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Post by spuu on Jun 14, 2023 22:38:00 GMT
So while the weather is nice I thought I'd get away for a few nights and do some riding alone in Wales. Not much trafffic, great roads - whats not to like? Fucking police everywhere. Last time I was here (about 4 years back or so) there was a small presence but this was terrible. Stopped at Crossgates cafe for a coffee on the route in, there was a police camera van carrying 4 officers. Then an unmarked Sokda Octavia pulled in with another 2. Bearing in mind this is 11am on a Teusday I was hoping it wasnt a sign of things to come. Well unfortunatley it was - I was riding around every corner expecting to get caught so kept it mostly legalish and if i hadnt Id have been nabbed. It was constant. Day 2 I was on a twisty that they've now made a 40 limit, mid corner doing around 55 a police car comes the other way, I pass him and look in the mirrors and he puts his lights on. I pull over expecting him/her to come back but luckliy they didnt. Original plan was to find a hotel and stay a second night and get a 3rd day riding in but I thought fuck this its not enjoyable anymore and just headed home. It's put me off going again  |
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Post by mekon on Jun 15, 2023 6:51:47 GMT
Sounds like Wales is Royal Enfield 350 territory not GSXR land. You took a gun to a pillow fight.
Seems like overkill. Oddly enough unless you go down the tried and tested favourite long straights a lot of North Yorkshire you'll rarely see a copper. They even seem to have given up some of the straights as well since a place called 'The Motorist' in Sherburn got popular. They can be found lurking down the last straight before turn into the place as the chavs can't resist thrashing it and are easily caught.
This said I think they did one of those cunty 'operations' recently when they pull everyone over all the time and lecture them. I think I'd ask if I was being arrested and the leave, can't be doing with told how speed is dangerous blah, blah. Fuck off plod, I figured that one out years ago.
I also hate how coppers think they are quicker than you. My mate who races says there's been plod turn up racing from time to time and none have been remotely special and pretty crap at times.
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Post by spuu on Jun 15, 2023 10:32:35 GMT
I may aswell have been on a 125.
Yeah it could be an 'operation' of some kind I guess. I hardly saw any other bikes out though. On the actual road Id say less than 20 over 2 full days. Not one on the horseshoe pass run or on the Lamberis pass. Just a few parked up here and there which was weird for the great weather.
On a plus note Im still loving the Gixxer. Still keep going for 7th gear all the time..
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Post by elnoodle the reasonable on Jun 15, 2023 12:29:21 GMT
Still think that the Highlands are the best place to enjoy your bike. Certainly the speed traps and patrols have increased since the NW500 has become popular but the fact remains that it's a vast area with just a handful of polis to cover it. All comes down to probability.
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Post by mekon on Jun 15, 2023 14:13:40 GMT
Sounds like a good place to do some serial killing as well.
I've just spent a day out and about in Wensleydale etc. Saw one copper the entire journey but weren't breaking the law today so it didn't really matter. I wonder how much mileage old people do just fucking going for a tea and scone? My parents used to think nothing of driving 50 miles to get a sandwich or driving from Harrogate to Northallerton for a cup of tea. All these places are rammed with pensioners in decent motors.
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Post by spuu on Jun 15, 2023 15:13:48 GMT
Id love to do the Highlands - never done it. Its just the distance to get up there for me. Google maps telling me 480 miles / 8.5hrs. I can be in Wales in an hour.
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Post by elnoodle the reasonable on Jun 15, 2023 17:13:11 GMT
Aye, your tyres would be squared off by the time you got here.
If anyone is planning a trip I'd avoid the NW500 route as much as possible. Crowded with cunts and your best chance of hitting a speed trap. Plenty of other glorious roads that the polis just don't have the resources to patrol. Only thing I'd say is that you don't want to end up in a hedge on Summerisle miles away from the nearest whiff of a phone signal.
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Post by pantah on Jun 15, 2023 18:53:26 GMT
I know the ferry is expensive but a trip to the Isle of Man sans TT and an early blast over the mountain would be a total thrill. No speed limits and there’s always the Southern 100 road races in July to make it worthwhile.
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Post by mekon on Jun 15, 2023 19:47:18 GMT
I did that a while back and got nicked by coppers with speed gun at Ramsey hairpin. Crafty cunts.
He asked how fast I thought I was going and I said 45? He said yes 45. I guess I won the prize as he let me off with lecture about don't disrespect the place.
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Post by pantah on Jun 15, 2023 22:23:36 GMT
I did that a while back and got nicked by coppers with speed gun at Ramsey hairpin. Crafty cunts. He asked how fast I thought I was going and I said 45? He said yes 45. I guess I won the prize as he let me off with lecture about don't disrespect the place. My point was that there’s no limits over the mountain from Ramsey to Douglas. That’s a decent stretch of road to let rip and if you’re still in town limits then the plod are going to crack down just like they do on the mainland. I’m sure they’ve had to scrape a fair few dead wannabe racers off the roads over the years so maybe we should cut them some slack. |
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Post by pantah on Jun 15, 2023 22:23:50 GMT
I did that a while back and got nicked by coppers with speed gun at Ramsey hairpin. Crafty cunts. He asked how fast I thought I was going and I said 45? He said yes 45. I guess I won the prize as he let me off with lecture about don't disrespect the place. My point was that there’s no limits over the mountain from Ramsey to Douglas. That’s a decent stretch of road to let rip and if you’re still in town limits then the plod are going to crack down just like they do on the mainland. I’m sure they’ve had to scrape a fair few dead wannabe racers off the roads over the years so maybe we should cut them some slack. |
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Post by mekon on Jun 17, 2023 5:58:15 GMT
It was literally the last corner before the unlimited section (or used to be?). It's dead to pedestrians so it was purely a cash cow spot to wait. I could understand if I'd been caught in the middle of town but last corner before freedom?
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Post by pantah on Jun 17, 2023 7:35:34 GMT
The Isle of Man polis never used to be so draconian.
Two examples.
Me and a mate were hammering through Onchan on the way to Laxey right on the town limits and at the side of the road there was a plod standing pointing what turned out to be an experimental new device called a hand held speed recorder. He literally gave up and started laughing as we shot past.
The year 1978, Hailwood’s return, the island was packed and it also happened to be a world cup year. Argentina, Scotland were going to win it according to Ally McLeod, England never qualified. We were drinking in a bar on an afternoon somewhere on the prom. Scotland inevitably got fucked and I got pished drinking this weird concoction called a thruxton special by its creators. Staggering outside i realised I’d parked my bike somewhere amongst hundreds on the prom. I also had to somehow ride it it to the campsite at Brandish. Fuck sakes.
Eventually i saw it but standing right next to it gazing out to the bay , hands behind his back in standard pose with his white noddy hat was a sole polis man. Fuck sakes again. I had no choice but to come clean with the cunt, excuse me but I’m pished but need to get to my tent for a lie down type thing. He tilted his head to one side, sizing up my pathetic image and muttered, i never saw you, don’t fall off.
I somehow didn’t fall off.
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Post by mekon on Jun 17, 2023 8:53:00 GMT
Never driven or ridden off my head as such. I remember having a pint once and driving, well, off for a tear arse season in hot hatched with my mates and it dulled my reflexes so much I never did it again. As a youngster I valued being like the Max Verstappen of Harrogate town centre in my modded golf so being off my game wasn't really on.
Same thing with dope, I'd only partake if I wasn't driving. Had on spliff and drove once and I didn't like it at all.
Actually tell a lie, I did have to drive back from Phobia in Leeds once about 1993 and had taken some pills. Apparently about 4 in the morning someone I knew had passed me on the road home and said what the fuck were you doing? I was like, what was I doing? Apparently about 20mph in a 60. Seemed fast at the time.
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Post by pantah on Jun 17, 2023 12:00:46 GMT
Got to add that back then it was common knowledge that the polis were uber lenient during TT fortnight and in fact if you did get done the ban only applied to the island.
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