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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?
A long Ride to Gien
Big miles already on Andy's first day on the road. He's just getting settled into the ride and making his way south through France.
To The Southern Tip Of Europe
Title page for Andy Gray's Facebook posts following his trip across France and Spain - and back.
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Latest Posts
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
Smiling In The Rain
Andy Gray said :-
Thanks for all the positive comments.
I like maps, so this year invested in a set of 7 maps covering Spain and Portugal. The plan was to find mountains and avoid motorways on my way around Spain. Michelin maps (1:250,000?) give just the right detail to do this.
I have maps of the Alps but might need to get a set for the rest of France as I’ve used the route south twice now and fancy a change.
13/11/2025 00:42:02 UTC
An Easy Day Around The Pyrenees
Bogger said :-
An easy day now and again certainly helps after the hard ones.
Bogger
12/11/2025 19:23:26 UTC
Ayside, The Lake District 2012 - Going Home
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Oh, I was just going to buy one......
12/11/2025 16:33:48 UTC
Ayside, The Lake District 2012 - Going Home
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
I've deleted the advert ROD. People advertise here because I get traffic and they're trying to improve their page rank.
Or possibly it's because this is a fabulous wonderful website... Shush, don't spoil it for me....
12/11/2025 15:28:43 UTC
Ayside, The Lake District 2012 - Going Home
ROD¹ said :-
Will this be heavy duty enough to take my K1600?
Why do people think that this is a good place to advertise?
Maybe Ren needs one for his wallet?
12/11/2025 15:13:31 UTC
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Latest Repair-Chat
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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
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nab301 said :-
Maybe Glyn would be better placed to identify it , I think you're correct though , I hadn't really looked closely at it and as it's just a display piece it may not be "original" . I assumed 10 journals =5 mains and 5 big ends but it looks more like 6 mains and 4 big ends.
Nigel
14/11/2025 12:08:32 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Thanks nab301, good to know.
Marine application? From that which I can glean it appears to be a crank for a large 4 piston engine (or possibly a V8). Heavily built but with a relatively short throw. My guess would be it's a piece of art, the dimensions are unfamiliar.
11/11/2025 19:14:29 UTC
nab301 said :-
Ditto to that Ian...
@Ren , It's an engineering shop in the south east (Tullow Co Carlow)on the N81 that I pass by occasionally , I just took the photo out of interest , he last time I took a photo over 10 yrs ago and posted it online I was told the crankshaft was probably out of a marine application?
Nigel
11/11/2025 14:17:45 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
This forum is the best crank place I know of......
10/11/2025 09:47:41 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
What's the crank place you were at nab301?
09/11/2025 12:28:13 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
You might need a wider fairing.
07/11/2025 16:34:23 UTC
nab301 said :-
Leaving my bike in for a new crankshaft!
Nigel
07/11/2025 14:52:02 UTC
nab301 said :-
Ren , safety in numbers , you need to mobilise all the lurking BAT members and descend (or should that be head up to) and arrive en masse unannounced demanding Tea and biscuits , I'm sure Upts' vegetable patch isn't that big (assuming more than 2 turn up ...)
Nigel
07/11/2025 14:49:59 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
I warn you (and myself), if you visit you may never leave. It happens, look at us.
The last visitors didn't leave either but the mounds in the veggie patch will flatten down over the winter.
06/11/2025 08:46:17 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
I really must get myself up to Wooler - Upt' has gotten away with it for far too long.
06/11/2025 08:12:01 UTC
Random Link - The Business Of Miles