Bumble.. lack of progress update

The plan was to change the wheel and get him started, and Pops drives him home to Norwich. What actually happened was, we changed the wheel, had no idea why he wouldn't start, and discovered that both the exhaust and fuel tank are also badly damaged, so there was no way he was 'drive-able' anyway.

Very, very hacked off at the crappy insurance company. I don't need any help feeling like a useless pratt and a pain in the arse.

Chalkie did help me fit the GPS power supply to Gladis though. Like properly. I now know which bits of my bike come off with only a bolt or a clip or two. I also know how handy thin fingers can be sometimes.

Motorcycle Live

Up early after a night on the sofa.. packed the provisions, and off to the NEC in Birmingham (again) for the Motorcycle Live show. Parking easy but extortionate, and a brisk walk in the cold over to the centre. We got there in time to join the queues before the show opened, and went straight to the Yamaha stand.. but alas... (and typically for me).. I was 3 people away from getting a place on the Off Road free taster sessions. Bum.

So.. next priority.. loos.. next priority.. bargains.. and boy did I find one. I still can't believe that I got exactly what I was looking for, and for such an amazing price.. Alpinestars Gore Tex for fifty quid?!?!

Pops later came back to the J and S stand and got a bargain Astars for 40 quid. I failed to find all the other things on my list. Internet here we come. Most of the day was spent touring the bike manufacturer stands, admiring or not, and hopping on a few..

Some custom bikes.. Mini Sic..

I so want one! Even I could handle this one.. if it goes wrong you just jump off.. and I reckon I could pick it up again! The 4 grand price tag the only problem! Plans for an off road track in Chalkie's garden are forming rapidly hehe

Jonathan Rae and er, Jonathan Rae..

The stand I was waiting for..

So, to get a Harley I need lots of cash, a garage, and er.. longer arms!

Looking at home on a Fat Boy!!! lol

The Avengers custom bike is just awesome..

Drooling over the competition prize.. Had a lovely chat with the lovely woman who took my entry details.. If only I could chat to people out in the real world.. Still, she said she'd be round soon to deliver my bike..

Only HD would put their logo into the tyres..

Lovely Yamaha Cafe Racer (right next to a FS1E). I'm a complete sucker for this Yamaha paint scheme..

Chalkie's best Roger Moore impression. His latest bike of choice..

What a beast!

Went to the 2pm Ramp'd Up Show. Very cool, several sharp intakes of breath as you think they're not going to make the landing, or they're going to hit the rafters. Further plotting regarding Chalkie's garden hehe.


Trying to be arty with Monsters...

 Back to the Harley stand.. def need longer arms..

I can't even afford a mountain bike with Fox shocks!!

Nice lines, shame about the wrapped pipes..

Neil Hodgson with James Bond's bike from Skyfall. We made sure to not wander gawping in front of the tv cameras. We did make it onto the telly though.. Chalkie spotted us in the background 36 minutes into the British Eurosport coverage of the show. We're famous!!!!

Plenty of custom bikes at the show..

Cal Crutchlow's bike...

and Cal Crutchlow!! Looking a bit scary..

 Me n Cal!! Would be prouder of this if I didn't have my obligatory double chin. Ah well, at least it proves that sometimes being patient and polite does get you what you want, you don't always have to be pushy. 

And this is what I wanted...

Lost each other just after this. Regrouped at the Yamaha stand. Nearly spent lots of money, being encouraged by a group of blokes after further discount pretending I was their daughter, walked away when we didn't get it. Hadn't realised the time, no wonder boys getting tired. The walk back to the car much warmer for me and Pops in our new big coats! They def are waterproof! Food plans on the way home scuppered as Harvester full. Ended up with a treacle sponge with no treacle in the pub in Thorpe Acre instead.

Very restrained shopping, for a bike show..

And presents from Chalkie (thank you), resulting somehow from me texting Pops to be less than subtle to Santa about Norwich HDs sale the previous Saturday. Still not sure what I think about the picture on the right. I'm telling myself its 40s Memphis Belle style. Hmm. 

Classic Bike Show

Wimped out of going on Gladis when I looked out and saw all the frost. Good choice, as I was scraping ice off the Golf, once I finally did get going (faffed watching Pilkington's header against Man Utd etc). Eventually found the Birmingham International Station, no thanks to Darth Tom Tom Vader, and huge roundabouts. Parking here half the price of the NEC and no queue.

Glad to see someone I recognised when I got to our stand.. but then all the CMA people are so friendly, got to meet some lovely people today. I must learn to chat to strangers though. I did reach Ian's target of talking to 6 people, but only 2 of them took a bible, and one person was on the FS1E stand and the other on the VW owners group stand.

Yeah.. Pops should have come!

I think we should get one, although even rough ones are over 2 grand! This was our stand, and the Triumph is Ian's. The dent is from the nasty BMW with stupid sticky out engine. I am stupid, so left it until we were packing down to take photos..

Went off in search of advice on VW insurance. Wandered off in one direction (bike show was in the middle) and got right to the end before discovering a map and, ooh no surprise, the VW stand was right at the other end. Learned how big the NEC is. But did go by some cool cars..

One from the Olympics Ceremony!!!

First time I really appreciated the stainless steel finish..

Wouldn't be a real DMC without one! ...

Finally made it.. and the guys at the VWOCGB were really helpful.. he even phoned his sister who also as a T4 partway through conversion.. completely agreed with his comment about the quality of insurance companies.. only found out when you need to make a claim..

Trying to sort plans for Bumble, really must get him sorted this year, once he is all fixed up.. I like the LEDs and the free standing table in this one..

I like the speakers too, but my panel will need to be removable to get a surfboard in under the RnR bed. 

 
Prefer this to Pops' Golf. I am very grateful for it's loan, but I think in general I prefer old classics to modern new-ness. 

If only I'd started getting into buying classics 20 years ago.. when they were still affordable!