Portimao 29-31 May 2021. RTTL Extravaganza

[weeksy]

So we've now ticked over the calendar into 2021 which means Portimao is now closing and closing FAST !!!

I know some from here are thinking of new bikes for the trip... How's that coming along ? Any progression or plans ?

How about kit, helmets, boots, gloves, leathers etc... Everyone got what they need ?

I'm completely done i think, with the new 1 piece and the new gloves, along with my trusty boots and helmet, i'm absolutely golden. One thing i may pick up though is another undersuit. My Held undersuit is pretty warm and i'll likely be sweating quite a bit, so a 2nd undersuit may be a good plan.

Another minor debate is tyre warmers.... Sure, we as riders may not 'need' them, but i do find myself losing people on laps 1/2 i can normally stay with, simply because they've got warmers and are on the pace straight off the green light. Does it matter, well, no... but yes, as you can then find yourself missing out on a bit of a battle because of it.

I do need to call/mail no limits at some stage to work out what we owe them, along with sorting out a hire car but there's no rush for either of them 2 things.

[Tricky]

Well, the trips booked - I'm not really planning on buying any new riding kit before then, but I’ve got a fair bit of bike prep to do before I’m ready

I of course bought a project bike for the trip back in October ( thread here - https://revtothelimit.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1141), but since then, done feck all with it mainly due to work stuff and a house purchase/ impending move that got a bit delayed, and in fact, I haven't even ridden it since I bought it yet...

What I have done though is bought a nice new 105N/mm (that's harder – std R6 spring is 95) K-tech rear spring for the R6 shock that’s going onto it, some Bendix MRR brake pads, and a pair of nice sticky Dunlop Alpha SPs. None of them have been fitted yet- I’ve warmed the bike through a few times, but that’s as far as I've got so far.
Fingers crossed the house purchase completes this week, and once it has, I can l start getting stuff moved over the coming weeks and most importantly (for me ) all my tools, workbenches, and the new garage/workshop set up, and it will be all systems go once I have

I’ll get the rear shock sorted and installed, then as soon as I can I’ll be spending a day on the dyno to try out the different airbox mods, get the fuelling and ignition optimized and QS set up, and see what massive bhp figure we can extract
After that, I then need to decide what to do about the forks- unless I just throw a stack of money at it and buy the fully adjustable WP Cup forks, which I’m not planning to do, I really need to ride it on a track for that first though and therein is a problem, for the next couple months anyway
Anyway, we shall see- I can't wait to get in amongst it, and ride the thing too, feel like life's been on pause to some extent the last few months, am really looking forward to this trip!

[Bigyin]

Still looking forward to it hoping all goes smoothly

I wont be buying another bike just for the trip so the Multistrada will be going. Depending on the mileage reading in a couple of months it "might" get a full service with belts etc (ouch) or just a check over with brake refresh and fluids. The Angel GT2 tyres on it have loads of mileage left and will do the job but am tempted to buy something a bit more track orientated/sticky just for the trip

Kitwise i am sorted with decent leathers, choice of a couple of helmets, and plenty of gloves i can use. The only thing i might need to get is a new pair of boots as my Goretex SMX are fairly knackered and probably too warm for Portugal and my non Goretex SMX have a small tear in the outer layer but still useable

My only issue is my complete lack of income from instructing as DVSA were closed all November and since the end of December so hoping things open up again within a few weeks so i can actually pay for the rest of the trip with no more than 3 weeks money earned over 3 months

[Dodgy69]

Hope things do open up, but not sure it'll be that soon.

[Yorick]

We can travel freely to Spain, let's see how the travel to Portugal goes..

[crust]

Tricky, let me know when you're Dynoing, I'd like to come down and stick the Monster, get an idea on starting point and maybe try some different things.

[Tricky]

Tricky, let me know when you're Dynoing, I'd like to come down and stick the Monster, get an idea on starting point and maybe try some different things.

Will do- will give them a buzz later this week after the house stuff completes and get a date booked in, will let you know

[fil2]

Im gonna buy or make a helmet fan !!! its going to be hot hot hot !!!..that's my prep !

[weeksy]

Interesting.

[Skub]

https://motorbikewriter.com/helmet-fan-cool-head/

[Yorick]

Im gonna buy or make a helmet fan !!! its going to be hot hot hot !!!..that's my prep !

Tart. But if you rode a bit faster, you'd have a cooling breeze.

[weeksy]

So then fellas.

Where's all our thoughts up to on this trip considering lockdown and the unspeakable Covid 19 stuff?

Taking into account we'll have 8-9 weeks from when lockdown is scheduled to end, how are we feeling about the flying/hotel/foreign country thing.

Ryanair today have cancelled all flights to/from Spain until end of march.


https://www.euroweeklynews.com/2021/01/ ... ate-march/

But implies easyJet are likely to follow suit.
I hate to be the one to bring it all up, but I think it does need to come up sooner rather than later.

[Couchy]

Tbh my whole decision will be based on my recovery from this covid as it may not be the quick fix I’d assumed 2 weeks ago.
I will also give some thought to actually being in a hospital out there and possibly catching it, none of this really on my radar till I have it and how bad it affected me, but all being well I could just as easily have some immunity and be fit again in a couple of weeks

[2xtwins]

I'm not convinced that we'll end up being able to go, but, at the moment, I'm going - as long as I can get repatriation insurance given my health issues.
It's booked, deposit and flights paid etc, fingers crossed and all that.

Kev

[Dodgy69]

Yep, bit early to say yet, see what its like bit nearer time. But who knows.

[Dodgy69]

How bad you had it Couchy???

[weeksy]

I'm not convinced that we'll end up being able to go,

I honestly expect we'll be able to go. But whether some/all choose to, well that's another question really.

I think we have until mid march before no limits ask for the rest of our money, we should have more of an idea by then how the world is coming along.
easyJet flights are non refundable but if they cancelled it, we'd get the money back. However they do allow free transfers of flights at the moment and unlimited changes, so could either be changed to later in 2021 or even 2022. Beware if doing multiple changes though, if say your flights are currently £600 and your flight you book as an interim solution is £400, but then swap again, your value is only £400 not £600. Apparently it's being looked into but is a bit of a point of contention at the moment.

[Tricky]

Yep, bit early to say yet, see what its like bit nearer time. But who knows.

Agreed, - assuming that the event and flights , hotels etc are still on, which fingers crossed they will be, and I have my health, ( which I've no reason to suspect that I won't )I'll be going,- I'm not concerned about being on a plane etc, am really looking forward to it ( the trip that is, not the plane ride itself )

[Yorick]

I think I'll be OK for travel, but if the UK isn't, then it's a mute point as it won't go ahead anyway. I've checked with my private health insurance, and I'm fully covered in Portugal.

I'll book the ferry anyway as we'll go touring instead if it's cancelled

Let's see...

[fil2]

If I can go then I'am definitely going. I would hope that after at least 8-9 weeks of vaccinations we will be in an improved position. It seems as though isolating and lock down are not preventing infections , gotta be few who think they are isolating and following rules but are not ! Denial a bit like fat ppl. !?I don't eat a lot until they actually analyze what they eat..same with isolating I think ! So in reality vaccination is our only hope !