The Mercator Projection is the most used one for International Sea Charts ... and also Land Maps.

The other main Chart Projection (that Sipperjack can't quite remember) is the Gnomonic (pronounced No-Monic) Projection.

Just for info ... Coat Door Gone      Stay Safe Guys ... Polar Bear (Former Royal Navy bod)

Hi There Guys and Girls,

This kind of post always makes me smile ... seems like the older Blokes get the more they have to brag about it?
Not so with the Ladies ... they keep most of their personal data to themselves ) ... most times )

Anyway to get to the question ... I did All my Tests for Bikes, Cars, HGV Trucks, Cranes, Boats and Ships in the Royal Navy back in 1956/7 it was part of the job ;o)   The first Bike that was mine was an Ariel Square Four a 1000cc Tank!   

At that time my Dad had an Ariel 350 Red Hunter and he was as jealouse as a pig ... but he still left me behind on the twisty bits between Brum and the Navy Bases down on the South coast and way up in Scotland )   Happy Days ! )

To date I've had over 50 Bikes in 60 years ... some I kept for ages ... most I rode for a few months between drafts (postings abroad)

Had three Gen 1 FZS Fazers ... 2001, 2003 and 2005. Still never sat on or seen anything to beat them for a real 'All Rounder'! Currently I'm on a Honda CB 1300S with EZS single seat Sports Sidecar ... almost certainly the end of my line.   Cough, Gasp, Splutter, Groan, F**t, Breath (

Stay Safe, use the Zimmer ;o)   Trev.   (Mallorca)

Best to use small size ratchet straps in my opinion ... bungie's allow things to roll off rear seats!  ;o) Former Trucker.

   Oh well ... like I say ... some you win ...

I can only re-cap my advice ... these AH things work Ok with the VERY SMALLEST Amount of Air inside them. Literally just two or three small breaths.  You just need to believe it and want it to work ) and ride a lot more than 50 miles to get the idea.

I had a few late enquiries after it was sold ... so I trust you can recover your cash in no time )

The only other thing I've used (years back) for long haul ride outs was a Real Sheep Skin.   It looks really naff and very Hardly Dangerous ( ... but not half as naff as open wound Bum Sores!

Stay Safe    Trev

   Funny how us 'Old Guys' tend to brag (well just a bit) about our age 

However ... I'd have to agree that growing old is probably the most difficult thing I've ever done ... and trust me ... I've done some difficult things in my time.   The fifteen years of active service in the Navy started the downhill shuffle and slide.

Combat Diver and Underwater Weapons Specialist, etc.  Followed up with 40 more years of Commercial Diving and Sports Diving Instruction ... with some HGV Long Haul Trucking thrown in ... talk to me about lugging heavy loads about.

To date ... as far as I can remember ... I have a Port side Artificial Knee, Two Artificial Hips (one each side Port Side steel Elbow implants, Two steel 'self adjusting rams' in my Lower Back,  A steel upper jaw (with clip on teeth  . Serious nerve damage to Upper and Lower Spine resulting in Balance problems plus Hand and Foot control agro. 

The Bloody Arthritis Bug and some very Physical Graft have paid me back for my Fantastic Fun Filled Lifestyle and I currently hobble about with a clip on Starboard Side Crutch or my Ivanised Wheelchair if I need to go more than about 200 yards (to the loo).   

Yes I'm still an active 'Biker' ... Honda CB1300 and Sports Sidecar ... I'm ok once I get my leg over 
Almost forgot (old age probs) I'm also about 75% deaf as a doorpost and I'll be 76 years young in October ... so I think I might still be the oldest Fart on the Forum ?  

Need to scoot now ... I need another pee      Like I always say guys ... live it Now and Stay Safe  .

Trev          The Polar Bear from Brum ... now based in Mallorca.

    Gents,

It kind of bugs me when guys say that a bike like that, at that price, is 'out of reach' 

It's in the UK and it has Wheels on it ... go RIDE the thing ... Simples 

Stay Safe    Trev.   Mallorca

    Nope ... sorry Dude No PM this end.

Can you do a direct email (the best) or second best check you have sent the PM correctly ? Cheers.  Trev

I have an Large Size AirHawk Comfort Pad from the USA for sale.

Used for a few miles only ... still In 'As New' condition.

These 'Top of Range' inflatable pads cost over £100 new   I'm looking for the best offer over £50 plus UK postage.

Check them out via Google.   Contact me via email best.   Payment via PayPal easy 

Hi There Again CBX, or can I call you Fred 

Our Current Base Camp is near the small market town of Llucmajor ... about twenty five minutes out (at legal speeds) from Palma ... going along the MA19 main motorway road .

You mention Residency Cards  that tells me you might know more about this island than many if not most other holiday visitors    Do you have you  friends or family living here?

If you'd like to keep things a bit more secure and private ... we could do Personal Messages on here ... or better still for me ... Direct Emails 

Catch ya at the lights ... Stay Safe      Trev

Hi Guys,
I don't do much post these days ...  but the words about Long Haul trips caught my eye.   Distances have never been a problem for us and we (Mrs Polar Bear and I) covered some very big numbers of miles over the years on all kinds and everything on two or three wheels  (I've had over 50 bike in more than 60 years)

The Gen One, Fazer FZS 1000 was by far the very best total all-rounder that I have ever thrown my good side gammy leg over.   We had three of them ... 2001, 2003 and 2005 ... bad case of more money than sense.

At one stage I thought I would go for a Big Fat Tourer and of course the Honda Pan European loomed bright on the horizon )  Well ... we got a new one and right after the first service we set off to ride down to Mallorca ... only about 750 miles... call it two days easy )   I gradually realised that I had dropped one hell of a clanger ... in short the Pan was 12.5 STONE heavier than the Gen One ... without putting a single Hair Dryer in the Port Side wardrobe!

I struggled on ... for 23.000 miles in eleven months before doing another straight swap for another Gen 1  Yessss ! joy at last ... and I could even get it up onto the main stand by myself )

For the record I'm not a little bloke ... in those days I was 5'11" and 16.5 stone on my socks ... but these big Tourers really are a handful to maul around ... any doubts ... go and  ask a Bike Cop.   Think On peeps ;o)

Stay Safe Trev     The Polar Bear in Mallorca.

Sad you had the bike stolen ... lucky you got it back .... lots of guys never do 

The way I read things ... a Spare Key is of no use whatsoever if you can't find it ... even less use if it is a home ... and you are miles away.

Carry the spare key(s) on a lanyard ... ideally along with your Blood Group and general contact 'in the event of' details on a dog tag.     Never ride the bike without it. Simples 

Stay Safe Y'all     Polar Bear.    Mallorca.

Hi Guys,

Same as my last post ... the mate in Birmingham has now got himself the bike    it's a Boy Racer ... Honda CBR 250R ... 2011, mint, less than 800 miles.

So the questions have started 

Today ... he is asking what model of Optimate he should buy to keep the battery sweet during the winter ... at 75 years young he reckons his leathers still fit over his belly ... but he ain't going out if it's wet or cold 

My Optimate is about 20 years old and still doing the job ... these days it seems they do at least six models ... your exert advice on what he should buy will be well appreciated 

Munchos Grassy Arse    Stay Safe ... Polar Bear Mallorca.