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number1barber

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About number1barber

  • Birthday 26/12/1977

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    opera theatre cinema and books and heavy metal

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  1. I have ridden for many years but just passed my full bike so would just like to add the following warnings for all new big bike riders because these are the things that are not said. 1. its very easy to get carried away riding in a group at speed which is fine until they enter a corner they know but you don't and it tightens don't worry about looking cool because you wont after. Worry about getting used to your bike properly before you try matching your mates speed. 2. The new rear torque is great just be wary of pulling away on poor ground gravel wet grass mud whatever because you will end up dumping it. 3. Your only as good as the car driver next to you open roads are great for speed whereas filtering is not if you filter fast and someone steps out or pulls out its bad keep it for clear areas. 99% of crash videos on youtube could have been avoided with just a little less speed. There is no point in being right if your laying in the road with your new bike in bits. I expect everyone is trying to kill me and will do something stupid therefore im usually not surprised. I was riding down a 2 lane empty road recently in the left lane when i saw a car in a left hand turning waiting. I assumed he might be a idiot so i moved to the right lane and slowed a bit sure enough he pulled out on me just as i got to him and instead of pulling into the left he went across into my lane causing me to swerve him. Had i just assumed i had the right of way which i did and not took action in case i would have ended up in hospital. so always wear gear ride well and always expect idiots. P.s ride well does not have to mean slow it just means well
  2. although it was a few months back this is the full version of my mod 2. On the day of the test it was raining hard. i had all the right gear but my dad who was riding the bike from his house did not so i text him offering to cancel but didn't get a reply. When i arrived at mitcham there was my dad soaked to the skin. (MY dad has trader insurance and can ride anything) Since riding the bandit 600 the day i bought it some months before i had not used it again but was riding a geared varadero so i was nervous. I was praying to get mags a stunning foreign examiner who was always friendly putting people at ease i would have settled for anyone except Shaun who never shows emotion whatsoever. So obviously out walks Shaun and im thinking oh shit. We ride off and turn into heavy traffic as roadworks has shut one side of the road. after a traffic island the road has temporary one way signs designating the opposite side of the road as going the same way as my side but i have never seen this before and no one is using the other lane so im thinking no way plus he will probably say turn left at the end and i will be in the wrong lane. so i ride in slow moving traffic which im very used to slipping the clutch keeping my feet most of the time instead of stop starting. at the end on cue he says turn left we come to a steep hill and i drop a gear and engine brake so no brake lights coming up. we then do the pull over pull away a few times and we are soon back at roundabout at the start of the long road back in fact too soon which worries me. A van tries to undertake me and my examiner starts to say something to him then turns off his mike needles to say he was super unimpressed with the van. we pull back into the centre. my dad says we was very quick and im very sure i have failed. We go in the room and i say im sure i failed but have no idea why. he asks me why i didn't use the empty lane at the start i tell him i assumed we was going left at the end. He asks me why i didnt filter and i say whilst i do so daily i thought it prudent not to on my test just in case. He says okay then still without a smile tells me i passed. I say to him "you know what your a bit of a b**tard" with a smile on my face. he ask why is that. I say to him "i have dealt with you a few times and last time i said you never smile and this is the one time you could have" with that he gives me a big grin and i laugh. i go back out and my dad asks me if i want to ride the bandit home but i say no thanks and ride the varadero. this was a very different test route to erith reasons i failed 3 tests at erith 1st test wrong way on a big roundabout could not see any signage on approach changed lanes. 2nd test come to a Y junction with the previous instruction continue straight slowed right down looking for indication of which was turning which was straight on but couldnt see anything and apparently took a turning 3rd test last road looked like a 50 sped up and told to slow down. after he said he didnt know why everyone thought it was a 50.
  3. Steve that sucks but on a plus you fine and happy to continue. I had the same thing a while back on a ride with some big bikes went really fast into a corner following them then thought oh hell. with more training on tracks i could lean it further but as it is i didnt crash so i was lucky. small accidents are a lot better lessons than making the same mistake at high speed resulting in serious harm. Its the people that have near misses then still ride the same that concerns me you should always evolve and learn from what you do. good luck with your test.
  4. I picked up a pair of classic hiviz flexothane work trousers and they were awesome however they were bright orange. i recently found flexothane bib and braces trousers in navy. the first pair can go on roadside the bib pair not really. these things do not leak for love nor money and seem to last a long time
  5. I brought this jacket from a friend who it didn't fit properly. This jacket goes for about £550 and my last jacket was £180 alpinestars drystar. I got this jacket because it has pro layer meaning the the goretex is bonded to the outer so no inside membrane. the alpine stars would get heavy in sustained rain 1hr plus and although i stayed dry would takes hours to dry out. this meant stopping for lunch was ok until you had to put the heavy sodden wet cold jacket back on. The streetguard is a different animal all together it does not gain any weight whatsoever that i can notice. The outside is damp at worst and is quick to dry so stopping for lunch is not issue as the jacket is not really wet when it comes time to put it back on. i would always buy another now or consider any pro layer jacket
  6. i would never ever by cheap unbranded gloves thats very risky. if you go down there is a fair chance they well tear to pieces.
  7. put your gloves inside? gloves have enough of a problem being waterproof without them being worn over sleeves
  8. not a bad idea but im not sure i like my fingers being joined. i tried a pair of spada mits they were awful super huge and would bunch up on the throttle etc. i might have a look for these. thanks
  9. if the liner is not removable take off the visor and was the helmet in a sink with baby shampoo. to push a towel in side and try to get it as dry as possible then simply pop in the tumble dryer. im just joking either hang it above a radiator or fold a towel place on top of radiator and the helmet on top or a large 2 litre bottle on top of the rad and put the helmet over the top put a folded towel on the floor next to it if there is any possibility you could knock it off. i wouldn't want freebreeze on my head
  10. get some cones or water bottles full of water. its really good to practice but yeah different weight on the big boy. low speed clutch control is where the practice matters.
  11. I leave a 4/5 foot gap behind cars i dont worry about seeing ahead due to the fact i can see over the car. lorries and vans i stay more to the right when stopped and riding and give a bigger distance for both. i dont need to have a big distance when stopped because unlike many i don't race to filter as soon as the vehicle in front moves. When it moves i then move and if its safe to filter i do so i don't chop around trying to constantly find the quickest way because im on a bike im in no rush and chopping around is rarely faster in london anyway. your right i ride slower than some people but as to how on earth you think that equates to more risk is really beyond me? cars go slower than me and they are not crashing every 30 seconds. the gap you refer to is as others have said for if you are hit in the rear. As i have said i have riden daily into London for 15 years and have never been hit in the rear nor hit anything. i am a confident calm rider.
  12. i have been looking for decent gloves for a long time as have most. i had alpinestars drystar they keep you dry but get heavy and take forever to dry out. im really looking for gloves that work the same as my streetguard ie the waterproof layer is on the outside. the 3 choices of gloves that i have found that may repel well are as follows. richa cold protects. top marks in visordown tests bering focals infinity rate them as their best set of winter gloves. knox zero 2 they have outdry tech now i know for a fact the knox are coated on the top layer and are said to let nothing through that said they come with a price tag £150 has anyone had any long term experience with any of the above gloves good or bad?
  13. flexothane bib and braces in navy blue. £27 nothing goes through them including torrential rain then any over jacket for the top
  14. as far as i can figure out there are 4 types of waterproofs. 1. gear that says its waterproof but you get drenched in it. 2. gear that has a waterproof liner 3. gear that has a waterproof outer 4. waterproof over gear. 1. this covers alot of really cheap gear and is basically rubbish say jackets under £50 2. this is broad but can go from £80 spada jackets to £300+ alpinestars. The problem is with liner jackets is some repel water from the surface due to coating that wears off after a while and some never have the coating to start with. liner jackets are fine if you are going to one location without stopping and are not doing long tours. the problem with liner jackets is if the coating gives or isnt the there the jacket will gain a lot of weight. you will stay dry but you will be cold and it will be heavy and take forever to dry. this is bad news if you stop and take it off then have to put it back on. 3. these are the dogs nuts. these include some held jackets rukka and bmw streetguard. these badboys have goretex coated to the outer (pro layer) which means they gain next to no weight keep you warm and light and will dry very very quick. the only downside is these jackets are £450+ but they are worth it if you can afford them. 4. over gear is the simple cheap solution buy ones that work and expect to pay maybe £20-£40 for a jacket or trousers. they can be stashed in small spaces and will make any gear fully waterproof provided you buy one that works. on the downside they are not normally goretex so they don't breathe but they do block cold air rather well. for winter riding i go with flexothane bib and braces work wear £30 trousers seriously waterproof and comes in dark blue. i worry about function way before i worry about price thats not to say i only buy expensive its just i buy what works
  15. to Joe85: yeah erith is up down up down all the time and the roundabouts are big. I think your talking about Dave teller. I heard awesome things about him but I messaged him asking for one day mod 1 training after lots elsewhere he said he would do 3 day with some mod 2 I said I only wanted mod 1 first but he insisted 3 day at 400 I think which peed me off alot. for a new rider I would recommend him from what I hear but for me it was not suitable at all.
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