NF Mighty NF forum 2016x>




Author Topic: Herefordshire on the Edge  (Read 764 times)

cloggy

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 96
    • View Profile
Herefordshire on the Edge
« on: June 26, 2017, 06:33:30 pm »
 Just done this orienteering event for bikes over 25 years old . About sixty riders on bikes as diverse as 1930s girders, Inters, 500Ts, Commandos, P11s,  Kawasaki triples, Suzie Titans, Honda singles, early long stroke MSS,  B50s, Enfields petrol and Diesel, Daytonas, A10s, Bantams and a Puch Maxi!
Felt a bit of a  fraud in that company with my Nuovo, though it drew a lot of interest. There were about 32 checks and if you got 24  or more you got a fake gold medal. I did all but three. Initially I used a marked road  map all round Symonds Yatt and north of Monmouth, then I tagged along with a Tom Tom led group  round Longtown and the east flank of the Brecon Beacons, next I swept up a bunch of checks round Hay on Wye on my own , and then I led a guy round Knighton Bucknall  Leintwardine and Ludlow; and he in turn led me round his patch  down through Tenbury and Bromyard round Malvern  finishing at Ross. About a hundred and eighty miles of largely singletrack lanes. Took about  nine hours plus an hour each way from home and back, another seventy. I was an idiot and didn't eat or drink  anything all day till I got home, which I paid for later. Used  well over six gallons.  Pobbelling along at 20 for hours interspersed with wringing the throttle doesn't get you 60 mpg. I discovered that if you are going to stay with other bikes you have to use third quite a bit.
Really the Nuovo is one of the most gutless bikes in my collection. Very little torque low down,  no top end and a mild midrange. The frame is good on fast sweeping corners if you can cajole the engine into co-operating. With so many tight blind bends I had to work to keep with the 90s Honda trailbike and he wasn't really trying. Great fun, really nice crowd and rewarding to bully the Nuovo into submission.
« Last Edit: June 26, 2017, 07:10:49 pm by cloggy »

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter


banquo

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 986
    • View Profile
Re: Herefordshire on the Edge
« Reply #1 on: June 27, 2017, 07:44:46 am »
Know what you mean; we had our summer run on Sunday, and it was much the same. I find a lot barrel into those blind bends a lot faster than I would, and so I'm always trailing by the time we get round. The solution is to go at my own pace and enjoy the scenery, or as I did on the second leg, follow a Square-Four outfit, that clears all the opposing traffic, and makes an easy pace.
Oh, and TomToms should be banned; that's cheating!

cloggy

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 96
    • View Profile
Re: Herefordshire on the Edge
« Reply #2 on: June 27, 2017, 08:32:24 am »
I think I called the Tom Tom group a bunch of brain dead w*****s. I then later followed them for eight miles.... Really  the event was just to get folks out riding in one of the most underrated beautiful patches of England, though I got much more out of map reading than just following someone with little idea where I was. Now I've upped the idle to standard pre unit brit single speed it doesn't smoke anymore, nor did it use more than a smidgeon of oil. That oil pump is really good.

banquo

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 986
    • View Profile
Re: Herefordshire on the Edge
« Reply #3 on: June 27, 2017, 09:46:26 am »
Aye; TomToms are fine for finding your hotel in the middle of town, but for route planning, they're pretty useless on their own, and you need either the route planning software and/or a map to get some spatial awareness.

OldeGoat

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 87
    • View Profile
Re: Herefordshire on the Edge
« Reply #4 on: July 20, 2017, 07:29:36 am »
I wouldn't call them Great Rides, but I've been out an about on the Civile during the past week.  I recently fitted a pair of bars from another Guzzi, which not only look better but are also comfortable, and also a new pair of brake and clutch levers which incorporate mirror mounts.  Not original, I know,  but the chances of finding and affording originals is minimal, so I'll make do with what I have.  Anyway, the bike ran well and I enjoyed the rides, which is, after all, what it's all about. ;D
Like Like x 1 View List

banquo

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 986
    • View Profile
Re: Herefordshire on the Edge
« Reply #5 on: July 20, 2017, 10:55:29 am »
Every ride is a great ride. Glad you got the controls and mirrors sorted out.

OldeGoat

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 87
    • View Profile
Re: Herefordshire on the Edge
« Reply #6 on: July 20, 2017, 09:09:28 pm »
Every ride is a great ride.
Very true, Jake.  Last night we met up with another club which is an annual event, and were one friend down on last year, so have resolved to ride as often as possible.  Tomorrow, we're going to meet up with a chap who is fitting a Merlin engine which I think came from a tank ( not a Spitfire), into a Bentley.  Should be intriguing!

banquo

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 986
    • View Profile
Re: Herefordshire on the Edge
« Reply #7 on: July 22, 2017, 10:23:21 am »
Aye; the tank ones (Meteor, not Melin) are more common. Genuine Merlins are like gold. There was a fad for Merlin/Meteor-engined cars back in the 60s and 70s, and there was this 'Bentley' that appeared on Top Gear a while back. Makes American muscle cars look positively economical!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2226932/Classic-Bentley-fitted-27-litre-SPITFIRE-engine-goes-sale-500-000-Top-Gear-stars-wince-fuel-bills.html
I remember one special that was rear or mid engined, a bit like a very long Auto-Union, and a hideous version (actually two, as the first one burned out) created by John Dodds. http://theamazoeffect.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/beast-lore-story-of-john-dodds-beast.html