Yes, both of them!
In fact I was almost tempted to take the XV for a run - but the sun went
in, and so did I :-(
Yes, both of them!
In fact I was almost tempted to take the XV for a run - but the sun went
in, and so did I :-(
(I just thought I'd post some trivia so that you all didn't wonder if
the server had fallen over or summat.)
Further examination of the XV heated grips (the gooey ones) revealed
that the gooeyness was restricted to where I had indeed used a 'ring of adhesive'[1] to hold them in place.-a Testing their operability also
Cheers, ChrisCrystal?
[1] TM
[Soudal 'Fixall' is my sealant and adhesive of choice for everything
On 12/12/2025 15:16, chrisnd @ukrm wrote:
Yes, both of them!
In fact I was almost tempted to take the XV for a run - but the sun
went in, and so did I :-(
By coincidence, I started two of mine.
After I had pumped up the tyres, however, the sun was very low and by
the time I could have got my riding gear on it would have been past
sunset, so I stuck it back in the garage and connected the battery up to
the Noco.
On 12/12/2025 15:16, chrisnd @ukrm wrote:
Yes, both of them!
In fact I was almost tempted to take the XV for a run - but the sun
went in, and so did I :-(
(I just thought I'd post some trivia so that you all didn't wonder if
the server had fallen over or summat.)
Further examination of the XV heated grips (the gooey ones) revealed
that the gooeyness was restricted to where I had indeed used a 'ring
of adhesive'[1] to hold them in place.-a Testing their operability also
I always found heated grips generally fell apart. And didn't do much for
the part of the hand n the wind blast. Hence my switch to muffs many
moons ago.
<snip>
Cheers, ChrisCrystal?
[1] TM
[Soudal 'Fixall' is my sealant and adhesive of choice for everything
I've been using it loads with the building work.
The joys of win^H^H^H Autumn morotcycling
On Sat, 13 Dec 2025 10:04:18 +0000, YTC1 <ytc1@ytc1.co.uk> wrote:
The joys of win^H^H^H Autumn morotcycling
Winter starts on 1st December
There will be no further debate on this
On 12/12/2025 15:16, chrisnd @ukrm wrote:
Yes, both of them!
In fact I was almost tempted to take the XV for a run - but the sun went
in, and so did I :-(
(I just thought I'd post some trivia so that you all didn't wonder if
the server had fallen over or summat.)
Further examination of the XV heated grips (the gooey ones) revealed
that the gooeyness was restricted to where I had indeed used a 'ring of
adhesive'[1] to hold them in place.a Testing their operability also
I always found heated grips generally fell apart. And didn't do much for
the part of the hand n the wind blast. Hence my switch to muffs many
moons ago.
Any time you could really benefit from heated grips, you're going to
be wearing heavier gloves, which work against getting as much heat
from the grips. And without some sort of wind deflectors, the backs of
your hands are getting a blast of super cold air... I do have R1150GS
"bark busters" on my KLR650 but it's got a very weak charging system
as stock so not the best bike to power heated gear.
I like my 12V powered heated gloves. I might try muffs at some point
if I could be bothered to ride much in the cold, which I admit is
pretty much in the past for me.
Mark Olson <olsonm@tiny.invalid> wrote in
I like my 12V powered heated gloves. I might try muffs at some point
if I could be bothered to ride much in the cold, which I admit is
pretty much in the past for me.
the big benefit of muffs for me is not having to wear thick gloves. especially if you have heated grips as you can wear summer gloves. Your gloves stay dry so when you stop for fuel, you are not wrestling to get
damp gloves back onto freezing hands.
I used the Tucano R319 type that fit over handguards. With this type you
can access most of the switchgear easily, as long as you can do it by feel not sight.
I used them on all bikes from 2009 as I was doing some winter commuting. Except the current one as I am less inclined to ride in winter now I have retired.
On Sat, 13 Dec 2025 10:04:18 +0000, YTC1 <ytc1@ytc1.co.uk> wrote:
The joys of win^H^H^H Autumn morotcycling
Winter starts on 1st December
There will be no further debate on this
On Sat, 13 Dec 2025 10:04:18 +0000, YTC1 <ytc1@ytc1.co.uk> wrote:
The joys of win^H^H^H Autumn morotcycling
Winter starts on 1st December
There will be no further debate on this
On 13/12/2025 16:45 Champ penned these words:
On Sat, 13 Dec 2025 10:04:18 +0000, YTC1 <ytc1@ytc1.co.uk> wrote:
The joys of win^H^H^H Autumn morotcycling
Winter starts on 1st December
There will be no further debate on this
Mid October surely, that's when the daylight declines to 3/5th of sod
all and it will be miserable until at least the end of February.
Perhaps I'm "ready to rumble". Heavyish, gutless but low. https://motomorini.eu/model/rumble/
On 14/12/2025 07:43, Pete Fisher wrote:
Perhaps I'm "ready to rumble". Heavyish, gutless but low.
https://motomorini.eu/model/rumble/
Nice fat tyres so at about 2psi it might just cope with our potholes. ;-)
Perhaps I'm "ready to rumble". Heavyish, gutless but low. https://motomorini.eu/model/rumble/
On Sat, 13 Dec 2025 10:04:18 +0000, YTC1 <ytc1@ytc1.co.uk> wrote:
The joys of win^H^H^H Autumn morotcycling
Winter starts on 1st December
There will be no further debate on this
On 13/12/2025 16:45 Champ penned these words:
On Sat, 13 Dec 2025 10:04:18 +0000, YTC1 <ytc1@ytc1.co.uk> wrote:
The joys of win^H^H^H Autumn morotcycling
Winter starts on 1st December
There will be no further debate on this
Mid October surely, that's when the daylight declines to 3/5th of sod all and it
will be miserable until at least the end of February.
On 13/12/2025 10:03, YTC1 wrote:
On 12/12/2025 15:16, chrisnd @ukrm wrote:
Yes, both of them!
In fact I was almost tempted to take the XV for a run - but the sun
went in, and so did I :-(
(I just thought I'd post some trivia so that you all didn't wonder if
the server had fallen over or summat.)
Further examination of the XV heated grips (the gooey ones) revealed
that the gooeyness was restricted to where I had indeed used a 'ring
of adhesive'[1] to hold them in place.-a Testing their operability also
I always found heated grips generally fell apart. And didn't do much
for the part of the hand n the wind blast. Hence my switch to muffs
many moons ago.
Muffs - well, for me, just something else to store that will hardly ever
be used :-/
<snip>
Cheers, ChrisCrystal?
[1] TM
[Soudal 'Fixall' is my sealant and adhesive of choice for everything
I've been using it loads with the building work.
Yes, the crystal is ok if you're dealing with glass/perspex etc for transparency but the white, brown and black (described as 'High Tack') definitely have better stickability.-a They've even re-stuck soles onto
YTC1 <ytc1@ytc1.co.uk> wrote:
On 12/12/2025 15:16, chrisnd @ukrm wrote:
Yes, both of them!
In fact I was almost tempted to take the XV for a run - but the sun went >>> in, and so did I :-(
(I just thought I'd post some trivia so that you all didn't wonder if
the server had fallen over or summat.)
Further examination of the XV heated grips (the gooey ones) revealed
that the gooeyness was restricted to where I had indeed used a 'ring of
adhesive'[1] to hold them in place.-a Testing their operability also
I always found heated grips generally fell apart. And didn't do much for
the part of the hand n the wind blast. Hence my switch to muffs many
moons ago.
Any time you could really benefit from heated grips, you're going to
be wearing heavier gloves, which work against getting as much heat
from the grips. And without some sort of wind deflectors, the backs of
your hands are getting a blast of super cold air... I do have R1150GS
"bark busters" on my KLR650 but it's got a very weak charging system
as stock so not the best bike to power heated gear.
I like my 12V powered heated gloves. I might try muffs at some pointI have them on the Peg permanently, so I can just wear summer gloves in
if I could be bothered to ride much in the cold, which I admit is
pretty much in the past for me.
Mark Olson <olsonm@tiny.invalid> wrote in<ding> :-)
news:10hkhj7$cgqh$2@dont-email.me:
Any time you could really benefit from heated grips, you're going to
be wearing heavier gloves, which work against getting as much heat
from the grips. And without some sort of wind deflectors, the backs of
your hands are getting a blast of super cold air... I do have R1150GS
"bark busters" on my KLR650 but it's got a very weak charging system
as stock so not the best bike to power heated gear.
I like my 12V powered heated gloves. I might try muffs at some point
if I could be bothered to ride much in the cold, which I admit is
pretty much in the past for me.
the big benefit of muffs for me is not having to wear thick gloves. especially if you have heated grips as you can wear summer gloves. Your gloves stay dry so when you stop for fuel, you are not wrestling to get
damp gloves back onto freezing hands.
Mid October surely, that's when the daylight declines to 3/5th of
sod all and it will be miserable until at least the end of February.
On 13/12/2025 16:45, Champ wrote:
On Sat, 13 Dec 2025 10:04:18 +0000, YTC1 <ytc1@ytc1.co.uk> wrote:
The joys of win^H^H^H Autumn morotcycling
Winter starts on 1st December
There will be no further debate on this
I concur.
In an unprecedented since 2015 (I think) occurrence I rode a motorcycle
in December yesterday afternoon.
Just round the block on the CB250RS to find out if the new pattern front disk had sorted the braking issue.
It seems as if it has, but I will wait until I have also treated it to
new pads and the roads aren't glistening before attempting a demon
braking test from higher speed (for SO Honda 250 values of higher speed)
On 14/12/2025 07:43, Pete Fisher wrote:
Perhaps I'm "ready to rumble". Heavyish, gutless but low.
https://motomorini.eu/model/rumble/
It appears to have two rear wheels. Wonder what that does for the handling?
On 14/12/2025 07:43, Pete Fisher wrote:
On 13/12/2025 16:45, Champ wrote:
On Sat, 13 Dec 2025 10:04:18 +0000, YTC1 <ytc1@ytc1.co.uk> wrote:
The joys of win^H^H^H Autumn morotcycling
Winter starts on 1st December
There will be no further debate on this
I concur.
In an unprecedented since 2015 (I think) occurrence I rode a
motorcycle in December yesterday afternoon.
Just round the block on the CB250RS to find out if the new pattern
front disk had sorted the braking issue.
It seems as if it has, but I will wait until I have also treated it to
new pads and the roads aren't glistening before attempting a demon
braking test from higher speed (for SO Honda 250 values of higher speed)
I still think that my old CB250RS is the bike that I miss the most. It
was the first bike I ever got my knee down on, and also, somewhat unbelievably, the first bike I ever hit an indicated 100mph on. It was
1987. The day of the Great Storm. I had an 80mph tailwind on the A45 (as
it was then - now the A14) and it held an indicated 100mph at 10K RPM in top. Given that the redline is 9K, I knew full well what this would be doing.
The top end gave up the ghost about a week later. It was worth it.
I'm still a big fan of nimble, lightweight, slim roadbikes. Which
explains perfectly why I've just wheeled a K1600GTL into the garage.
On Sun, 14 Dec 2025 08:15:09 +0000, boots <news@millhouse-communications.co.uk> wrote:
Mid October surely, that's when the daylight declines to 3/5th of
sod all and it will be miserable until at least the end of February.
You folks ought to know this! Winter is bounded by the (Celtic) cross-quarter days: Samhain and Imbolc. (The eves are Halloween and Groundhog Day respectively.) If this were never or is no longer so
true as in Merrie Olde England, it remains so in the United States.
Here winter occults autumn suddenly, but spring's subversion of winter
is more diffident. Hence the mediation of its totem animal which
decides to emerge from or return to hibernation on 2 Feb. If the
second dawns bright and clear rCo so the ancients have observed rCo the groundhog becomes agitated seeing its shadow and returns to its burrow resulting in prolonging winter yet another six weeks. If the second
brings mist and clouds, the groundhog finds it clement enough to begin foraging signaling an almost immediate spring.
Any time you could really benefit from heated grips, you're going to
be wearing heavier gloves, which work against getting as much heat
from the grips. And without some sort of wind deflectors, the backs of
your hands are getting a blast of super cold air...
On 14/12/2025 08:15, boots wrote:
On 13/12/2025 16:45 Champ penned these words:
On Sat, 13 Dec 2025 10:04:18 +0000, YTC1 <ytc1@ytc1.co.uk> wrote:
The joys of win^H^H^H Autumn morotcycling
Winter starts on 1st December
There will be no further debate on this
Mid October surely, that's when the daylight declines to 3/5th of sod all and it
will be miserable until at least the end of February.
The worst/coldest weather is generally January/February, so I rest my case
On 14/12/2025 21:04 YTC1 penned these words:
On 14/12/2025 08:15, boots wrote:
On 13/12/2025 16:45 Champ penned these words:
On Sat, 13 Dec 2025 10:04:18 +0000, YTC1 <ytc1@ytc1.co.uk>
wrote:
The joys of win^H^H^H Autumn morotcycling
Winter starts on 1st December
There will be no further debate on this
Mid October surely, that's when the daylight declines to 3/5th
of sod all and it will be miserable until at least the end of
February.
The worst/coldest weather is generally January/February, so I rest
my case
But crucially while cold it is often brighter and frankly I'll take
the extra daylight over miserable grey and overcast.
On 13/12/2025 16:45, Champ wrote:
On Sat, 13 Dec 2025 10:04:18 +0000, YTC1 <ytc1@ytc1.co.uk> wrote:
The joys of win^H^H^H Autumn morotcycling
Winter starts on 1st December
There will be no further debate on this
Philistine !
Try Iceland, summer starts on the 1st Thursday after the 18th April
:-)
Yes, both of them!
In fact I was almost tempted to take the XV for a run - but the sun
went in, and so did I :-(
I've got a good jacket and gloves but the bottom half relies on work trousers, thermal underwear and steel toed work boots. It's fine up to
2deg C so far. TBH even if it were freezing, the 10-15mins I'm
actually riding is not really long enough for the cold to penetrate as
far as the bones.Thick mist has been the biggest problem so far
(exited to the petrol station by mistake)
Mark Olson wrote:
Any time you could really benefit from heated grips, you're going to
be wearing heavier gloves, which work against getting as much heat
from the grips. And without some sort of wind deflectors, the backs of
your hands are getting a blast of super cold air...
I have a pair of Richa 'lobster' gloves (which replaced an ancient Hein Gericke equivalent) that have two different 'chambers' for your hands.
The lower one gives a thin layer between your palm and the grip (so you
get the benefit of the heat and can feel the controls) with a double
layer of insulation on the back of the hand.
They're very warm and have been waterproof so far.
While muffs are probably the 'best' option, I don't like how they
restrict my hands.
"GeoffC" <me@home.nl> wrote in news:10hovki$1t2t3$1@dont-email.me:
.
I've got a good jacket and gloves but the bottom half relies on
work trousers, thermal underwear and steel toed work boots. It's
fine up to 2deg C so far. TBH even if it were freezing, the
10-15mins I'm actually riding is not really long enough for the
cold to penetrate as far as the bones.Thick mist has been the
biggest problem so far (exited to the petrol station by mistake)
as well as muffs, I bought a gaucho to use on the R1150GS to ride 33
miles to/from Cardiff.
the gaucho kept the saddle dry when it rained as I parked outside in >Cardiff. It also increased the number of days I could ride home in
jeans without faffing about with overtrousers.
Tucano Urbano, made my muffs and also make the gauchos as they are
popular in Italy.
Mark Olson wrote:
Any time you could really benefit from heated grips, you're going to
be wearing heavier gloves, which work against getting as much heat
from the grips. And without some sort of wind deflectors, the backs of
your hands are getting a blast of super cold air...
I have a pair of Richa 'lobster' gloves (which replaced an ancient Hein Gericke equivalent) that have two different 'chambers' for your hands.
The lower one gives a thin layer between your palm and the grip (so you
get the benefit of the heat and can feel the controls) with a double
layer of insulation on the back of the hand.
They're very warm and have been waterproof so far.
While muffs are probably the 'best' option, I don't like how they
restrict my hands.
I have the same complaint about bar-end mirrors though, so it's probably just a 'me' problem.
YTC1 wrote:
On 13/12/2025 16:45, Champ wrote:
On Sat, 13 Dec 2025 10:04:18 +0000, YTC1 <ytc1@ytc1.co.uk> wrote:
The joys of win^H^H^H Autumn morotcycling
Winter starts on 1st December
There will be no further debate on this
Philistine !
Try Iceland, summer starts on the 1st Thursday after the 18th April
:-)
There was a program on BBC R4 a couple of weeks ago examining how
things would be if the Earth's axis wasn't tilted. ie. no seasons and
the same climate all year round. Northern Europe would be similar to a Coastal Icelandic summer..........fuck that for a game of conkers.
On 15/12/2025 12:44, GeoffC wrote:
There was a program on BBC R4 a couple of weeks ago examining how
things would be if the Earth's axis wasn't tilted. ie. no seasons and
the same climate all year round. Northern Europe would be similar to a
Coastal Icelandic summer..........fuck that for a game of conkers.
We are a fluke in the universe, aren't we?
On Mon, 15 Dec 2025 17:02:29 +0000, YTC1 <ytc1@ytc1.co.uk> wrote:
We are a fluke in the universe, aren't we?
Indeed we are. It's one of many factors that combined to allow us to
be here. Without the seasonal variations a lot of the drive for
evolution and migration would not have existed. Like the moon it's
thought to be an essential part of animal and later human development.
Which is, among other things, why I'm in the camp that does believe
that we may be possibly the only 'intelligent' life in the universe.
Ace <Ace@ch.com> wrote:
On Mon, 15 Dec 2025 17:02:29 +0000, YTC1 <ytc1@ytc1.co.uk> wrote:
We are a fluke in the universe, aren't we?
Indeed we are. It's one of many factors that combined to allow us to
be here. Without the seasonal variations a lot of the drive for
evolution and migration would not have existed. Like the moon it's
thought to be an essential part of animal and later human development.
Which is, among other things, why I'm in the camp that does believe
that we may be possibly the only 'intelligent' life in the universe.
FSVO intelligent. For sure we are in an extreme Goldilocks situation.
On Mon, 15 Dec 2025 17:02:29 +0000, YTC1 <ytc1@ytc1.co.uk> wrote:
On 15/12/2025 12:44, GeoffC wrote:
There was a program on BBC R4 a couple of weeks ago examining how
things would be if the Earth's axis wasn't tilted. ie. no seasons and
the same climate all year round. Northern Europe would be similar to a
Coastal Icelandic summer..........fuck that for a game of conkers.
We are a fluke in the universe, aren't we?
Indeed we are. It's one of many factors that combined to allow us to
be here. Without the seasonal variations a lot of the drive for
evolution and migration would not have existed. Like the moon it's
thought to be an essential part of animal and later human development.
Which is, among other things, why I'm in the camp that does believe
that we may be possibly the only 'intelligent' life in the universe.
On Mon, 15 Dec 2025 17:02:29 +0000, YTC1 <ytc1@ytc1.co.uk> wrote:
On 15/12/2025 12:44, GeoffC wrote:
There was a program on BBC R4 a couple of weeks ago examining how
things would be if the Earth's axis wasn't tilted. ie. no seasons and
the same climate all year round. Northern Europe would be similar to a
Coastal Icelandic summer..........fuck that for a game of conkers.
We are a fluke in the universe, aren't we?
Indeed we are. It's one of many factors that combined to allow us to
be here. Without the seasonal variations a lot of the drive for
evolution and migration would not have existed. Like the moon it's
thought to be an essential part of animal and later human development.
Which is, among other things, why I'm in the camp that does believe
that we may be possibly the only 'intelligent' life in the universe.
boots wrote:
On 14/12/2025 21:04 YTC1 penned these words:
On 14/12/2025 08:15, boots wrote:
On 13/12/2025 16:45 Champ penned these words:
On Sat, 13 Dec 2025 10:04:18 +0000, YTC1 <ytc1@ytc1.co.uk>
wrote:
The joys of win^H^H^H Autumn morotcycling
Winter starts on 1st December
There will be no further debate on this
Mid October surely, that's when the daylight declines to 3/5th
of sod all and it will be miserable until at least the end of
February.
The worst/coldest weather is generally January/February, so I rest
my case
But crucially while cold it is often brighter and frankly I'll take
the extra daylight over miserable grey and overcast.
This.
I recently started a job (Sep 20th) which entails a 17km (mostly
motorway) commute. Traffic, speed and fun are the main parameters which dictate that I use the bike.
2nd February is a bit early for me to venture out on two wheels
unless an exceptionally mild and fortuitously dry day. The Chinese
New Year (17th February 2026) might bring more chance but it's a
particularly grim winter if the first week in March doesn't see me
dusting the cobwebs off a bike.
APHORISM, n. Predigested wisdom.
by Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary
The flabby wine-skin of his brain
Yields to some pathologic strain,
And voids from its unstored abysm
The driblet of an aphorism.
"The Mad Philosopher," 1697
[1] I recently came across a discussion online that said if you shuffle
a deck of cards, it's entirely possible that the particular arrangement
you create has never been done before and may never happen again.
I'm not sure if this is where I saw that 'factoid' but there's some good discussion here.
On 15/12/2025 18:13, Ace wrote:
On Mon, 15 Dec 2025 17:02:29 +0000, YTC1 <ytc1@ytc1.co.uk> wrote:
On 15/12/2025 12:44, GeoffC wrote:Indeed we are. It's one of many factors that combined to allow us to
We are a fluke in the universe, aren't we?
be here. Without the seasonal variations a lot of the drive for
evolution and migration would not have existed. Like the moon it's
thought to be an essential part of animal and later human development.
Which is, among other things, why I'm in the camp that does believe
that we may be possibly the only 'intelligent' life in the universe.
Among billions of galaxies of billions of stars? And you're precluding
life, Jim, but not as we know it.
On 15/12/2025 10:29, Sqirrel99 wrote:
Mark Olson wrote:I find thick gloves restrict me more than muffs.
Any time you could really benefit from heated grips, you're going toI have a pair of Richa 'lobster' gloves (which replaced an ancient Hein
be wearing heavier gloves, which work against getting as much heat
from the grips. And without some sort of wind deflectors, the backs of
your hands are getting a blast of super cold air...
Gericke equivalent) that have two different 'chambers' for your hands.
The lower one gives a thin layer between your palm and the grip (so you
get the benefit of the heat and can feel the controls) with a double
layer of insulation on the back of the hand.
They're very warm and have been waterproof so far.
While muffs are probably the 'best' option, I don't like how they
restrict my hands.
I have the same complaint about bar-end mirrors though, so it's probably
just a 'me' problem.
Er, don't hold onto the mirrors? :-)
On 15/12/2025 18:13, Ace wrote:
Which is, among other things, why I'm in the camp that does believe
that we may be possibly the only 'intelligent' life in the universe.
Among billions of galaxies of billions of stars? And you're precluding
life, Jim, but not as we know it.
YTC1 wrote:
On 15/12/2025 10:29, Sqirrel99 wrote:
Mark Olson wrote:I find thick gloves restrict me more than muffs.
Any time you could really benefit from heated grips, you're going toI have a pair of Richa 'lobster' gloves (which replaced an ancient
be wearing heavier gloves, which work against getting as much heat
from the grips. And without some sort of wind deflectors, the backs of >>>> your hands are getting a blast of super cold air...
Hein Gericke equivalent) that have two different 'chambers' for your
hands.
The lower one gives a thin layer between your palm and the grip (so
you get the benefit of the heat and can feel the controls) with a
double layer of insulation on the back of the hand.
They're very warm and have been waterproof so far.
While muffs are probably the 'best' option, I don't like how they
restrict my hands.
That's the beauty of the Richa gloves -
They feel like a summer glove (assuming you're OK with the lobster
aspect) with the thin palm, but insulate like a really thick winter
glove on the back.
I rode back from the Dragon Rally in February wearing them, with failed heated grips - about 230 miles in 3/4C. My hands were cold, but not dangerously or painfully so.
On Mon, 15 Dec 2025 22:07:43 +0000, PipL <pip@nowhere.nul> wrote:
On 15/12/2025 18:13, Ace wrote:
Which is, among other things, why I'm in the camp that does believeAmong billions of galaxies of billions of stars? And you're precluding
that we may be possibly the only 'intelligent' life in the universe.
life, Jim, but not as we know it.
Not precluding anything, just not using big numbers and
chance/probability to reach a conclusion that we "must" not be alone,
which so many people are keen to do.
Even if a coin has been tossed ten billion minus one times and never
landed on tails, there's still an equal chance that the ten billionth
toss lands a head.
Ace wrote:
Not precluding anything, just not using big numbers and
chance/probability to reach a conclusion that we "must" not be alone,
which so many people are keen to do.
While we may live in a 'locally unique' Goldilocks zone, that definition >only applies to us. Given the vastness of the universe, it is more
likely than not that both other Earth-like planets exist and that other >kinds of life exist.
We'll just never know
On 15/12/2025 12:40, GeoffC wrote:
My 18 mile commute is, with the odd exception, very easy on mostly dead >straight A roads & dual carriageway - it's actually quicker by car
because of the reduced faff factor of kit at each end and getting the
bike out of and back into the garage, except for a brief window in
Summer when I can wear jeans.
If it's pissing down I use the car.
Ditto. Also my days of braving icy roads are all but gone.
On 15/12/2025 18:56, Mark Olson wrote:
Wotcha
[1] I recently came across a discussion online that said if you shuffle
a deck of cards, it's entirely possible that the particular arrangement
you create has never been done before and may never happen again.
I'm not sure if this is where I saw that 'factoid' but there's some good
discussion here.
I believe it was on QI
I'm still a big fan of nimble, lightweight, slim roadbikes. Which
explains perfectly why I've just wheeled a K1600GTL into the garage.
On 13/12/2025 16:45, Champ wrote:
On Sat, 13 Dec 2025 10:04:18 +0000, YTC1 <ytc1@ytc1.co.uk> wrote:
The joys of win^H^H^H Autumn morotcycling
Winter starts on 1st December
There will be no further debate on this
Philistine !
On Sun, 14 Dec 2025 21:02:19 +0000, YTC1 <ytc1@ytc1.co.uk> wrote:
On 13/12/2025 16:45, Champ wrote:
On Sat, 13 Dec 2025 10:04:18 +0000, YTC1 <ytc1@ytc1.co.uk> wrote:
The joys of win^H^H^H Autumn morotcycling
Winter starts on 1st December
There will be no further debate on this
Philistine !
You are obviously swayed by the 'astronomical' definition, whereas I
use the meteological.
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter
In the context of 'being out on a motorbike', it means little to me
where the celestial bodies are, but matters quite a bit what the
weather is doing
On 16/12/2025 01:50, Lone Wolf wrote:
On 15/12/2025 18:56, Mark Olson wrote:
Wotcha
[1] I recently came across a discussion online that said if you shuffle
a deck of cards, it's entirely possible that the particular arrangement
you create has never been done before and may never happen again.
I'm not sure if this is where I saw that 'factoid' but there's some good >>> discussion here.
I believe it was on QI
Sounds right up their alley.
On Sun, 14 Dec 2025 21:02:19 +0000, YTC1 <ytc1@ytc1.co.uk> wrote:
On 13/12/2025 16:45, Champ wrote:
On Sat, 13 Dec 2025 10:04:18 +0000, YTC1 <ytc1@ytc1.co.uk> wrote:
The joys of win^H^H^H Autumn morotcycling
Winter starts on 1st December
There will be no further debate on this
Philistine !
You are obviously swayed by the 'astronomical' definition, whereas I
use the meteological.
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter
On Wed, 17 Dec 2025 09:56:18 +0000, Champ <neal@champ.org.uk> wrote:
On Sun, 14 Dec 2025 21:02:19 +0000, YTC1 <ytc1@ytc1.co.uk> wrote:
On 13/12/2025 16:45, Champ wrote:
On Sat, 13 Dec 2025 10:04:18 +0000, YTC1 <ytc1@ytc1.co.uk> wrote:
The joys of win^H^H^H Autumn morotcycling
Winter starts on 1st December
There will be no further debate on this
Philistine !
You are obviously swayed by the 'astronomical' definition, whereas I
use the meteological.
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter
But neother of the twp astronomical measures (one adjusted for lag,
one not) wouold ever give Dec 1st as the first day of winter.
I'm more inclined to go for the 'coldest 3 months' as per the
meteorologial model. But no caledar months, which are meaningless. So probably about mid Dec to mid March. Although sometimes we get snow
earlier than that (as you know this year) and sometimes later.
Winter tyre requirements are a more definite measure, and where they
have laws, including France for the last few years, it's generally fro
Nov 1st to March 31st, so that's 5 winter months, five summer monhts, tyre-wise.
Yeah we Old Farts recognise danger and take measures to avoid
it. That's why we're no good at F1 for example.
On Wed, 17 Dec 2025 09:56:18 +0000, Champ <neal@champ.org.uk> wrote:Just because it snows, does not mean it is a cold month :-)
On Sun, 14 Dec 2025 21:02:19 +0000, YTC1 <ytc1@ytc1.co.uk> wrote:
On 13/12/2025 16:45, Champ wrote:
On Sat, 13 Dec 2025 10:04:18 +0000, YTC1 <ytc1@ytc1.co.uk> wrote:
The joys of win^H^H^H Autumn morotcycling
Winter starts on 1st December
There will be no further debate on this
Philistine !
You are obviously swayed by the 'astronomical' definition, whereas I
use the meteological.
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter
But neother of the twp astronomical measures (one adjusted for lag,
one not) wouold ever give Dec 1st as the first day of winter.
I'm more inclined to go for the 'coldest 3 months' as per the
meteorologial model. But no caledar months, which are meaningless. So probably about mid Dec to mid March. Although sometimes we get snow
earlier than that (as you know this year) and sometimes later.
On 17/12/2025 09:56, Champ wrote:
On Sun, 14 Dec 2025 21:02:19 +0000, YTC1 <ytc1@ytc1.co.uk> wrote:
On 13/12/2025 16:45, Champ wrote:
On Sat, 13 Dec 2025 10:04:18 +0000, YTC1 <ytc1@ytc1.co.uk> wrote:
The joys of win^H^H^H Autumn morotcyclingWinter starts on 1st December
There will be no further debate on this
Philistine !
You are obviously swayed by the 'astronomical' definition, whereas I
Yep, very happy with my solstices and equinoxes fixing the point of
season change (after all the heat from the Sun constitutes part of the weather change system). The solstice dates can vary slightly, but that
is because of the human imposed calendar not lining up properly with
were the planet is.
The late, great Willy Rushton once expounded concerning weather reports,
"Go to the window and look outside. That is the most accurate weather
report you can ever receive!"
On Tue, 16 Dec 2025 18:41:32 -0000 (UTC), geoffC <me@home.nl> wrote:There's Old Farts and Bold Farts but no Bold Old Farts.
Yeah we Old Farts recognise danger and take measures to avoid
it. That's why we're no good at F1 for example.
It may also have something to do with why we're Old Farts.
On Wed, 17 Dec 2025 20:02:19 +0100, "Worst Case" <fritz@spamexpire-202512.rodent.frell.theremailer.net> wrote:
On Tue, 16 Dec 2025 18:41:32 -0000 (UTC), geoffC <me@home.nl> wrote:There's Old Farts and Bold Farts but no Bold Old Farts.
Yeah we Old Farts recognise danger and take measures to avoid
it. That's why we're no good at F1 for example.
It may also have something to do with why we're Old Farts.
On 17/12/2025 13:29, chrisnd @ukrm wrote:
The late, great Willy Rushton once expounded concerning weather
reports, "Go to the window and look outside. That is the most accurate
weather report you can ever receive!"
Not so useful when you're booking a holiday a month away.
I'd g for Jan/Feb/Mar if it wasn't fr the solstice
On Wed, 17 Dec 2025 22:07:01 +0000, YTC1 <ytc1@ytc1.co.uk> wrote:
I'd g for Jan/Feb/Mar if it wasn't fr the solstice
Lord knows I've witnessed you spouting some nonsense in the decades
we've known each other, but this one might make the top 10!
Are you genuinely asserting that March is a better candidate for being included in 'winter' than December? Really? FFS...
December is dark, and getting darker. And some combination of cold<checks>
and wet.
March is light, and getting lighter - the clocks change at the end ofYebbut, December starts to get light after the solstice, so may as well
March, FFS. The daffodils are out, spring is sprunging and a young,
and not so young, man's thoughts turn to motorcycles and such.
March, FFS. The daffodils are out, spring is sprunging and a young,
and not so young, man's thoughts turn to motorcycles and such.
On Wed, 17 Dec 2025 20:02:19 +0100, "Worst Case" <fritz@spamexpire-202512.rodent.frell.theremailer.net> wrote:
On Tue, 16 Dec 2025 18:41:32 -0000 (UTC), geoffC <me@home.nl> wrote:There's Old Farts and Bold Farts but no Bold Old Farts.
Yeah we Old Farts recognise danger and take measures to avoid
it. That's why we're no good at F1 for example.
It may also have something to do with why we're Old Farts.
On Wed, 17 Dec 2025 22:07:01 +0000, YTC1 <ytc1@ytc1.co.uk> wrote:
I'd g for Jan/Feb/Mar if it wasn't fr the solstice
Lord knows I've witnessed you spouting some nonsense in the decades
we've known each other, but this one might make the top 10!
Are you genuinely asserting that March is a better candidate for being included in 'winter' than December? Really? FFS...
December is dark, and getting darker. And some combination of cold
and wet.
March is light, and getting lighter - the clocks change at the end of
March, FFS. The daffodils are out, spring is sprunging and a young,
and not so young, man's thoughts turn to motorcycles and such.
On 18/12/2025 08:16, Ace wrote:
On Wed, 17 Dec 2025 20:02:19 +0100, "Worst Case"
<fritz@spamexpire-202512.rodent.frell.theremailer.net> wrote:
On Tue, 16 Dec 2025 18:41:32 -0000 (UTC), geoffC <me@home.nl> wrote:There's Old Farts and Bold Farts but no Bold Old Farts.
Yeah we Old Farts recognise danger and take measures to avoid
it. That's why we're no good at F1 for example.
It may also have something to do with why we're Old Farts.
There are, however, bald auld farts. And yes, I know you're not among
them, you hirsute bugger.
On Wed, 17 Dec 2025 22:07:01 +0000, YTC1 <ytc1@ytc1.co.uk> wrote:
I'd g for Jan/Feb/Mar if it wasn't fr the solstice
Lord knows I've witnessed you spouting some nonsense in the decades
we've known each other, but this one might make the top 10!
Are you genuinely asserting that March is a better candidate for being included in 'winter' than December? Really? FFS...
December is dark, and getting darker. And some combination of cold
and wet.
March is light, and getting lighter - the clocks change at the end of
March, FFS. The daffodils are out, spring is sprunging and a young,
and not so young, man's thoughts turn to motorcycles and such.
On 18/12/2025 15:17, Champ wrote:
On Wed, 17 Dec 2025 22:07:01 +0000, YTC1 <ytc1@ytc1.co.uk> wrote:
I'd g for Jan/Feb/Mar if it wasn't fr the solstice
Lord knows I've witnessed you spouting some nonsense in the decades
we've known each other, but this one might make the top 10!
Are you genuinely asserting that March is a better candidate for being
included in 'winter' than December?-a Really?-a-a FFS...
December is dark, and getting darker.-a And some combination of cold
and wet.
March is light, and getting lighter - the clocks change at the end of
March, FFS.-a The daffodils are out, spring is sprunging and a young,
and not so young,-a man's thoughts turn to motorcycles and such.
Spring - April to June
Summer - July to August
Autumn - September to October
Winter - November to March
On 18/12/2025 15:17, Champ wrote:FIFY
On Wed, 17 Dec 2025 22:07:01 +0000, YTC1 <ytc1@ytc1.co.uk> wrote:
I'd g for Jan/Feb/Mar if it wasn't fr the solstice
Lord knows I've witnessed you spouting some nonsense in the decades
we've known each other, but this one might make the top 10!
Are you genuinely asserting that March is a better candidate for being
included in 'winter' than December?-a Really?-a-a FFS...
December is dark, and getting darker.-a And some combination of cold
and wet.
March is light, and getting lighter - the clocks change at the end of
March, FFS.-a The daffodils are out, spring is sprunging and a young,
and not so young,-a man's thoughts turn to motorcycles and such.
Winter - today - 21st March
On Sat, 13 Dec 2025 10:04:18 +0000, YTC1 <ytc1@ytc1.co.uk> wrote:
The joys of win^H^H^H Autumn morotcycling
Winter starts on 1st December
There will be no further debate on this
Though < Old Fart Mode > they're not like the winters we used to have
when I were a lad...
chrisnd @ukrm wrote:
Though < Old Fart Mode > they're not like the winters we used to have
when I were a lad...
Today is, at least.
Snow and -4C.
On 05/01/2026 08:47, Sqirrel99 wrote:
chrisnd @ukrm wrote:
Though < Old Fart Mode > they're not like the winters we used to have
when I were a lad...
Today is, at least.
Snow and -4C.
<four yorkshiremen mode>
-4C!?-a You were lucky!
One of my neighbours reported a -8C,
the nearest public tap has become a fountain and the (second) nearest
pub has an upstairs leak like a fire hydrant!
And at 7:30 am, in the morning, before noon, I was awoken by bluddy
canal boat crashin' thru t'ice!
And this is in the boring east midlands dontyaknow!
</4ym>
Chris
On 05/01/2026 16:08, chrisnd @ukrm wrote:
On 05/01/2026 08:47, Sqirrel99 wrote:
chrisnd @ukrm wrote:
Though < Old Fart Mode > they're not like the winters we used to
have when I were a lad...
Today is, at least.
Snow and -4C.
<four yorkshiremen mode>
-4C!?-a You were lucky!
One of my neighbours reported a -8C,
the nearest public tap has become a fountain and the (second) nearest
pub has an upstairs leak like a fire hydrant!
And at 7:30 am, in the morning, before noon, I was awoken by bluddy
canal boat crashin' thru t'ice!
And this is in the boring east midlands dontyaknow!
</4ym>
Chris
A tap? That's not a leak ... /this/ is a leak... <https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g53ev147go>
(Still, potentially some more business for Jan!)
I do hope someone tried to make light of that by saying "you can't park
A tap? That's not a leak ... /this/ is a leak...
<https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g53ev147go>
Yes, absolutely tragic..
On 07/01/2026 15:50, chrisnd @ukrm wrote:
I do hope someone tried to make light of that by saying "you can't park
A tap? That's not a leak ... /this/ is a leak...
<https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g53ev147go>
Yes, absolutely tragic..
that there mate!"
A tap? That's not a leak ... /this/ is a leak... <https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g53ev147go>
On 05/01/2026 19:30, Bruce wrote:
A tap? That's not a leak ... /this/ is a leak...
<https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g53ev147go>
No, this is a leak:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/10/quebecs-lake-rouge- vanished-but-was-it-a-freak-natural-event-or-caused-by-human-actions
| Sysop: | Amessyroom |
|---|---|
| Location: | Fayetteville, NC |
| Users: | 54 |
| Nodes: | 6 (0 / 6) |
| Uptime: | 01:58:15 |
| Calls: | 743 |
| Files: | 1,218 |
| Messages: | 187,760 |