My passion when I used to be me

Before I became unwell my main interest was motorsport, particularly motorcycling. Anything in fact that would go fast floated my boat. I still own a Honda Fireblade which has been sat in the garage covered up, unused for 3yrs. I cant part with it as I kid myself I will get back to it despite being an almost old lady lol. Ive ridden all my adult life and took the bike all over Europe to the Moto GP's. On the rare occasion I go out these days I satisfy my 'need for speed' with a Toyota Celica (which I wish was a Dodge Viper). I don't drive it properly anymore. 30's and 40's are set in stone but a national limit, conditions permitting of course used to reveal my devil horns. I have lost too many friends along the way to two wheels and at Easter a long time friend was lost in an accident and as Im now so removed from a normal existence I couldn't even go to the funeral. I was lucky enough to go on Concord before it was retired which I still think was crazy. A step back in aviation rather than forward. Saw the curvature of the earth and went twice the speed of sound (how cool is that) I would sell my soul (oops too late)to go on a Eurofighter. Just the sound of fast jests gives me goose bumps. Id be the first in the queue to go into space. To see our planet from afar must put everything into perspective. Now were did I put that spare 2million squid for my ticket? Ive just started watching F1 again on the TV and love the technical achievements but rue the procession of cars due to the rules. I enjoy architecture, particularly bridges and rode to the Millau Viaduct in southern France just to ride across it shortly after completion. I have a love affair with The Shard and followed it from ground breaking to completion. Visited it several times in my previous life and find it to be a thing of beauty. The Burj Khalifa in Dubai leaves me breathless but have not been lucky enough to visit. My mind boggles at a building that is HALF a MILE high! Winter sees me making greeting cards which I give to charity to sell and I also read about 6 books a week. mostly crime fiction, courtroom drama and thriller mysteries. Im trying VERY hard to grow old disgracefully!

 

Lovely to learn a little more about what “floats your boat”.

I’m not a speed junky, but do love to allow our standard cars to open up on a clear, safe, motorway on occasion. Like you, I feel that lower speed limits are there for a reason. Probably I’m slightly swayed by the fact that the first time I drove a non dual-control car, when learning to drive, a pedestrian stepped out directly in front of me. I learned first-hand what it sounds (and feels) like to have a body slip up the bonnet.... He was not injured, and i stopped the car before my instructor started to react (I beat him to the handbrake, me at the end of my “stop”, him at the beginning). Knowing I have excellent reflexes is always offset by the memory of that dull thud....

I hope that as gardening continues to minister to you, and heal you, you are able to get out on the open roads as you did before .

 

Wow Cindy that looks like a cracking bike...
Don't forget you're still YOU......Bet you've got some great stories to tell..
My Hubby is a motor bike enthusiast but he's down to one bike now.
I know nothing about them but just love the sound ,look and speed of them.

 

@lolimac. She's old but still pretty and I still love her. Hope I get back to it. Fine looking Kwak! Seems to be a much bigger bike community up by you than down here on the South Coast. Ive been up a few times and there are some cracking roads. Stay safe.

 

Hi,

I hope you get well soon cindy allowing you to go for a blast. Nice bike you have; do you fire it up from time to time or better still can you get someone to give it a run? I too have lost friends to biking; I was coffin bearer to my friend Barry who was decapitated and it was horrible; another friend Terry got killed when a horse jumped over a field fence killing him instantly. A car hit me head on and I suffered a fractured right ankle and shattered left knee cap plus the usual lacerations in 1970; the car driver never saw me through his iced up windscreen. The problem is a fast bike and a nice winding road; you've just got to go fast. I used to do Wakefield; London; Wakefield in a morning; there's some sharp bends down the M1 at speed. I've not been on a bike since I married Bron in 1976; I prefer the comfort of our Yeti these days; it doesn't rain in.

Nice bike your hubby owns too lolimac.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

Loving the words on the front of the fairing.

I sold my last bike some years ago as I didn't have the time to ride it. If I'm honest, seeing a neighbour after a 100+ mph collision into the back of his mates stationary bike got me thinking. Then riding back from Assen with two blokes - one with a seriously badly damaged leg and his mate that had flat lined - both from previous bike accidents gave me a sense of my mortality.

I loved the freedom that bikes give but now enjoy watching the racing - especially word superbikes which has more twists and turns than any good book this year.

 

@Retired. I am now so isolated from people I unfortunately do not have anybody who could take it for a spin for me. I have taken the battery off and its indoors on a trickle charge (ever hopeful) Mind you I used to bring the whole bike into the lounge for the winter and at Xmas covered it with lights instead of getting a tree lol! I was born earlier than 1976 and maybe Im too old to even be considering riding again. Hands up though I have always been a fair weather rider. Don't like slippery roads or poor visibility (ok Im a wimp).

@andrews. I had some of my best times at Assen. Best atmosphere of any racing circuit (except maybe Brands Hatch) The long weekends away were just fab and the public over there actually like motorcyclists and are so welcoming.

I am more conscious of the dangers and of my mortality but the way things are I don't care as much as I should do. Just another reason to stay off it for now.

 

Hi,

Good idea with the Christmas lights cindy; I like your style; I'm not at all religious but I do wander into my workshop to wish all my machines a Merry Christmas. I too was born before 1976 actually 1947 so I'm a dinosaur but still climbing trees. What a shame you're so isolated; I hope this doesn't also mean you're lonely too. These forums though are wonderful for meeting like minded people so you'll never be alone. I did wonder about charging the battery but I see modern bikes are fitted with Li-ion batteries which are a vast improvement over the old type of battery; I remember carbide lamps because my late father used one as a coal miner.

I'm unfamiliar these days with modern bikes so I had a nosy at your Firebird specs; it's a bike to get into serious trouble with very quickly indeed; I doubt if I took it for a spin I'd have my biking licence tomorrow? I still have my biking licence but these days the licence has changed a great deal; I passed my bike test on a 650cc BSA Golden Flash outfit it having a double adult sidecar; even in those long ago days Blackie my constant companion black cloud was with me; it was absolutely pouring with rain as I rode around the testing circuit in Dewsbury Town center; the rain was coming down like pencils; the examiner stepped into the road and stopped me asking if it was OK for him to climb into the sidecar which of course it was; I was so fed up with the rain I just wanted to return home whether I passed the test or not so I opened the bike up; I passed the test.

Our Yeti is due to be returned very shortly; it's just had it's three year service; it was recommended the brake fluid be changed; I said I used to drive cars over 30 years old with their original brake fluid still OK; at around £50 extra the brake fluid is now changed; I keep our cars well up to manufacturers recommendations; I'll not compromise on safety.

Chin up cindy I hope things improve for you.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

Yes they're biking bonkers in these parts Cindy..The roads are /were fab but soo busy these days the bikers can't really 'let go' and do the bikes justice..You're going to have to get on that bike of yours and you will..fairy steps,but take great care. There's not a greater feeling..that's why I'm pillion because I couldn't trust myself not to get carried away..

Ey @Retired My Hubs sold his old BSA last year..(1952) I think it was..what an old beauty and the sound of her was magic..

 

When I was a child in the long distant past ……….. we had a huge back garden and at age 7 my Dad let me have a go on his BSA Bantam...…..I actually rode it on my own and the rest as they say …...is history. So that's where my biking obsession comes from.
My gardening love although found late in life must come from my grandad who was actually the towns Head Gardener and for a showy seaside town I guess that was quite a big deal. I found floristry first and seem to have a knack of doing funky things with blooms. I simply adore making art pieces out of one single bloom and tarting it up with arty foliage. I should have gone into it as trade but for some reason life had other plans. Im actually 'good' at so little I can at least sound big headed about that lol.
Picture for Colin....

 

@cindy As someone that has ridden for ever, I can fully understand your longing to get back on your bike. The one thing that longing should do is help you get better, or at least, stop you from getting worse.

I dont really want to disagree with anyone on the subjects of motorbikes, but the Fireblade is a bit of a pussycat compared to the last bikes I raced...

 

Assen is an awesome place. Not been anywhere else where they stop the traffic both ways on a motorway to let all of the bikers out. Families waving from bridges, high fives with kids as you pass the cars (slowly). Healthy food in the circuit. I think it was 99 when we rode down from Sheffield to Dover and then over to France and stayed in Zwolle for WSB (a mate got there and back on his 916 but was a bit stiff after the ride). Brits won every race that year. Glorious sunshine - amazing ! Next year it hammered down all the way to the circuit.

Brands is a great place to go but getting out of the circuit is a nightmare. Good that you can get around the circuit quickly from the inside

Used to get to Donnington and Cadwell a lot and I once did a Ron Haslam day at donnington. Embarrassing that a 15 year old Leon Haslam passed me easily on his CB500 when I thought I was a racing god on the limits on a CBR600

 

@Sandy Ground Don't think race bikes and road bikes can be compared really except in WSK when they had to be the same spec you would have for the road. My bike is very old now (bit like me lol) but her 0-60 in 4.2 secs and top speed of 165/175 after the guys in Kiyo's garage (long time ago!) at Brands had messed about with her is more bike than I could ever dream of mastering or using to her capacity. She sure purrs but I don't think Id call her a pussy cat...… shhh she might hear you. I almost went into racing but couldn't afford it. I envy you.

 

Hi,

Thanks lolimac; I bet your husband felt he was parting with a best friend when he sold the BSA. The sound of the British big singles was always the same; one bang every lamp post. I agree the roads around the East Riding of Yorkshire just can't be beaten for bikers; long country roads with lots of bends; Malton to Scarborough was a favourite of mine and in those pre 1970's days the bike could really be wound on but now it's simply too dangerous with lots of accidents and deaths; the police are keen now and rightly so; on a bike riding flat out on a winding country road takes some beating but not when you are dead; the real biking days with lots of freedom are long gone. I once borrowed a chums 350cc AJS it being fitted with just a bare sidecar chassis; I took another chum as pillion for a trip to Scarborough; it was a lovely sunny day as we rode through a small village; I was intrigued by a big shadow and as I looked up to my left I saw a wheel in the sky passing us at speed; transfixed by this sight I watched as the wheel bounced once then ran along a hedge; just then I yelled to my chum to hang on; it was the chassis wheel; at this point the chassis grounded and we came to a sudden screeching halt; my chum the outfit owner had removed the chassis wheel but lost the bearing split pin whilst putting the wheel back on; a guy came out of a cottage and offered us the loan of tools; the chassis and wheel might still be a roadside sculpture; we carried on to Scarborough then returned home on a solo; carefree idiotic days; I'm pleased I survived my biking years.

The Firebird of cindy's Sandy is more than man enough to kill; modern big bikes are a lot faster than the bikes of my day and coming off at the tight end of the throttle is more likely to be the last thing the biker ever does.

I've visited Donnington once but used to visit Oulton Park more often andrews; in the days when Bill Ivy and Phil Read were racing; my favourite races were always the outfits; kneelers had just come in and the outfits started to be fitted with Hillman Imp engines;

hillman imp engine - Google Search

The Imp engine was something else in its day.

One memorable trip to Oulton was whilst riding my BMW R75/5 with my chum Tony on pillion; as we headed through Manchester I could see a whole line of bikes in the mirror following us; I just hoped we didn't get lost.

I too wouldn't regard any bike capable of 175 mph on the road a pussy cat cindy. When I was biking anything over the ton was regarded as fast and I've ridden thousands of miles at such speed ignoring the speed limits but now only a fool would ride at over 70mph here in England unless the certain stretch of road was well known to the rider; locally our roads are trimmed with many speed cameras and even so we still have lots of speeders because the locals like me know where the fixed cameras are but the risk of speeding now just isn't worth it; I strictly adhere to speed limits wanting to retain my licence.

It's our 43rd wedding anniversary today So I took Bron over to M&S in Pudsey for some well deserved retail therapy; back home before dinner I fully loaded the Yeti with garden debris and headed to the tip six miles from us; near the tip I passed a car in the roadside and noticed the front offside tyre was flat; at a glance I thought the car to be a Porsche; I carried on to the tip thinking if the car is still there when I'm homeward bound I'll pull over to offer help? The car was still there so I pulled over and asked the astonished guy if I could help in any way saying I had a spare puncture repair can in the boot; he thanked me saying these modern cars are now useless when they suffer a puncture because they are supplied without spare wheel and that he had tried using the puncture can supplied with his car but it was useless so he was awaiting the RAC. His car was a 200 mph Jaguar; we chatted for a few minutes and I explained I had the spare puncture can because we bought a spare wheel with our Yeti. He was delighted though that I had actually stopped and asked if I could help; he thanked me many times and I was then on my way home. His new tyre will set him back £300.

Back home Bron greeted me and she was quite upset saying come and look at this? Whilst we had been out this morning two big holes appeared in our rear garden as seen here;


For years we've put peanuts out for the birds whilst knowing a family of badgers visit each night when its dark; my guess it was badgers because we don't often see gold prospectors around here.

In future we'll no longer leave nuts out because the damage is becoming too great; it's bad enough with squirrels digging hundreds of small holes but enough is enough; we're animal lovers and would never hurt anything but we're spending at least £20 each week on cat biscuits and peanuts; we don't even have a cat of our own but things are getting out of hand.

I've rambled on enough; I'll ask Bron if she fancies a trip to our local garden center; friends have kindly given us a gift voucher that can be spent there.

I've just had a look at the title of this thread.

I hope you're having a good day cindy.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

@Retired I do agree but with one caveat. Any vehicle, old or new, irrespective of the amount of wheels are all capable of killing whoever is riding/driving them.

If anyone on here has ever raced a TZ750 be it on one of the "Park Circuits" or especially "The island" will know that in comparison, new bikes are pussycats.

Consider my current bike. When first purchased, not only was its top speed restricted, so was first, second, and part of third gear to slow it down. Happily, that was just a matter of reprogramming. Now having 162bhp at the rear wheel (measured on a dyno) it can get me out of trouble just as easy as it can get me into trouble! Oh, and its still way easier to ride than my old TZ...