Stuart, the new Associates Secretary at EDAM just emailed me the pictures from the EDAM AGM a few weeks back. Unfortunately technical difficulties mean the photo is a bit underexposed, but you get the idea:

This was me receiving the Associate Trophy.

My old R1100RS is just over 44,000 miles old now and I just completed fitting a new speedometer cable. I ordered it the day after (Thursday) the old one broke and the part arrived this morning from Sherlocks. The old cable broke about 30mm from the wheel end.

It is easy enough to fit, turn the key in the ignition to undo the steering lock, and use this to make access to the removal of the two side panels by the dashboard easier. There is a small screw on each side down the opening around the steering – this mounts into the top end of the fuel tank so on my bike one is spinning away the captive screw. The panels have another two long screws at the top of each panel, then they slide out. If you have slim fingers then you can get to the back of the speedo from this stage, but to make it easier I removed the two rubber mounted 10mm bolts either side of the instruments. Note the routing of the existing cable (I forgot one bit) it goes down from the back of the speedometer, goes through a wee hoop on the front mudgard then goes to the drive from the front wheel.

Undo the knurled wheel on the back of the speedometer, and undo the screw holding the clamp at the other end. Fit the new one, putting it through the wee hoop and fitting the splines around the flat drive at the wheel end. Screw the clamp in, and spin the wheel to check the other end turns. In my case it did! Then screw the other end finger tight. I spun the wheel to see if anything would happen, but it didn’t, so I’ll be leaving the proper test to tomorrow when it isn’t as windy.

I’ve been back at our offices this week and taking advantage of the more flexible dress code by taking my motorbike to work. All fine and dandy coming home tonight, then looked down to check my speed and the speedometer had stopped working.

Checked the cable when I got home and right enough it is broken. Not expensive or difficult to replace, just means I won’t be on the bike until I replace the cable.

Ok, so I’m slow on the uptake. Apparently the BBC have got the rights to the program, and there is a Long Way Down site on the BBC all about it. They are on BMW GS’s again.

I’ve been watching out for news of Messrs McGregor and Boorman heading out on their latest trip, and signed up to their emailing list. I haven’t had anything through the email, but I spotted an article on the BBC saying that they had popped in to the Veteran’s Erskine home on Sunday. That places them in Bishopton on Sunday 13th May 2007.

They have rather strange jackets on in the picture on the BBC Site, and I see no mention of the bikes they are on.

Had a good run yesterday, though the weather closed down at the end it was dry for most of the run. Bob, the observer who normally accompanies me, was out on a mock test with another associate, so I went on a run with Dave.

We headed across town past longstone, near slateford, then over to Corstorphine, the Drumbrae roundabout and stopped just before the top of the hill. Then out on the A90, up the slip road before the bridge, then a short stop, before heading out to Linlithgow.

Points to work on included better observations and not getting sucked into overtakes because of a limit change. I’ve had this a couple of times where I target fixate. Watching out for getting boxed in i.e. to make progress staying out in the right hand lane if there isn’t traffic getting held up is ok. And not to bother too much about getting up to a limit on a Dual Carriageway if there is an big obvious 30 limit approaching 800 yards away.

So overtaking needs work, and keep working on the system.

Posted my application for my Advanced Motorcycle Test off to the IAM today, the form says to expect a three week wait.

Highs and lows today. The Highs came from my riding, the initial ride was really good, we headed out of the Steadings car park onto the bypass heading West. Came off at the Lasswade junction and turned right onto Lasswade Road, followed the road through and got to Dalkeith Bus depot (somehow!).

Then along the A68, cut left across to Ormiston for another stop. Then off through Musselburgh, into town, up Leith Street and North Bride, then right at Chambers Street and threaded through town to the Braids Golf Driving Range.

Points to remember from today’s ride:

• Keep observations up, and obvious head checks (i.e. rear mirror observations) for each hazard.
• Remember weather – it was windy and wet today, so increase distance behind cars.
• Be defensive in town, and take control of the road – e.g. do not move over and encourage three abreast across a road when there is a parked car on the other side of the road. Any dubiety then move away from the nearside so that you don’t get jammed up on the nearside.

Other stuff too, but all came together enough to put in for my proper test. In the meantime I can revise Roadcraft and practice.

The low of the ride was a fumble in the car park, I parked up defensively but the car park is quite exposed and the wind was blowing like mental. So I moved the bike. Unfortunately as I was putting it on the centre stand my right foot that was holding the stand down slipped, the bike overbalanced away from me, and fell on its right hand side. Nothing more than a couple of scratches to add to the rocker cover and pannier, so after a couple of expletives I lifted it using a technique I learned off my Ride Like a Pro IV DVD. This is demonstrated on the DVD by a woman in the states picking up her Harley Road King. Basically you make sure the side stand is down, then turn the handle bar full right. You use the right grip in your left hand, and right hand somewhere solid on the bike, and pushing your back against the seat lift using your legs. Not a problem. Then once upright I put it down gently on the side stand and then back on the centre stand. All looked fine, so I headed in for my coffee, and cheered myself up with a bacon roll and a scone and jam.

But when I came back out and started the bike up, I was getting a lot of grey/blue smoke and the smell of burnt oil. Not normal, and it didn’t clear after a minute or two of revving the bike. I parked up and there was a little drip of oil, so being a bit concerned I called out the AA. They arrived in about 20 minutes, and although the chap wasn’t a bike specialist, he checked in with technical support, and we got the fairing off for a look. There was oil on the intake side, which was reassuring as there isn’t any oil plumbing on that side. He took the inlet off and cleaned it, and then I remembered something about a drain plug on the airbox. Right enough, gave that a go and ended up with a good half cup or so of oil coming out and making a mess. I think the air box catches the output of one or two of the breather pipes, and as the bike had just been running it got a bit more than normal.

Thankfully the air filter was dry, so we drained all we could from the airbox, he cleaned up the inlet pipe and throttle body, and all back together fine. Sorted, and it all seems fine now, albeit my bag stinks of oil from being in the left hand pannier.

So a bit more experience, and two highs. I was exhausted after all of that!!

 

• Left out of Steading car park on to A702, follow Biggar Road up to lights at Fairmilehead.
• Turn right at lights into Frogston Road and follow road until T junction at traffic lights.
• Turn right into Old Dalkeith Road and follow road to Sheriffhall roundabout, take first exit on to Millerhill Road.
• Follow Millerhill Road to roundabout and take second exit towards Millerhill.
• Follow Old Craighall Road and take second exit at roundabout and turn into Musselburgh services.
• Leave services and take second exit to Musselburgh.
• At T junction lights turn right into Mall Avenue and follow road to traffic lights at high street.
• Follow high street along  into Linkfield Road and past race course.
• Follow Linkfield Road to Roundabout and take first exit into Ravenshaugh Road.
• Follow road into Prestonpans High Street.
• Leave Prestonpans on the Edinburgh road and into Cockenzie and Port Seton.
• Continue to follow B1348 out of Port Seton.
• Continue on road going into A198.
• Continue into Aberlady to park.
• Stop for Debrief.
• Follow High Street and along to left, following A198 to Gullane.
• Through Gullane (still on A198).
• Leave Gullane, staying on A198.
• Follow A198 into North Berwick.
• Dirleton Road onto Dirleton Avenue, then follow road straight ahead to Station Hill, then Beach Road, then Forth Street.
• Turn Right into Quality Street, then next right into High Street. Follow Road then park near Thai Café.

Now that I’m clear of courses at work (for three days in Northleach), the project I am working on for a bank, and then conducting an interview and a night out for a colleague who was leaving, I’m back considering action points in preparation for applying for the IAM Advanced test for a motorcycle.

The action points I got from last Sunday, 29th April 2007 where:

1. Regarding hazards on the nearside – more room if possible.
2. Forward Observations and planning need to be improved. E.g. led to poor safety position in Prestonpans (see point 1 above) and taking bends one at a time.
3. System – Earlier, shoulder and lifesaver checks.
4. Observations – Further ahead, scan and use to plan better.
5. Overtaking – plan better, look ahead.
6. Oops – needs to know system.
7. Read Highway Code and Roadcraft, please.