I swallowed an HTFU pill this morning

[Radar]

Absolute shiite weather early this morning: 7 degrees, heavy rain, dark gray clouds, windy. Who in their right :crazy: mind would choose to go for a ride in crap conditions like that? Me. And I have KB :laugh: to blame. It's like this...

Last month I bought a pair of rain pants with a 31 day money back guarantee (see my thread here (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?p=2020534#post2020534)), with the 31 days nearly up. In the last month I have been in a bit of rain with the new pants but nothing really bad, nothing to give them a good test.

One of the first things I learned here on KB was about HTFU. Had to google what the fk that meant, but then it made sense to me. After all, if any of us wanted comfort we would be driving cages all the time. Just HTFU, get out on the road, and have fun - this is one of the many things I have known to be true, from being on KB.

With the cold rain pelting down outside, I geared up and got on the bike and guess what? Fk me days - I really enjoyed the ride! I went for an hour at 100+ kph, passing trucks, water everywhere, visor fogging, the usual wet weather ride stuff. I almost decided to go all the way to Napier but since I passed through the rain I then did a U turn to get back into the shiite weather. Actually saw a bike two up, touring, then later another touring bike - both times we exchanged waves, probably thinking "Nice to see another idiot out in this muck!"

Passed through Masterton, my home, and was enjoying the ride so much I kept going, only to see a guy stranded by the road sitting on his bike. Another U turn to see what was wrong. He got the bike yesterday on spec from a Masterton bike shop and it crapped out on him - guess it did not like the wet and cold. I offered to go to the shop and get them to bring a truck or trailer to rescue him, but he said his mate was on the way and he would be OK. The poor bugger was not wearing wet weather gear and must have been soaked and freezing. But funny thing... he kept smiling as we talked and was obviously enjoying being on the bike, even if it was dead. A champion. Guess he took an HTFU pill also. :msn-wink:

I started by saying "who in their right :crazy: mind would choose to go for a ride...". Let's admit it folks, we aren't exactly like others and for sure most non bikers must think we have a few screws loose in our heads but all I can say is: LUCKY US! Reminds me of a Ulysses guy I saw recently wearing a T shirt: "We all DIE, but not all of us LIVE!"

OK, its wet cold and dark outside. Anyone for a ride? :bleh:

[YellowDog]

No HTFU pills at this end.

Took the car this morning.

[Taz]

I rode my bike to work today. But I ride in all weather.....

[Ryan432]

Lucky bastards get to ride their bikes to work... I had to pedal 23km in the rain today to get to work! funtimes.. :no:

[Taz]

Lucky bastards get to ride their bikes to work... I had to pedal 23km in the rain today to get to work! funtimes.. :no:

Bet you're fitter than me though.

[Ryan432]

I will be at the end of the three months, at the moment not so much.. Old ladies have been known to come jogging past me! :laugh:

[vifferman]

I would've taken the car this morning, but my back is fukt, so I took the bike*. Rode all the way from Albany to Birkenhead and back in the rain to visit the doctor, and it was a bit cool (no liners in my gear, and the heated grips cut out, boo-hoo) but it was satisfying. :yes:


* Funny that, huh? Sitting in the nice, comfy, supportive, ergonomically designed Peugeot seat makes me want to scream within seconds. My back/shoulder still hurts on the bike, but not as much, and (as you know) riding is such a totally absorbing activity it's a little easier to not notice the pain. I guess for me this week, riding isn't a case of taking an HTFU pill...

[Taz]

and the heated grips cut out, boo-hoo)


Oxfords????

[klingon]

...
With the cold rain pelting down outside, I geared up and got on the bike and guess what? Fk me days - I really enjoyed the ride! ...

OK, its wet cold and dark outside. Anyone for a ride? :bleh:

Brilliant post. Makes me want to get out on the bike in the wind and rain! Good onya.

[Mystic13]

Yeah, I ride with a few guys who are up for it when the weather is real bad. Now that you have the wets, you should also look into rain-off gloves. www.rain-off.com in Titirangi.

The other thing I recommend is a high viz bike. Mine has a blue neon glow which you can't miss at night or in the dark. Cages really notice it.

[BMWST?]

Absolute shiite weather early this morning: 7 degrees, heavy rain, dark gray clouds, windy. Who in their right :crazy: mind would choose to go for a ride in crap conditions like that? Me. And I have KB :laugh: to blame. It's like this...

Last month I bought a pair of rain pants with a 31 day money back guarantee (see my thread here (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?p=2020534#post2020534)), with the 31 days nearly up. In the last month I have been in a bit of rain with the new pants but nothing really bad, nothing to give them a good test.

One of the first things I learned here on KB was about HTFU. Had to google what the fk that meant, but then it made sense to me. After all, if any of us wanted comfort we would be driving cages all the time. Just HTFU, get out on the road, and have fun - this is one of the many things I have known to be true, from being on KB.

With the cold rain pelting down outside, I geared up and got on the bike and guess what? Fk me days - I really enjoyed the ride! I went for an hour at 100+ kph, passing trucks, water everywhere, visor fogging, the usual wet weather ride stuff. I almost decided to go all the way to Napier but since I passed through the rain I then did a U turn to get back into the shiite weather. Actually saw a bike two up, touring, then later another touring bike - both times we exchanged waves, probably thinking "Nice to see another idiot out in this muck!"

Passed through Masterton, my home, and was enjoying the ride so much I kept going, only to see a guy stranded by the road sitting on his bike. Another U turn to see what was wrong. He got the bike yesterday on spec from a Masterton bike shop and it crapped out on him - guess it did not like the wet and cold. I offered to go to the shop and get them to bring a truck or trailer to rescue him, but he said his mate was on the way and he would be OK. The poor bugger was not wearing wet weather gear and must have been soaked and freezing. But funny thing... he kept smiling as we talked and was obviously enjoying being on the bike, even if it was dead. A champion. Guess he took an HTFU pill also. :msn-wink:

I started by saying "who in their right :crazy: mind would choose to go for a ride...". Let's admit it folks, we aren't exactly like others and for sure most non bikers must think we have a few screws loose in our heads but all I can say is: LUCKY US! Reminds me of a Ulysses guy I saw recently wearing a T shirt: "We all DIE, but not all of us LIVE!"

OK, its wet cold and dark outside. Anyone for a ride? :bleh:
yeah but how were the pants?

[Mikkel]

That would be "I swallowed a HTFU pill this morning" even if the "H" was mute the T kinda gives it away... I suppose.

<_<

[vifferman]

Oxfords????
Dunno.
They were on the bike when I bought it, and are the kind with the variable heat controller. They've been playing up since I rewired the bike a bit. Originally they were plugged into the power for the front brake light switch, so I wired them into my BlueSea fuse box. Dunno if it's the controller or a loose connection. Dunno how to test the controller, as it's not the resistive type.

BTW - I don't like my rain gear in the rain without thermal liners in. The water trickles down around the waterproof bits, and it's cold so you'd swear they're leaking. But no - I arrived back at work completely dry. :yes:
Pants are Spidi Gran Turismo, gloves are Spidi H2Out, boots are StylMartin StylSafe, jacket is Macna (Summit? I think). It all works well, just feels like it's leaking. The chill factor from wet things at 100km/h.

[klingon]

That would be "I swallowed a HTFU pill this morning" even if the "H" was mute the T kinda gives it away... I suppose.

<_<

Yeah thought the same thing myself. Depends if you're pronouncing it "aitch-tee-eff-you" though...

[Radar]

Yeah, I ride with a few guys who are up for it when the weather is real bad. Now that you have the wets, you should also look into rain-off gloves. www.rain-off.com in Titirangi.

The other thing I recommend is a high viz bike. Mine has a blue neon glow which you can't miss at night or in the dark. Cages really notice it.

I bought Rain-off gloves last year and they work perfectly. I actually have used them to keep my hands warm as often as in the rain. My bike has heated grips but Rain-offs keep all of my hand warm, not just the palms.

Mystic, do you actually have neon glow lights or is it the paint on your bike?



That would be "I swallowed a HTFU pill this morning" even if the "H" was mute the T kinda gives it away... I suppose.

<_<


Well, I thought either way - a or an - someone would probably pick at it. There are times when English doesn't make sense and I am sure glad that I don't have to learn it like some immigrants have to - it must be frustrating and complex.




yeah but how were the pants?

Dry. The Oringi rain proof pants worked perfectly. See the link to my thread on this topic in my first post, above?

[Mikkel]

Yeah thought the same thing myself. Depends if you're pronouncing it "aitch-tee-eff-you" though...

Surely, you wouldn't bother pronouncing abbreviations like that - you'd come clean out and say "Harden-The-Fuck-Up"... How many times have you said, let's say, "LOL"? :yes:


There are times when English doesn't make sense and I am sure glad that I don't have to learn it like some immigrants have to - it must be frustrating and complex.

Not at all, I'm quite enjoying myself, really. The lovely thing about english is that it is a spoken language (as opposed to latin which is a written language) so if it makes sense when spoken then it is the correct form. (So in a way, whether my correction is valid or not, indeed, comes down to whether you'd say "... a Harden-The-Fuck-Up pill..." or "... an HTFU pill..." :)

[wysper]

The other thing I recommend is a high viz bike. Mine has a blue neon glow which you can't miss at night or in the dark. Cages really notice it.

I think what you meant here was 'Cages RARELY notice it' LOL

[mujambee]

Absolute shiite weather early this morning: 7 degrees, heavy rain, dark gray clouds, windy. Who in their right :crazy: mind would choose to go for a ride in crap conditions like that? Me. And I have KB :laugh: to blame. It's like this...


I ride on every kind of weather, from snow to 40ºC. I must have fallen on the pot when I was a baby.


OK, its wet cold and dark outside. Anyone for a ride? :bleh:

I'd go if I could.



... There are times when English doesn't make sense and I am sure glad that I don't have to learn it like some immigrants have to - it must be frustrating and complex.


Coming from a language whose writing is almost phonetical, I've always found it quite silly that you have to learn how to write every single word.

But all in all english is an easy language. Few rules there, simple verbs and constructions and a somehow reduced vocabulary make it easier to learn than, say, german declined or spanish verbs (so I'm told).

[insomnia01]

this all sounds like a Rustys GC I & a few other's did a couple of years ago up north...

[Elysium]

I used to only have a bike for transport so I rode to work no matter the weather. It hardened me up quick and now I'm back to a bike for transport again as I sold my car.

[swbarnett]

But all in all english is an easy language. Few rules there, simple verbs and constructions
Of this I have no doubt. As a native English speaker I tried to learn German while I was in Switzerland and made a right hash of it. Not helped by the fact that almost all the locals wanted to practice their English.


and a somehow reduced vocabulary make it easier to learn than, say, german declined or spanish verbs (so I'm told).
Well, actually, english has a rischness of vocabularly that is belied by the fact that a mere subset of the whole is required to make oneself understood. According to Bill Bryson in his book "Mother Tongue", a documentory work on the English language, the Oxford English dictionary lists 615,000 words. Of these about 200,000 are in common use. German has about 184,000 words in common use and French a mere 100,000.

[shafty]

So Radar, what was the bike which was stranded on the road side?

[pritch]

That would be "I swallowed a HTFU pill this morning" even if the "H" was mute the T kinda gives it away... I suppose.
<_<

I looked at that when I read it and wasn't sure. "An hotel" is correct and I've seen "an historical". It's all to do with the sainted h in French, I guess we owe this little confusion to the Norman conquest.

It cheered be up though, if that's the worst thing we've got to worry about it things must be OK.

What make was the stranded bike? Inquiring minds and all that...

And bling to the OP :yeah:

[Radar]

So Radar, what was the bike which was stranded on the road side?

At first it looked like a 250 but I think it was a Kawasaki 500 cc (do they make such a bike?). It was raining hard and my visor fogged up and I was trying to listen to the guy through ear plugs, rain and traffic, so I did not have time or the inclination to do a proper inspection and chat about the bike. It was red, with a fairing, not unlike a Hyosung GT250R, but the name Kawasaki was on the tank or fairing and it was not a large bike. I'll have a wander to the shop next week and see if it is still in the showroom.

[<G>]

Haven't renewed my prescription.

Good post Radar - man and bike vs the elements!

[Mikkel]

I looked at that when I read it and wasn't sure. "An hotel" is correct and I've seen "an historical". It's all to do with the sainted h in French, I guess we owe this little confusion to the Norman conquest.

That would depend upon your dialect I believe. If you pronounce the "H" it comes with an a, if you don't an an is the way to go.

Ifn yer a roit geeza Ah s'pose ye kin sae 'arden tha feck oop yer poof...

[Skyryder]

That would be "I swallowed a HTFU pill this morning" even if the "H" was mute the T kinda gives it away... I suppose.

<_<

Generally speaking ‘an’ is used before a word starting with a vowel (a.e.i.o.u.) although this is not always the case.

Phonetic rules rather than spelling is the ‘dictatorial’ rule in this. An is employed in speech to remove the momentary silent pause, (glottal stop) and this has been transferred to the written word.
If the H is silent as in honorable then an is acceptable for use.


Skyryder

[Big Dave]

You win today's BD prize!

Choose from the following

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http://homepage.mac.com/david_cohen_design/.Pictures/misc3/htfu/2.jpg


http://homepage.mac.com/david_cohen_design/.Pictures/misc3/htfu/3.jpg


http://homepage.mac.com/david_cohen_design/.Pictures/misc3/htfu/4.jpg


http://homepage.mac.com/david_cohen_design/.Pictures/misc3/htfu/5.jpg


http://homepage.mac.com/david_cohen_design/.Pictures/misc3/htfu/6.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/david_cohen_design/.Pictures/misc3/htfu/7.jpg

[Insanity_rules]

You win today's BD prize!

I'm torn between the brilloclava and the glade!

I bought a rainsuit the other day and it felt like it leaked but it didn't. That cold drip thing is erie.