JOG-LE reunion 2009

A weekend away in Stirling, to bring together a few friends who had, 2 years ago, completed a John O'Groats to Lands Ends bike run. The previous year we went to the Lake District, I guess we're sort of spending a little more time in some of the areas we passed through on the original ride.

A couple of long ride-outs were planned for the Saturday and Sunday, I decided to cut short the Saturday ride, due to a nagging shoulder problem; and just 15 miles from my return to Stirling I started to notice a clutch problem - gears difficult to select, lengthy free lever travel (the RF900 has an hydraulic clutch)... the last couple of miles I had hardly any clutch at all, roundabouts and traffic lights were a bit hairy! 

We had a brief attempt at fixing the problem - and failed. Both clutch slave cylinder bolts had disappeared, and the fluid had all gone. A bottle of Dot-4 was purchased, a bolt was scavenged from a mate's bike, the clutch was bled and ... it still leaked.

Next day was spent appealing for help from members of RFOC, for a spare slave or sourcing a seal kit - despite heroic efforts none were found. So, on Monday morning, the  decision was made to call the insurance breakdown/recovery people. Three hours later, myself and Kel, and the RF, were on a flatbed truck heading south, not looking forward to the 7-hour drive home.

On the way, one of the RFOC members (Russell in Peterborough - what a star!) called me to say he had a spare slave and was sending it by DHL the next day. Right now the bike is stripped and ready for the slave to be installed.