Anyone going to Isle of Man TT races

[budgesrsv]

Just wondering if any of you guys are going to the TT races this year ? Me an Misus will be there from 28th May if you fancy meeting up for a pint

[simmo]

Nope, not going. But if you fancy a ride out round peak district sometime I'm up for that.

Andy.

[budgesrsv]

Yeah will probably be heading down there sometime soon, haven't been to Matlock for ages. I do get over Snake and Woodhead every now and then but try and go midweek when roads are quieter.

[simmo]

Not sure if there are any other members this neck of the woods, but perhaps we could organise a Peak District meet.

Anyone else out there interested ?

[budgesrsv]

Great trip again to the tt races, bike was thrashed all week and never missed a beat I saw 2 or 3 uk SMTs over there but didn't get to meet the owners so not sure if they are forum members ?

[superdavetard]

I'm going over on the 27th of this month but not for the TT, just for a 3 day road trip.

[budgesrsv]

Should be good, i havent been outside of tt fortnight but theres lots to see there. Is it your first time ?

[superdavetard]

It's my first time yeah. My friend asked if I wanted to go so I naturally said yes. 5 of us going all together, I'm the only one on a KTM though They're missing out.

Hoping to get some footage with the GoPro

What's it like going to see the races? Can imagine it's an experience.

[budgesrsv]

Races are awesome, been going for 40 years but only 12 on bikes. Roads on tt course are mint but away from them a bit rough so your on the perfect bike !

[superdavetard]

Very good, getting pretty excited now

[budgesrsv]

Try and get off the main roads a bit theres some great rides. Try Tholt y will glen which runs from Sulby up to Bungalow, the Sound café is a must see and the road from Union Mills up through Baldwin is a great ride on a sunny day. Try the Marine Hotel in Peel for good home cooked grub. Enjoy your trip

[ogden]

i havent been outside of tt fortnight

It's a very different place outside of TT fortnight.

More roads with no speed limit, for one thing

[superdavetard]

Well there is that too

[budgesrsv]

Yeah there are lots of places with temporary speed limits during TT, there are more each year. Theres nowhere now from the start to Cronk y voddy without a speed limit, and very few between there and Ramsey ! I think there will be limits everywhere pretty soon after the number of accidents this year

[ogden]

Last time I was there during TT fortnight (2010) I think they had a 30 limit all the way to Ballacraine, then a 60 all the way through to the top of the hill at Glen Helen before it opened up as far as Kirkmichael. Then that was it, all 30s, 40s and 50s to the Gooseneck.

Sulby Straight at 40mph just feels wrong. There's always a cop with a hairdryer at the end of it though.

[budgesrsv]

Theres a bit of 50mph between Crosby and Balacraine but not much ! Cops with speed traps were in a few new places this year, my mate was pulled coming out of Ballaugh but got off with a slapped wrist, he was doing about 35 ! Saw one poor sod getting a ticket off a bike cop on mountain ! I used to do lap after lap over mountain but the novelty has worn thin now especially when every time you get to Ramsey the road is closed by another accident.

[ogden]

Mate of mine got nicked in a borrowed car doing a dodgy overtake through Laurel Bank. The cop recognised the car, contacted the owner, and my mate got firm instructions to present himself at Douglas copshop for a bollocking.

He turned up wearing his marshal's tabard, special constable warrant on his arm, the whole lot. They took one look and said "don't even bother".

I know what you mean about the mountain. One race day I was sitting at the bottom of May Hill with a hundred or so other bikes, waiting for the road to reopen after racing. The cop moved the ROAD CLOSED sign out of the way and the first bikes set off. By the time I'd put my gloves on he'd closed the road again because someone had crashed at the Gooseneck. Twat.

Still, with that lot all having to take the back road down from the Gooseneck, the coast road was pretty much empty, so I had a lovely thrash back via Laxey.

Might do the Manx this year. Or maybe next year. Or maybe the TT. Choices, choices.

[budgesrsv]

I went to do "one last lap" this year, got to Ramsey and road was closed, asked cop at Junction how long and he reckoned another half hour. Decided to wait but after 40 mins gave up and took the coast road. Got just outside Laxey and there was a cop car blocking that road directing traffic up a little side lane because of another accident ! I decided there and then it was time to take a hint and head for the pub
I did TT and Manx last year for first time, I prefer the buzz of the TT but really enjoyed the classic bikes at Manx plus much quieter roads, I would recommend it if you like the sound and smell of big 2 strokes and Manx Nortons Wish I was going again this year but work is a bit sparse at the moment so can't afford it. Mind you I have booked my ferry for TT next year

[ogden]

I prefer the buzz of the TT but really enjoyed the classic bikes at Manx plus much quieter roads, I would recommend it if you like the sound and smell of big 2 strokes and Manx Nortons

If you like that kind of thing you should come to Chimay or Gedinne.

http://www.circuit.be/en/classic-bikes/
http://crmb.be/en/

Ten or fifteen quid for the weekend, including camping. Plus fuel and ferries, obviously. A bunch of us go every year and get battered on strong Belgian beer watching old snotters hurtling around a road course. Only five weeks to go til the next one.

[budgesrsv]

That looks good, classic racing is pretty big over there. I'm laid up at moment after operation yesterday, no work, beer,bike or driving for 4 to 6 weeks according to docs so no wages or fun at the moment ! Oh and I can't stand football so world cup isn't very appealing either I will have work my way through the bike DVD collection for entertainment.