Welcome To Bikes And Travels...
...It's about bikes... and travels... mostly on bikes!
What's New?
Feet Forward, Food, And Friends
It's a much more relaxed day for Bogger and Pete. There's a handful of miles to ride, people to meet, food to eat, and of course the odd beer.
Mooching Around The Mach Loop
The Dynamic Muppets take on the Mach Loop! OK, it's far less impressive than it sounds. There's some countryside, a cafe, and all the things you'd expect.
To The Most Southern Tip Of Europe
Andy reaches the final destination of this trip. "You can see Africa from 'ere".
Haulin' Ass
It's gonna be a long long long ride for Bogger and Pete today. Our brave heroic riders are up to the task and it all seems rather easy overall. Hopefully the digs at the end of the ride will allow their asses to rest comfortably.
Bothering The Locals And "Hills"
The Dynamic Muppets are bothering the good people of Lincolnshire as well as bringing the house prices down. There's tea and cake and sweeties too, hills, and spooky stuff.
Queasy Crossing And Useless Till Roll
Rain, wayward boarding passes, useless navigation systems, and rough seas - it's just another day in the life of a Bogger. As ever there's food and booze in the life of a Bogger too.
The Omnipresence Of Olive Groves
Andy's definition of a shorter ride is only 250 miles... sheesh. This time between the fabulous scenery and glorious weather it's olive groves as far as the eye can see.
Lonesome In The Flatlands
Ren is hoping for a better day weatherwise and riding-wise too. Ingoldmells is deserted, Skeggy and Mablethorpe ain't up to much, luckily the countryside is better than expected.
Homeward Bound And Epilogues
Alas it's time to go home. The weather gives Ren deja-vu and there's a moment for a little more cake. Both Sharon and Ren sum up their feelings about the area.
Naughty Boys On Strange Bikes
It's a discouraging start to Bogger's Feet Forwards French expedition. Not to worry, soon the 2 old men are sneaking around like naughty school kids.
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Latest Posts
Feet Forward, Food, And Friends
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Beginning!
16/02/2026 16:36:56 UTC
Feet Forward, Food, And Friends
nab301 said :-
Sounds like it was a nice well deserved relaxing day!
Nigel
16/02/2026 16:17:34 UTC
Feet Forward, Food, And Friends
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
I'm beginning to think Upt' is losing the plot. Perhaps he's in need of another holiday with sunshine and warmth, all that not working and being at home in the lovely countryside isn't doing him any good it seems. Maybe he needs to give the booze a miss too... Not envious, not at all. As you say Upt' - Pfffft!
16/02/2026 13:04:36 UTC
Feet Forward, Food, And Friends
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Shabby Chique you say, a bit like me. Rough around the edges.
On the subject of the naming of pastries...it's me isn't it. Why is a croissant called a croissant in England, it's a butter pastry, no? A pain au wotsit is just a pastry, a chocolate pastry, a raisin pastry. It isn't even French in origin just like most of the French named pastries; I think it's a nonsense and I will not comply with the nonsense from this moment forth. Next time I'm in the co-op I shall ask for the butter pastries, followed by, "you know? Croissants"?
Pffffffftttttt.
Even the Welsh are at it and the Royal Family, you know, the "whatever" formally known as?
I need a drink, don't forget to give generously and whoever put an old centime in there and a toenail it's not funny!
Upt.
16/02/2026 12:46:07 UTC
Feet Forward, Food, And Friends
Ian Soady¹ said :-
I like that shabby chic that the French (and Italians) do so well. It's great to go in a bar or restaurant that has barely changed in decades - not like here where everything gets ripped out every few years for a new look and an excuse to charge more. Shame about the FF eating its engine. Is it a bike engine or from a car?
16/02/2026 09:58:06 UTC
Mooching Around The Mach Loop
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Re another conversation - of course red wine is very vegetal and contains lots of those good polyphenols as well! Better than brown sauce any day although I don't put it on my chips.
11/02/2026 15:43:04 UTC
Mooching Around The Mach Loop
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Thanks Occasional Lurker - you're talking my kinda language there. Ooooh I forgot - brown sauce contains tomato and dates - that's another 2 items on the 5-a-day. I didn't realise I was so healthy!
10/02/2026 16:04:46 UTC
Mooching Around The Mach Loop
Occasional Lurker said :-
There is nothing wrong with your diet Ren .... A little fruit may be added now and again ... This can be achieved by the consumption of a "Terry's" Chocolate Orange ... Apparently they are one of your "Five a day" ..!!!
Regards, Tony ...
10/02/2026 09:08:48 UTC
To The Most Southern Tip Of Europe
Sharon said :-
The fact you dislike most people but you are my friend makes me feel somewhat special.
As a 150 mile a day kinda girl when touring I would never be capable of keeping up with you.
But is always a pleasure to meet up with when we can.
Great photos and the pool looks lovely what a great way to relax after the ride.
09/02/2026 21:48:08 UTC
Mooching Around The Mach Loop
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
You're quite right nab301 - my diet is frankly appalling. Green stuff is for rabbits in my world. Sharon occasionally manages to hide the odd piece of lettuce on a burger and perhaps a piece of onion might be found there too. I'll eat coleslaw happily because they've hidden the green bits in mayo.
Baked beans are veg? Spuds are veg? Peanut Butter is veg? Let's face it bread is from wheat which is a vegetable? Orange juice is veg? I do eat soup usually lentil or carrot and coriander. Oooh ooh my "butter" is olive spread and that's a veg?
Yes yes yes... there's no hope.
09/02/2026 17:01:20 UTC
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Latest Repair-Chat
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Ian Soady¹ said :-
Hopefully trial fit of the body into the chassis tomorrow. Measuring up it looks a bit tight unless my tape stretches / shrinks between the two sheds......
Oh, and I think I now have the temperature gauge connected correctly. When I switch on the ignition the needle just moves up a touch. What will it do when the coolant is hot I wonder?
Speaking of which have now finalised the rad positioning with the aid of some 20mm stainless steel tubing to extend the hoses. Pics may (or may not) follow.
16/02/2026 13:02:46 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
I never drank until I visited this site?
Pffffffftttttt.
Now I can't stop, please visit GoFundMe page : BigLadNeedsBooze and give generously.
Thanks in advance. Now where did I put my glass.
15/02/2026 13:22:41 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
I'm glad I don't drink, it seems terribly complicated.
09/02/2026 15:47:55 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Not posh, just sensible. For a one-off £40 subscription you can get some great wine. My current favourite is a Bordeaux red (of course) which is available in bag-in-box as well as bottles for less than £8 a bottle. And free delivery.
I have to admit that at one time I worked out the best alcohol to £ ratio and ended up with draught sherry from the local offy. It tasted disgusting.
09/02/2026 10:38:13 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
"The Wine Society"? Good heavens just how posh is life in Redditch? Posh - and pickled too.
09/02/2026 08:09:19 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Just a quick pic of my spray booth. The Wine Society use very good strong cardboard boxes to distribute their nectar, providing very useful raw material.
Unfortunately too small to get the Steib body in it.
05/02/2026 10:28:58 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Yes, I have tried it and my size 12 fits in there OK with a bit of contortion. Of course I don't have to extricate it when I stop which is a bonus! There's also enough room above the brake pedal which I was slightly concerned about but seems OK.
Yes, 5 connections. The 2 lower ones front & back take most of the vertical load. The three upper ones keep the whole rig from toppling over. Some people only use 2 upper ones but I'm advised by an authority yjat 3 is better. It does seem pretty rigid even before I tighten the clevis bolts.
04/02/2026 16:26:29 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Is there going to be enough room to get a big boot down between all those connectors? Am I correct in counting 5 connections?
04/02/2026 15:36:21 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Just a pic of the painted struts and the subtly modified side panel to clear the mounting clamps:
04/02/2026 12:57:10 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Having played about with the (twin) radiators I think I can see a way clear by spacing the left hand one out about 6" or so. It would look a bit odd as a solo but will merge in with the struts etc especially when the rads have the obligatory coat of satin black.
03/02/2026 14:15:48 UTC
Latest Chit-Chat
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Ian Soady¹ said :-
It's a long and hard process with replacement knees Glyn so don't lose hope. I had much the same difficulty - pain and despair seeming to take over my life - with my left knee 15 or so years ago. But ever since it's beeen fine although I still can't kneel on it. I have to lie on the shed floor to get at some things. As you say, getting up again can still be tricky!
My right knee is now showing familiar twinges but I'm not sure I could face the trauma of a replacement again given I probably don't have that many years of active life left......
16/02/2026 09:54:41 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Good to hear from you fella, keep up the good work.
Upt.
16/02/2026 08:51:04 UTC
Glyn said :-
Yes still here Up’t. Feeling a bit sorry for myself as the replacement knee is taking an age to both work properly and stop hurting. I’ve made some forward movement on the Triumph in the 5 weeks since the op. But, getting down on the floor is almost not possible and even worse to get up. There is some progress on the knee but not enough to satisfy my demands. Spending a lot of time stareing into that rabbit hole called YouTube.
16/02/2026 08:46:49 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
As an aside....where are you Glyn....you've been quiet for a while.
Upt.
15/02/2026 16:08:21 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Thanks Mr North. Yes, probably mostly error. The 2 rads are connected at header level via a pipe. There's no separate header tank but there is a conventional overflow type tank. Actually as I think further there should be no reason why I can't get them both at the same height.
Cricked my knee so work suspended for a couple of days.......
13/02/2026 10:22:40 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
If it does run a header tank (my head is starting to hurt) then would it push all that volume out every time the temp reached that level? Plus would it actually matter losing that little amount of cooling surface area if it wasn't bled. Trial and error me thinks.
12/02/2026 17:46:30 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
I can't think why what you're suggesting won't work Ian with regards the bleeding. Does it run a header tank?
Upt.
12/02/2026 17:19:35 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Clever folk these Germans. My speedo is a stone-age analogue version so no use for that. 1999 is modern to me - in fact anything I would have to pay road tax / MoT for is! Yes, I added the rocker switch which was in my box of electrical bits. The ignition switch is just a simple on/off one from ebay but it seems well crafted and has a nice satisfying click to it. The rocker switch has an led in it but I suspect it's originally for 230v AC as I can't get it to light. It's fed from the ignition switch which has reasonably beefy wires although I suppose following my own runes I should fit a relay.
I've also rethunk my warning light and decided it's simpler just to mount the light and its housing on top of the instrument panel. No binoculars were harmed making this mod.
Also:
I've ended up with the nearside radiator about 30mm higher than the RH one. The latter has the filler cap so if I fill that to the brim there'll be an air space at the top of the LH one. Does this matter? There is a bleed screw at the top so I suspect that if I get it up to temperature then crack this it'll let the air out a bit like bleeding a domestic radiator. Or am I going stir crazy?
12/02/2026 15:11:10 UTC
nab301 said :-
Ian , there are self cancelling indicators on my '99 BMW, not exactly modern ! Afaik they work off the speedo (pulses) . On a motorway at 70mph if I indicate at the 300m marker board without fail they switch off as I enter the off ramp in urban areas at lower speeds they tend to stay on longer than I prefer so generally I cancel them manually... unrelated is the rocker switch on the dash original or an add on?
Nigel
12/02/2026 14:17:28 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
I remember One Track in Motorcycle Sport (before your time probably Ren) suggesting that those of us with British bikes had piles of discarded bits of motorcycles whereas enthusiasts for Japan=eses makes had piles of bits from discarded motorcycles....
As for hoarding we still have unopened boxes in the big shed from our house move which is now just over 6 years ago. I'm sure we've bought new instances of stuff that's in there in the meantime.
11/02/2026 15:46:53 UTC
Random Link - Rajasthan Ride 2012 - By Arjun Uberoi