Team GoldWings North West
Firstly being part of the GoldWings North West Team and successfully completing the RBLR 1000, I’ve read some of the other reports and decided to stray slightly from the norm and talk more about preparation leading up to and including this event.
Returning back to last year when Lesley and Barry Halley mentioned the RBLR to me, I was to say, slightly apprehensive about taking part and I spent a day or two pondering the pros and cons. Eventually I made the decision to go ahead and do it.
Months later there were various entries on the Goldwings North West website about tactics and the first ideas were being talked about between Lesley, Barry, Crezz , Dave & Tonia, Ted, Jimmy and me and it was agreed the best place to start was going to be a meeting at the 1st Anniversary Ball in Leyland. As we all know now sadly events over took us and we all mourned the passing away of our beloved Lesley.
Besides taking the children and family members out as pillions the only other person I’d taken on the back was Lesley’s sister, Lynne. She had been so excited back in Sep 2009 after Lesley had arranged for her to be my waving partner whilst cruising up and down Blackpool promenade during BLP 2009, and she loved the atmosphere, the crowds and especially all the small children waving and smiling back at us as we all showed off our lights.
Long distance riding practice started in March, this was Lindesfarne in April
About the second week of March, after returning from the U.S.A, I decided to ask Lynne if she fancied being my pillion on the RBLR. At first she refused and thought I was joking, but having explained that I was serious Lynne considered the idea for a week and then made the decision to accompany me. (Lynne – It’s not something I would’ve considered normally although Lesley was always encouraging me to go out for a ride with Barry – but I was too chicken until the BLP. Lesley has gone off on the greatest adventure so I had to ‘seize the day’ – to do something exciting and unusual that would’ve made her proud. ) I was thrilled that Lynne had accepted but the proviso was that we go out on some warm up rides to get some miles under our belts first since she had only ever been 10 miles as pillion during the BLP 2009!!
Approaching Hartside Tops
So on 26th March we arranged a 322 miles ride. We set off from Fleetwood, M55, M6, A59 to Grassington, then Patley Bridge, Knaresborough, York, Scarborough, Bridlington, Driffield, then M62 west across the country and then M60, M6 and finally M55 again. This tour took 12 hours with stops at Patley Bridge, York, Scarborough, Bridlington and Birch services. (Lynne – OMG I loved it right away!! I felt so comfortable and secure I suddenly realised why Lesley loved it so much and I never had a moment’s second thought!!!)
At the time we did not have communication between us so we only spoke when going slow which involved turning my head sideways and shouting at Lynne. The ride went smoothly generally, but I found that my buttocks started to get painful around the 250 mile mark and I realised that underwear, Jeans and motorbike trousers do nothing to assist blood circulation. So this ride was constructive and we had covered the first leg of the RBLR 1000 route.
Lowther Castle
On 28th Apr, Lynne and I covered a route in her car from Fleetwood M55, M6 north, to Gretna Green, then east all the way to Berwick on Tweed. We stopped at Lindisfarne but the tide was coming in so we went south to Bamburgh Castle, which was fascinating by the way, and on to Seahouses to have lunch. From there we went south to Durham then across the country coming back to Penrith via the A686. At least we noted the road was full of potholes and there were plenty of roundabouts too.
On 29th Apr, Ted and I fitted an autocom system to the bike with headsets for both my helmets which works brilliantly. What a difference being able to speak to your pillion makes and it opened up a whole new experience whilst riding. I cannot see now how I managed without it and it is so nice to get feedback on your riding skills when attempting overtaking manoeuvres (lol!), as I found out. (Lynne – Ok there was that one time where Steve said ‘I can overtake here’ and I unthinkingly said ‘No you can’t!’ forgetting that he could hear me!!! Bless him – he didn’t!!)
Scottish Trip May 2010
A few days later I decided it was time to change the Oil and filter. Having read an article on the GWNW website about oil from Morrisons I dually purchased said oil and gave Heavenly Louise new lube for the up and coming long distance rides.
On 7th May, Lynne and I managed a 480 mile tour to Scotland, again a 12 hour journey which was M6, Glasgow, Fort William (stopped for lunch), east towards the A9 above Pitlochry then south through Stirling and across to Glasgow and south on the M6 back to Lynne’s home in Penrith. On this trip I was not only testing the Autocom which performed faultlessly, but also tested a memory foam cushion which did help with comfort on the latter part of the journey. With me still having pain on my right side even with this extra cushion from 350 miles onward, I found out that having my wallet in my back pocket was causing problems, so I stopped placing it there – simple!
Next bike prep job I was to change the front wheel bearings, fitted new rear brake pads and checked rear bearings, swinging arm, suspension etc.
Ready to go - complete with extra seat padding!
On 12th Jun Ted and I fitted a slide mount CB to HL and now I had the capacity to communicate not only with Lynne, but other team members which turned out a great asset during the RBLR 1000. Ted and I tested the CB on a ride out on runs to St Annes, and then to Knott End using a different channel and fine tuned the aerial for better reception. All ok!
So now having done all this preparation , covering a route from Pitlochry then south to the M62 and across to the M6 and up as far as Fort William we had completed 50% of the intended route and both felt we were ready for the final challenge.
We're Off!
On 18th June we rode to Castleford, meeting up with Ted and Chris at Birch Services on the way. I had decided to use a slightly deflated air cushion and a sheepskin which provided the right support for my posterior and it did make a difference.
From Castleford we headed up to Squires Cafe that night to meet the rest of the team there for the briefing and we knew the adventure had begun!
19th – 20th June RBLR1000. You’ve maybe read other reports and all I can add is it was a fantastic journey to make. The scenery in Scotland is stunning and the wind from Inverness to Wick and back had to be experienced to be appreciated. It was exhilarating but not easy – especially on the homeward stretch in the few dark hours of the night! Our body clocks were seriously out for a couple of days and while Lynne did very well, with only the tips of her ears painful due to the helmet, it took a couple of days for my buttocks to recover!!
One of many fuel stops
On, 26th Jun, I rode HL down to John Carr’s just off the A6 and, having covered 8,000 miles over 12 months and basically replacing all worn parts, was happy that she flew through the inspection with flying colours and passed the MOT with no problems.
So what’s next you may ask?
Well, we are looking forward to more rides out through the summer - after the GWNW meeting on the 27th I rode north to Lynne’s and we had a ride out to Hartside Top Cafe on the A686, taking HL for a burn up long and winding roads then back via Lowther Castle, the weather was great and the scenery was fantastic too.
Next on the list are Buxton, RAF Woodvale, Kirkby Lonsdale and the BLP 2010 in September.
Finshing as a Team
Finally, I was the one who compared child birth to this ride in that at the time when you finish you say, “never again in a million years!”, but once the pain, tiredness and stress go, you remember all the good things, experiences and you say,“well, maybe one more!!”
So next year it looks like we will do the RBLR1000 again as we both now have the bug – big style!
You can read another report on this Ride by Dave & Toni Bayliss on the GoldWings North West website.
The next RBLR1000 Ride is planned for 18th-19th June 2011. For further information please visit the RBLR1000 Website.
[...] You can read their report by clicking on this link to Stuart’s GoldWing Blog. [...]
With an event like this no matter how much preparation you do something crops up which takes you by surprise. Good report about the “befores”.
Excellent read. I have to give it to you both, at least you did have a few practise runs before the event. The nearest I got to having a practise, was by doing the event!!!
Thanks for your report.