Welcome To Bikes And Travels...
...It's about bikes... and travels... mostly on bikes!
What's New?
Chillin' In Mid Wales
There's sun in the sky, the roads are good, the surroundings are pleasant, and Ren is having a terribly non-Ren moment. His wallet saw the light of day...
Stuck In The Cols - Painful!
Andy is enjoying all the mountain passes on the French side of The Pyrenees - until he's "Route Barre" from getting back to the campsite. He's got the sniffles too.
An Easy Day Around The Pyrenees
Andy is taking it easy today. Just a casual bimble around The Pyrenees, across mountains and valleys, you know, the sort of easy ride we all do on a lazy day. Ever more delightful images too.
The Excuse This Time Is 2 Deaths
They're off back to Wales. The reasons this time are unusual and some might say quite sad. Fear not, Ren's prudence will make a mockery out of respect.
Odd Reasons To Be In Wales
Title page for a short trip to mid Wales that has some purpose.
The Kelpies - Again
It's Deja-Vu time for Ren and Sharon. It's traffic and town riding too. Sharon manages to find some lovely green stuff to brighten the day.
Into The Pyrenees
With improving weather Andy is still heading south. It's all terribly positive, even the diversions are opportunities to explore. The Pyrenees continue to impress.
Perfect Weather And Parking Problems
The weather is wonderful, the scenery is great, the bikes are behaving. Fear not Ren will always find something to moan about and a reason to be narky.
Smiling In The Rain
It's a soggy wet day through France for Andy, but that won't dampen his spirits. He stumbles upon 2CVs and climbing walls, straight roads and twisties.
A Day Out From Marlborough
Another easy rest day for the not so dynamic muppets. Sharon's happy with trees, Ren's happily mansplaining locks, and there's Curry for tea. What's not to like?
See More What's New
Latest Posts
Chillin' In Mid Wales
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
The English midge? We occasionally endure the odd random English midge here in the wilds of Bolton, but they are indeed a rare sight. I presume you get them in Wooler? If so - how can you be sure they're not simply Scottish midges raiding over the border into England?
I was trying to come up with some notion that the Scottish midges wear kilts and play bagpipes, the Welsh midges form male voice choirs and prefer sheep. But I thought better of it because that would be offensive to someone somewhere I'm sure of it.
I have a TV licence - admittedly I'm beginning to question why. I inherited a nice TV from my mother and I've not even plugged it in yet.
21/11/2025 10:21:58 UTC
Chillin' In Mid Wales
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Yes, yes, yes, you're a fool.....tell us some'at new. Pffffffftttttt. Fool!
What matters here my lad is the blatant racism you hide mischievously in these ramblings. In these times of openness you must be admonished and outed for you are a racist. Why! I'll tell you why young Ed me lad.
Not a single mention of the English midge, a wee beasty capable of terrifying misdemeanours. I expect a full apology published in a prominent place on this travel blog and in penance I will post a quantity of the said creatures for your displeasure to your home address. Not Sharon's, she's lovely.
Upon the arrival of the English Midge you will place on your protective helmet and through the open visor empty the beasties within before closing said visor. A YouTube video will be required to show full compliance. If you fail in any way then I will have no alternative but to withhold my subscriptions.
As an aside, does anyone (?!) pay for a TV licence anymore, thought not.
Upt.
21/11/2025 09:59:43 UTC
Stuck In The Cols - Painful!
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Errant cows? Meh.
Closed roads? Meh.
Nice murals, very acceptable.
Ta me duck.
Upt.
18/11/2025 16:21:42 UTC
Stuck In The Cols - Painful!
nab301 said :-
Some more great photos of great scenery, as for the crazy cyclists It must be even more difficult for the motorcycles filming the Tour , with a camera man pillion either standing up or facing backwards...
Nigel
18/11/2025 15:25:48 UTC
Stuck In The Cols - Painful!
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Great pics Andy, and brings back memories. I was actually once overtaken by a cyclist when descending - I think - the Col d'Aubisque when I was on the Commando. Crazy doesn't come close.
18/11/2025 09:45:59 UTC
Ayside, The Lake District 2012 - Going Home
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
It was a long time ago and it was a different Ren! This being said if I am to be criticised for not camping... there's much more criticism to come.
It is funny, I watched a YouTube video and this "Tuber" noted how many subscribers complained when the style of the content shifted slightly. They lost views and therefore income. (Un)Fortunately I never managed to make money from this here blog so I don't need to worry about that!
15/11/2025 06:34:57 UTC
Buying The Bent Bike
said :-
15/11/2025 00:24:46 UTC
Ayside, The Lake District 2012 - Going Home
ROD¹ said :-
And, apart from the Fazer being far too clean.
Where was the tent!!!
14/11/2025 19:16:46 UTC
Ayside, The Lake District 2012 - Going Home
nab301 said :-
I thought I was on the wrong blog what with mention of Harleys and lace up leather chaps....
As for the Early Fazer , always a bike I admired but never got around to owning , and I'm guessing it belongs to a previous version of Ren , it's far too clean!.
Nigel
14/11/2025 11:48:43 UTC
Into The Pyrenees
Andy Gray said :-
Upt, more Tour de France climbs to come.
Not many mozzies found this year even down south. The little bugger usually find me if they’re within a mile.
13/11/2025 00:50:19 UTC
See More Comments
Latest Repair-Chat
Go To Repair-Chat
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
I wouldn't go as far as my being a Viz aficionado Ian, I've never once purchased said comic and only glossed over random copies over the years. It's just a part of everyday culture, perhaps you're just not down wiv da kidz like what I is innit ?.
13/11/2025 22:15:23 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
I had to duckduckgo that (other search engines are apparently available). I msuppose I'm not surprised you're a Viz aficonado Ren....
11/11/2025 09:43:19 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
It's a good job Finbarr Saunders isn't reading this! Fnarr fnarr yik yik...
10/11/2025 20:53:16 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
One of the speedos - the one in the cluster I bought - had a tiny Phillips screw buried inside the knob - this came out easily enough so half way there. The one on the speedo I want to fit has nothing similar. I don't mind if the knob breaks as I may want to extend the shaft anyway, but I don't want to damage the inside workings.
10/11/2025 13:33:53 UTC
Glyn said :-
Sadly, that is not the case for my TZR speedo. The only way to get it off was a heavy hand that broke it. On closer examination it was only an interference fit but there was no way it would just slide off. I had to file off one side of the knob shaft to remove the bit left behind. Now I’m making a shaft to connect the shaft and the knob. Good luck Ian.
09/11/2025 21:37:44 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Thanks Rod, will have a look tomorrow. It's often these daft little things that throw you.
09/11/2025 16:44:33 UTC
ROD¹ said :-
On the older Japanese bikes with the trip knob to the side of the Speedo, ( as opposed to on top of the Speedo ) there used to be a small hole underneath the Speedo in line with the trip reset knob. I can't remember if this was for a screwdriver or an Allen key, but this hole gives access to a small grub screw which needs to be loosened to remove the trip knob.
Hope this helps. Sorry if I haven't made myself clear. If you still have problems a picture may be of use.
09/11/2025 16:23:35 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Trip knobs.
No this is not a rude post about idiots on tour.... I need to remove the trip reset knobs from 2 speedometers (modern-ish Japanese) but can't for the life of me see how to do it. Any useful tips?
09/11/2025 15:22:16 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
DOH!!!
30/10/2025 10:46:28 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Don't bite Ed, oh you already have...hook, line and sinker.
30/10/2025 10:16:24 UTC
Latest Chit-Chat
Go To Chit-Chat
Ian Soady¹ said :-
That doesn't look in bad nick Glyn, and should prove an interesting project. Would you use something like a Reliant back end (obviously needing to turn the drivetrain through 90 degrees) or are there trike-specific diffs etc available? It would be very tricky to add a sidecar given the type of frame.
23/11/2025 16:16:39 UTC
Glyn said :-
I have and am considering that very idea Ian. Bike is an ex demo, one owner bike that’s covered about 11k miles. It hasn’t run since 2001 and everything needs looking at. All calipers are sticky, throttle cable is jammed. All items that happen after a long layup. I have 4 boxes of parts removed by the previous owner but they’re mainly largish bits and he’s supplied a Haynes Manual with the paperwork.
23/11/2025 15:38:51 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
I look forward to your progress Glyn. Are you going to trike-ise it?
22/11/2025 14:46:49 UTC
Glyn said :-
Well I bought the Triumph Speed triple 900. So another complicated Lego puzzle without a picture on the box.
Knees? Forget them, it should be my head that needs looking at by the medical profession.
22/11/2025 13:18:18 UTC
Glyn said :-
That sounds a great deal Ren as I believe that the private hospital rogues are charging £6k per side and that doesn’t include the grease nipples. Actually Ian, they’re doing one at a time, the first one early next year and the second 3 months later. I’m a little apprehensive about becoming bionic.
21/11/2025 13:49:27 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Andy.
Ad Gefrin is a nice detour and the restaurant can and does provide a good meal. The weekend dinner openings are nice at this time of year. Thankfully for us it's just a five minute walk.
I think they can start selling their own whisky soon, it must be approaching three years old by now. I will have to check. As soon as they do we'll do a tour and tasting dinner special.
Upt.
21/11/2025 11:05:45 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
I haven't Glyn but a pal had an ex race series 900 for a while, it was loud and quick for its time and seemed reliable even with its past history. I have ridden the first incarnation of the Trophy 1200 which scared the life out of me, by todays standards it'd be a sluggard but it was damn quick in the mid 90's.
The handling of the 1200 was sweet enough.
Get it bought!
Upt.
21/11/2025 11:01:25 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Not the 900 but I did have a Tiger 955i for a few years. The engine was a real peach with plenty of torque as well as around 100 bhp (allegedly) at the top end. Sounded lovely as well. But I think the 900 will be the carburated version so a bit different. The Tiger was heavy and much of the weight carried quite high so could be a handful if it caught you off balance, especially with dodgy knees.
Good luck with the ops - I had my left knee done about 15 years ago - doesn't time fly - and my right hip a couple of years ago. Both still fine. The trick with the knees is to religiously do the physio afterwards, painful though it is. And I wouldn't fancy having bothe done at the same time myself as with one you're still mobile - with both you'll be struggling for a while.
Trike? You need a combination! I've painted the chassis of my Steib and am booked in for a paint job on the body for February. Yesterday I was looking at the rear mounting on the bike and have found that very luckily I can put a 1/2" long bolt through the swinging arm spindle, and that the rear brake pivot is conveniently screwed into a plate on the frame about 2.5" below that, again 1/2" diameter. There is an outrigger plate to the rear which will give even more stability so I will fabricate a 10mm mild steel plate to fit over these then attach the rear lower sidecar mounting to that. This is the one that takes probably 75% of the vertical load. But still a little way to go.....
21/11/2025 10:07:07 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
For £1k Glyn I'll come down and fix ya knees for ya. I'm pretty sure we can fit a couple of stainless steel gate hinges in those knees, screw 'em into your thigh and shin bones, stitch you up, and get you a brew in no time! You might want a nice bottle of single malt to take the edge off while I'm doing it, ooh it'll be handy too if your Mrs can find some clean rags? Do you want a grease nipple fitted to each knee for easy lubrication? That's extra.
I'm about as much help with your Triumph question as I would be with your knees...
21/11/2025 08:56:46 UTC
Glyn said :-
Does anyone have any experience of the Triumph triple 900?
I have an opportunity to buy a 1996 complete but dismantled bike for £1k. I’ve no experience with any British bikes apart from the BSA Bantams. They’re a bit on the heavy side though but I doubt I’d keep it after the renovation. I’ve currently got 2 new knees on order and so the idea of a trike is still foremost in my mind.
20/11/2025 20:04:40 UTC
Random Link - Honda CMX500 First Look