Well after 14 months, two bikes, five countries and some six thousand miles, my Pirelli GT Angel rear tyre has had it. So after being so utterly impressed with everything about it, I put another on straight back onto the back of the Blade. 
I hear and read about lots of bikers wanting super sticky rubber, I mean Pirelli's own Rosso Corsa tyres are brilliant, but for the real world, and for me, their touring tyre is probably the best tyre I've ever used.

I'm not saying, in fact not even getting close to saying that you don't need the super sticky tyres on the road. Riding the bike has a lot to do with confidence and being happy with your tyres, will always give that. 
For the type of riding I do, the GT Angel is perfect. Long life, lots of grip in both wet and dry and a smooth ride. Yes, probably the wrong tyre for the track, but maybe then only the really fast riders on some very quick machinery. 

And as promised, in Ducati news, its back!

As you can see, there's still a way to go, but by all account the frame was really badly damaged and a fair amount of heat was required to get it straight again. Its getting there and will be well worth it when she's back to her shiny best.

Good news Ducati fans. I popped up to Conquest Motorcycles to order a near rear tyre for the Blade and was told the Ducati will be returning from Kent tomorrow. Splendid stuff. Just have to find the money now. 
I was down at Poole bike night last week and despite it being a little windy and chilly, it was fairly busy. Met up with a few friends and got chatting with Dr Ian Mew who is riding Dorset Bikesafe's Project DocBike, which is an ex police bike, ridden by a fully qualified Air Ambulance doctor. I think you'll agree this is a great idea and any increase in the county's ability to give vital trauma care gets my vote. I may try and get myself back to the Quay this afternoon thinking about it. Coffee, cake and bikes. Where do I sign?
After waiting over five years to change my job, I've managed to do it twice now in six months. My new role will see me driving or riding for a considerably longer time, which will probably mean that during the winter, I'll hardly be riding at all. This new role however, should give me the opportunity to return to track riding next season. I've learnt my lesson however and will be looking at getting a dedicated track bike and probably a van to transport it in. Watch this space.

On the way home from work today, just near Bere Regis, I saw a sight that always makes my heart sink. There on the Westbound A35 was a biker, lying on the ground, in the rain, missing one of their shoes, being attended to by Dorset emergency services. I don't know what happened, but the conditions weren't very nice. Heavy rain after a few nice days meant the roads were greasy and slippery, which are never the nicest conditions to ride in, which is why I was so annoyed by the two drivers I was following on my alternate route home, the A31.
Up ahead was a rider on a Triumph ST being tailgated by an idiot in a Corsa, who in turn had a BMW right up is backside. As you can imagine the rider was being cautious, taking it steady on the bends, not wanting to end up in the bushes, but these two drivers were getting so close. It wasn't like the rider only slowed on one corner, they were being smart and slowing on them all, but the drivers didn't learn and seemed to be taken by surprise. 
If the rider needed to stop, he would have been hit by both, they were really that close. I'd already seen one rider lying on the tarmac, really didn't want to see another. Pay attention people. That's a persons life you could be playing with right there.

After a fairly bike free week, I was able to get out on the bike both yesterday and today. Today's ride was much better than the commute to work on Friday thats for sure.
I had arranged to meet an old friend in Newbury, but wanted to avoid the direct route, i.e the A34, with although quick, is dull. 
Looking at the map I picked out a route via Salisbury and Hungerford and it was great. The road surfaces went from perfect to 'hedge finding' but traffic was light and the weather was bright. 
It would have made sense to have taken the car, but sometimes, its the bike that calls to me. I'm more than happy to sit in a cafe with an old friend, who could care less about what I was wearing, with leathers falling around my waist, than be bored in a car, but then, I think we're all like that.

Beaulieu, The National Motoring Museum, down in the New Forest in Hampshire, were advertised a 'Simply Bikes' event which sounded interesting, so I asked recently injured Lucinda if she fancied getting out of the house and seeing what the day had on offer.
As I left the house in the car, the weather looked a bit overcast, but it was dry enough, but after picking Lucinda up, and as we crossed the border over into Hampshire the rain came, which persisted enough to put a bit of a dampener on the day.
There were still some 600 odd bikes that turned up, with a strong contingent of Harley Davidsons and everything from learner plated CBF125 to BMW 1000rrs in the parking area. I only actually saw one Ducati though and that was a Monster, which surprised me a little. There were a few little trade stands selling a few bits and bobs, but if I'm being totally honest the Simply Bikes element was fairly underwhelming. The weather could have made a big difference, and despite the firing up of a few classic machines spaced during the day, there was still a lack of any real further activities.
The Motor Museum is a nice place, the collection is decent and well presented, but it was all over a bit quick for my liking. 

Many apologies for a lack up updates recently. Long story short, is it's taken flippin ages to get a decent broadband connection into my new house. These things happen, but I should be back up and blogging from now on.
The latest is as follows. The Ducati is still not back and has had to go on a trip to Maidstone in Kent to have the frame sorted. Once back, it will need a few little additional fixes to make sure it's all okay. Once that has been done it will need a new clutch, but that will probably have to wait until the winter and I may roll that into the next major service which is due in February next year. I'll see how the finances are looking...unless anybody want to sponsor my bike that is...well, it's worth a shot.
The 'Blade has been good as gold and has been my sole riding pleasure and as a result the rear square is almost gone. Its pretty squared off and you can really feel it in the corners, so, I'll get that looked as as soon as time allows.
Finally my thoughts are going to my friend Lucinda who broke her arm whilst on holiday. There's an event at Beaulieu in Hampshire at the weekend. May see if she fancies getting out of the house for a bit.