Manc Riders Normandy Tour 2011

Manc Riders Normandy Tour 2011

Well it all seemed to creep up on us from an idea on the forum in January to “let’s go abroad!”

Next followed a meeting at Panman’s where we decided Normandy was a great first European ride destination as no one other than me, had ridden in Europe before.

Next came the post...........................

06 February 2011 - 02:42 PM

Ok Guys and Dolls,

We have confirmed the above dates for our first trip overseas, were leaving on the Thursday for a 8.15pm crossing to St Malo arriving the following morning and returning the following Monday the 30th.

The plan is to stay in B & B Accom....

Further details to be posted as we arrange them but we need numbers by this Friday in order to make a group booking on the ferry which is more cost effective.

Please add your names below and provide me with a deposit within the next 2 weeks if possible please.

PmC
Ducky
Ray and Ben
LittleBIGkev...deposit paid.
Phil aka BadBoyBez
Duffy and Alex
Lefty
XAndyX

And so the adventure began........  Manc Riders Normany Tour 2011

The biggest decision I had to make was “should I, or should I not take Ben?”

I thought about it long and hard, even though I had put his name in the pot at the very first meeting. Taking a 9 year old on the bike all the way to France was a major, major decision. My brain ran through all the eventualities of him being tired, bored, feeling out of place as all the other riders were adults. Plus, would I be putting the other riders out, as Ben would inevitably impact on their ability to “have a good time”!!! Everything went through my head but as we chatted on the forum and had a “Pre-Normandy BBQ” at ours I realised, if I was going to take Ben abroad on “The Beast” it would be with these guys, “Our Band of Brothers”.

"The Beast's" last trip so best be a good'n!

So it was set the date for departure, Thursday 26^th May from Portsmouth to St Malo returning Monday the 30^th.

Everything from kit to accommodation to points of interest was banded about on the forum. I just took all the information and places of interest, including a British War Cemetery called St Manvieu British Cemetery N49 10.643 W0 30.788 and started to add them to a MapSource map. In total at one point there were some 35 points of interest. The next job was to come up for a route which was not too over the top but which would include just enough to make the ride worthwhile & interesting. No mean feat once I through into the pot Ben as pillion.

I then went into top gear sorting out food, kit, clothes and the all important “Love Handles” Belts for both Ben & I to wear so I could fasten him on via the use of screw-gate karabiners and quick draw karabiners. This worked a treat as Ben had a fair few sleeps on the way there and back due to feeling safe and secure.

Panman & Ducky did a great job of sorting the ferry there & back, finding “biker friendly”  accommodation and getting them both booked & in the case of the ferry paid for.

The list of attendees changed a few times between February and May as is inevitable with “Life” getting in the way but come the big day the “Band of Brothers” comprised of

Panman Chips - BMW K1200 who sorted ferry, accommodation & UK ride down

BadBoyBez  - Honda Pan European who sorted T-Shirts, patches & flag

Anthony1664 – Kawasaki Versy

Lefty – Kawasaki Ninja 600

LBK – Triumph Tiger 1050 (It is what it is!)

XAndyX1 – Triumph Tiger 1050 (LBK’s Luggage handler)

Jap_STi_3 – Yamaha FJR 1300 European Route Planner (with Ben) (to cut a long story short)

Time for the off, "Bye Mum"

Thursday - So that was it we were ready for the off, Panman Chips, LKK, XAndyX1, Ben & I all met at Panman’s for a brew before meeting BadBoyBez & Lefty at Knutsford Services. Raining all the way!

Panman lead the way down the M6, M5 then across to the A34 south towards Oxford, Winchester & Newbury then on to Portsmouth. We stopped at the “Pit Stop Cafe & Truckstop” 1 mile off Junction 5 of the M5 for a spot of lunch then it was south to pick up Anthony1664 who had ridden down the previous day to have a look around. Still raining!

We were told to line up in line 13, sadly this is where we had our first spill as one of the lads just clipped the panniers of another and went over wedging himself between his bike and a 4x4. Panniers cracked, pride dented but no bones or major bike bits broken.

Rope & cushen in place, time to head up stairs.

Not be long before Ben was regretting looking over there.

Half filling a small paper bag before falling asleep....Bless Him!

Comfortable as they were to sit in, sleeping in them was impossible! Ben could not even push the seat back far enough to sleep and it crippled my back, so after the usual look around the ship, a bit to eat at £20 for a butty and a brew x2. It was time to get our heads down. Give or take 3 hours of walking about. Eventually, laid on the floor and after telling countless “seat scavengers” to clear off as the others were in the bar by now, we got to sleep lying in the foot well of our two seats. How glad am I that I had packed a blow up pillow and two travel blankets. (Note to self – never ever take over night ferry without a cabin in future. NEVER!)

Friday - Landing in France the weather just changed, sunshine as far as you could see. It was still a little cool at 8.00am but I could see we were in for a treat. Sat nav on, accommodation entered, and off we set only to find once out of St Malo heading to the motorway it was closed. No I mean shut, barrier across the entrance, I carried on looking for the next possible place to do a turnaround only to find the other entrance on the dual carriageway closed too.  Great! I thought to myself now what? Pulling over to let the Sat nav do its “updating” thing, only to have to switch it off and on again. I looked in my mirror, “Shit!” I’d forgotten they were all following me and were now dually parked on the side of the dual carriageway “Not good, not good, come on sat nav get a bloody grip” eventually after what felt like hours (which in fact was possibly 2 minutes at the most), we were off and I had stopped just in the right place as we could turn right and were off towards St Michaels Mount.  (Mont San Michel). Brilliant, decision made, we would visit the mount today, now, this morning.



Happy to be on land again.

"Now where is the ice cream shop again Dad?"

St Micheals Mount

As we approached the mount just a short 40 minutes away I pulled over so the guys could take a few pictures. I was very impressive & I think we all got a few good shots before heading over to the car park. 2 Euros per bike, cheeky gets! Still it was nice to have a mosey round and have what turned out to be the most expensive cup of coffee of the whole trip! It was nice but not 10 Euros nice!

"How much?"

After a good look round it was back to the bikes and on towards La Motte B&B at Virey 7 miles on from Ducy on the D976

That will do nicely thank you.



Arriving at the B&B it looked very impressive. 4 Garages for the bikes, open plan barn with bar, pool table (more about that later), table football, darts board (& this) & table tennis table. It looked perfect. We were met by the owner who showed us to the bar and explained the tab system, small beer 1 Euro & large beer 2 Euro. Ben & I went up to a very tidy room; sadly there was no wardrobe just a metal rack for our clothes. Ben sat on the bed and was immediately reprimanded and told not to put his boots on the bed! Great start I thought, he never does it at home so why would he do it here? We headed down to join the others for a chat. We then rode down into town and had a quick shufty finishing with us having an Italian meal, “Al Fresco”.

Heading back to the B&B with full stomachs and a real thirst it was straight into the barn bar. Straight away the owner told me Ben he was not allowed to use the pool table! Why? as Ben had been playing pool with LBK only half an hour earlier. Ben started playing darts, I asked him if he was Ok, as he turned round to speak to me the owner then said “watch what you’re doing with those darts or your Dad will have 60 Euros to pay for the clear plastic partition. “Jesus, what are these people on?” I thought to myself. We mooched about a bit chatting about the St Micheals Mount. I got my map out of the top box to show Lefty & LBK the route I had planned for the following day. I put my beer on the table and started to open the map. “Don’t put your beer on that table!” That was it! I calmly folded the map up, picked my beer up and went up to the room to join Ben in bed. It was 9.00pm. Apparently under the plastic covered wooden topped table was his precious pool table. 

Lefty, a man with a mission.

A fantastic mission that I was proud to be a part of.

Saturday - Breakfast was fried egg on toast, coffee and croissants. We all met outside, loaded up and I plumbed the route into the sat nav & off we set. Out of the B&B, up the road right, right again and straight up a back road into some old dears back yard with 7 bikes following me. “Bloody Hell! What a start to a 300 mile trip” I was not a happy man.

For the next hour I battled with the sat nav trying to send me back to the start. Top tip do not have the same start and finish point in the sat nav as if your closer to the start it will keep trying to send you the shortest route back...................... aaahhhhggggg!!!!

I ended up stopping on a roundabout and manually choosing the furthest point of our trip and away we went. At last we were truly on our way up the D999. If you are heading north towards Cherbourg get on the D999 it is an amazing road. Lefty had a ball coming back on the Ninja!

Dad's 'n' Lad's

We started at the Route de Phare which gave us a perfect view of all of the Normandy Beaches, so we set, along the side of Utah Beach, Omaha Beach, Gold Beach, Juno Beach, & Sword Beach.

Utah Beach

I found it so hard looking across knowing what happened

So very, very hard.

Visiting Le Point deHoc, Normand Battle Museum, Museum of Liberty, Arromanches, American Cemetery (the day before the President was due there),The Brand Bunker British Museum & Pegasus Bridge.

The American Cemetery

Every last word, true.

These guys would be meeting "The President of the USA"

The following day.

Finally St Manvieu British Cemetery where Lefty found his relatives grave and planted a cross of remembrance and a poem from his wife to her Grandfather.

Lance Corporal T. Bennett of the Royal Scots Fusiliers passed on the 25^th June 1944 whilst taking part in Operation Martlet which was a fore runner to operation Epsom. The attack was a diversionary attack to prevent 30 Corps getting out flanked. Opposing the British were the 3rd Battalion, 26th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment and elements from the 12th SS Panzer Regiment of 12th SS Panzer Division. Advancing through thick fog they past well dug in machine gun nests, so sadly when they opened fire they were surrounded and attacked from all flanks.  

"We will remember them"

Always.

It was a long day and we arrived back at the accommodation after yet another Italian meal “Al Fresco” but at another restaurant who were non to happy with 7 bikers arriving in the car park.

Back at the B&B, a couple of beers for me and lemonade for Ben and it was off to bed having achieved what we set out to do,  visit the Normandy Beaches.

Sunday, Beans on toast, coffee& croissants. We all booked in for evening three course meal of Roast Pork for 20 Euros, mind you, Ben was allowed to eat for free. The plan today was either a ride out on our own, a trip out with the B&B owner or Le Mans with the Boys! No prizes for guessing what Ben chose.

Ben had an amazing day he loved it

He also took a picture of every single car in the

Museum!!!



So BadBoyBez took the lead and it was mount up and head out to the famous Le Mans 24 Hour Race track and museum. What a fantastic ride to Le Mans avoiding all toll roads and motorways, brilliant. Arriving, Ben's eyes just lit up, he was in seventh heaven. Cars, cars and more race cars with a few bikes thrown in for good measure.

We had a look around the Official Merchandise shop then into the cafe for a bite to eat before venturing into the museum where Ben ran amuck with the camera and took a picture of every single bike and car in the place & I mean EVERY single one. He loved it, as did we.

After a good hour and a half in there we headed in to the small track called the Piste Bugatti to watch the general public thrash the “ar***” off of the precious sports cars. Some came off worse than others but what a way to spend an afternoon. Entry to the track area not the track was just 3 Euros 50 a bargain in our books.

Ben took lots more pictures and made yet even more videos. It was fantastic and I would recommend a visit to Le Mans to any and every Petrol Head out there.

Back at the B&B we had a great evening meal, followed by a couple of beers and a pack after a nice shower as there was no plug in the bath to have a bath with.

Monday – Up at 6.15 am a cup of coffee and a cold croissant in the barn bar mounted up by 6.55am and away for the 8.00am ferry from St Malo, filling up on the way.

Being asked to line up in lane 13 again when they were only numbered to 12 was very odd but everyone took their place and riding onto the ferry home everyone looked a little subdued, the sign of a great adventure coming to an end.

The crossing back was, how can I say, boring as hell pretty well sums it up. Breakfast £20, lunch £20 & tea £20. Ouch!!!

Coming off the ferry we got split up by the stupid way the exit throws you on to the motorway, sadly one of us dropped their passport on the ramp coming off the boat so Ben & I accompanied by XAndyX1 rode all the way to the M40 alone, meeting up with the lads at the services just before getting onto the motorway. Finally saying our farewells at Knutsford services and arriving home at 11.30pm

All in all the weekend was a fantastic success and Ben covered 1285 miles in the 4 days. Not bad for a 9 year old. I’m as proud as punch of him & would like to thank every single one of the “Band of Brothers” for their support, help and assistance keeping an eye on “Dash”. Ben would also like to thank you all for his Kawasaki Fleecy. You’re a great bunch of guys don’t ever change.

My son in tears.

A memory that will stay with

us both for the rest of our lives.



A massive thank you to each and every one of you for an unforgettable Manc Riders Normandy Tour 2011  from Ben and myself.

At last...........................

Hi folk's, been so busy with life and rides I've neglected Trinity & my Blog, sorry!

I will put together a full report on the trip to Normandy with Ben & the Manc Riders soon & an update on the new bike with a few pictures of "Mr T" "The Beast's" replacement which I collected Monday and have not touched since.

I just had to pass on the great news, I spoke to Darren at Dream Machine yesterday afternoon and the body work is complete. I collect it all on Monday from Long Eaton so role on Monday.

Trinity has sadly ground to a halt ! It's now just a waiting game......

Well after flying round like a "Headless Chicken" all last week I have eventually had a couple of hours in the garage to fit the latest additions.

First to be fitted were the Gilles Chain Adjusters which went on a breeze and I still think they look amazing.

Mmmmmm, very nice indeed.

The 1996 P1 fitment works perfect on the L1 once you

file off 3-5 mm each side of the rear axel bolt

So it fits into the recess

Only to have be refitted correctly once I'd read the instructions! I'd missed out "FOUR" locking nuts which keep the rear clamp in place. I could not believe it, but luckily it was very easy to remove the rear clamp bolt and insert the nuts and re-tighten without much bother

Those nuts where a pain to hold still whilst tightening.

So "Ray's Top Tip" read the fitting instructions first!

Next I took my time and fitted the rearsets that Mark has made for me. After getting over how absolutely perfectly they fitted my initial thought is they look a little darker than the Triple Yoke but hey, when they look this sexy who cares.

I'm looking forward to setting these up just perfect.

The only problem I discovered once fitted, the rear brake hose is now 20cm too short due to the fitted rear master cylinder. There had to be just one problem didn’t there? I have now orded a new Carbon coloured Goodridge Hose from JD Motorsports who trade on ebay as RiceRocket. Once that arrives I can fit the hose along with the very very sexy "pressure actived brake light switch" How trick?

That Brembo master cylinder looks fantastic, Thank you Mark

Get your orders in here - RCD-Tec.com

Last but not least I popped the newly re-covered seats. Tony has done an outstanding job as ever.

So folks that is that now until Dream Machine call me and tell me the bodywork is ready for collection & Adam in the USA contacts me to say all the Carbon Parts are reardy for shipping.

Then again I've got a cunning plan to "cheer up" the exaust, thanks to Mark but it's not going to be run  of the mill. Then again what is on Trinity?

As clean as they look, I know a man who can make them

look so much better ................

So this is just the begining of something special,

Just watch this space....................!!!

Trinity Update

Hi folk's

Well it's been a "Mad, mad month"

First I took a couple of weeks out for a nice family holiday in Polis in Cyprus.

Here's Ben, Jeannie, Lilie Rose & Rachel (LR's Carer)

Latchi Harbour just round the coast from where we stayed!

Could not believe seeing this Norton in a local Taxi Rank's window.

Sadly I had received a call at Paphos airport from my sister to inform me my Aunt had passed away suddenly which was a very sad ending to a beautifully holiday.

We got back a week last Thursday and I've not stopped since, first it was catch up time as you always do with emails & post. One thing waiting for me were the Gilles Chain Adjusters & the Zero Gravity Screen.

Saturday we went to see Jenny Eclair who was hilarious.

Sunday it was off the The Lowry Centre to see "Ice De Glace" curtsy of "BadBoyBez". If you get the chance to go see the show do so, they are amazing.

Bank Holiday Monday we had the Manc Riders round for a pre-France BBQ which was great, except for the wind.

How to keep your neigbours happy....... LOL!

Tuesday I started getting ready for the IOM TT1000 buying a 10 Lt Petrol can that fits in my top box

Wednesday sorted "The Beast", chainged oil and fillter, washed and polished and oiled her up ready for the week-end. Packed my change of clothes and printed off ferry tickets.

Thursday I was of up to Haysham fot the SteamPacket Ferry to Duglas to take part in the

IBA TT1000

Friday / Saturday on the IOM riding 1000 miles in 30 hours

Sunday washed "The Beast" & wound down with the family.

Monday sadly it was my Aunty's funeral down in Temple Normanton, she was laid to rest at the side of my Mum.

Tuesday I was on the phone all day chasing bits of Trinity all over the place.

Wednesday I collected the re-covered seat from Tony Archers in Huddersfield.

Thursday I was in Mansfield collecting my rearsets from Mark. A nicer chap you could not wish to meet. All I cam say is they look amazing and I can not wait to start and get stuck back into Trinity's re-build.

If you want a set of "Class" Rearset's

This is your man, Mark at RCD-Tec

All built with pride & skill.

The only bad news so far as been the fact that Dream Machine have still not finished the paint work so once the new parts are on I will grind to a halt again.

So it will be back in the garage soon to fit the Gilles and Rearset & of cause take a few more picture.

You are not a name, you are a number and your number is 23!

You are not a name, you are a number and your number is 23!

Iron Butt Ireland IOM TT1000 in 30 hours.

"You are number 26"

“Right I’m off to bed”

“Oh, come on, one more lap!”

“If you want to do another lap you can do but I’m off to the Inglewood now!”

“Kin hell!”

“You coming or what?”

“Yes” knowing full well he was right, sh*t he’s always bloody right, how annoying is that?

Time to get registered and start the IOM TT1000 @ 1865 hours Thursday

Its 0430 hours Friday morning and we have just ridden 10 laps of the IOM TT track in a one go having started at 1865 hours Thursday. We still have another 17 to do & we’re riding back to the hotel to “go to bed” (separate beds mind). I can’t believe this! All sorts are going through my head, will we till finish within the 30 hours cut off time.

Ron wants breakfast...... as if that’s going to happen, not a chance!

“Right, an hour and a half in bed and back at the bikes for a 0700am off. OK folks?”

“Reight Oh!”

“What about breakfast?”

“Forget breakfast!”

“Do you want a brew?”

“Coffee, milk, one in mine cheer’s Big Lad”

Half a cup and I’m out like a light! Next thing I know I think I’m on a submarine as the Sonar Alarm sounds. Come on, time for the off.

Twenty minutes later I’m outside, kitted up, engine running, Daz is already sat on the step waiting, Ron jumps on his trusty GSA and we’re off “up’t hill” as Daz would say in his cracking Barnsley accent.

We re-join the track at the garage just after the grandstand. Head down the hill through the lights in the dip, on green just for a change! We ride down to the two adjoining roundabouts, straight down the left side of the parked cars and follow the next car round. If anyone’s going to get wacked from the oncoming early morning traffic, it’s not going to be me! Along the straight, sharp left at Brandon Bridge then sharp right, over the mini roundabout another nice straight then up, down and into the 30mph village. Down through the village and we are back into the swing of things, Daz leading, Ron behind and me following.

Daz leading with Ron following (taken Saturday am)

The course is just amazing & I can’t believe we are riding round the IOM TT track, it’s just fantastic and I’m grinning from ear to ear. We start to pick up speed as we head out of the village and up the hill, 40mph turns to 50mph signs then 60. Everything is just spot on. Except for the next set of road works as we entered Crosby, but every time we passed the guys they changed the paddles to GO! “Cheers mate” I shouted as I went past. I got the big thumbs up from the road worker with the STOP/GO paddle. He did this every time we went through, what a star!

The track winds this way and that and I could bang on about the whole circuit but I’ll just fast forward to Sarah’s Cottage. A great left hander that after messing about taking it at 30mph with the traffic I realised, “it’s not a bend at all” in fact it is almost straight. The corner of the cottage looks like it is sticking out into the road and there is what initially felt like a 2 foot drop when in fact it’s just a small drop. You get a clear view of the road on the other side from the far right side of the road so that’s where I found myself. Lining up and just riding straight through. Perfect!

The bright yellow van parked in the right hand drive signals the start of an open stretch passing the farm on the left and over the crest of the hill, dead straight run for about a mile then a tidy right downhill, smooth left then left and left again........... just thinking about the lines all the time.

Before I know it we’re passing standing traffic at the road works, third set in 5 miles, filtering to the front to find the righthand side of the road being dug up and a clear run up the hill in front of us.Lights change and we climb the hill with a perfect right hand bend that if you catch it too near the left, it wants to spit you straight off the road.

I could not believe how few of the other 26 riders we saw. In total I would say we saw about 10 on the route in the whole 28 hours we were riding. We did tend to meet up at the pit stop as there were burgers and hot dogs laid on Thursday evening, plus copious amounts of tea and coffee flowing through out the entire night & day. A big, big thank you to Chris & all his team.

There are so many great sections of the track that I could go on about forever. My favourite had to be climbing out of Ramsey.

Ramsey in the mist.

The three bollards on the sharp left hand turn were like an on switch. Steady as you go up the hairpin left hander then just wind it on straight up into the first right hander, followed by a short straight into another slightly tighter right round the long left hand that took you straight into the last and best as far as I was concerned right switchback but with practice it just set you up for the climb. Tucking in tight to the bushes on the first left then running as close as you could to the painted dry stonewall. Then Mountain Mile just lay there, after a couple of very nice white posts on your right and a couple of painted bridges.

I just loved this section.

My heart was pounding heading over the tops thinking how fast the TT lads would be flying round in just a couple of week’s time. Laptimes around 17 – 20 minutes and we were taking 55 minutes....................“Unbelievable”

The Bungalow in all it's glory.

Through a few more curves and bends past Joey at the side of The Bungalow, over the tram tracks and it was time to pull in and have our mileage checked again.

The Pit Stop had been parked where the logs are in the centre of the  picture.

The Pit Stop from Heaven.

Chris and the team did an absolutely amazing job,

“Number”

“23”

“Mileage”

“37,670”

“What lap are we on?”

“Not sure, I’ll let you know next time round!”

“Cheers, mate”

“You OK, do you want a brew?”

“Nope we’re off, catch you later!”

And away we would go, until we got to 1030 hours,

“Right lads, you have 14 laps to do and 14 hours to do it in!”

“No sweat” no really, there was no way I was going to sack this ride off; I was having an absolute ball! Rain, pea soup fog and gale force winds all through the night and we were still churning out the laps. It gave us something to think about though.

Needless to say we carried on, and on, and on.Stopping only to answer the call of nature and top up on fluids and scran.

The day was amazing and at about 1400 we got to see the mountain top for what would be one of only 4 laps of clear vision. As the night came in and with only 3 laps to do we ploughed on. The shocker came when Daz & I were advised we could just ride to the Creg Ny Baa and that would be our 1000 miles complete.............................. Na! We‘re not having any of that so at 2100 hours we headed out for our last lap and slowest of the day.

I filled up at 0200 hours from on of Chris’s 20 litre Jerry cans, without which my ride would have been over there and then.

Coming in to finish at 2230 hours, the pit stop awning had vanished as Chris had packed most of the kit away so we had our clocks read for the last time in the pitch black.

In good old IBA fashion we then stood chatting for another three quarters of an hour, the only light being my head torch which I had put on to fill up from my jerry can for the last time, and the lights from to Motorhome. If it had not been for the team filling quite a few 20 litre cans with fuel the whole challenge would have ground to a halt in the middle of the night because all bar one petrol station closed at 2200 hours with just one in Douglas remaining open until 2330 hours.

Heading back to the Inglewood Hotel, Daz & Ron vanished, so half way through my shower Ron appears with the Doner Kebabs, Top Banana and so ended the IBA Ireland TT1000.

Next day was a “Shopex” to the TT T-shirt shop, followed by a leisurely ride back over the mountain route the opposite way in glorious sunshine to the biker cafe in Ramsey.

Riding back to Douglas over the mountain. I stopped every couple of miles to take pictures as the fog descended. It took me so long Ron & Daz came looking for me which was a bonus as we got some great pictures of Joey Dunlop’s Memorial.

The Three Amigos

Everyone met up at the Grandstand for the IBA Group picture. This ride must be one of the most multi-nationally supported riders with riders from Ireland, USA, Canada, Sweden, Switzerland, France, German, England,Scotland (South Africa), Wales, Finland, sorry if I missed your country of origin.

After the photo shoot, it was down to the pub for lunch and a party with the founder of the IBA Mike Kneebone picking up the drinks tab, thank you Mike.

So all in all I for one would like to thank everyone who made the IOM TT1000 an absolutely unforgettable event.