[ST] Blatt

["Chris Harwood" <Chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Just to let people know that the UK has some gaps in its naff weather! 
50 mile round trip through rolling English countryside.

Out of London on the A104 to Epping and dink round the back of the town
through glorious sunshine and fields showing substantial amounts of
green.  Blue skies and puffy white clouds lazily follow the RS's howl as
I pass scattered 4x4s doing what 4x4s do best - tracing the white dotted
line.  Back onto the A road and through Harlow (about which, the less
said the better) blasting out the other side through twisting,
tree-lined lanes towards the open green at Hatfield Heath.
Joining the A1060 for a 15mile twist at NSL (National Speed Limit =
60mph on these roads) but dropping to 40 through the villages we have
the pleasure of repeatedly opening the three throttles to clear each
one.  Winding from side to side as we move from left-hander to
right-hander, we have to keep assessing the white dried salt and brown
mud in the centre of the lane to decide if it's worth crossing it to get
the widest line - we do and it sings!  Storming up the gradient to the
outskirts of Chelmsford, we peel off right through Writtle and past the
Agricultural College before joining the two-lane A414 back to Chipping
Ongar.  Althought they redefine the A414 almost annually, this road has
it all, 3/4mile straights, ups, downs, trucks, bicyclists, even
temporary traffic lights but not enough to spoil the thrill.
The A113 from Ongar to Abridge has the nearest thing to a hairpin bend,
with a trickle of water running across it we keep the tyres as dry as
possible because there's a car nearing the top of the hill ahead and we
need to catch it and pass it before the tight 90degree left-hander and
the power needs to get to the black stuff.  We make over the breast and
blast past the cage staying out, brushing the hedgerow on the wrong side
of the road to give maximum visibility and radius for the turn which is
followed closely by an opening right-hander with poor surface and
dropping away downhill.  60mph out of that one and an even gentler
left-hander begs for the twist-grip to bang its stop.  Only time to go
up one gear before 30mph signs and two horses looking over the fence
call upon lower ratios and the exhaust burble steps up to a crescendo as
the engine takes off all the speed.
The car catches me up as I struggle to stay legal through Stapleford
Tawney but he disappears in an instant as the NSLs pass me by.  We're
diving down through open countryside again where the bike's top speed
could very nearly be realised but then we rise to the right and down,
down, down and left and up (Ooooh I love those gentle bends at the
bottom of hills).  The road widens to about 30ft hear and cars are no
obstacle except to themselves so with little hindrance we blast down to
Passingford Bridge and the mill house there.
Right towards Abridge and the road is pretty flat but all the bends are
gentle.  Past the dead flowers where a Daytona rider lost his life 6
months ago we're reminded to keep it on the black and watch for vehicles
emerging from fields or nurseries.  A quick glance down confirms that
the twin headlamps are still on and we take a commanding position on the
road where all but the sleepiest drivers will see me coming. The trees
flash by on each side and above as Chigwell approaches and it seems the
school run must be starting as a lady cuts straight into a roundabout
causing me to brake and sit the bike up.  The line round that roundabout
has been practised many times and it was looking good up until then
still,  not to worry, there's more traffic to catch as we head for home.
 A mile or two of M11 looks good especially as it has a two-lane
180degree on-ramp that needs testing for adhesion!  A Nissan Micra is
doing its best with two young lads in it but we have to go round the
outside of them don't we?  That lane doesn't get used much but it's my
job to clean it!  As we straighten up for the merge lane, the exhaust
lets out its banshee wail as the red line is hit again and again.
Hitting suburbia we settle down to the last couple of miles on full
alert.  Onto the drive and out with the tread depth-gauge!  Yes!  We can
still do another one before the Bridgestone needs replacing!

Chris Harwood
'00 Eclipse RS (works from home)

     *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *
      The ST/RS Mailing list is sponsored by Jack Lilley Ltd.
          http://www.TriumphNet.com/st/lilley for more info
   http://www.TriumphNet.com/st for ST, RS and Mailing List info

=-=-=-= Next Message =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=