So Good to be out ........

Got up Sunday morning, looked out the window – whoo hoo, the sun was shining, bike ride here I come.

We set off for Aylesbury and then out towards Bicester and then headed towards Wootton and then onto Burford which is a pretty little town in the Cotswolds.

The roads were dry and it was soooo great to be out. We passed a few other bikers who seemed as happy as we were to be out.

Burford’s High Street sweeps downhill towards the River Windrush and there are lots of cafes, restaurants and shops (of course not open at the moment). It is definitely worth a visit even when the shops are not open as there are lots of old buildings to look at and it is a nice place to wander around.

There was, however, one cafe that was open for takeaway and so a bacon sandwich and a large coffee were soon ordered. Phew!!!

After our coffee we set off in the direction of Stow on the Wold. The road out of Burford to Stow is brilliant especially if you’re on a bike. We were on the lookout for a petrol station though as Chris, who rides a Honda Firestorm, can only get 80 miles to a tank of fuel.

We made it Stow, which at nearly 800ft, it is the highest of the Cotswold towns, located on the Roman Fosse Way and at the point where several roads meet.

We pulled into a petrol station minus Chris. We hadn’t noticed that he was not with us and so one of us rode back to find him. He was at the side of the road with fuel issues! Chris managed to get the bike going and limp it to the petrol station we had stopped at.

Honestly, I’m not kidding you, when a car bonnet goes up or a bike tank is taken off, it’s like bees to a honey pot with men. They all have to have a look to see what’s under the bonnet (um… an engine…!) or to see what’s under the tank (I’m guessing it’s pretty much like what’s under the tank of their own bike but I’ve never looked so I can’t actually tell you). Needless to say there were lots of ideas floating about!

Being an old Honda, Chris manages to keep some tools under his seat (me, all I can get under the seat of my Z is my lippy and that’s if I’m lucky).

It turned out Chris has recently lined the inside of his tank as it hadn’t been used for a long time and had gone rusty, however some of the liner appears to be loose and got sucked into, now I want to say, the carbs here but to be honest with you, some more bikers had arrived at the petrol station and I got distracted looking at the bikes, oh, and getting more coffee!

Anyway, I can tell you that Chris did manage to sort out the bike and got it going again. He filled up the tank and we set off.

We carried on out through Stow on the A346 and headed towards Chipping Norton which is a market town in Oxfordshire and then picked up the A361 which is another great road which just seemed to flow nicely all the way to Bloxham which is a lovely village on the edge of the Cotswolds.

All these towns/villages are in the Cotswolds, it is such a beautiful part of the world, well worth a ride out to if you get the chance.

We made our way back to Bicester and picked up the A41 and stopped at On Yer Bike at Westcott for a pit stop. On Yer Bike is not open at the moment but we had some water with us and it was nice to have a drink and a stretch of the legs.

A really great day out, it was so good to be out again after so long of not being able to.

BK

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A cheeky weekend away to Dorset

Six of us decided to go away for the weekend so after a bit of research on the internet, we decided to go to Swanage in Dorset.

As we were only going for the weekend we set off early doors on Friday and headed out towards Oxford and then picked up the A34 towards New Milton. The weather was cloudy when we set off but it wasn’t raining.

We had just got to the other side of Oxford and it start to drizzle but we carried on regardless and arrived at New Milton about mid morning. At New Milton is the Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum. Sammy Miller is a motorcycling legend who has been British Champion 11 times and has won over 1400 events and is still winning competitions more than 50 years after his first victory.


The Museum has a collection of fully restored motorcycles, including factory racers and exotic prototypes, with new bikes acquired and added to the collection. 





This is a living museum with almost every motorcycle in the museum in full running order and Sammy Miller himself regularly demonstrates the bikes at the museum on event days and also at race circuits in the UK and Europe.

The museum also has a cafe which we went into for breakfast. The food there is amazing and the portions are big so we were hoping that this breakfast/lunch would keep us going ‘til dinner.

We spent a good couple of hours after eating going round the museum which was really interesting and the staff there were really happy to talk about the exhibits and about Sammy Miller himself and recount stories. 


A brilliant place to visit, I would definitely recommend it. We had a coffee before getting on our way.

Well the drizzle had now turned to rain. We debated over whether to put our waterproofs on and in the end decided we would. This turned out to be a good decision!

We left the museum and headed down to Sandbanks in Bournemouth to get onto the chain ferry across to Studland and then onto Swanage. The rain had now turn into persistent heavy rain. We were glad of the waterproofs and just kept up a steady constant pace in order to get to the ferry. To say it wasn’t pleasant is an understatement!

We arrived at the ferry and waited for the next ferry. The chain ferry crosses the entrance to Poole Harbour between Sandbanks and Shell Bay and is the shortest route connecting Bournemouth and Poole with Swanage saving over 25 miles on a return journey from Poole to Swanage. 

You drive onto the ferry, stay in your car or on your bikes during the crossing, which only takes about 4 minutes, and then drive off the other side. It was quite interesting to see how it works.

We headed for our accommodation in Swanage where we had found a bungalow big enough for us all in a quiet cul-de-sac – or at least it was quiet until we turned up on our bikes!

We took off our wet gear and hung it up to dry in the garage. After some R&R and unpacking the rain had eased and it was back to drizzle so we headed into Swanage which was only about a ten minute walk away to find a pub and some food.

The following morning it was pouring with rain so we wondered into town again to find breakfast and decide what we were going to do. Luckily by mid morning the weather had improved dramatically, the rain had stopped and the sun was shining so we got on the bikes and headed out.




We followed the coastal road towards Lulworth, stopping at Corfe Castle on the way to take in the scenery and have a walk about before carrying on to Lulworth Cove. 




Lulworth Cove is a cove near the village of West Lulworth, on the Jurassic Coast in Dorset and we parked in the car park and walked down to the cove which is very picturesque and, thankfully, has a cafe at the bottom overlooking the sea which did this amazing blueberry flapjack. I had decided there and then that I could go back every day just for some of that flapjack! My leathers would be tight by the time we were due to go home!

After refreshments and having a leisurely wonder around and maybe an ice cream and quite possibly some fudge (leathers are definitely not going to do up!) we went back to the bikes and headed out of the cove and back onto the coast road. A couple of us needed fuel so we were on the lookout for a petrol station.

After about half an hour of riding the petrol situation was becoming critical for Stephen but we could not find a petrol station. We turned down a road only to discover after a few miles that the road was in fact closed and you could not get through so we had turn round and go back. Stephen’s fuel light had been on for at least ten miles now so things were getting a bit anxious but luckily we found a petrol station amazingly in a little village. Phew!!!

We headed back home to shower and change before walking into town again to find dinner and beer.

The following morning the weather was good so we decided to head to Lyme Regis and a walk to the Cobb, which is a protective harbour wall built during the early years of the port providing an artificial harbour and a protective breakwater to shelter the town from storms.

It’s a beautiful town with lots of little shops and eateries so after a walk around we found somewhere for a nice leisurely lunch whilst looking at the views across the sea. What a perfect way to spend your time, riding your bike, eating and chatting with your mates.

After lunch we headed out of Lyme Regis stopping on the way at Weymouth for a coffee and cake (sadly no blueberry flapjack!) before heading back the really, really long way to our accommodation.

We headed into town for our last evening in Swanage for, you guessed it, beer and food. It was so nice being able to leave the bikes at our accommodation and walk into town and then stagger back after a beer or two.

The following morning we packed up and tidied up before heading off for home. We didn’t particularly want to go straight home so we decided to go via Lyndhurst to find some breakfast or what was really a late breakfast and very early lunch by the time we got there. 

We found this lovely little cafe that did these huge breakfasts and I was hoping that this was surely going to keep me going ‘til dinner!

After breakfast we headed onto the A35 and got back onto the A34 to take us back home.

A great weekend away to a really beautiful part of the UK. Ideally we would have liked more time there as there is so much to do and see. Definitely on my got to go back to list!

BK

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Ten things you didn't know you wanted to know about .... successful road and TT racer James Hillier

I met James at this year's Bike Show @ the Excel and he very kindly answered some questions for me. 

James is a road racer and has competed at the Isle of Man TT races and at the North West 200 in Ireland and in both the British Supersport and British Superstock 1000 Championships scoring numerous top ten positions. 

James’ TT appearance came in 2008 at the age of 23, where he competed in the two Supersport races for Jackson Racing, finishing 19th in the first four lap race and improving to 17th in the second. The two results saw him not only lap at more than 119mph and win two silver replicas but also win the coveted Newcomers Trophy. Later that year, he finished second in the Dundrod 150 National race.

1. What is the best feeling about being on a motorbike?

The freedom, if it’s in the right environment.

2. What is the one thing people would never know about you just by looking at you?

That I am boring away from a motorbike!

3. What was your most embarrassing moment on a motorbike?

When I crashed at Brands Hatch, I tore my leathers and my willy came out !

4. What is the worst thing your mum caught you doing as a kid?

Um……. [Apparently he couldn't think of anything!!!!!]

5. Do you have a lucky thing/ritual before the start of a race?

No, I used to but I put a stop to them before they got out of hand.

6. What was the first motorbike you owned?

A TY80 Yamaha.

7. What is your favourite stretch of road to ride on (not including a race track)?

There’s a road in Dos Aqua near Valencia in Spain that is my favourite.

8. If you hadn’t been a racer, what would you have been?

An electrician.

9. Would you ride pillion? If so, who with?

Yes, but only with a select few fellow racers. [James wouldn't let on who these were!]

10. If you got arrested, what would your friends and family assume you had done?

Definitely speeding!

BK

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Buying a moped after a few beers to go endurance racing - uh oh!!!!!!!

So I’m down the pub one Friday night at the beginning of last year with a few biker mates, and we start talking about different events we can go to and Chris mentions something he saw online called Nifty Fifty Endurance. 

You just know from this point onwards that it’s going to go downhill quick!

Google was tasked with finding the website, videos watched on said website and a quick look at the rules and regs to see what we needed to enter. By this point we were a few beers in …..

Teams raise funds for their favourite charitable organisations. Each team can consist of up to four riders who aim to complete as many laps as they can around a specially prepared Motocross track for 5hrs. Each team are using mopeds and scooters which have engines of up to 90cc’s!

While still at the pub, eBay was tasked with finding us the basis of what we needed. Another beer later and collectively we’ve bought ourselves a Suzuki TS50ER which I’m told needs a shed load of work doing to it to get it up to regs.

Another beer later and we’ve entered the first event of the year in two months time. There are four events during the year in total.

When will we learn, don’t drink and go on eBay!!!!!!!!!! but not bad for one evening down the pub!

Here is a shortened version of the regs:

* Moped must be a model originally sold for the road in the U.K., no pit/mini bikes;

* Exhausts must be road legal and from a bike originally intended to be sold for the road;

* All glass must be removed including plastic light lenses;

* Both front and rear brakes must be in good working order;

* Kill switch fitted if there is no ignition key;

* Accessible fuel tap must be fitted unless has an electronic fuel injection system;

* No machines can be replaced by a spare machine once the event is underway (that’s lucky as at this moment in time we do not have one machine that complies with the regs, let alone a spare!);

So the bike arrives and we go round to Chris’ house to survey what we have actually bought a share of.

OMG! Just how much had we drunk! Here’s a pic! Um…. Some work needed then ……. it had no engine, petrol tank, seat or exhaust. 

How the heck we managed to buy what basically was a frame with two wheels, I can only assume was down to the amount of alcohol that was consumed!

Chris had in his shed (as one does I suppose) an old RM50 that was, um, how shall I put it, not roadworthy, so we borrowed from that the engine, petrol tank, seat and half the exhaust (the other half came from eBay). Welding was required to fit the petrol tank and seat and as Giles can weld, it came back home with us.

Aside from the major items (I class engine and fuel tank as major!!!), a brief list on work to be done and challenges found:

* down gearing;

* nylon sliders for top of swing arm to protect it from chain wear;

* exhaust; road legal silencer and heat shield;

* front brakes – these are non existent at the moment;

* return spring for rear brake;

* take off pillion foot pegs;

* both front and rear brakes need fettling;

* move arm round on spindle to adjust brakes both ends;

* swing arm pivot and spindle need greasing;

* throttle cable needed;

* seat;

* petrol tank;

* engine;

* side number boards;

* race numbers.

The guys wanted to name the bike as apparently you’re supposed to name your vehicles – I never have. Some deliberation took place (they all kept coming out with girl names) so I entered Jensen into the pot and guess what - Jensen won! Yay!!!

We had to come up with a team name for our entry and after yet more deliberation we came up up with ToS5ERs on Tour taking in the name of the bike.

So not being mechanically minded, my main part in all this was sourcing and ordering parts for Jensen, making tea and bacon sarnies, completing the paperwork for our entry (we all needed a licence to enter); making tea and cakes, sourcing side number boards and race numbers; making tea and bacon sarnies and chasing licence paperwork for our entry – I gave the first set of licence forms to the guys to complete but these went astray so I arranged a drink down the pub with a fresh set of forms and pens and got the guys to complete them there and then so I could take them back with me!

Giles did the necessary welding on Jensen so the engine, exhaust, seat and petrol tank were all present and correct. Jensen was beginning to take shape and was looking like a bike now. There was no silencer on the exhaust so when it was started up for the first time I thought we were going to get noise complaints from the neighbours! A silencer was quickly sourced and ordered to attend to this problem.

Jensen went back to Chris’ now so he could do some fettling and the remaining jobs the week before the first event were:

* remove a link from the drive chain, it was at the end of the limit and loose;

* remove side stand;

* grease various bits;

* sort handlebar guards.

Jensen was ready to race.

We arrived early doors at the site for our first event and set up camp. As there were five of us and only four could compete, I was not racing today. It was March and the ground was really wet and muddy so I thought it would be a good one to sit out as it would be hard going in such conditions and there were bound to be teething problems.

Okay so a lot of the other competitors clearly took this event a whole lot more seriously than us Tossers did but we took Jensen to the start line ready for the off. I was glad I had sat this one out, the ground was wet and boggy and Jensen kept getting stuck, others had new tyres, we were still on the old ones it came with.

We encountered a few running and teething problems and then the clutch went. We managed to borrow one but we only managed to do a handfull of laps before Jensen expired. A great day was had by all but we had some work to do on Jensen before the next event in a six weeks time.

By the next event the ground had dried out massively and I was one of the riders today. OMG it was brilliant fun, I wasn’t the quickest by far but I was having a great time and enjoying the jumps. 

Jensen was massively outclassed by many of the other machines but just kept going. We managed to complete the whole 5 hours and did 95 laps. An absolutely brilliant day, we went home very tired and muddy but with huge smiles on our faces.

The third and fourth events I was unable to go to as unfortunately I was on holiday for both of them but the other guys went and although the Jensen’s electrics eventually died on the last event, they had a great time.

The camaraderie in the pits is great, teams helps each other out to get bikes repaired and back out on track, there’s lots of laughter and jokes flying around and there really is a good feel about it all. At the end of the day, everyone is there to have a laugh, do a bit of racing and raise some money for charity.

If you want a fun day out with a bit of racing, I would definitely recommend you look into doing this but perhaps not buy a bike off eBay when in the pub after a few beers …….

BK

www.niftyfiftyendurance.com

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