02/04/12- THE LIFE AND TIMES OF A BIKER AND A "BIKERETTE"

5^th March 2012 : Iron Butt Talk – Meriden TOMCC

This was the last of my talks that I had been invited to give on lasts years Iron Butt Rally ride. 

With each and every talk, I’ve always been surprised at just how much interest there was and continues to be in my ride and again, there must have been some 50 or so people turn up to listen to me ramble on for a couple of hours about the rally.  I do find that as time passes though, I have become more aware of the achievement in finishing the event.  That is not meant to sound in any way egotistical, but like all things, sometimes when you are intimately involved in a project, you need the opportunity to step back and see it from another viewpoint.

Anyway, as always, everyone who was there seemed to enjoy the talk and there were plenty of questions for me after I’d finished speaking - so I can’t have bored them too much …. J

Something that arose from the talk was that a couple of days later I received a phone call from a rather well spoken gentleman, inviting me to be one of the “attractions” at an event put on by the “International Fellowship of Motorcycling Rotarians”.  Given that I’ve never really considered myself to be that interesting a person, I naturally assumed that it was some sort of wind-up from one of my friends and having played along for a while, I was just about to hurl a stream of good natured abuse back down the phone line, when I thought I had just best check.  I busily tapped away at the computer in front of me whilst continuing the conversation as best I could.  It came as somewhat of a surprise to find that it was in fact a genuine call …..  I’m rather glad now that I did have the presence of mind to check J  Anyway, the upshot of it is that I’m a “special guest” at the IFMR Meriden Megaride on 10^th June 2012.

However the “JY 2011 IBR Talk Tour” has now come to an end.

   

14^th March 2012 : The Police, Speed Cameras and the 14 day rule (continued.)

My battle with Warwickshire Police continues.

My last letter merely provoked the issue of yet another Section 172 Notice – I am now amassing a rather splendid collection of these notices and all relating to this one offence JJ ….

It required a reply ……..

Copy of fifth letter sent to Warwickshire Police :

Dear Sir/Madam,

****/**/**** - Notice of Intended Prosecution

Thank you for your recent correspondence addressed to :

Carelogic Ltd, Carelogic Ltd

Pottal Pool House

Pottal Pool

Teddesley Hay

Penkridge

Staffs

ST19 5RR

That is not a grammatical error on my part.  That is actually how the document was addressed.

We assume that this is in response to our letter of 1^st March (copy enclosed).  What you have forwarded to us is not what was requested.  Accordingly, we have returned your correspondence of 7^th March 2012 unanswered as we do not feel that this is what we should be replying to

We look forward to your prompt response as we are anxious to correctly discharge our legal responsibilities under Sec 172 of the RTA 1988. 

The ball has most certainly been returned over the net …..

15^th March 2012 : Staffordshire Triumph Open Evening

BS Bikes (now Staffordshire Triumph) are one of the last of the traditional “spit and sawdust” bike shops to hold the Triumph franchise.  However, with the ever increasing desire from all manufacturers for “brand awareness”, like so many other shops before them (and this isn’t just happening in the bike world) they have been forced into adopting the corporate image.  I’ve ranted on about this in the past specifically in connection with bikes as this new style of “bike shop” only really works with the “new style motorcyclist”.  As long as bikes are seen as a “cool” thing for the accountants, solicitors and bank managers to have in their garage, alongside the jet-ski and other fleetingly fashionable consumer products, then the coffee serving, sycophantic, car-dealership styled bike shops will flourish. However, if it becomes unfashionable to be a “biker”, then I just hope Triumph Motorcycles have done there market research well …..

Ok, having again put the soapbox away, back to the evening itself ….

Well I think it’s fair to say, Staffordshire Triumph “slightly” underestimated the amount of people that would turn up.  I was later told that 1500 came through the doors !!

Lord Digby Jones (chairman of Triumph) was there to formally open the dealership - not that you could see him through the crowds J

The Diamond Jubilee Bonneville – this one is destined for the Queen herself.  I wonder whether I’ll see her out and about on it next year…… JJ

There was free food and drink (non-alcoholic – although you could buy a specially brewed beer for the event) and we ended up staying until we were kicked out around 9.00pm.

The next time I’m back at Staffordshire Triumph will to be collect my new bike.  I’ll know then whether they’ve managed the transition to the new style of dealership, without losing the feel of a traditional bike shop.  I do hope so ….

17^th March 2012 : The Garage becomes a conference centre for the day …. J

Since the new “garage” has been fully in use, we’ve had a couple of bike clubs along for meetings as well as a stream of friends popping in to see what everyone now refers to as the “museum”.

Well today, it became a conference centre when Rob Roalfe of the IBAUK held a seminar there for people wanting to learn about route planning for rallies.

18^th March 2012 : The IBR Trident lives again JJJ

One benefit from Rob doing his talk was that I had to be around on the Saturday just in case anything was needed.  What this provided me with was the opportunity to work on the IBR Trident.  I’d already stripped the bike down some weeks previously and sent both the carburettors and the cylinder head away to be re-furbished.  Now that I had two complete days free, meant that I could work on it.

By late Sunday afternoon, it was all back together.

After three kicks the engine fired up for the first time since last July when it was still in the USA. 

I have to admit there was a lump in my throat and a slight tear in my eye when it fired.  I didn’t realise just how much I had become attached to that bike – some might say literally so, having sat on it for 18 hours a day for 11 days !! J

I immediately took it around the block for a quick spin - that actually turned into a 30 mile “bimble”.  It felt good to be back in that saddle ….

22^nd  March 2012 : Wolverhampton Triumph – Explorer Launch

Tonight we went to the launch of the new 1200cc Triumph Explorer at Stratstones in Wolverhampton.  To be perfectly honest, given that I’d seen the bike already at shows and again last week at Staffordshire Triumphs launch night, it was the free food that was the main attraction !! J

Nights and events like this though always give you a reason for a ride out and a chance to meet up with mates.

24^th March 2012 : I collect my new bike J

It was almost 18 months ago when I put down a deposit on my new bike.  At the time, I actually ordered the 800cc Tiger but after delaying the delivery date twice, the new 1200cc bike was then announced and so I just cancelled my original order altogether, transferring the deposit to the new machine.

Following on from my comments after the launch evening, I’m pleased to say that Staffordshire Triumph do appear to have handled the transition from a traditional dealer to a modern corporate dealership well, with the place still having the feel of a bike shop.

We arrived at the allotted time and with all of the paperwork signed, I was “taken” to my bike sitting under a dust cover.  It’s fair to say that I’d given the accessory catalogue a bit of a bashing.  Actually, what I’d said was something along the lines of “You know the accessories listed for this bike ? – I’ll have them…..”  JJ

Ready for the off

After a quick run through of the bikes controls, it was time to leave.  I’m not referring here to the throttle, brakes and clutch but to the trip computers (yes – computers not computer), the cruise control and, I kid you not, the heated seats.  I’m clearly getting soft in my old age.

This was the first time I’d ridden an Explorer and having shelled out the thick end of £13,000 for it, I was mightily relived that I liked it !  I have big plans for this bike over the next few years.

Back home and the 1200 Explorer meets the 1200 Trophy.  My Trophy is one of the first 200 bikes that the “new” Triumph built.  21 years and 543,000 (and a bit) bikes separate these two machines.

Once back home, Sonia got her bike gear on and we immediately set off for a decent run on the bike.

Five hours later and six hours after picking the bike up, we returned home with just under 350 miles on the clock.  This bike is going to be fun !! J

25^th March 2012 : Winstanstow Classic Bike Show

The next day was the Winstanstow Classic Bike Show.  In past years this was always regarded as the season opener but as classic bikes have become more popular, other events have now slipped into the calendar before it.  Still, it’s always a nice ride there, the car park is always full of interesting bikes, they do a wonderful bacon butty and on top of all that, we have been experiencing the warmest March for many years.

Even though I had my nice new shiny Explorer in the garage, the Iron Butt Trident was always going to be the bike for todays ride out. 

The village of Winstanstow is only 50 miles from home, just the other side of Church Stretton and so even on a classic machine, it is barely an hours ride away.  Once I arrived, I parked the bike off and went off in search of the bacon butties – I know my priorities JJ

I was pleased that quite a few people knew about the IBR Triple and having had my butty and a walk around the rapidly filling bike park, I spent much of the remainder of my time there talking to folk about the bike.

A sobering exhibit there was from the “Safer Road Partnership” and was a bike that had been involved in a fatal accident.  It’s perhaps well that the message that bikes can be dangerous is pushed hard particularly at the beginning of most peoples riding season when they are still a little ring rusty.

A stark reminder that bikes can kill L  The rider of this bike died.

One of the nice things about Winstanstow is that being so close to home, you can have a full morning there and still not lose the afternoon and with so many jobs to do in the garage at the moment, I was more than grateful for this.

MOT time is approaching for several bikes, the Stafford Show is only just around the corner and the NVT charity rides are looming …… 

12/03/12- THE LIFE AND TIMES OF A BIKER AND A "BIKERETTE"

9^th March 2012 : A new bike arrives (but only temporarily …..)

It’s been a while (well six months) since I’ve bought a bike and although an NVT Easy Rider barely qualifies under that description, as it’s got two wheels and an engine, it just about scrapes through.

So on Friday after work, saw me trundling down the M6/M5/A30/A39 and finally the A394 down the Helston in Cornwall – or put it another way, about 20 miles or so from Lands End.  It was the early hours of Saturday morning before I was home L.

My prize – a 1977 NVT easy Rider Moped JJ

For the princely sum of £137, I was the proud owner (albeit a temporary one) of a 1977 NVT Easy Rider.  I’d already sold the bike on even before collecting it (to Dave Bloor, a friend and an equally sad collector of mopeds) as actually, it wasn’t the bike that I was interested in, more what came with it – some original legshields and an original screen. 

Genuine Easy Rider Legshields

A genuine Easy Rider Windshield

So why did I travel a round trip of nearly 500 miles to pick up what most people would consider junk ? OK, actually it is junk ….. JJ

Well, last year, myself and an intrepid band of bikers (read : idiots) rode a similar moped from John O’Groats to Lands End over a 6 day period – I only rode the last 200 yards if I’m honest – and in the process raised over £10,000 for help for Heroes.

This year, we’re doing a similar ride, well actually rides.  The moped that completed the JOG-LE run, is being ridden from the Blackpool Tower to the Eiffel Tower (in Paris) over a 5 day period.  At the same time, another group of the lunatics that I’m proud to call my friends, will be riding a 1979 NVT Rambler 125cc from Nordcapp (that’s the very top of Norway) to Gibraltar.  Again, both of these rides are being done for charity and in due course I will be posting up the “JustGiving” page details here, so don’t worry too much about not being able to donate right at this very moment.

In the meantime, I’m preparing the bikes and this is where the legshields and windscreen come in as they’re to be fitted to the moped to make the pain of the journey, just that little bit less for the riders.

The NVT Moped at the end of last years ride

I spent the following day, cleaning up my newly acquired treasures ready for fitting.

Oh and for anyone following the story, there’s been no real developments of note this week regarding my “discussions” with Warwickshire Police Force ………….      

07/03/12 - THE LIFE AND TIMES OF A BIKER AND A “BIKERETTE”

1^st March 2012 : The Police, Speed Cameras and the 14 day rule (continued.)

Again the police responded quite quickly to my second letter, albeit again rather predictably.  The essence of their reply was that “they’d looked into the situation and the matter was to proceed”. 

They further went onto state that they would not supply me with a copy of any of the correspondence I had requested and only by pleading “not guilty” and asking for the case to be dealt with by a magistrates court, would I be allowed to see the purported papers.

I therefore tried a different approach.  Rather than writing for a copy of the claimed original N.I.P. as the subsequent nominated driver, I wrote to the Camera Unit as the Registered Keeper and therefore the original apparent intended recipient of the letter .

Copy of third letter sent to Warwickshire Police :  

Dear Sir/Madam,

Y***/**/**** - Notice of Intended Prosecution

It has been brought to our attention that a vehicle where we are shown at DVLA as the Registered Keeper has recently been involved in an alleged speeding offence.  The vehicle in question is a Land Rover Freelander TD4 SWB, registration number R111 BSA.

We have been informed that a Notice of Intended Prosecution was sent to the Registered Keeper following the alleged offence.

As the Registered Keeper, we would inform you that no such NIP was received by ourselves.

We are further informed that a person has been nominated at being the hirer/named driver (or possibly keeper) of the vehicle in question.  

As the Registered Keeper of the vehicle, we are informing you that no such nomination has been submitted by ourselves.

As Registered Keeper and the apparent intended recipient of an undelivered document, we would be grateful if you could supply us with a copy of the Notice in order for us to discharge our legal responsibilities under Sec 172 of the RTA 1988. 

In addition, I thought it was time to involve the Warwickshire Chief Constable …..

Copy of fourth letter sent to Warwickshire Police :  

Dear Mr Parker,

Y***/**/**** - Notice of Intended Prosecution

I have to begin by apologising to have to attempt to contact you directly for such a relatively trivial matter.  However, I find that this is my apparent final course of action available.

On 30^th January 2012, a vehicle R111 BSA was recorded at 47mph on the M42/M6 Toll.  The full and exact details of the alleged offence can obviously be accessed using the above reference.

I will now list in sequence what has happened since.  Please note that each point is only a brief summary.  Should you wish to see the full relevant correspondence, it can be supplied although I assume that there will be a copy in the files of the Camera Enforcement Unit.

1.      On 15^th February 2012, I personally received a N.I.P. regarding the offence.  The N.I.P. was dated 14^th February 2012.

2.      On 16^th February 2012, I wrote back to the Camera Enforcement Unit (CEU) advising then that this was the first Notice that was received and in my opinion it was time-barred.

3.      On 20^th February 2012, the CEU replied stating that the notice dated 14^th February 2012, albeit that in their letter they state it was sent out (and was therefore presumably dated) 13^th February 2012, was in fact a subsequent notice and therefore the offence stood.

4.      On 21^st February 2012, I again wrote back advising the CEU that the address of the Registered Keeper (Carelogic Limited) and my home address are actually the same and that no Notice had been received before the one referred to in (1) above.  I asked for a copy of the original notice and I also asked for a copy of the supposed nomination of myself as the hirer/named driver.

5.      On 27^th February 2012, the CEU wrote back, refusing to give me a copy of either document and refusing to discuss the matter further.  In addition, they state that the only way I can see the information I requested (information that I may add, they already claim to have sent to me/my company and further information that was presumably also received from me/my company), is if I request that my case is dealt with by the Magistrates Court.

So if I understand this correctly, the only way I can see who apparently has fraudulently given by name (as the hirer/named driver - which the police are saying has happened ) on behalf of the RK (Carelogic Ltd - my own company) or whether in fact the Notice of 14^th February 2012 was preceded by one or more other Notices, is if I plead not guilty to an offence that I’m not exactly sure I am actually not guilty of, but am also unsure of whether I should have been charged with in the first instance.

The stance taken by the Camera Enforcement Unit Manager in refusing to simply provide me with a copy of something they claim they have already sent all seems rather pointless and just a little pathetic. 

Of course like so many other Civil Servants, spending other people’s money is clearly of little concern to the Camera Enforcement Unit Manager and I now find myself in the position of having to take this matter to the Magistrates Court simply to discover the answer to what most people would consider a very reasonable request – in short, “you claim to have sent something to me, I haven’t received it, could I therefore have a copy please”.

I fully appreciate that you as Chief Constable will probably never even see this letter and at best, I’ll receive a reply back saying something along the lines of “I have looked into this matter and referred the case back to our CEU/CPS for consideration” and unfortunately this it seems these days, is the best any UK citizen can hope for.

On the other hand, when and if I am asked at some stage as to why I have apparently wasted court time on something as trivial as this, my response will be, because I simply asked for a copy of a document to be sent to me ……

Again, I apologise for having to concern you with something as trivial as this matter.

So we now again wait and see……..

So apart from furthering my fledgling career as a lawyer, what else did I get up to regarding two wheels during the week ? 

Well, not much really.  With nothing much on over the weekend, I decided to spend a couple of days working in the garage, primarily tinkering about with my Iron Butt Trident and re-commissioning it for the current year.  (The full story of my 9000 mile / 11 day trip across the USA last summer can be read on http://www.tr3oc.co.uk/ under the “features” section – you need to scroll down towards the bottom of the page to pick up the links)

Maybe next week, I’ll have something to write about ….. J

    

27/02/12 - THE LIFE AND TIMES OF A BIKER AND A “BIKERETTE”

22^nd February 2012 : The Police, Speed Cameras and the 14 day rule (continued.)

I was surprised to receive a reply back from the police to my initial letter almost by return of post.  In the letter, they state that the NIP received by myself was not the initial document but a second one after I had been nominated as the driver.

I wrote a reply and it was sent by return post.  Again, it is reproduced in full below.

Copy of second letter sent to Warwickshire Police :  

Dear Sir/Madam,

Y***/**/**** - Notice of Intended Prosecution

I have received your letter dated 20^th February 2012, the references for which are detailed above. I have enclosed a copy of the letter sent to me, for ease of cross-reference.

 
You state “the first Notice of Intended Prosecution was sent to the Registered Keeper as detailed from the records we are entitled to use when the offence was viewed”

The Registered Keeper (per DVLA) is :

Carelogic Limited

Pottal Pool House

Pottal Pool

Penkridge

Stafford

ST19 5RR

You will note that that address of the registered keeper is my home address.

I mistakenly informed you in my letter of 16^th February 2012 that I personally was the registered keeper of R111 BSA.  I own in excess of 15 vehicles, all recorded at this address.  In respect of all of the vehicles with the exception of R111 BSA, I am personally shown as the Registered Keeper.  On receipt of your letter dated 14^th February 2012, my natural assumption was that you had written to me as the Registered Keeper and not as I have now checked as the hirer/named driver of the vehicle in question.  I apologise for this error.

Nevertheless, my statement in the final sentence of the third paragraph of my letter of 16^th February 2012 of “The written Notice is the first indication from you of any intention to prosecute.”  still stands.  There had been no Notice received before that date.

The only people who open post addressed to Carelogic Limited is myself and my wife who are both directors.  The company employs no staff and the only other person residing at Pottal Pool House, is my youngest son.  The original Notice of Intended Prosecution which you claim was sent within the 14 days did not arrive at this address.  I can also confirm that no documentation has been returned to yourself nominating myself as the driver in question.

Accordingly, could you please provide me with :

1. A copy of the original Notice of Intended Prosecution addressed to the Registered Keeper
2. A copy of the document nominating myself as the keeper - the description used in your letter of 20^th February 2012, or;
3. A copy of the document nominating myself as the hirer/named driver - the description used in your correspondence of 14^th February 2012

It will be interesting to see what information I receive back regarding my requests.

24^th & 25^th February 2012 : Motorbeurs Utrecht and the Butte du Lion IBAUK RTE – aka “Hele” goes European ……..

I have a teddy bear.  There, I’ve said it now.  However, this is no ordinary teddy bear.  This is “Hele” the teddy bear, who last year completed the Iron Butt Rally in the USA with me.  Now given that the Iron Butt Rally is the Worlds Toughest Motorcycle Rally and IBA riders are billed as the Worlds Toughest Riders, then that would make Hele, the Worlds Toughest Teddy Bear.  In any event, I though it was time I introduced Hele to Europe …………

Don’t mess with this bear – he may look cuddly but looks can be deceptive JJ

The plan for the weekend was simple.  Leave home early Friday and catch a morning shuttle to France.  Ride up through France, Belgium and Holland and get to the show at Utrecht mid afternoon.  Spend the afternoon and early evening at the show and stay overnight in Utrecht.  On Saturday, I’d begin to make my way home, making a slight detour to meet up with the guys from the IBA UK at Waterloo for a couple of hours at the RTE (Ride to Eat).  Leaving there late afternoon, I was due to catch an early evening shuttle back to the UK and be back home for around 11.00pm “ish”

Just after 5.00am on the Friday morning, the Daytona headed towards the very familiar journey down to the Chunnel.  Of course, with my current speeding ticket dispute hanging over me like the sword of Damocles, my usual gung ho journey down to Folkestone was a little more restrained this time, turning what is already, at best, a tedious journey, into one of total boredom.  As ever in these situations, my mind started to wander …….

I reckon over the last five years, I must have made at least 100 tunnel crossings as we use the tunnel at least 15 to 20 times a year.  So that means I’ve done the M6, M42, M40, M25, M26 and M20 drag at least 200 times (there and back).  At four hours per trip, that’s 800 hours, or 48,000 minutes or hold on, hold on ……. 2,880,000 seconds.  That’s nearly three million seconds of my life has been travelling back and forward between home and Folkestone.  I considered if there was anything useful in knowing this statistic and after mulling the thought over for a few minutes, I came to the conclusion there wasn’t.  It was an absolutely useless piece of information – but one that nevertheless, I’m glad that I now know J  On the other hand it did pass 50 miles or so as, over the years, my mental arithmetic has become, at best, rusty and calculations, with so many zeros like that, do not come easy to me any longer !!

Three hours of 70 mph tedium later, I pulled up at the tunnel, checked in and ignoring my pre-booked time (as normal) rode straight around to the loading bays and onto the next train.

Once in France and free from the fear of dreaded speed camera, I relaxed, wound up the 955i and was on my way.  I should point out here that I don’t ride stupidly fast, but 80 to 85 mph on a bike like the 955i, is barely is holding the throttle off the stop.  It’s a nice comfortable pace to ride at and more importantly, that extra 10 to 15 mph makes all of the difference over a long journey.

Hele arrives in Belgium for the first time

As I passed Gent, then Antwerp and crossed the Dutch border, it occurred to me that apart from a brief trip through it’s southerly tip last year on the way to Germany, I hadn’t been to the Netherlands for a couple of years.  The Netherlands has always been one of my favourite European countries, if only because, it’s one of the few European countries where, as a British person, you feel genuinely made welcome.

By 3.00pm, I’d reached Utrecht, checked into my hotel, had a quick shower, changed, jumped back on my bike, ridden the further 5 miles to the bike show and was inside the halls.  This was great, I’d told no-one I was going to be in Utrecht and so I was just able to do my own thing – which I did – meandering around the show, with no particular plan.  It didn’t close until 10.00pm and I was in no rush.

The great thing about the Utrecht show for me compared with our own NEC show, is the wide diversity of exhibits on display and the very first bike (and I use that in the loosest sense of the word) that I saw as I walked into the first hall, demonstrated this.

If you’ve got 6 litres of Aston Martin V12 spare, what better use could there be ? J

Someone, (presumably high on some kind of illegal drug at the time), had clearly had the good fortune to come across a spare 6 litre V12 Aston Martin engine and rather than “waste” it by using it to power a car (like any sane person would do) had decided that it would be much better utilised to power 2 wheels !  The resultant machine is pictured above.  Beauty, as they say, is in the eye of the beholder ….. JJ

As with many shows, there was a live action arena outside and at this show it was a display of trials riding.  The two lads riding the bikes were going through an endless routine of seemingly impossible stunts - ones that I think I would have had trouble climbing over let alone riding a bike over them.

As always with these sort of shows though, eventually your envy for the supreme skills that these guys possess overwhelms you to such an extent that when they do have a slight slip, you allow yourself a wry smile and for a millisecond or so, you stand there feeling pretty dammed smug.  The fact that they then get up, dust themselves off and on the next attempt execute the “impossible” perfectly, soon puts you back firmly in your place !!

Ooops ……

Made it this time !

One of the “must see” stands at any show for me, is always going to be the Triumph stand.  At Utrecht, all of the manufacturers stands are grouped together in the one hall.  It seems that at any show you visit, the Triumph stand is always busy and Utrecht followed the same pattern. 

Given the amazing success story of Triumph over the past 20 years since their “rebirth” in 1991, it still both surprises me and saddens me in equal measures at the general lack of public acknowledgement of this fact.  As a country, the United Kingdom has hardly covered itself in glory recently regarding its manufacturing capabilities and yet the success story that is Triumph barely ever gets a mention in the mainstream media.  Even now when parking the bike up, from time to time, some misty-eyed old gent will come up to me waxing lyrical about a Triumph he had way back in his youth and then be surprised at the fact you can still buy a modern Triumph.  I’m never quite sure who’s at fault here, Triumphs marketing guys or whether this is just another example of the rather worrying secret agenda that a succession of governments seemed to have had, of killing off biking.  Phew, time to put the soap box away …. J

My next bike – mine arrives in 3 weeks.  The next time we’re in Europe, we’ll be on the Explorer, complete with comfy (and heated) seat, upright riding position and a whole host of other modern luxuries

Although I’ve seen the bike several times now, I spent most of my time looking at the 1200cc Explorer.  Mine arrives in just over 3 weeks time now and I’m looking forward to riding a more comfortable bike than the 955i.  Although I’ve covered nigh on 100,000 miles on the Daytona over the last 5 years, I’ve noticed that I’ve started to ache a little more after each long journey.  I think that I’m making the transition from being a sports bike rider to an adventure bike rider just at the right time.

It was well after 7.00pm when I’d decided that I’d seen everything and left the show.  As I walked outside, the rain that had been threatening all day had finally arrived and it was a wet few miles back to the hotel.

After a quick meal, I was in bed by 10.30pm and asleep by 10.31pm.  These days, I can do early starts or late nights – but not both !!

By the next morning, the rain had stopped, the sun was out and it was a beautiful, late winter/early spring day in the Netherlands.  I was in no rush today.  The RTE location was barely 130 miles due south of where I had stayed overnight and we weren’t due to meet there until 4.00pm.

An RTE is a “Ride to Eat” and tend to be held once a month somewhere in the UK and 4 or 5 times a year in Europe.  There’s no set pattern to these gatherings though.  Someone will simply suggest a place via the IBA UK forum, we all turn up, have a bite to eat, hang around for a couple of hours (some will then stay overnight), take a group picture and then disperse gain until the next time.  As one of my buddies from the USA so elegantly put it, “we ride alone to be together”.

Even with a leisurely ride down and a detour for a coffee for an hour or so in Antwerp, I was still at the Butte Du Lion a good two hours before the official time - not that I was the first though.  Mark and Angie from London were already there and as I rolled up into the car-park, Roland, Steve and Deb, more or less followed me in.  We retired to the café for coffee and food.

Ere !!  Who’s nicked my bike I was sitting on ? Sartorial elegance at its finest J

As more people arrived, someone then had the “good” idea that we should climb to the top of the monument – all 226 very, very steep steps of it ….

It’s a long way down for a little bear

Half hour later, I realised that 6 years on from running my one and only marathon, I have lost more than a little of whatever fitness I had back then J

The IBA flag flies

But it’s an even longer way up !!

And then, all that was left was the group photograph.  As always, the group assembles and some poor passing person is asked if they wouldn’t mind just taking a photograph.  After having a succession of 20 cameras or so later thrust into their hands, the poor soul, finally escapes presumably to have some sort of physiotherapy on his/her, by now, aching index finger …..  

The obligatory group photograph.  I’m second from the right looking “cool” - note the Monument near the top left hand corner of the photograph 

Those that were then staying overnight, left for their hotel and those of us returning home left for the tunnel.  It was 138 miles back to the tunnel from Waterloo and inside a couple of hours, we were on the train heading back to England.

On the shuttle home and Heles first European adventure is nearly over

As we left the Chunnel terminal and joined the M20, Hele who was riding pillion didn’t say much.  I think he’d enjoyed his first trip to Europe.  Myself on the other hand was again lost in my own world as  I started to calculate how many seconds it would be until we arrived home …….

26^th February 2012 : TR3OC Cogenhoe Swapmeet

Although I didn’t arrive home on the Saturday evening until almost 11.00pm, by 8.00am the following morning I was back on the bike heading for the TR3OC annual swapmeet at Cogenhoe near Northampton.  This has been a feature on the club calendar for as many years as I can remember.   Although the amount of rubbish (sorry, I mean spares) that people bring along has diminished over the years, no doubt due to the rise in activity on e-bay, it is still a well supported event, with many members simply seeing it as a social event.

The older we get, the faster we were – or so we remember !! J

As treasurer of the club (although not for much longer as I finish my term at this years AGM) for me it’s a chance to settle a few outstanding accounts and catch up with other committee members on general club business.

With the NVT Runs, the L.P.Williams Re-unuion and Beezumph already looming large in 2012, I certainly had plenty to talk about and once I’d had breakfast, spent the next 3 hours chattering away. 

This year, I even bought something from one of the stalls – a air filter assembly for a X75 Hurricane (without boring you too much, this was a special one year only model, that had an air filter assembly that are difficult to get nowadays).  I bought it simply as a spare on a “just in case” basis, presumably just like the guy who was selling had done some time previously.  As I handed over the £20 for the air filter, both Pete (the seller) and myself both knew deep down that at some point, this air filter would re-surface at a future Cogenhoe Swapmeet for someone to buy from me, presumably again on a “just in case” basis.  In the biking world, there is a sea of spares that spend there entire life, never actually being fitted to a machine, just moving from one bikers garage to another …..

One mans rubbish is another man treasure

As I left the village hall and headed for home, I realised that I’d now got the next 3 weekends at home – or rather in the garage.  The “jobs to do on bikes” had now reached into a two page list.  It was time to curtail accumulating the miles for a while and time for some spannering to begin.