Welcome To Bikes And Travels...
...It's about bikes... and travels... mostly on bikes!
What's New?
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.
More Wonders, Weird Food
It's another day filled with fabulous things for Andy. Knights and bends in the road, mountains and flat bits, and a posh hotel with a sunset.
See More What's New
Latest Posts
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
Mooching Around The Mach Loop
nab301 said :-
Ren , I'm a little concerned for your health , there's always lots of greenery in your photos of the countryside but never any (greenery) in the food photos!
Nigel
09/02/2026 16:49:07 UTC
Mooching Around The Mach Loop
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
It's not ketchup it's brown sauce - heathen. I am aware that those stunning and impressive images taken by serious plane nerds take A LOT of time and patience to acquire. I wasn't about to spend an hour climbing a mountain to then spend all day there in the hope that perchance an F35 may, possibly, perhaps, fly by. If that's your thing then go for it, but it's not for me.
Upt' - if you want azure blue seas I can provide that - subject to you funding said trip. I reckon a couple of grand might cover it, should see me somewhere a bit warmer.
Been to Dinorwig Ian. I know all about "The Electric Mountain". It's effectively a mahusive battery used as a "peaker" plant to give our grid a boost when it's half time during an England match in the world cup. 5 million kettles all going on at the same time takes a bit of bant to cover, dropping a lake (llyn) through a turbine provides that bant.
09/02/2026 13:55:51 UTC
Mooching Around The Mach Loop
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Bogger, we thought it you said it.
He is indeed a big wet lummox.
But we love him.......in a manly back slapping sort of way of course.
09/02/2026 12:28:54 UTC
Mooching Around The Mach Loop
Bogger said :-
You've ruined the egg, chips and sausage with all that ketchup.
Also where are the images of the F22 Raptors and F35's and the like, that you took?
I'm very disappointed.
Again.
Bogger
09/02/2026 12:09:20 UTC
Mooching Around The Mach Loop
Ian Soady¹ said :-
And this Dinorwig.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinorwig_Power_Station...
09/02/2026 10:51:41 UTC
Mooching Around The Mach Loop
Ian Soady¹ said :-
I forgot the links:
this ia the CAT.
https://cat.org.uk/graduate-school/studying/experience/site-and-facilities/...
09/02/2026 10:51:17 UTC
Mooching Around The Mach Loop
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Many years ago I decided to ride round the Welsh coast on the Commando, and a great trip it was. I visited the Machynlleth alternative enrgy centre which was really interesting. Also fascinating was the pumped storage power station at Dinorwig. This is a system where excess power in the elctricty grid - eg at night - is used to pump water from the valley bottom to an artificial lake up in the mountain. Then when there's a sudden need for power - like at half time in a cup final - this is released and drives the turbines, taking but a few seconds to reach full power.
It was a somewhat bitter-sweet visit as the station had loads of posters etc extolling the current private owners. Not a mention of the fact that it was designed and built by the now extinct Central Electricity Generating Board - which was owned by the people and with whom I did most of a "student apprenticeship". It's a tribute to that organisation that it's still up and running.
09/02/2026 10:46:08 UTC
Mooching Around The Mach Loop
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Mach Loop, never heard ov it.
Looks nice enough, but, there's always a but, I don't like grey sea. Could you please photoshop the images to reveal a blue azure beauty.
Thank you.
09/02/2026 09:10:37 UTC
Feet Forward Prologue
Andy said :-
Nice one Bogger.
I’ve got to drive to Limoges in April on a fishing trip with some mates. It’s looking like an 8 hour marathon down the motorways from Calais. Can safely say I’m not looking forward to it, much rather be on the bike and backroads but can’t carry much fishing gear on the bike!
07/02/2026 20:28:31 UTC
See More Comments
Latest Repair-Chat
Go To Repair-Chat
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
Ian Soady¹ said :-
I'm relying on Suzuki reliability..... and I'd have to pay for a big battery whereas the pavers are free being left over from a patio built by a bunch of cowboys. Plus I can add / remove in a modular sort of way as they weigh 2.5kg each. As I relearn my long-lost skills I can go progressively lighter. Till I end up in the ditch.
02/02/2026 16:44:09 UTC
nab301 said :-
Ian , don't bother with paving blocks for ballast , fit a big commercial battery instead , then when the electrics inevitably fail ( although hopefully more reliable than the Norton!) you'll have no problem getting home , ( does your motorcycle recovery include sidecars...)
Nigel
02/02/2026 16:24:17 UTC
Latest Chit-Chat
Go To Chit-Chat
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
I object to random businesses spamming the feed in the hope of improving their Google ranking. I've no problem with you trying to find the jacket a suitable home.
02/01/2026 17:46:19 UTC
Glyn said :-
If anyone is a size 3XL I have a brand new RICHA jacket. It’s never been worn but the tags are not there as it was originally a gift. There is some light armour in the elbows and shoulders but it can be upgraded. I’m not even an L size these days so it hangs in my wardrobe unlikely to ever see the light of day. Sorry Ed I know you frown on advertising on these pages (so I humbly apologise ) but it’s a shame to see it languishing unused.
02/01/2026 12:23:34 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Your feet must be even bigger than mine Nigel, size 46 is about UK 11.
01/01/2026 16:11:19 UTC
nab301 said :-
A pity they don't have any mens sizes!
Nigel
01/01/2026 14:35:13 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Anybody after new motorsiccle boots.
Check this out, sizes 42 to 46.
Upt.
*Remember there are fees and vat etc.
https://www.johnpyeauctions.co.uk/Browse?FullTextQuery=Motorcycle%20...
31/12/2025 12:55:19 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Yes, not bad looking - te tank seat unit has a Triumph Hurricane look about it. I'm not so keen on the exhaust pipe lines however. It might be improved with something like the Triumph's stacked pipes. Although not the comical front brake.
18/12/2025 15:49:07 UTC
nab301 said :-
That looks great and the original so called (I think) Euro styled versions (although I never owned any) were always my favourite looking bikes , CB900f CB750F etc
Nigel
17/12/2025 15:46:27 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Styling Upt'. As you say it's a modern bike in old school clothing. If you took the same chassis and engine and covered it in fairings it's a sports bike. Cover it in angular body panels its a modern naked. I think it looks lovely just as it is.
17/12/2025 11:35:51 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Is it our own fault? Is it fault? Is it what we really want? I dunno. But some of the latest bikes could at first glance be exact copies of 70/80's bikes with a detuned modern ICE thrown in.
Is it what we want?
Yes, this is what happens when the nights draw in.
17/12/2025 09:12:02 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Yes nab301 this is not going to be one of those bikes that takes you by surprise with rapid speed and arm-wrenching acceleration. I daresay if that is what someone is looking for they're probably looking in the wrong place. I think I would wish to try before I buy if nothing else to convince myself there's enough power even for one as humble as my dawdling self.
16/12/2025 18:53:06 UTC
Random Link - Beautiful Potes