Month: February 2018

Wales in Winter : Wales in a Weekend : February 2017

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In February 2017 I took on the AdventureBikeRider Wales in a Weekend Route.  Starting South of Brecon and heading north I would take in the Beacons then head into Snowdownia National Park before crossing into England from North Wales and returning back to Northern Ireland on an overnight ferry.  All of this would be done in a mere three days.  If you lived close enough to the starting point this is a great route that can easily be done in 2 days – even in winter!

Day 1 : Northern Ireland to Aberdare : https://tbni.blog/2018/02/22/wales-in-winter-wales-in-a-weekend-day-1-20-02-2017/

Day 2 : Aberdare to Aberystwyth : https://tbni.blog/2018/02/26/wales-in-winter-wales-in-a-weekend-day-2-21-02-2017/

Day 3 : Aberystwyth to Betws-y-Coed (and Liverpool to Northern Ireland) : https://tbni.blog/2018/02/27/wales-in-winter-wales-in-a-weekend-day-3-22-02-2017/

Wales in a Weekend Route
Wales in a Weekend Route

Winter in Wales : Wales in a Weekend : Day 3 : 22/02/2017

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If you happen to be a Twitter or Instagram User and do this route (or something similar through Wales) I have used the hashtags (Wales In Winter & Winter In Wales) #WalesInWinter and #WinterInWales – make sure to add to them!

Weather forecast for 22/02/2018
Weather forecast for 22/02/2018

Day 3 – the final day of my Wales in Winter trip and this leg takes me from Aberystwyth to Betws-y-Coed then onto the Liverpool for the return overnight ferry back to Northern Ireland.

So far it has been two days of good hardcore rain and this final day won’t be changing that format in any major way.

In fact it is due to get worse at some stage with the approach of Storm Doris bringing more and heavier rain and some gales, gusts and other variants of high winds thrown into the mix.  The biggest question is when will Doris visit?  Whilst on the road or on the boat?

In case you missed it Day 1 can be found here : https://tbni.blog/2018/02/22/wales-in-winter-wales-in-a-weekend-day-1-20-02-2017/

Day 2 can be found here : https://tbni.blog/2018/02/26/wales-in-winter-wales-in-a-weekend-day-2-21-02-2017/

The route can be found here : https://www.adventurebikerider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=140&t=36263&hilit=wales+in+a+weekend

Should you need it the sat nav gpx file can be found here : Wales in a Weekend Sat Nav GPX Download Link

As far as accomodation goes I am absolutely sold on ‘The Glengower’ – clean and comfortable room with good food, a good bar, big TVs for the Sports Channels and a couple of pool tables, all with a sea view.  You need nothing more, but you’ll get it in the form of a delicious breakfast.

The Glengower Breakfast Menu
The Glengower Breakfast Menu

After breakfast, I make the short trip round the back of the hotel to get the bike.  Having turned on all the radiators in the room over night my gear was dry for starting.  After a 50 metre walk I was back to being as soaked as I was when I finished yesterday.  And looking at the forecast this is only the start of the rain.

Read moreWinter in Wales : Wales in a Weekend : Day 3 : 22/02/2017

Wales in Winter : Wales in a Weekend : Day 2 : 21/02/2017

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If you happen to be a Twitter or Instagram User and do this Wales in a Weekend route (or something similar through Wales) I have used the hashtags (Wales In Winter & Winter In Wales) #WalesInWinter and #WinterInWales – make sure to add to them!

Weather Report Wales 21/02/2017
Weather Report Wales 21/02/2017

It’s Day 2 – although for the Wales in a Weekend Route it is actually Day 1.  Confusing eh?

If you made it to this post via some strange and startling way then the simple explanation is that Day 1 (for me) was actually a travel day from Northern Ireland to the start of this route.

In case you missed it Day 1 can be found here : https://tbni.blog/2018/02/22/wales-in-winter-wales-in-a-weekend-day-1-20-02-2017/

The route can be found here : https://www.adventurebikerider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=140&t=36263&hilit=wales+in+a+weekend

Should you need it the sat nav gpx file can be found here : Wales in a Weekend Sat Nav GPX Download Link

As I concluded in my write up of Day 1 this first day of the actual route was set to be a wet one.

The overnighter at the Mount Pleasant Hotel was just that – pleasant.  The bed was very comfortable, the place was clean, tidy and friendly.  The shower lacked a bit of power but no doubt the rain that was forecast for arround midday should sort that right out!

However I was experiencing one slight hiccup…

Read moreWales in Winter : Wales in a Weekend : Day 2 : 21/02/2017

Wales in Winter : Wales in a Weekend : Day 1 : 20/02/2017

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If you happen to be a Twitter or Instagram User and do this route (or something similar through Wales) I have used the hashtags (Wales In Winter & Winter In Wales) #WalesInWinter and #WinterInWales – make sure to add to them!

This time last year (20/02/2017) I set off on a quick trip through Wales.  I was using up the remanants of my leave from work and in an effort to feel that I wasn’t taking time off just for the sake of it, I found a quick route that I could do for very little outlay that would take in the entire length of Wales.

Starting South of Brecon and heading north I would take in the Beacons then head into Snowdownia National Park before crossing into England from North Wales and returning back to Northern Ireland on an overnight ferry.

I found the route on www.adventurebikerider.com and having never seen Wales before, but with the ease and affordability of travel to and from Northern Ireland it seemed like a sensible option.  Accomodation was also easily sorted with a bucket load of options available on sites like Booking.com – and prices ranging from very reasonable to ‘oh that must be quite fancy.’

The route can be found here : https://www.adventurebikerider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=140&t=36263&hilit=wales+in+a+weekend

Wales in a Weekend Route
Wales in a Weekend Route

Should you need it the sat nav gpx file can be found here : Wales in a Weekend Sat Nav GPX Download Link

The route is called Wales in a Weekend – which is realistically two days long especially in the Winter – if you like a good long distance challenge you probably could snort round it in a (long) day, but spread over two it is easily managable and very enjoyable.

Remember to factor in any travel time to get to the ‘Starting Point’ just outside Aberdare.  But from Aberdare to the end of the route at Betws y Coed you should set aside 2 days to complete.

Read moreWales in Winter : Wales in a Weekend : Day 1 : 20/02/2017

DJI Mavic Pro or Mavic Air? How About a Spark?

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DJI Spark
DJI Spark

Controversial title there isn’t it?  Well that’s exactly the question I have struggled with since the announcement of the DJI Mavic Air.  Which one should I get the DJI Mavic Pro, or the DJI Mavic Air.  The DJI Spark was truthfully never even in the equation.

I should point out straight away I am a drone novice.  A first time flyer, with no experience whatsoever.  I didn’t know what to expect, whether I would even enjoy flying a drone, or whether I even actually needed one.  To be honest I didn’t ‘need’ one, but I had wanted one for quite some time.  I was constantly checking out the Phantom series, but I really wanted it to take it whilst out and about on the bike, so the Phantom didn’t really cut it.  The anouncement of the Air then made me think this is the one, easy to transport in the top box of the bike, quick to set up, quick to get in the air and user friendly settings for the camera – which is quite nicely spec’d to boot – surely this is the winner.

Then I started doing my research – a lot of research.

Read moreDJI Mavic Pro or Mavic Air? How About a Spark?

NI Motorcycle Festival 2018 (MotorcycleFest) : Eikon Centre, Lisburn

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The 2018 Northern Ireland Motorcycle Festival (MotorcycleFest) ran at the Eikon Centre, Lisburn from Friday 2nd February 2018 – Sunday 4th February 2018.  The event has been running at the Eikon Centre since 2016 and seems to be going from strength to strength.

So what’s it like?

Northern Ireland Motorcycle Festival 2018
Northern Ireland Motorcycle Festival 2018

Read moreNI Motorcycle Festival 2018 (MotorcycleFest) : Eikon Centre, Lisburn

UPDATE :John McGuinness to Norton!

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It’s confirmed! It’s more than a rumour John McGuiness will be riding for Norton in 2018.

John McGuinness to ride a Norton In 2018!http://www.nortonmotorcycles.com/news/2018/02/07/norton-signs-john-mcguinness-for-2018-isle-of-man-tt-races/

It’s Official! John McGuinness is off to Norton for 2018!

And that is how you deliver breaking news!

Original Article :

Rumours have been rife since late 2017 that John McGuinness could find himself on top of a lush silver Norton in 2018.  However with this weeks earlier announcement of Josh Brookes on the 2018 Norton – and that was it – it seemed that the rumour of John McGuinness as his team mate had died a death.

Until now…

Read moreUPDATE :John McGuinness to Norton!

2018 Welsh Road Race Cancelled / Postponed

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Welsh Road Race Postponed until 2019?
Welsh Road Race Postponed until 2019?

Welsh Road Race Cancelled / Postponed :

2018 Welsh Road Race Postponed / Cancelled

After yesterday’s rumours about the 2018 Welsh Road Race being called off (https://tbni.blog/2018/02/02/2018-welsh-road-race-called-off/) things have finally been confirmed by the organsiation this morning :

2018 Welsh Road Race Cancelled / Postponed
2018 Welsh Road Race Cancelled / Postponed

Read more2018 Welsh Road Race Cancelled / Postponed

2018 Welsh Road Race Called Off?

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Welsh Road Race
Welsh Road Race

Update : The 2018 Welsh Road has been cancelled / postponed : https://tbni.blog/2018/02/03/2018-welsh-road-race-cancelled-postponed/

Motorcycle News are reporting that the Welsh Road Race may be cancelled :

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/sport/tt-road-races/2018/january/roads-welsh-road-race-set-to-be-called-off-/

I have asked for comment from the Welsh Road Race on Twitter :

To be updated when more news comes in…