Modern Vespa

I used to use bar muffs when I despatched and they are a godsend but for the life of me I can't remember who made them.

Lets see if I run the Hornet through the Winter and if I do I might invest in a pair.

One thing I will be doing is to use a full face more often or maybe even a new flip up because an open face can be hell on toast in the cold months.

I wonder if Father Christmas will bring me one in his sack ?

Bill XX

If Santa's sack is full of headgear, does that make it a nutsack?

Genie, I may have to email that photo to all my colleagues, if only to explain why I was howling with laughter at my desk.

tucano neoprene muffs are the way to go in my book. the ones that alex now has on his scooter are ones i originally bought on ebay but found too cold because they're caverously huge (well, they felt that way to me). i replaced them with the tucano neoprene muffs, which are smaller, cheaper, and absorb loads of heat on those rare winter days when it's sunny. they're much easier to install and won't scratch the paint. mine are on their second season now and showing no signs of wear, apart from a slight bleaching out of the colour.

alice, feel free to share the cock

i'm still at work by the way. it's almost 7 and i'm still at bloody work. by the time i get home it'll be a 12 hour day. anybody who says academics have it easy can bite me

So, I've now got more miles on my new SH than I had on my old, although I'm not enjoying riding in the freezing cold. It's still loosening up - going to Forest Hill this evening made me realise that it's ridiculously over-specced for single-carriageway roads through South London, as I barely needed much more than idle for most of the way.

I've got some Tucano Urbano neoprene muffs that Doug gave me when I got my SH125.

How do I get them onto the SH300 - will the same ones fit?

I'm guessing I feed the handlebar and brake lever in through the large hole on one side, and then use the plastic split-ring (ooh-er) and bits of foam to draught-proof/hold them in place. There's also a little bit of strap on a plastic toggle - does that go around the mirror stem?

Cheers,

David

Academics have it easy.

Hmm. I'm a bit pressed for time seeing the weather forecast for Friday night I have to act quickly.

Do the Tucanos stand up to the rain?

I think it may be a case of beggars and choosers in the bike shops I can find in reading tomorrow...

So is this the rainy season now for you guys?

Not sure that it is ever 'not' the rainy season, but it is defoh the COLD rainy season.
Fay

+1 YS for not using some daft 'marron' coloured text. Minimalist is best here.

For the next few months there will be very few days that are not wet/dank/dark. We live with it, and thank some deity that although on the same latitude as Moscow we have temperatures +20C above theirs.

51N for London.

Got it in one!

But that deity may get real pissed and plunge us into cold if global warming takes off

not quite - there's a smaller, separate hole for the brake lever - it's a small slit towards the front of the muff. don't attempt to force the brake lever through the large hole as it won't go. getting the split rings to stay in place with a zip tie was the hardest bit of the process, i don't bother with them.

yes, really well. if you can't find them in reading, maybe if you ask one of us nicely we'll pick up a pair for you at scootech they're worth waiting for. just put a pair of giant marigolds over your regular gloves for now

Teaches me to read the post correctly. The ones I gave David will do - they are not quite the same as yours as they don't have the rubber things that go over the barends, so he'll need the cable tie things.

i had a set of those on my ET4 - they'll stay in place fine with the little leash around the mirror stem. i think the zip tie thingie is the 'anti theft system' that's touted on the packaging i just found it a complete pain in the ass to install - you need about 8 fingers on each hand. or maybe i'm just clumsy

I have had a rummage and found i have some huge plastic over-glove jobs that i will use if i cant find anything in Reading. Then i will have a scout around London on sat afternoon.


If i remember they are not very warm though

I didn't find it too bad - I turned the muff almost inside-out so I could actually see what I was doing. And I'm generally pretty cackhanded when it comes to 8-fingered bike tasks

I have those HG overgloves - they may not be warm in themselves but your hands will be much warmer in dry gloves than in soaking wet ones!

Hey I've got tomorrow off work and guess what it's going to rain all bloody day.

I'm a little annoyed by that.

Bill.

After dire warnings about the rain tonight I looked outside and it wasn't too bad. I had to get to the Ace for a meeting (more on that later) and I got wet - but on the Fuoco not that wet, even in the 'tip-down' that happened.

The three-year-old Aldi cheapo jacket and Draggin Jeans oilskins kept me dry, and the ride back to my usual Thursday night pub meet was full of spray but no rain. All now dry.

I despair of those who think they are sugar-lumps, and likely to dissolve.

I'd been hoping for some proper rain so I could test the alleged waterproofness of my new jacket.

I got my wish!

Jacket held up fine, but I scared myself silly on a drain cover on a mini-roundabout (hey, it was dark). They pick some brilliant places to put those covers, don't they?

I've noticed that they're always right where I want to turn the front wheel or in my turning arch (can I say that?), really annoying and dangerous

Had a joyous ride down the M4 in a blanket of spay, rain and mist. Glad left early as it is expected to get worse

Is anyone leaving the Pilot in the general direction of th A4 on Sunday? Good chance I will get lost on they way

Overgloves stood up quite well.

I will be heading back to Hammersmith that way so you can ride with me.

Bugger. Got back from the pub. Jools Holland in tha background while I perused MV, and PHUT. Noise like a banger and smell like a dog's fart. My last lovely widescreen CRT TV has bitten the dirt. I know by the noise and smell this will not be an easy repair without a circuit diagram and parts list, so I'm going to have to obtain a new telly. Bugger.

I really, really wanted to continue with CRT until the flat-screen ones became of age, but maybe now is the time to jump. At least there are plenty of HD ones around now, unlike a couple of years ago when they were just HD-ready, with horrible artifacts when re-sizing HD transmissions.

Just when I really didn't want any aggro with 'things'.

However, if anyone is chucking out a working 26" WS CRT TV to 'upgrade' themselves, I could collect to save you the problem of disposing of it...

oi oi what's happening around here with my Donk friends!!!

I see you're moaning about the weather, can I join in??
UGHGGHHGHGHGGHHHH GROSS, all the rain and the cold and the wind booooo

and what's with the tube sign on the MV logo????

The handle bar muffs will feature in Santa's sack around here too Alice!
and I hate my Tucano parka every day a bit more, that thing is like a straight jacket such a bad fit and I deserve better!
why can't I be a millionaire and just be able to get myself some fab Alpinestars Nero gear to flash around??

hope you're all very well my dears, what are the plans for your weekends??

Donkfest at the Pilot tomorrow - and the weather looks reasonable (double-checks) - yep, not too bad at all.

You could try looking up freecycle - it's a web group that advertise large items that still work and that people don't want any more. There's a different group for pretty much every neighbourhood (in the world). I picked up a fantastic piano last year and a laptop last week. TV's come up pretty regularly but you might have a game balancing it on a scoot.

Yup, I had a look on there and gumtree - and plenty around. I've come to think I don't really want some-one else's collection of dead budgies and other bits inside the set though, so am contemplating getting an LCD TV.

It'd be a damn sight easier to move around as well!

Really, don't get an LCD, go for a Panasonic plasma. Far better picture, despite what anyone says. Just my opinion...

I notice lag artifacts on any I've seen so far. I appreciate they can have a better contrast ratio - but newer LCDs I've seen are as good as I'd be looking for. I'm not going for top-range or anything, it'll likely be a 37" LG, I've had very good experience of their kit before, and they supply loads of other 'brands'.

I've not been impressed with any LCD particularly. There always seems to be some smearing with them. Panasonic has stuck with plasma and do a 37" one. If you compare them side by side in a Panasonic centre you will see the difference. Which has 27 best buys only one of which is an LG (32LG5000). Sony and Panasonic have loads and Samsung a smattering.

The best buy 37" is a Panasonic TX-L37G10 (LCD)

I have a four year old 42" Panasonic SD plasma and the picture quality is pretty stunning.

I can bring the Best Buy table with me tomorrow if you want...

Alex and I work Sundays!!
so it'll be a miss again boooooooooooooooooooo

I saw that cake on the events thread, amazing by the way!!

I just got busted by the fuzz, well close call. Cycling back from a night out, no lights and ran a red light (I think). Cycling maybe 10 to 15mph no hands, I get the bus behind me feeling, shoulder check and it's a meat wagon. They pull me over. All I gotta say is it's lucky I'm well spoken, apologetic and didn't stink of weed. I got warned and was close to getting an £80 fine. It's been a weekend of close calls... I nearly ended up under a car on friday night coming home from work.

Close call indeed.

Get the oil-burner on the road again! Pilot later?

What a jolly time we all had up the pub.

Thanks Jim,Doug,Stuart,Kate and Genie for making up to the Pilot.

Another good lunch time of talking Bollocks and laughing like fannies.

Nice time and a nice crowd.

OK I pussied out and brought the Dwarf Shark but I'm allowed.

Bill X

Thanks also to Stuart for tolerating my slightly roundabout way to the A4, complete with "sod the traffic" filtering on the way back home.

I like the Dwarf Shark but it also reminds me of:

Actually Kate you do have a point it does look alot like ED209.

I wonder if it can walk down stairs ?

Bill X

You are just funning Bill. I knew there was a reason you waited until we had all ridden away.

Only then did you pressed the button and the legs appeared and you galloped home.

Machine guns optional.

I had a thoroughly excellent time, despite eating too much. I think I might have won that game that you suggested Bill if you had been over here this afternoon...

Doug, "That Game" got me in so much trouble last time I'm tempted not to talk about it again.

Welllllll

Great afternoon out all.