TomTom 410 - Locking Kit

Sunday the 17th October 2021.  The Meldrews Sunday Breakfast meet incorporating Ride the World.

Didn't happen. Why?

The Meldrews part did and that is blogged already.  The Ride the World bit didn't. Why?

To complete the challenge to ride to two places on the Overland magazine's challenge, I needed to have the TomTom fully functioning and on the bike. 

I had done the groundwork. I had made sure that TomTom could communicate with the Cardo Scala fitted on my Shoei Qwest helmet. TomTom fully charged. All good.

What was a stumbling block as that I had not actually foreseen nor had I checked was that the locking kit was in fact locked or maybe unlocked.

There are two keys. One locks the whole shebang to the RAM ball on the bike that means the TomTom cradle is locked in place and can't be removed. The other key locks the cradle so that the TomTom can't be easily removed or it can't fly off the cradle in bumpy, possibly off road, conditions.  

And yes, both were locked.  After wasting time running around like a headless chicken I abandoned the search and left for the breakfast meet. 

This frustration may have affected the outward journey to Manston (already blogged!) and the "making progress" ride there. 

On my return I changed into "indoor clothes" and had lunch. Then I started to look in all the places I could for the keys. The spares weren't where they should be. The Kettle spares were!

I checked the small Givi tank bag. Not there.  I checked the small Adidas bag I take to football and occasionally on the bike with glasses cases etc. Not there.

I tried to think where I had last used them. I then checked my Frank Thomas  Aqua Jacket.  🎺🎺🎺 

There they were on an Islington lanyard.  One set. Why there? I haven't worn this jacket at all this year.  Then I remembered. I got it out for the Ride to the Wall run that hadn't happened due to the petrol panic as the forecast was tipping rain and the Joe Rocket mesh jacket would have been like wearing a tea bag!

What next?  Check that it all works.  Unlock the cradle lock. Slide in TomTom.  Lock it. All working. Now where's the power lead I made a few weeks ago to fit Vera's power socket. Here we go again. 😠

If I had come across it when I was searching earlier I'd have it in hand.  Then I remembered on a previous ride out I had put stuff in a helmet bag. Back to the garage and there it was.  In an old helmet bag.  😊

Panic over!!

All checked and working.  

To ensure we don't have a repetition I have used an old Microsoft Mouse box. The keys and the power lead are both inside. I have put it all in the old bureau in the house. The box is marked and has an elastic band around it. 

Surely it won't be a case of "Don't Panic" next time?

The next job to see if I can get a replacement set of "spare" keys!