Hi all

Snapdragon told me about a good bike shop in Andover(Andover Motorcycle Centre) to get a few bits for my bike. Went on the internet to get my route, started off well, then it all went wrong At some point I must of took a wrong turn(not too hard for me to do), did not know were I was, saw a sign for Winchester(bad mistake), ended in Winchester, get lost on the one way system, found my way out and ending riding up to Alton, Petersfield. Had to stop and ask for directions Was riding for 3 hours but I did find West Meon(do not think I could find it again unless I get lost . West Meon is a nice place. Got home, hand hurt and my bum was sore but I had a good ride and got my bike up to 60 I realy must bush up on my map reading

You obviously belong to the same sub-species as Snapdragon!

Motorcyclis Losticus!



Or did Snap tell you how to get there? That could definitely account for you getting lost!

Getting lost is fun, you get see lots of different places toy would not think of going to

Yes but it can be a bit annoying if you need to be somewhere - or if it's getting dark, or raining!

I usually write out a route and put it in the transparent top of my tank bag, I have my own special method of route writing! tell me where you are and I'll show you how I'd write out the route...

I like getting lost too! tis fun!!

(although only fun when on bike!! When i was away up north my little bro kept getting lost EVERYWHERE when driving in his car, and blaming it all on my map reading!!! huh!!!)

before i went away was coming home from work, got level to home + decided I didn't wanna stop, so carried on going + went all over the place, randomly turning left and right whenever i felt like it!! Was great fun!! Got really lost, but found home eventually + found a lot of cool places along the way, specially as i've just moved house to new part of bristol + i don't know any of the stuff round here, so riding randomly is best way to get to know area!!!

there's even a little twisty lane just up the road from me! how random, in the middle of bristol!!

I am in Southampton, Hampshire.

Ok, I'll just go into route-writing mode for a while......

my problem is, if i'm riding, i write out the route, stick it in my tank bag, forget it all, miss the signs + can't read the route as i'm riding along, so end up hoping traffic lights are red so I can have a quick look, or pulling over in places to have a look!!

I think that is my problem, I am looking a head trying to keep a eye on the traffic that i forget to look at all the signs.

Well I have to say, I can't really write a route from Southampton to Andover to demonstrate my method, cos it's too simple! It only takes 2 lines! And you got lost!

There are a couple of secrets to it. The first is to have a transparent map-holder on your tank or tank bag.

The next is to write out the route very simply, just road numbers and place names, in thick marker pen so it's easy to read at a glance. You can just take a quick look down when stopped at a junction or on a straight bit of road.

The third thing is to only write on the top half of the paper, cos you can't see the bottom half while riding along (I usually turn mine round and write the next part of the route the other way up, but if you have more than one sheet, alaways number the different bits or you may go round in circles).

I'll make the sample route a bit longer, going to Upavon, so I can demonstrate anotherr trick or two.

Southampton - Upavon

E on A3024 (to Motorway m271 m27)

At junc A3057 R on A3057 Shirley, Nursling, Romsey, Stockbridge, Andover

At Andover, E on A342 (Devizes) till you get to Upavon.


Easy innit? E=East W=West etc R for right & L for left.
Sometimes its easier to put compass direction, sometimes easier to put R or L)

Places NOT in brackets are the ones you actually go to on the way, places IN brackets are the ones that may be on the major (green) road signs - easier to spot than the minor road signs which are white, but you DO NOT GO TO PLACES IN BRACKETS! They may be further along the road than you are going, but anyway as long as they are in brackets, you ONLY head for that place if you are on the road number marked on your route, and if you reach it you've gone too far.

That's all there is to it really, it's very short and sweet - if you're going a long way you need to stop once in a while to change shhets or turn them round, but then you need to stop for a drink or a pee or petrol anyway!

Hope this helps.

Thanks
I give it a try next time out riding