Yesterday I cleaned both bikes and prepared the Ninja for a evening session at Brands Hatch this evening. I checked the tyre pressures, lubed the chain, checked all relevant fluid levels and made sure I had everything easily to hand as to not forget anything. The weather man had said it would be around 6 or 7 degrees, which although cold, wouldn't been too bad for four 15min sessions. As I left work today the temperature had barely got past 4 degrees so I didn't go. As much as I wanted to get the bike and indeed myself on the track to blow away some cobwebs, that was just too cold for me. I'm sure I would have enjoyed it, but it could have been very easy to loose a cold tyre out there, so I felt that discretion was by far the better form of valour. So despite getting ready for it, I ended up going for a swim and saving myself sixty quid. There will be plenty of chances to get the bike on track this year, three of which I've already paid for: one in April and two a week apart in May. This prolonged winter is delaying the start of the riding season, but I don't want to delay it further by smashing myself and the bike up in less that ideal conditions.
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Typical! After nearly a week of lovely weather here in the UK when both my bikes were in the garage for different reasons, the day when I get the use a bike again, it pisses it down. I got soaked on the way home from work on Friday and then got soaked on the way to the Ace Cafe to meet Kevin in the afternoon. I have to say that it was well worth it, as over two coffees, a sausage sandwich and a muffin we had a good catch up, discussed possible plans to go to the California Superbike School, a trip to Box Hill in Surrey and a possible future trip to Assen to watch some racing. The Ducati is all back in once piece and the Ninja now has its new stainless steel pipes attached. I have updated the 'Mod and Sods' section on the ZX7r page. Speaking of site updates I have now updated a similar section on the Ducati page, listing what I have done to personalise the bike, which has resulted in a dramatic change in appearance to the page, but I like the way it looks and matches up really nicely to the other pages on the site. I have to say that I am a bit of a merchandise fan and I do like my T Shirts especially. Metropolis have started getting some nice apparel in stock and I picked up a really nice olive green Ducati T shirt, sporting a nice subtle design on the front. What do you think? It's supposed to be flippin freezing again tomorrow and it may even snow again, but unless there is snow on the ground I'll be back out on the bike tomorrow as you know, driving in Central London is doing my head in.
I went out for a ride on the Ninja yesterday once I had put all the panels back on. It was initially just to go and get some fuel and to make sure everything seemed okay with the bike, but I ended up out for an hour. Yes it was a little chilly but it was great to give the bike and myself a bit of a work out. All we need now is some warm sunny days and hopefully a long dry summer Today was a fairly interesting bike day, the rest of it as usual, was a minor disappointment. When I woke I looked out of the window and was greeted with a very wet morning, but it didn't seem to be actually raining. Therefore I left the house without my rain suit, but as soon as I got to the garage I realised that I had been dooped and what a fool I had been. I couldn't be bother/didn't have time (delete as appropriate) so I just manned up and got on with the journey. Despite is being very wet, there seemed to be loads of grip and I way able to have a pretty rewarding ride, which at 04:30 is a rare thing.
I contacted RiDE magazine and offered my services as a volunteer on their stand at the London Bike Show. I was planning on going anyway and although I've worked at a previous show, this one being the Classic and Custom show at Alexandra Palace, I thought it would be a great way of getting some more experience and maybe even pick the brains of some of their writers. Well after a little bit of confusion and some crossed wires, they have passed my details onto the person who's organising it, so who knows. Finally just before I left for the day, my new carbon key guard for the Ducati arrived from Conquest Carbon. Excellent quality and really fast service. Big thumbs up all round. So with my new toy in my rucksack I headed home on dry grippy and warm roads. I would have enjoyed it even more had there been zero traffic around. Oh well, can't have everything I suppose Snow. No biking today. Boo humbug. Driving in London isn't wonderful at the best of times. Add some of the white stuff, not good. Got out safe and sounds which is the main thing
The cold weather returned yesterday and I was welcomed by the sight of chucks of ice sitting on the roof of my car in the early hours. We all knew that the cold weather was going to return, I was just hoping we may get another milder, salt free weekend, but that wasn't to be. Today was interesting. I say interesting but what I really mean is f-ing annoying. When I park during the day at work, I park in a normal bay like this..........note trackday stickers on the front fairing. That's London war paint As you can see, there are two rows of bikes and I, like most people face the bike outwards which makes riding out a doddle, assuming that is, you can stand the bike up. Anyway, over the years lots of different people have backed their bikes/scooters into the Zx7r, which bends my numberplate back on its tail tidy. Anyway, today, the tail tidy snapped down the middle and my plate was left hanging only by the wires that connect my rear indicators. One kind van driver even got out of his van to tell me this in queues on the A40. Thanks for that dude, I wish there were more people like you on the road. Anyway, I have two options, aside from buying a new tail tidy and they are to bodge something together or to make a replacement. I quite like the second option as I just need a small piece of metal, a saw, a file, a pin hammer and a drill. Should keep me busy this weekend now that the snow is coming.
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MeMy name is Matt Brown and I'm a UK journalist formerly based in London, but now calling the South of England home. I've been riding bikes since 2007, but got hooked straight away. Nothing gives me the feeling of freedom, even when stuck in a city. In 2010 I became a RoSPA gold rider, but when it comes down to it, I'm Just a normal man, riding his bikes as often as he can. Archives
April 2019
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