately find I can overtake the car. Followed the lorry for a few more bends, then click-click down two gears and I'm past him.
It's drizzling now, and my visor is misting a bit (pin-locks are good, but not perfect). I continue to follow Tomtom's directions until I'm on familiar roads, and home I go.
Arrive back on my road. The bike's behaved impeccably, the BT023's haven't given a moment's cause for concern. I ride up my drive ...
... to find the garden totally covered in a carpet of leaves.
The route (click on image for interactive map)
And Tomtom's summary
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