After riding a motorcycle for 18 months I tried using ear plugs for the first time on a nice sunny run to Waitrose – its just the other side of town but can be reached nicely by taking the northern bypass then dropping on to the M11 for some miles, then a mile or two back in to town on the south side. The difference (wearing earplugs, I mean – not shopping at Waitrose) is astonishing – so much calmer none of that rattly wind sound at speeds higher than 60 mph. On a nice stretch it felt so much more effortless to reach easy three figure speeds (of course I’m talking about 69.9mph). Earplugs will be compulsory from now on.

Also out for the first time are my new Triumph Roadster gloves. They are lighter and less clumpy than my last ebay purchases, fasten well at the wrist so they don’t get torn off in an accident and, I think, look really good:

Waitrose is also OK. I parked next to a BMW K1100. You don’t see many of those outside ASDA.