The more than welcome improvement in the weather this week meant I was able to get out a couple of time on the bikes. It seems as though the cold and wet of winter has dragged on so much longer this year than in previous recent years. So at last it was time to take thermal and waterproof linings out of the jacket and time to ride.

First up was some time on my BMW RnineT, with a trip into North Wales – through Llangollen, across the Horseshoe Pass and then home via Corwen – only about 180 miles or so, but decent enough and with a pleasant stop for coffee and a sandwich on the way back.

As ever the RnineT was a joy to ride and is so well suited to the roads of Shropshire and North Wales … but the back wheel throws up a remarkable amount of crap and that’s even with a Powerbronze hugger fitted! My second ride of the week was an altogether different bike – the Kawasaki Vulcan 650S – you can see that post here