revtothelimit - motorbike forum

Last Sunday....


We had one guest arrive a few days early, really nice guy, I've been taking care of him for years.
On Sunday I invited him out to ski with me.

The conditions were perfect, a wee bi of fresh snow, blue skies and bright sunshine. We cained around the mountain, he's a half decent skier so was able to keep up with me on my board. We stopped for a beer, skied some more, stopped for lunch. We then took the long route home so we were back in time to watch the rugby.

Just an all round awesome day. I feel extremely privileged to get so many awesome days so close together !!

Potter wrote: Tue Feb 27, 2024 9:56 am

Count Steer wrote: Tue Feb 27, 2024 8:11 am
That should do the trick when you can't see over the cars in front.....because they're all the same model/height.

It's surprising how you get used to the advantage of seeing far in front, when you're behind a van or something it ruins the view totally.

In me auld MX-5 (actually a Enos Roadster) you would disappear into the spray if you paced a lorry on wet roads Your eyes were level with everyone else's door handles. I suspect your Caterham is the same.

Great stuff, makes it feel like you're doing 40mph more than you actually are

Potter wrote: Tue Feb 27, 2024 11:05 am

You don't have much choice, these days the UK roads are like Cairo on a Friday afternoon, if you leave more than a cars length between you and the vehicle in front then someone will nip in.

Where do they come from to 'nip in'?

Yambo wrote: Tue Feb 27, 2024 11:27 am

Potter wrote: Tue Feb 27, 2024 11:05 am

You don't have much choice, these days the UK roads are like Cairo on a Friday afternoon, if you leave more than a cars length between you and the vehicle in front then someone will nip in.

Where do they come from to 'nip in'?

Japan ?

Yambo wrote: Tue Feb 27, 2024 11:27 am

Potter wrote: Tue Feb 27, 2024 11:05 am

You don't have much choice, these days the UK roads are like Cairo on a Friday afternoon, if you leave more than a cars length between you and the vehicle in front then someone will nip in.

Where do they come from to 'nip in'?

Side turnings, other lanes, behind you.
It's the rule, car-sized holes must ALWAYS be filled with a car. It is also the reason why UK traffic grinds to a halt so often.

Cousin Jack wrote: Tue Feb 27, 2024 11:37 am It is also the reason why UK traffic grinds to a halt so often.

Nipping in or not, there's no more traffic.

Horse wrote: Tue Feb 27, 2024 1:40 pm

Cousin Jack wrote: Tue Feb 27, 2024 11:37 am It is also the reason why UK traffic grinds to a halt so often.

Nipping in or not, there's no more traffic.

Nipping in usually causes the car behind the space to brake, followed by the one behind, and the one behind that, until someone has to actually panic brake to a stop, and everyone else has to stop too. Car 1 that has stopped sets off promptly, car 2 after a short delay, car 3 stalls, car 4 hoots, car 3stalls again............

I suggest an overbridge on the M1 somewhere around Watford or Luton in the rush hour to observe this behaviour.

Cousin Jack wrote: Tue Feb 27, 2024 2:14 pm
I suggest an overbridge on the M1 somewhere around Watford or Luton in the rush hour to observe this behaviour.

'Phantom traffic jams' might be follow a car changing lanes - but it's the braking that triggers it. Why do people need to panic brake? Not leaving a good enough following distance from the vehicle ahead.

Leave more room, not less. If someone nips in front, you'll 4 or 5 seconds later arriving at your destination.

What they should do, right, is attach the front of one car to the back of the leading one. That way there'd only be need for one driver and there'd be no phantom traffic jams.

But then of course you can't get all the cars to steer. I've thought of that too. Put metal guide rails on the ground which the wheels run on.

Bound to solve all traffic problems and always run on time.

Mr. Dazzle wrote: Tue Feb 27, 2024 3:29 pm What they should do, right, is attach the front of one car to the back of the leading one. That way there'd only be need for one driver and there'd be no phantom traffic jams.

But then of course you can't get all the cars to steer. I've thought of that too. Put metal guide rails on the ground which the wheels run on.

Bound to solve all traffic problems and always run on time.

If they could manage to do something like that and actually run on time AND be affordable it'd be freaking awesome


I wanted to try and get a train from the uk back here, 200€+ absolute minimum. A flight can be had for around 50€ - even adding in a train to get from the airport it's less than 100€

How can it be so much cheaper to fly? I'd much rather go by train, but I can't afford to!! (Even if it's not totally on time I'd rather go by train!! LOL)

Noggin wrote: Tue Feb 27, 2024 3:37 pm How can it be so much cheaper to fly?

Yeah I've asked that loads of times, never seem to get a satisfactory answer

Mr. Dazzle wrote: Tue Feb 27, 2024 3:29 pm What they should do, right, is attach the front of one car to the back of the leading one. That way there'd only be need for one driver and there'd be no phantom traffic jams.

But then of course you can't get all the cars to steer. I've thought of that too. Put metal guide rails on the ground which the wheels run on.

Bound to solve all traffic problems and always run on time.

Cornish chap called Trevithick invented something like that, powered by steam.

Mr. Dazzle wrote: Tue Feb 27, 2024 3:29 pm But then of course you can't get all the cars to steer.

With a 'V' shaped towbar (point of the V to the towing vehicle) the towed vehicle will follow along quite nicely. The tow bars will be considerably cheaper than your rails and will be able to use the existing road network.

Yambo wrote: Tue Feb 27, 2024 4:57 pm

Mr. Dazzle wrote: Tue Feb 27, 2024 3:29 pm But then of course you can't get all the cars to steer.

With a 'V' shaped towbar (point of the V to the towing vehicle) the towed vehicle will follow along quite nicely. The tow bars will be considerably cheaper than your rails and will be able to use the existing road network.

With radar-controlled cruise control and lane-keep systems, no tow bar needed.

Had a lovely sweat in the baths at Harrogate. 'Tis a lovely building inside.

For the second wednesday in a row I'm wayyyyyyy over most limits on rum! Had actually had lunch, but it was only a vegetarian pasty - turns out that is not enough to soak upr four decent measures of rum and lemonade!! Having managed to get myself home to eat something I'm feeling a bit less 'spinny'!

Downside is that the guy that's been flirting with me (for thirteen winters!!) really does only want to flirt. Well that just sux!! Well - (I got drunk enough to suggest a very non serious evening - the response wasn't positive!! )


Tomorrow I need to do a lot of food prep - been shopping today in the valley for the first time in almost 6 weeks, so now I have lots of stuff to prep and turn into meals I can freeze so that I eat a bit better than I have been!! LOL


But first, tomorrow is a lie in morning

Joined a gym!

Taipan wrote: Wed Feb 28, 2024 8:21 pm Joined a gym!

Taipan wrote: Wed Feb 28, 2024 8:21 pm Joined a gym!

Well done.

That's the easy bit. Going every two days is the challenge!

... I speak from experience

Two meetings in one of my schools, with Ofsted inspectors.

The good news is this school is now officially overall Good, with several areas marked as Outstanding! Not too bad for a train crash that we took over 4 years ago.

Woo and hoo!