With the end of the financial year upon us and two days of holiday left to take, I've managed to swing myself a short week and a longer weekend.
My original plan was to book a test ride on the new Fireblade, but when I called my local dealer yesterday, it was booked out until next week. So, with a perfectly good FireBlade still in my garage, I took the opportunity to spend a little time doing a few little cleaning jobs.
After each winter I've found it good practice to get the brake calipers off the bike and give them a decent clean. While I was there, I took all fairings off and gave the bike a decent scrub down, which included cleaning out the gunk from the sprockets.

By no means the most glamorous of jobs but its one that needs to be done. I didn't go the whole hog and take the wheels off and at some point I'll need to take the bike apart and really give it a deep clean. When I do that, I'll probably finally get around the replacing my tail fairing which has been cracked since the bike feel over in the van last year.

It was a lovely morning; sunny with a slight chill in the air. I had a good ride to work planned, cutting across country on some of my favourite roads and it was all going really well. I'd dispatched a few slower vehicles and was making good progress as I enjoyed riding the Ducati. When on song, there isn't another bike I'd want to be riding.
Joining a National speed limit area, basically a 60mph zone, coming out of a village, I was powering up when the bike just mechanically shut down. The fuel light had been on for about 10 miles, but I knew the bike; I should have been good for another 15-20 miles before I was looking at pushing it. Repeated prods at the starter yielded nothing and so I parked on the side of the road and called the recovery service saying I'd run out of fuel.
​It took just under an hour and the AA man arrived with fuel, a few prods of the starter and still nothing. This was getting worse. I updated work with my progress and called up Moto Rapido in Winchester as it would appear that the fuel pump wasn't priming, just to ask if I was okay to bring it over. Then waited for the recovery man with the trailer.
Another hour passes and just after I'm joining by a work colleague who stopped to make sure I was okay, the second recovery van arrives. Now getting the bike into a safe location (which meant pushing it up the hill you see above) this guy was happier to try and sort the problem. So after taking off a panel or two on the side of the road, the problem persisted and it was on the trailer she went.

Just after 14:00, I finally arrived at Moto Rapido, dropped the bike off and explained the problem. Carolina was there waiting for me and after grabbing a nice lunch together (best part of the day by far) we headed home.
I got a call that evening just before 17:00 to say the bike was fixed. Have to admit I was genuinely astounded that they were able to look at it, let alone fix it. That was first class service right there. Turns out my fuel filter was blocked, possibly from a combination of when I had the tank resprayed a few years back and putting in some contaminated fuel when coming back from Germany with my mate Pete. By all accounts a blocked fuel filter is pretty rare.
Either way, a bill of £180 is a lot lighter than I had feared and I get her back on Saturday, so in the meantime, the FireBlade and I have some catching up to do.

Without wanting to sound really really weird, let me start today's post with the proclamation that it's coming. Now this could be anything really couldn't it? For example I could be referring to a new bike (which I'm not - unless I win some money on the lottery in a few hours), or something else equally exciting like a new car, but what I'm actually refereeing to of course, is summer. Summer is coming doesn't really have the same ring to it though. Its a phrase complete devoid of any sinister undertones, which is why I doubt we'll be hearing it on HBO anytime this year.
This week, despite a damp start on Thursday, has been really promising. The temperatures are heading up and the sun is coming out more than its not and I've been able to get on two wheels nearly everyday, which has been great. The week started on the Ducati and ended on the FireBlade, mainly has I needed the additional luggage capacity to take my work laptop between locations. The weather on Wednesday afternoon can genuinely be described as the best of the year so far. Strong sun, a cloudless sky and some of the best roads in my county to ride across. It was heaven.
I will admit, that I did get a little carried away at times, but it did feel great to ride the bike like it was designed. Empty roads and 150bhp of sweet handling sportsbike is one of life's wonderful calculations. 
Of course with this being the UK, it won't always be sunny and dry, but for now, well until at least late October, we are very unlikely to see sub zero temperatures again. So with that knowledge to hand, I can see the seven months being full of adventures and great riding. Can't wait.

With a beautiful sunny day in store, the Ducati became my commuting tool this morning. Saying that, I didn't exactly go straight to work. Leaving home, I headed in the opposite direction with the express intent in riding some decent roads before I started work. Dual carriageways is no place for my 1098s and what followed was just under an hour of excellent semi deserted swift country riding. 
On the way home, I headed for my first bike meet of the year down by Wareham Quay. I was slowly joined by a few of the regulars and it seemed that Super naked were the aim of the game as my bike was the only one with a fairing. 
With the clocks rolling back in a few weeks, these post work bike meets will become a more regular occurrence and I'm already doing well with my pledge to ride the Ducati more in 2017.
​This has the potential to be another cracking year.

The 1098s is finally back home having had its major service done by my friend Artur at Metropolis Motorcycles in Barnet, North London. With Carolina returning to the UK after a week away in the US, a plan was formulated that I would drive her car up from the South Coast, pick her up and then we would head back home in tandem the next day after spending the night with my folks.
The plan went well and the only problem was solid traffic across the New Forest following an accident. Even the A406, A40, M25 and then the M3 out of London were fine. The 1098s felt like a new bike, responsive and simply put, it just rode well. Artur had addressed a few little niggles while he was there and was kind enough to soften up the rear suspension a fraction, matching it to the front. 
I know the Ducati is far from perfect, but I can't help but love her. There are some minor issues with the rear indicators I want to explore, mainly getting a more suitable LED set up in the vents and I've noticed the side lights at the front have both failed, so some new bulbs will be needed before the MOT later this year. 
All in all though, for the first ride on the year on the Ducati, it felt great. Artur has done a great job as always and it was worth the trip back to North London to visit a mechanic who has never let me down.

Well that's certainly one concern well and truly put to bed. Good news dear readers, after sitting out the winter on the hanger, I'm very pleased to say that my leathers still fit me. I can tell you're as pleased as me with that fact, so we shall quickly move on.
The weather gods were shining down today in more ways than one. After, what can realistically be described as biblical rain yesterday, the day started bright and sunny. Not wanting to miss out on my regular Saturday morning Park Run, as soon as I got home and showered, I got into my kit and took the bike out.
I know I've already mentioned my leathers, but after a winter of Rukka textiles, which remain excellent by the way, putting the heavier more restrictive leather on, was initially a bit strange. I'd forgotten how heavy they actually are when getting ready and was reminded of that fact but the dull pain in my lower back before getting on the bike. Once on, the pain quickly disappeared and they remained very comfy on the bike as they hold the body in exactly the right place. The other benefits are that when the speed gets up, there's no turbulence across my back like with the textiles, so I can just concentrate on my riding.
Today's route was a good one. I headed up to Shaftesbury in Dorset, across some fast country lanes and picked up the amazing A30 and rode it all the way to Salisbury. After stopping for coffee (and parking right outside - bit risky, but hey, who cares) I headed back home via the A354.
On the way back there appeared to be a cycling event taking place, with lots of riders spread out along one of the fastest B roads in the county. I have no problem with cyclists at all as I think its a great past time and a great way to maintain your fitness, but I do have an issue with running an organised event on open public roads, with no warning signs for other road users and just a few 'timers' at roundabouts in hi viz, directing the cyclists. There seemed to be no order with groups taking up the whole road, seemingly chatting away, as I rode past I couldn't help but think there has to be a better way (Im sure they weren't all chatting away, but this was my impression in the seconds it took to pass). Reading this back it makes me sounds like a bit of a dick and really, its not about the cyclists, its more to do with the broader safety of said cyclists and other road users. We all know how drivers can react to being behind them and its rare that they are given the correct amount of space in the first place. As the most vulnerable of all the road users, I just felt that a little more should have been done.

March finally swings into view and so far the opportunities to get out and ride have been few and far between. In a week of heavy showers and strong winds; today a respite. Clear skies, little wind and not much to take to and from work meant the bike was the only choice in reality. Taking the long way there and the long way back I was able to get a preview of what my probably summer commutes will look like.
The route to work included some of the roads I used to take when at a previous job. They're bumpy in places but the road is swift and the sight lines are generally good and I've always found it to be an engaging ride.
The way back is longer and includes about a mile of dull dual carriageway, however this gives way to fast sweeping undulating corners on a route that gives the opportunity for many alterations depending on my mood.
The numbers of bikes I've been spotting has been on the rise. Some you can clearly tell have been riding all winter, the hi-viz where present, is more brown than yellow, their bikes, far from factory fresh. Others look like they've just awoken from hibernation. Both bike and kit are pristine. Personally I'm glad I fall more into the first category than the second, but when it comes down to it, biking is all about what you get from it. If you don't mind riding when the conditions are far from perfect, then so be it. If you would prefer to keep your bike looking its best then I'm all for that as well. If we all likes the same things, life you be very dull indeed.