I'm sitting down with a late lunch Watching the TV series Pie In The Sky that ran from 94 to 97, the petrol garage prices were listed at 54.9 / 49.9 / 48.8 on the forecourt board.
It was 78p when I started riding. That was gallons (i.e. less than 20p a litre) and included the shot of 2 stroke oil, from the dispenser beside the pump, for my FSIE
Ha! youngsters. When I started riding you could get 4gallons for a £1 and still have enough change to catch the bus home after your bike had broken down, again. Kids today hey, don’t know their born.
As i've said before once or twice, we've had the best years in this country, sadly it's all downhill from now on in.
Sorted the dates and booked the ferry for our Pyrenees trip in April/May. Never been away with more than two others and there's 8 on this one, so see how it goes...
I only ever ride these days with my lad or solo. Group rides to me are a compromise and ruins the enjoyment. I can’t imagine how difficult 8 riding together would be.
There's 8 going and we will all start from A and end up at B, but not a chance I will ride with more than my long term riding mate and maybe plus 1 mate. Within the group, there's 3 or 4 riding pairs/groups. You get the benefit of good evenings with the whole group and I don't mind the journey to and from the ferry as a group, as it's the only time I'll spend on motorways.
I guess it's all down to what period / decade you landed on Terra Firma, if you're from right now & happening...........it's the norm.
8 is a good manageable size. Means you’re likely to have a slooow one and likely to have a maniac. Avoid both and normally ok. Unless you’re one of the two Personally, I have found solo riding tedious for many years now. 3 or 4 is kind of ideal for me, if out for a whole day. If going out on my own I’d much rather drive: it’s why I’ve gone from riding 12k miles pa when living in Hants with very active local bunch of mates to barely at all since moving Cheltenham way. Probably explains why I’ve had a bike two years, spent thousands on it and not ridden it yet!
Having passed and been passed by groups, unless you’re all of a similar mindset and ability it’s a chore. Did it when much younger and it’s a chore in my experience.
I prefer solo riding, but i do on the odd occasional ride with a friend and sometimes two friends at once....shock horror. Here are the problems associated with group riding; 1, Time keeping, some people just don't understand the word. 2, I need to stop for a wee, just as you set off on your journey. 3, I've no petrol, but your late already. 4, folk braking for no apparent reason in front of you & you have to swerve or else at the last minute. 5, Fill in the gap.................
That’s your problem and not the rider in front. If you have to swerve, you are riding way too close and your following position on the road is wrong. Andy
