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#21
General Discussion / Re: From the Library
Last post by Biggles - Oct 30, 2025, 05:38 AMOne of my main impressions at the end of day one was that the driving in China is wild. At one point, we were riding on a four-lane highway that had dividing barriers at intervals down the middle. It sounds like a normal road, right? Except that they have crosswalks for small motorcycles, scooters, and pretty much any type of farming vehicle. When you're driving along the highway, you don't stop at these crosswalks: the people who want to cross from one side of the expressway to the other are supposed to pick the right moment. That's great in theory; in practice, however, they go when they want to go. I guess they just hope that you manage to stop before you hit them. It's unbelievably dangerous. And then there are the drivers who decide that they like your side of the road better than theirs, for some reason I haven't managed to work out. So they cross over and drive on the wrong side.
The Middle Kingdom Ride Colin & Ryan Pyle p36
The Middle Kingdom Ride Colin & Ryan Pyle p36
#22
General Discussion / Re: From the Library
Last post by Biggles - Oct 29, 2025, 09:32 AMThe traffic in eastern China is insane. There are literally millions of cars on the roads at any one time, and the frustration generated by the inevitable chaos is at least partly responsible for some crazy driving. As Colin and I rode out of Shanghai, our lungs were instantly filled with the smoke and diesel fumes that spewed out of the trucks crowding the road like the carriages of a colossal, slow-moving, and filthy train. The temperature was rising steadily and the humidity was high, which is fine when you're riding at speeds of 80 kph or more and the air is rushing in through the vents in your protective gear to keep you cool. It isn't so great at 30-40 kph. At whatever speed you're riding and on whatever road surface, you still have to wear all the gear, because you never know when you might take a fall.
So, before long, I felt as if I was slowly boiling to death inside an increasingly damp, uncomfortable, sealed plastic bag, at the same time being suffocated by hot exhaust fumes and all the crap that was blowing up into our faces off the road.
The Middle Kingdom Ride Colin & Ryan Pyle p25-6
So, before long, I felt as if I was slowly boiling to death inside an increasingly damp, uncomfortable, sealed plastic bag, at the same time being suffocated by hot exhaust fumes and all the crap that was blowing up into our faces off the road.
The Middle Kingdom Ride Colin & Ryan Pyle p25-6
#23
All Events Calendar / Re: Harrow FarRoad Ride
Last post by Taffey - Oct 29, 2025, 09:14 AMQuote from: XKLBR on Oct 29, 2025, 12:09 AMIll be there, tried to register but loops me back to this page will try computer later 🤷🏼�♂️
Send me an email to taffey@me.com and I can reopen registration for you.
#24
All Events Calendar / Re: Harrow FarRoad Ride
Last post by ZigZag - Oct 29, 2025, 08:15 AMQuote from: XKLBR on Oct 29, 2025, 12:09 AMIll be there, tried to register but loops me back to this page will try computer later 🤷🏼�♂️You have to scroll across the screen from memory to see the register button. Its easier on a computer. Look forward to seeing you there.
#25
All Events Calendar / Re: Harrow FarRoad Ride
Last post by XKLBR - Oct 29, 2025, 12:09 AMIll be there, tried to register but loops me back to this page will try computer later 🤷🏼�♂️
#26
General Discussion / Re: From the Library
Last post by Biggles - Oct 28, 2025, 05:46 AMHendrik's handy tips for your motorcycling enjoyment:
Don't spray silicone on tyres to make them shiny.
Don't put grease on tyres to protect them.
Don't spray silicone on the seat just before a ride up your favourite scratching road.
Don't leave home without several licences.
Don't leave your PIN number with your motorcycle - it will know how to go to the bank and draw out money for new tyres, fix the indicators, etc.
Don't forget to check the level in your hip flask before a trip.
Don't drink and ride - pull over to take a sip.
Don't cross double lines, unless it's safe.
Remember, roads are a dangerous place to be. Always go as quick as possible so that you spend the minimum time in a dangerous place. That's logic. That's safety.
When riding in a group in inclement weather, always get one person to put on their waterproofs. That way it won't rain.
Always leave your helmet on in a service station - your face could be a security risk.
Take your gloves off in the toilet.
Never say "Do you mind if I kick your bike over?" to a Hells Angel.
Never rev the engine hard and make a loud noise to wake a residential area at night, unless your motor is warm.
Remember that roads are slippery in the rain.
Don't try to brake for an orange light.
Speed guns are dangerous. Get really angry if someone points one at you. Tell them it might be loaded.
Don't tow a motorcycle by the handlebar.
Don't worry when your motorbike won't start. It's probably just something.
If you have a nervous pillion, paint the inside of their visor black.
Objects in your mirror should always get smaller.
If you're freezing and shivering on a long trip, never say to yourself that this is the coldest you've ever been. In another five minutes you'll know you were wrong.
Never, ever go on a bike, and hop off before you've smiled.
Once Upon A Distant Journey Hendrik Gout p238
Don't spray silicone on tyres to make them shiny.
Don't put grease on tyres to protect them.
Don't spray silicone on the seat just before a ride up your favourite scratching road.
Don't leave home without several licences.
Don't leave your PIN number with your motorcycle - it will know how to go to the bank and draw out money for new tyres, fix the indicators, etc.
Don't forget to check the level in your hip flask before a trip.
Don't drink and ride - pull over to take a sip.
Don't cross double lines, unless it's safe.
Remember, roads are a dangerous place to be. Always go as quick as possible so that you spend the minimum time in a dangerous place. That's logic. That's safety.
When riding in a group in inclement weather, always get one person to put on their waterproofs. That way it won't rain.
Always leave your helmet on in a service station - your face could be a security risk.
Take your gloves off in the toilet.
Never say "Do you mind if I kick your bike over?" to a Hells Angel.
Never rev the engine hard and make a loud noise to wake a residential area at night, unless your motor is warm.
Remember that roads are slippery in the rain.
Don't try to brake for an orange light.
Speed guns are dangerous. Get really angry if someone points one at you. Tell them it might be loaded.
Don't tow a motorcycle by the handlebar.
Don't worry when your motorbike won't start. It's probably just something.
If you have a nervous pillion, paint the inside of their visor black.
Objects in your mirror should always get smaller.
If you're freezing and shivering on a long trip, never say to yourself that this is the coldest you've ever been. In another five minutes you'll know you were wrong.
Never, ever go on a bike, and hop off before you've smiled.
Once Upon A Distant Journey Hendrik Gout p238
#27
All Events Calendar / Re: Harrow FarRoad Ride
Last post by Grey Gentry - Oct 27, 2025, 01:49 PMI've changed my bike from what I registered with. Now riding a ZZR600 with 133,000km. I'm not doing a certified ride, so it shouldn't matter. A may have another rider tagging along too.
Hopefully I can make this one, as the my last attempt was to Temora. The VFR didn't like the wet unsealed roadworks on the Monaro Hwy. A repairable write off, but with 103,000km I let it go.
Looking forward to meeting you all.
Hopefully I can make this one, as the my last attempt was to Temora. The VFR didn't like the wet unsealed roadworks on the Monaro Hwy. A repairable write off, but with 103,000km I let it go.
Looking forward to meeting you all.
#28
All Events Calendar / Re: Harrow FarRoad Ride
Last post by Taffey - Oct 26, 2025, 10:51 PMQuote from: Langers on Oct 26, 2025, 12:02 PMRegistered and looking forward to riding roads not travelled before.
Looking forward to seeing you!!
#29
All Events Calendar / Re: Harrow FarRoad Ride
Last post by Langers - Oct 26, 2025, 12:02 PMRegistered and looking forward to riding roads not travelled before.
#30
General Discussion / Re: From the Library
Last post by Biggles - Oct 26, 2025, 03:42 AMTwo in the morning, and I still couldn't sleep. Simon the Wonderful Cat was already curled up, chasing pigeons in his REM, but I was mulling over too many decisions.
So I took an easy one. I decided to go for a ride. It's almost a full moon. I rode to West Beach, on the Gulf St. Vincent, and then north along the esplanade, turned east at Grand Junction Road, and then the bike decided it wanted to show me it could still do a reasonable lick along a sweepy road. It took me to Mannum on the banks on the Mighty Murray, where the ferryman woke long enough to take me halfway across. I think he fell asleep mid-river because his head drooped and he hit the wharf-thingy on the other side with a clang which rocked the bike. South following the silver river, a hipflask of weak tea under a ghostly gum on a hugely high cliff overlooking a long bend on the Murray, hit the highway at Murray Bridge, and home again at a steady 120 kilometres an hour.
Where Simon the Wonderful Cat was still curled up. They lead good lives, cats. And welcoming as his purrs were, I had in this three hour moonlight ride seen something that might even have made him jealous and which gave me smiles – lots of corners, and ten thousand cat's eyes.
Once Upon A Distant Journey Hendrik Gout p164
So I took an easy one. I decided to go for a ride. It's almost a full moon. I rode to West Beach, on the Gulf St. Vincent, and then north along the esplanade, turned east at Grand Junction Road, and then the bike decided it wanted to show me it could still do a reasonable lick along a sweepy road. It took me to Mannum on the banks on the Mighty Murray, where the ferryman woke long enough to take me halfway across. I think he fell asleep mid-river because his head drooped and he hit the wharf-thingy on the other side with a clang which rocked the bike. South following the silver river, a hipflask of weak tea under a ghostly gum on a hugely high cliff overlooking a long bend on the Murray, hit the highway at Murray Bridge, and home again at a steady 120 kilometres an hour.
Where Simon the Wonderful Cat was still curled up. They lead good lives, cats. And welcoming as his purrs were, I had in this three hour moonlight ride seen something that might even have made him jealous and which gave me smiles – lots of corners, and ten thousand cat's eyes.
Once Upon A Distant Journey Hendrik Gout p164