Round Britain Rally

[Ralph]

Going to do the Round Britain Rally next year, done it 3 or 4 times but not for the last 2 or 3
hope we get a reasonable summer next year.


http://www.roundbritainrally.co.uk/

[Chips1953]

Hi Ralph
Did you do the complete job?
Was it good?
How long did it take you?
Just a few questions, sorry.

[Ralph]

No have never done all the clues but have had Silver awards, that's what I like about it
you can do as many as you want when you want between April and Nov so can pick good days
it's not like the National rally were it's all done on one day and if it's a bad one you get very wet.
though I have done that on 2 or 3 occasions. You get a list of clues near all can be tracked down
on the internet you then visit and take a pic with your bike in it, they are all over the country so
you can often do 3 or 4 in a day without riding massive miles. they are usually interesting places
and it's a good excuse for a ride.

[Chips1953]

It sounds good. Just the job for a challenge with Christine. May start with it this next year and see what's what. Didn't know about it, thanks for the tip.
Please post your thoughts on the 24 journey, we perhaps could all learn from your experience.

[Ralph]

Have a look on the RBR web site you can see pic from passed rally and get a feel for the type of places you have to visit.
I have not done the 24 hour National for quit a few years at on time it was quit a lay'd back thing but the last one I
did seemed very tightly timed and if you were on a smaller bike you would have struggled, it seemed I was not on my own
as the event seemed to struggle for a year or two after that and now the rules have changed were you can do a short
version, If you are going to have a go at the National then try the short one firs year, you will have to check the reg's as I
am not up to date but it's all in the rout planning, the people manning the check points are great many will stick a pig buttie
and a brew in your hand but if your doing the full 24 hours then you cant hang about, you have to have a 1 hour
rest at some points but a full 24 hours or so on a bike is a pretty serous thing and then you have to get home at the end of
it all.

[Chips1953]

Thanks Ralph I'll look into the options for both escapades.
I see you are located NW, best riding by far up here. (so far).

[Ralph]

The Round Britain rally is the more fun and you can pick sunny days or at least dry,
you should be able to get a Silver without nights out.
The Camel 501 looks a handy bike wonder what they are like to ride.
Is that a Kohler in the Wheel Horse may have some points and a head gasket for them.

[Chips1953]

Hi Ralph
Yes, that's a Kohler in the Wheel Horse. I use the old girl to harrow the Shetland's manure into the field, lazy really, not going to follow them around and pick it up.
The head was distorted when I got her and had to have a 15 thou skim, but being a 250 side valve, it doesn't seem to make any difference.
Sorry to go on but she is real fun, 5 mph and so much torque she can pull the harrow through 18" grass.
She's called Fenella after one of the loco's on the Isle of Man. It's only because I got a badge from there, but "Fenella Fielding" oops.
If you have the points then you may have an original cover? I had to make mine.
I still have a little work to do on the Camel, the front cylinder is burning oil, I will do it this winter. I took her up Hartside in the snow, last year, cold but fun. I will say that once you are on the Camel it's good but getting there is the problem for me. Getting off as well.
I have a new addition to the MC family, a Varadero, to do the Round Britain or some of it with Christine.
I do go on.
Thanks for the insight into the RBR.
P.S. the Camel is for sale.

[Chips1953]

I have booked in with the Rally and about to make an ARSE of myself in Derbyshire.
Thanks Ralph.

[Ralph]

Cant make the ARSE but got the points I am going to visit
more or less sorted, lets hope for a dry summer,

[Ralph]

Done 2 today only a 50 mile round trip, at least I have got started.

[Chips1953]

Done 2 today only a 50 mile round trip, at least I have got started.

Yep, Chris and I did the 2 local ones this week to get us started. (150m) I'm finding it interesting sorting the locations to some degree of accuracy. Whatever did you do before the WWWeb? You must have spent days in the Library?
What are you using bike wise?

[Ralph]

Originally it was library and maps, and then you had to hope the film came out, thank god for digi cams,
using the Strada for now but longer ones will be a Burgman scooter, but tempted by a Yamaha MT 07
we will see.
Thanks for the reply

[Ralph]

Two more done yesterday, traffic was bad, but the Strada ran fine, 187 miles and
the rest should not have as much town work, it sleeted going over the Pennines,
and the wind cooled the engine wile we were in Motor Mans cafe that I needed
choke and the engine had flat spots for a mile or two, rain on returning home
and the bike went on reserve about 200 yards from home, good day, people
think my mates Enfield is older them the Strada but it's about 2 years old the
Strada is 40 next year.

[Ralph]

Just fuelled it up 12.1 litre for 263 miles= 98.8 UK mpg that's better than I was
getting from a Honda 90 I had at lower speeds, without the congested town work
round Huddersfield and Wakefield both of which we had to do each way it would have
cracked 100 mpg don't know how it does it as it was being revved and not just chugging
along.
Next trip is likely Hardknott Pass, St Bees, Penrith, then back down Shap to home in Knott End
should be a good one with 3 way points.