Is it just me?
Printed From: guzziriders.org - moto guzzi forum
Category: Out and About
Forum Name: Good Roads
Forum Description: Where have you been?
URL: http://www.guzziriders.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=15300
Printed Date: 27 Mar 2026 at 00:24
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.03 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Is it just me?
Posted By: Zecis
Subject: Is it just me?
Date Posted: 11 Aug 2023 at 16:05
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Is it just me? Yesterday a short ride was had, 80 miles or so with a couple of mates to get a crab sandwich on the South Coast. Double solid white lines have appeared all over the place, then of course the pot holes, gravel on corners... then there's the car drivers  if the limit is 40, they drive at 30, 30 = 20mph and so on... The double white lines and oncoming traffic stop any overtaking....and if you do take the risk, you are straight into the same situation again  .Is it worth even going for a ride in the UK anymore during the summer? Of course I know I could have got up at 5am and had the road to myself but today was mid week... or gone to Scotland, or West Wales... but that was a bit far to get a crab sandwich from Salisbury .... As I say, is it just me, or do the rest of you find it ok? ------------- Regards Adam Located near Stonehenge ...A 1200sport (2 valve with stage 1), Daytona RS, and a Centauro GT (the last one is for sale if you are interested) |
Replies:
Posted By: iansoady
Date Posted: 11 Aug 2023 at 16:52
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Me as well. Sadly, getting across to France on the bike is probably but a memory. I never go out at weekends as I'm fortunate in being able to get out mid week but what you describe is all too common here in the Midlands. I do know some less frequented local roads but they do tend to have tractors lurking round the bends. I have to say that something else putting me off is the lunatics on sports bikes hitting the rev limiters all over the place.
------------- Ian 1964 Norton Electra 1965 BSA/Suzuki 1992 Yamaha SRV250 |
Posted By: cowboy
Date Posted: 11 Aug 2023 at 18:16
| The 6047 that I ride often is no joy anymore. I can't remember the last time I was able to enjoy the twisties due to the increased traffic and don't mention tractors. To be honest I think roads are a lot more crowded now than a few years ago. |
Posted By: R100CS
Date Posted: 11 Aug 2023 at 18:27
Crowded? Going to Germany in September lot of Krauts there  ------------- 1st R100CS flattened by a truck 2nd R1150R modified 3rd V7iii GREEN |
Posted By: Dave P.
Date Posted: 11 Aug 2023 at 18:56
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Hmm,English back country roads which are relatively traffic free are still to be found. Perhaps not near the south coast but certainly in rural Northamptonshire and Warwickshire. East Anglia, Yorkshire and Northumbria have miles of empty roads. Not as quiet as France or Spain where I have been riding over the last few weeks but still there, honest. ------------- TO LIVE OUTSIDE THE LAW YOU MUST BE HONEST. 1971 V7 Special. 1972 850GT. 1970 T120 Bonnie. 2009 500 Bullet. |
Posted By: Guzzished
Date Posted: 11 Aug 2023 at 21:20
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Yes, and as the numbers and the size/power/speed levels go up so the standard of driving descends. Are the two connected ? IS IT ME ? (line stealer) Or does driving a big vehicle give you the legal right to drive aggressively. Or is it frustration of being delayed by the overblown obesity of their own vehicles that makes them so angry. And then some smart arsed motorised two wheeler goes whizzing past laughing. ( that'll be me then. ) You'd think they'd learn and get a bike
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Posted By: V7Chris
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2023 at 08:11
| Well I'm lucky enough to live in rural mid Wales and there are plenty of quiet roads here. Of course some of the main trunk roads can get very busy especially with holiday traffic. Just spent three days touring around north Wales and Anglesey with a pal and away from the main resorts and trunk roads, still not too busy. I usually find the opposite problem though, I am observing the speed limit and riding at the speed limit where safe to do so (it's a limit - not a target) and everyone else seems to want to go 20-20 mph faster! Having said that, I am not sure what is going to happen next month when all 30mph roads with a system of street lighting are changed to 20mph in Wales. I ride some roads with a system of street lighting that are currently 30mph and I think to myself "surely this could be 40/50 mph?". I dare say that the traffic 'planners/safety engineers ' have a reason....... |
Posted By: R100CS
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2023 at 08:34
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probably they want to generate more income by taxing the traffic ------------- 1st R100CS flattened by a truck 2nd R1150R modified 3rd V7iii GREEN |
Posted By: johnno
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2023 at 08:43
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I ride all year round and I can not wait for October to March I have favoured these months in the last 5 years . Everywhere I go I see more housing being built and car drivers not interested in driving . ------------- 1100 sport corsa , Honda cb10000r , rider |
Posted By: Brian UK
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2023 at 09:30
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I think the most worrying part is all the new car ads showing all the infotainment technology built in as the most important sales feature. ------------- Brian. Better 5 minutes late in this world than years early in the next. |
Posted By: V7Chris
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2023 at 11:04
Quite true
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Brian UK wrote:Posted By: Tris
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2023 at 11:07
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I rode from Gainsborough to East Kirkby yesterday for the Buell and Italian bike festival Outbound small roads and including a chunk of Caistor High Street was great In bound included the A17 was pants due to the traffic unless you like filtering on a single carriage way road In Lincolnshire we're lucky to have some great roads if you get off the main ones. Henry Cole said as much the other day ------------- 2017 V9 Roamer 2005 Breva 1100 - sold 1994 California - sold |
Posted By: theone&onlymin
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2023 at 11:23
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Was there myself so I was. 3 hours each way from London ezpz. Remember when you mention traffic and congestion you ard part of the problem. Cheers Min
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Posted By: c13pep
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2023 at 13:42
In the not too distant future where gearboxes and the third pedal have disappeared altogether along with self driving technology (we already have many self parking cars and lane variation warnings) then maybe it will be the infotainment that becomes the best selling point. Fortunately at my age I won`t be too concerned about all this as it`s likely that I will still not be able to afford an EV or the charges for my I.C.E vehicles to remain on the road, so walking and cycling look like the only options left  CHRIS ------------- you can`t have any fun in a straight line Honda CB77 project |
Posted By: AdrianW
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2023 at 14:48
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Being a confirmed luddite I have absolutely no intention of buying an EV , let alone something that drives itself.. I know it's sacrilege but I used to actually enjoy driving..... As someone who worked in IT I learned not to buy anything described as "cutting edge", "the future" etc as in true Microsoft tradition you were in fact acting as unpaid testers with all the risk at your expense.. As far as I am concerned the same applies to new car technolgies, I will only buy once they've sorted them out properly... There's also the fact that Govt are forcing us down this route, I recall being told diesel was the future too..... Apologies, rant over... It's the Balloon Fiesta here this weekend - I'm staying home, too many lost cars, campervans, caravans etc acting unpredictably to risk going out on the bike..... Adrian Bristol UK
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Posted By: paulbricey
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2023 at 17:11
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New car adverts (EV & Hyprid & IC) always show empty roads ......should be trade descriptions case !! ------------- Griso 1200 8V, V50 |
Posted By: theone&onlymin
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2023 at 17:38
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The roads were empty and then some twat called it the NC500. Cheers Min
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Posted By: Tris
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2023 at 18:12
Bugger, I've just said the Lincolnshire roads are great  ------------- 2017 V9 Roamer 2005 Breva 1100 - sold 1994 California - sold |
Posted By: Mike H
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2023 at 19:22
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I've been on a bit of a tour last 3 weeks, and what I noticed was frequent instances of 20 mph zones, most often villages in Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire; I did once again an old 'rat run' I used to do quite often years ago going from Essex to Woburn / Milton Keynes area, the B4031 always was a bit 'fiddly' but is a right pain now.  Around Boston where I live speed limits have been dropping by 10 mph. ------------- "Chicken nuggets don't dance on a Tuesday." |
Posted By: Simond
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2023 at 20:13
It’s perfectly logical. You need something to do when stuck in the traffic jams/operation Brock/anywhere on the M25.
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Posted By: rbt1548
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2023 at 21:36
Yes indeed!!!!!!!!!!!! and it was broadcast on the national news bulletin that someone found a parking space on Skye! ------------- 1977 Ducati 860GTS 1974 Honda CB450 K7 1958 Wife It wisnae me, a big boy done it and ran away! "I was so much older then; I'm younger than that now!" |
Posted By: johnno
Date Posted: 14 Aug 2023 at 05:03
------------- 1100 sport corsa , Honda cb10000r , rider |
Posted By: Zecis
Date Posted: 15 Aug 2023 at 08:35
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We did the "non NC500" this year... ie avoided that route as far as we could... but went to N Scotland - it was fine... apart from the bits of the NC500 that we couldnt avoid :)
Oh... and literally just waiting for Brittany Ferries to open (23 mins! :) to book the next trip - 2 weeks in late Sept / Oct starting in Santander  SHall we go South, East to Italy, or just North to the Channel - I suspect the weather forecasts will be our guide ------------- Regards Adam Located near Stonehenge ...A 1200sport (2 valve with stage 1), Daytona RS, and a Centauro GT (the last one is for sale if you are interested) |
Posted By: Brian UK
Date Posted: 15 Aug 2023 at 10:48
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Can't understand why you would use BF to Santander then head north to the channel. Not even sure about heading to Italy via Santander. I would use DFDS/Transmanch Ferries, Newhaven to Dieppe, fraction of the price, and 20% off if you are over 60. ------------- Brian. Better 5 minutes late in this world than years early in the next. |
Posted By: Dave P.
Date Posted: 15 Aug 2023 at 10:52
Couldn't agree more. It's been promoted like a package holiday. The locals are not happy because the infrastructure to support all of the extra traffic and its human cargo does not exist. Two years ago I visited Applecross, a village I've visited several times before. On the last occasion the village was "Gridlocked" Some idiot in a Winnebago type vehicle was trying to turn around on the seafront and failed causing a traffic jam, perhaps the first ever in Applecross?? Now similar schemes are proposed if not already in operation for the Cairngorms and Northumberland. So additional litter and the contents of chemical toilets may become commonplace on the side of the road in our most beautiful regions. http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2019/may/25/dark-side-scotland-north-coast-500-route-speeding-congestion-protest" rel="nofollow - www.theguardian.com/travel/2019/may/25/dark-side-scotland-north-coast-500-route-speeding-congestion-protest ------------- TO LIVE OUTSIDE THE LAW YOU MUST BE HONEST. 1971 V7 Special. 1972 850GT. 1970 T120 Bonnie. 2009 500 Bullet. |
Posted By: Mike H
Date Posted: 17 Aug 2023 at 00:29
I think it was actually the Scottish government! Think there was a Wiki page about it.------------- "Chicken nuggets don't dance on a Tuesday." |
Posted By: Jerry atric
Date Posted: 17 Aug 2023 at 07:05
Interestingly; 20 years ago, riding pre-war bikes, I lived in fear of fast roads. Now the bacon slicer easily keeps up with the traffic whereas I just get frustrated on the Cali 
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Posted By: borderer
Date Posted: 19 Aug 2023 at 16:36
| Luckily where i live I can ride 100 miles and only see a handful of cars ( in the summer) autumn maybe none. |
Posted By: johnno
Date Posted: 19 Aug 2023 at 21:18
I need to move lol  ------------- 1100 sport corsa , Honda cb10000r , rider |
Posted By: cooleronthecoast
Date Posted: 20 Aug 2023 at 09:49
| At this time of year, the coastal seaside towns around where I live are at their busiest, which means myopic Malcolms (other names are available) drive around at 45 mph everywhere, in 60 limits and 30 limits! Caravans are a constant menace here too, especially when towed by the aforementioned Malcolms. But as others have said, there are quieter roads not too far inland if you know where to look, on which fun and peace and quiet can be had especially if you are lucky enough to be able to avoid the weekends for your riding. Having said that the weather here today is beautiful so I may well venture out whilst the football is on later. |