InvictaMoto's On The Road Again!

I have taken a while to buy a new summer jacket. My Joe Rocket has given sterling service since I bought it way back in 2006 but has started to get a bit on the ragged side.  I fitted new elbow armour last year as the original had started to break up.  A few years back, Claire stitched up the front as one side of the zip had started to part company with the body of the jacket. I looked at a few different designs and had planned to go for a ride to GetGeared 's shop in Leatherhead (Surrey) over the Easter holiday to try some on for size. With the coronavirus lockdown and shops shut, that can't happen. I got the search down to two that I liked the look of and the price I want to pay. In the end I liked the look of the Rev'It Eclipse. It has smooth lines and doesn't look like I am about to ride across the sahara.  Seems to have enough pockets and a decent manufacturer. Comes with elbow and shoulder armour too. ...

The Motorcycle Action Group has given its initial reaction to the low-key launch of Grant Shapps' Transport Decarbonisation Plan, asking why the Department for Transport continues to ignore motorcycles as a separate and crucial mode of transport. On 26th March the Government quietly published a document stating the current challenges and steps to be taken when developing a transport decarbonisation plan. In the Ministerial Foreword, Grant Shapps stated "Climate change is the most pressing environmental challenge of our time. There is overwhelming scientific evidence that we need to take action, and doing so is a clear priority for the Government." The Government will publish the final plan in Autumn 2020. MAG's Director of Campaigns & Political Engagement, Colin Brown, and Director of Communications & Public Affairs, Lembit Opik, were asked for their initial reactions to the "Setting the Challenge" d...

Stuck with only the garden to walk around and use the camera and I am running out of things to photograph.

I have had a series of comments posted when I have re-posted MAG news posts for all the web to see.  Not everyone follows MAG on social media. They are always from "anonymous" and always have a go at me or MAG itself. The language used shows the commenter to be pretty much a moron. I delete them. All comments need moderating before they hit the page. So in future.  Save yourself the time.....

After a while the confines of the house and gardens begin to pall. Watching TV and sleeping longer aren't helping. So today I got the D50 camera out. It was a little late so I was using a wide aperture to at least get something. Here are a couple of results. Not too bad. Maybe I need to get the tripod out.

The Motorcycle Action Group has called on all motorcyclists to act  responsibly by following Government guidance on Coronavirus to the  letter.  Leisure riding should not be considered essential travel, but  where travel is essential motorcycling remains a very sensible choice. Following the most recent escalation in measures to slow the spread of  the Coronavirus, the Motorcycle Action Group has urged bikers to stay  off their bikes unless they are genuinely making an essential journey.  Taking a ride purely for leisure must be viewed as socially  irresponsible at this time when everyone’s travel is restricted. Additionally, if the worst happened, a leisure ride could place more  burdens on an already stretched NHS and emergency services. MAG National Chair, Selina Lavender, says: “Now is the time to follow  Government advice and stay at home. There will be time later for the  biking community to come together, show so...

In light of the latest advice we have closed the office. Our staff continue to work from home which is the norm for Colin & Lembit in our political unit. To contact the office use email:  central-office@mag-uk.org   We thank all our members for their continued support. Stay safe everyone. Selina, MAG National Chair

Tickets arrived today from Ticketmaster. Didn't expect it to go ahead but I guess still two months away. And then, within hours notice on FB and from rock magazines - tour cancelled. Nothing as yet from Ticketmaster!

The Motorcycle Action Group, the UK's leading riders' rights organisation, commenting on the Asphalt Industry Association's 25th ALARM Report, released today, hopes that Chancellor Rishi Sunak will revisit roads maintenance funding after the current health crisis has passed. Research carried out by MAG has shown that, on average, four motorcyclists die every year as a result of poor road maintenance and a further 70 per year suffer life-changing injuries.  The research shows that despite representing less than 1% of all road traffic, motorcycles feature in 27.5% of all RTCs where road surface defects are listed as a contributory factor.  Pedal cyclists are also over-represented, being involved in 14.7% of these RTCs. The Asphalt Industry Association's new Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) survey shows that the estimated one-time catch-up cost to get roads back into a reasonable, steady state is now £11.14 billion; up from £9.79 billion ...

Rather than go cabin crazy, I decided to get the bike washed after its dirty trip out to Oxfordshire. In the end I made a deal with myself. I'd ride to the jet wash at Seabrook and hose and brush it down. So £3 later it was nice and clean leaving the rust showing on the iffy Triumph chrome to good effect. From there a short ride to fill the tank at Tesco in Cheriton. The trip back from Oxfordshire via John's was 181.7 miles. It took 17.06 litres to brim the tank, or at least fill to the bottom of the filler hole. Giving an mpg of 48.4. Amazing. The ride back home was quite sedate though.  The self isolation idea that sees cities across the globe empty  doesn't seem to have reached us here yet.  Still. A few more miles under the tyres.  End mileage is 9557.

The traditional date for the memorial is April 9th. Sadly, due to the sudden and incredible spread of the Coronavirus dubbed Covid-19 this have been cancelled. I have been working from home since March 19th and the country is in lockdown to avoid the transmission of what seems to be a deadly virus that somehow has "escaped" from soemehere in China. They are blaming bats or some other bullshit, but this is a chemical weapon.

A bit late now but I suppose I can add it to my pile of maps and when we next get a chance I can dust it off.....

The Motorcycle Action Group, the UK’s leading riders rights organisation, has stated that it will be ensuring the voice of riders is fully heard by the Treasury as it considers plans for a major overhaul of Vehicle Excise Duty. On 11th March, HM Treasury fulfilled the Government commitment to publish a call for evidence seeking views on moving towards a more dynamic system which recognises smaller differences in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. This call for evidence seeks views on how the Government can use VED to further encourage the uptake of zero and ultra-low emissions cars, and reduce overall emissions from road transport, to both help meet its legally binding climate change targets and improve air quality. It also seeks views on the VED treatment of motorcycles. MAG’s Director of Communications & Public Affairs, Lembit Opik, commented “We are already seeking one-to-one meetings with ministers and senior officials at the Treasury to discuss the published plans....

I tried to see if the old D50 did bracketing as well as the Canon 1100D. It has the option in the menu and unlike the Canon it retains the setting when switching off and back on again. I tried it out on a walk today. It does take three pictures. This is an example how they came out and in the order above. It's subjective which is better I guess.  The last one that is the + image, looks the warmest.

... not to cancel. That is the question. With vast areas of Spain now being on lockdown including Madrid and Barcelona, it will be a matter of time before it extends down the coast. Luckily British Airways have introduced a voucher or free re-book for flights up to 31st May 2020. BA Voucher Will have to see. At least we don't lose money that way. We will lose the RCI fee but car hire and hotels can be cancelled without cost to us. Update 16/03/2020 So far have cancelled the hotels that topped and tailed the apartment stay. Also managed to get onto the Carcrawler website and cancel the car-hire and the AXA extended insurance.  Awaiting the emails to say that the money is coming back. Logged onto the BA site using the link above and requested my voucher.  In total the flights and car hire are worth about £460 ($570) that hasn't been lost.   Admittedly BA still have my money but at least we can use that next year as long as we book in 12 months!!!

I was reading Adventure Bike Rider and one of the expert sections had a photography masterclass from Simon and Lisa Thomas - www.2ridetheworld.com / I had seen that in the menu on my Canon but had no idea what it was. I have tried it. It says that it takes three pictures. It did for a couple of tests and then it seemed to only take one. The setting gets turned off when the camera is switched off and needs resetting every time you turn it on. I opted for a range of +1 to -1.  Checking the EXIF information for this picture of Reggie shows that the best one was "Exposure Bias - +1 EV" The decision is still left to the viewer. I'll give it a go next time I get the camera out and see what it does.

With the UK Government looking to contain and delay the coronavirus outbreak into the summer I have decided to cancel the Road Trip now. We have not paid anything, unlike the Easter trip to Spain, and so it makes sense to kill it now.

The last game in the Premier League before the shutdown imposed by coronavirus. The previous week had seen a trip in the FA Cup to League One Portsmouth. A much changed and youthful side came through without too much worry.   Well. A follow through after a tackle broke Lucas Torriera's ankle.  So a rare Saturday 3pm kick off for us. Train late of course. I'll get my delay/repay clain off to them in the week!  Should get about £4.60 back! Arsenal laboured away looking like the underdogs and if not for Leno we could have been behind. In the end for the first time ever, VAR was on our side. A neat cushioned header by Özil was lashed in by Lacazette. Female lino flagged. VAR took ages and gave the goal. Relief. https://footyheroes.com/arsenal-vs-west-ham-1-0-highlights-07-03-2020

My old friend John Storrie passed away on February 8th.  He had  a short illness after being diagnosed with lung cancer.  His funeral was on Monday 2nd March in Milton under Wychwood. I spoke to him frequently and once he discovered social media and email he was constantly in touch. I organised a "JS Day" meeting in the summer and he was brought to the motor museum in Gaydon by Tony Taylor. It was a surprise for him and he looked a little frail even then.  He urged me to get the Kettle up to him to get it fixed up and running.  It was all him that got me this far. For the average mechanic many of the jobs are probably okay. But for the ham fisted with few decent tools (and nowhere to work) it needs an expert. Sadly with John gone it might need a new Kettle King to arise.

On the Road Again Taken yesterday by Stuart James.  I don't get much opportunity to get a moving pic!

My old Friend John Storrie sadly passed away on February 8th. Another victim of lung cancer. It was his wish to have a bike escort to the church. So how could I refuse.  Google maps worked it out to be 156 miles each way. We'll see how accurate that is. I set off around 10am and arrived at John's house just after 1pm,  after stopping on the A40 near Standlake for petrol at a Tesco Extra store. It was pretty cold. Even the wintery sun at the pitstop warned by hands. On the way up I wore the old all leather Belstaff gloves. By about halfway my fingertips were frozen. In the end there were five bikes at John's. He had asked that the order was to be Kettles, then other 2-stroke Suzukis, other Suzuki made bikes, then Aprilias, Triumphs, HD and then others. We had some pictures taken before the hearse arrived. Pepé at the meeting place Luckily there was a Kettle ridden by a local guy Brent, a Suzuki ridden by Old SOC Sandy. Then Mark Powell and me on Triumphs and lastly John Carr...