Christmas 2021

 

Thoughts for Christmas 2021

 

In spite of having had a cold, followed by a Covid booster jab I’ve still been ticking off little jobs. One that gave me some problems is how to tie down the LE to the trailer. I had made something a while ago which worked but pressure on the frame left rub marks so I wanted something better as there will be more frequent trailering in the future. I mused and fussed over what to do. Something under the seat but not over it as this can do damage to the seat base and also the cover. I have now come up with this version of the securing post. Straps can be attached on the upright section while an under the saddle overall strap over the horizontal guides. How this will work in practice I will have to find out but the information gained going to and from the Off Road Bike Show at the beginning of December was invaluable. Much of the old one has been re-used in making the new piece of mechanical art. I also made a new battery strap from 3mm bungee cord.

In November I had a visit to Whitewebbs Museum and left out this bit in the previous post but as Triumph has an electric bicycle I thought the interest in a Triumph electric bicycle from the fifties would deserve a mention. Not as sophisticated as the modern ones but very practical in that it is bolted to the front off-side fork leg and drives the front wheel by chain. Talking of Triumphs I appreciate the introduction of the 660 triple adventure bike, Tiger Sport.  Every manufacturer has their, too tall, too big and too top heavy version and for those real adventure people 300 to 400cc off road bikes or trail bikes are what they use. I’m a fan of Itchy Boots, she is on a 300 Honda and is managing to do some difficult stuff on her latest adventure riding to Alaska on mostly dirt roads.

Having just got the warranty work done on the airbag system on the fifteen year old Toyota Verso I was surprised they even bothered on that age of car. Job done for Christmas. I am now using premium fuel in that one along with all the other bikes and cars I have. The tickover had become rough and slow on the E10 fuel. I feel I have been forced to the more expensive option because what the government is foisting on us in not fit for purpose. Reports of dramatic drops in fuel economy hit the news regularly. We are paying for it by using more fuel. Ethanol does not have the thermal efficiency of petrol. It does not help the combustion process either. It removes some of the effectiveness of the burn. Not only is the fuel diluted 10% but it takes out 10% of the efficiency of the burn. In fact 20% loss in performance can be anticipated. You may as well just add water! That is not as daft as it sounds because water removes ethanol from petrol. Petrol and water do not mix so water extracts ethanol from petrol but you want to do it before you put it in your tank. Ethanol does not want to be there anyway better to leave it to be consumed other ways. Further to this is how is the ethanol is processed? It has to be distilled from an organic brew and I guess the distillation process is cheaper than that of petrol means even more profit for those selling it at the pump. Burning 20% more fuel does not fit with trying lower CO2 in our cities. Profits override everything. Covid is doing a better job. Working from home, fewer cars on the roads with a fear of going anywhere that could put you at risk. Best to stay in bed to manage it all.

Happy Christmas to one and all.