Is it fun biking in Britain?

Bike seems to think so, because they've devoted the whole issue to it.
And I hummed and I hahhed and decided they were wrong, and that (with a
few exceptions) biking in the UK isn't much fun at all.

The weather's crap.

The accommodation, if you're away from home, is still (despite the poor
pound/euro exchange rate) way pricier than the Continent.

This is an overcrowded island. There are too many cars and they're all
going too slowly.

There are fucking Gatsos everywhere and they lock you up for
three-figure speeds.

Free parking for bikes is vanishing. Oh yes, it is.

The weather's crap.

I dunno. I've had a few memorable rides in Britain, but for me, biking
at home is like holidaying at home. It's a last resort (literally). The
only enjoyable holiday I've *ever* had in Britain was last year, doing
the canal boat thing. That was magic.

Actually, I thought this month's Bike was the weakest issue they've done
for a long, long time. I just wondered what others think.

 

In communiqué <1iyqtg8.nhnv76igo2r4N%>,

Good job Pahnd Island isn't part of the UK!

But it can tick that box.

Definitely that one.

Sometimes that one, but the Manx is not too bad, particularly if you get
away from the course.

More than there used to be, and you can do three-figure speeds legally.

Plenty of that though.

Not always.

The one time I did that I hated it. It was well before I was 18 TBF.

One of the most enjoyable UK holidays I have had was TT practice week,
camping at Kirkmichael en famille with the outfit.

--
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| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Voxan Roadster Gilera Nordwest * 2 Yamaha WR250Z |
| Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 Morini 350 "Forgotten Error" |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+

 

Dan Walsh seems to agreed with you...

Heh. I remember my cousin and her boyfriend coming back early from a
biking trip up to Scotland during those torrential summer rains a
couple of years back. Scotland was fine, but they were coming back via
Gloucestershire and got the full strength of that rainfall. Took them a
few days to dry out their kit here.

Not to mention that compared to *some* other European countries (ie,
excluding those where hotels and restaurants still feel a need to put
out a sign "bikers welcome"), if you arrive on a bike you still seem to
be considered on par with the cockroaches cluttering up the kitchen.

"40mph everywhere".

<hides GPS>

I wouldn't know, I've never done three figure speeds anywhere, hofficer.

I've had a couple of nice short breaks here in the past 11 years, but
they always involved going somewhere and more or less staying there.
The trip was more of a necessary evil than part of the enjoyment. Which
is a pity.

I wouldn't know about that, I haven't read Bike for years.

The quick trip to my mum's place over Easter certainly was one of the
biking highlights over the past 12 months. The other one I can think of
right now was the little side trip I made from Lille to Laon on the
last French trip.

I sense a pattern emerging.

 

(The Older Gentleman) wrote in

It can be in *many* places

Sometimes. I've got just as wet in France, Italy & Austria

I don't need to stay away from home to be in range of decent roads. The
Brecon Beacons NP starts at the edge of my village.

Easy to pass then

Not around here. Mobiles, yes. Easy to avoid if you stay of trunk roads
& motorways

Not around here[1]

See above

Move somewhere closer to proper roads[1]

**** knows. I bought last month's because of the "local" interest. I
haven't read much of it. It sits on the corner of my desk at work and is
thumbed by passers by.

[1] your rantette is far too London-centric

 

Possibly. You still dodged the accommodation one, though.

 

I used to think it was fun until my first trip over the Channel. Now,
whilst it can still be fun, it's more likely to be frustrating due to...

....that.

--
Krusty

'03 Tiger 955i
'02 MV Senna (for sale) '96 Tiger (for sale)
'79 Fantic Hiro 250 (for sale) '81 Corvette (for sale)

 

(The Older Gentleman) wrote in

Maybe. More expensive accommodation is not enough to persuade me that
biking in Britain is not fun.

One thing that pisses me off in French hotels is the beer price. Even the
cheap chains like Ibis royally take the piss.

 

From a travel book I treasure: drink beer in the Germanic countries, but
in France, the drink is wine.

You'll be moaning about chicory next.

 

Utter bollocks. Get up around the west and north of scotland. Apart from the
weather none of it applies.

 

Well, yes, but actual damp days are surprisingly infrequent.

Rarely bother staying away from home.

This is my real problem with this place.

Dunno about the locking-up bit unless it's for serious TFS's, but I
agree with the sentiment. This country has *always* seemed to have a
problem with people travelling at speed or using personal mechanized
transport of any sort, in fact.

Trouble is, when all's said and done, it's home.

 

Hardly practical for a sunday blast when you live 500+ miles away is it.

--
Krusty

'03 Tiger 955i
'02 MV Senna (for sale) '96 Tiger (for sale)
'79 Fantic Hiro 250 (for sale) '81 Corvette (for sale)

 

(The Older Gentleman) wrote in

What a load of generalising cock. In Normandy, for example, I drink
loads of cidre. In the Mosel they make fabulous wines.

Aw. He'll be so touched that you are missing him.

 

I fucking love it, nothing better. Spain, too fucking hot, France 100hp
limit.

USA full of scrap iron riding pisspot wearing cunts.

One thing that we do have here is fucking great roads & if your up for a bit
of risk you can have fun fun fun

Traffic is shit, but it's better on a bike than in a car.

 

Sometimes. I've been out to play regularly all year, with the exception
of a couple of a week or two while we had snow.

I did a 300-odd mile bike trip last weekend and the accommodation cost
me 12 quid including dinner and breakfast.

Mobile chicanes, as they're known in the trade, are easily overtaken
with a twist of the wrist.

I've never been caught by a Gatso (how blind do you have to be) and
despite my best efforts haven't yet been locked up.

So what?

This is the issue after the one with your Elefantentreffen article in?
Haven't read it. Yet.

Of course it's fun biking in Britain. The emphasis being on biking, not
Britain. It's also fun biking in other places. I daresay I could have
fun biking through the Helmand province if only I could avoid being shot
at or beheaded. You whinging old bastard.

 

The Older Gentleman wrote:

Wotcha.

That's according to the opinion of a magazine.
The sole purpose of a magazine is to make money for the folks who run it.

My waterproofs work a treat.

Dunno.
When I go away I either camp or take the dog kennel. OK, so I stay in a
hotel whilst on T'ile of man, but that's a treat as opposed to a normal
weekend out.

They still go faster than my old B31 - B33 - MZ - Guzzi - etc

A three figure speed to me has a decimal point in it.
74.5 mph = terminal velocity on the "30-bobber"

Mine is more abandoned as opposed to parked.

Aye - and sometimes it's cracking.

Never really fancied the canal boat thing - a tad too relaxed for my liking,
yet I'm happy to camp at canal side pubs.
I tend to get away most weekends, so I suppose I have a load of
"mini-holidays".
I'll be running down to Exmoor this Thursday - staying at Porlock for the
best part of the week, then heading North to Jodrell Bank for the NABD
national rally.

TBH, I ain't read Bike for a good many years.

 

You're living the wrong end of the country, is all.

 

Oh yes. I wouldn't emigrate. It's just that motorcycling at home ain't
what it used to be, IMHO.

 

Coo. Where/how?

Agreed, but then there's another load of them and then *another* and
then *a-fucking-nother*.

Who said getting caught was the problem?

That's my point.

 

It is a generalisation, but by and large it's true. Yes, there are some
good German wines, and yes, one small region of France makes cider, but
it's still a good rule of thumb.

Ever tried Czech wine, for example?

I dunno why you feel the need to be so aggressive these days.

 

That's probably the truth of it.