I took a call from my RoSPA examiner today, well I say my examiner, I've never actually met the bloke and the Police rider who originally tested me back in 2010, has since retired. It looks like the plan is to arrange the test for some point next week. It could be on Tuesday, but there is the possibility that it could be any afternoon at pretty short notice. Personally I don't mind which day, just as long as its not raining. Its very difficult to show the man what you can do when half of your mind is worrying about losing the front and going arse over tit into the bushes.

I woke this morning to the sound of wind and rain battered the outside of my house and after a quick peak through the curtains I knew I had to get my rain stuff on. This is basically my Sidi Gore Tex boots (which are a little small, but nearly worn out) my waterproof gloves and my El Nino rain suit. The last time I wore the suit was at the Donington Park trackday back in May and trust me when I say its a major hassle dragging the rain suit on before 04:30 in the morning. This was made somewhat annoying as by the time I got the bike out of the garage, the rain and stopped and not a single drop fell on me on the way to work.

Well, Summer has ended, Autumn is here and Winter is just around the corner. Well that's how it felt at 04:30 this morning when I left for work. Crickey it felt cold! But that was it; it only felt cold, it wasn't really that cold in the grand scheme of things. I've ridden to work when it was -7 which I quickly realised was my limit. I could barely open my hands for twenty minutes after that one, but this morning, the temperature gauge on my bike's dash was claiming it was 8 degrees, so at worst it was just 'chilly'. My Alpinestars 365 gloves have never been the warmest of things and my Ninja had heated grips fitted for those cold mornings, but I'm certainly not going to fit aftermarket heated grips to the Ducati. That is the second least cool (excuse the pun) thing to put on the handle bars behind bar muffs. The 1098s front fairing isn't that great at protecting the hands from the wind either, so couple that with the first 'lower' temperature since Spring, it was certainly noticeable.
In bike news, the Metaltech Racing parts I ordered are on their way, just in time for the Ducati to be put away in a month of so. My front tyre is looking a little worse for wear, so I've ordered up a new Rosso Corsa too and I mentioned that I'm going to need a new chain and sprockets, which I'll get installed during the frankly excessively expensive Desmo service due at 12000 miles. Its worth nothing that thats less than 500 miles away.
You may remember I mentioned testing out the differences between performance fuels and regular petrol a few posts back. Well I've concluded the first step having burnt my way through several tanks of the new Shell V Power Nitro, which has included lots of town riding and some serious thrashing up the motorway. I'm now back on the normal stuff and as the fuel in the tank seems to last four days,  I should be able to get some figures to compare in a few weeks.
Finally, I got a lovely email this afternoon saying that I have qualified for a press pass for Motorcycle Live at the NEC at the end of November, which is rather exciting. Pop on over to 'Out there, Riding' to read my review of last years show. I plan on doing something similar this year, so stay tuned.

Well, just look at that. Today is officially the first anniversary of www.headbehindthebubble.com. There have been highs and there have been lows, but I am very proud of this little site and I would like to formally thank every single person who has visited over the last 356 days. Without you, this site wouldn't be worth bothering with and for those of you that continue to visit I cannot begin to thank you enough. I must be doing something right that brings you back, what that is thou, I'm not entirely sure.
More thanks go to Mike and Artur at Metropolis. Barry and all his team at North London Motorcycle training. All my friends at the Ducati Forum. Not forgetting Kevin, Ben, Dave and Sarah. All of whom have helped me along the way and made me the man and the rider I am today.  Here's to another year of excitement and bike riding.
Matt

What a fantastic little weekend that was. The weather man told us that the summer would be making its last stand this weekend and I didn't need telling twice, so instead of plumming for the car, I took the bike straight out of London down to Poole and Bournemouth for the weekend with Sarah.
Instead of taking the usual A3, A272 route, I needed to head past Box Hill so my plan was to take the A24 South to the start of the A272, ride west all the way along this great British biking route, pick up the A31 at Alton and head on into Poole via the M27 and the A31 through the New Forest as per usual. Well that was the plan anyway.
I picked up the A272 and headed west, but by the time I reached it, my shoulders and hands were shot. I'd already worked a full eight hour shift starting before 05:00 as usual and having to ride out of London through Wandsworth just sealed it. I was knackered.
It was when heading through Petworth when my plan got altered thou. I basically missed my turn as I wasn't paying attention to the road signs as I was making my way through the queues, so instead of heading West to Midhurst, I was headed South for Goodwood and Chichester. I realised this pretty soon, but couldn't be bothered to turn around, thinking that I'd spot a sign leading me to Petersfield or Midhurst, but they didn't come; mainly as they were rapidly disappearing behind me. 
As I got near the little village of Duncton (I only know this now as I've just looked it up on Google Maps) my fuel light came on and by this time I realised I could head West along the A27 and M27 to get back onto the A31. I'm midway through a self run fuel test, so I wanted to find a Shell garage to be able to continue. Don't ask me why I'm being stubborn about it thou. Anyway, previously I had worked out that I get through roughly a litre of fuel for every nine miles I ride, yeah I know its rubbish, so with four litres in 'reserve' I have a theoretical limit of thirty six miles. I entered Chichester at the start of rush hour in absolute agony, but couldn't find a Shell garage on the A27, so I pushed my luck and kept on going.
The miles were ticking by and the fuel kept getting lower and lower. I passed a Shell garage on the opposite carriageway just after the A3(M) and felt positive as these stations are often built in pairs. However, the station on my site seemed notable by its absence. Finally, as my trip meter pushed past the thirty mile mark, I spotted a sign for some services just off the A2030 on the North side of Portsmouth. Thankfully it was the right petrol station and I can remember saying to myself, if they have a loo and a Costa, I'll be a happy man. Well, one out of two ain't bad I guess and I could always get some tea when I get home.
So fuelled and emptied at the same time, I made the final push for Poole and pretty much just nailed it down the M27. I briefly stopped at Conquest Carbon in Wimbourne to say hi to Steve, but he'd already left for the day, so I changed visors and headed off, quickly and safely reaching my future inlaws. 
We were in Poole/Bournemouth so Sarah could run the Supersonic 10k race as part of Bournemouth's Marathon weekend and she managed the course in just over an hour and in the process raised £350 for Invest in M.E. I was so proud of her as she did the run carrying an injury and was very nervous about her ability to finish at all. If you want to donate, have a look here www.justgiving.com/Sarah-Tilley3 
So finally it was 14:00 on the Sunday and time to head home. I wasn't too sure if I wanted to simply fly up the M3, or weather I wanted to go back onto the part of the A272 I missed out on on Friday and pick up the A3 past Guildford instead. Now I could sit here and say that I chose the M3 to see how good the fuel economy was using Shell V Power on the motorway, but to be honest, I just wanted to get home. I find I get very nervous about two hours before a long ride and its always a very emotional time parting ways with Sarah as she heads North up to Birmingham and I head East to London. This time she stayed later that usual which freed me up to go at my own pace on the start of the ride back.
Allowing the wind to take the weight of my upper body, I reached Fleet services feeling fairly fresh. I didn't really need or want to stop, but I stopped anyway to ensure that I didn't suffer when fighting through the crappy traffic that was waiting for me 45mins up the road.
Whilst sat drinking my decaf I noticed loads of people wearing the celebratory T shirt that were handed out to each and every finisher of all the Bournemouth races at the weekend and heard a few people talking about my bike, which I parked away from the cars, up next to a wall by the entrance. 
Finally, a few hours after leaving Poole I was back inside London and joining the A406. When passing the Ace cafe a rider in street gear (jeans and trainers) riding a Suzuki GSXR joined the carriageway and we followed each other up and out of London on the A41 fighting our way through the traffic. It was a nice way to end a long ride, almost like a welcome home.
So here I sit, happy, tired and very content. I had a great weekend and it was probably the last real opportunity to have a great biking weekend before things get a lot colder. I fear its going to be another longish winter thou, but thats not all bad as it will give me loads of time to make sure the Ducati is ready for those first few days of Spring.

Well its official, I have become my dad. Admittedly, that's not actually that bad a thing, but yesterday I was really rather pleased with myself when I managed to pick up a new 3mm T bar from Bondhus www.bondhus.com I'm almost ashamed to say, but its really cool. Its a solid piece of steel with a red rubber handle. Its excellently made, easy to use and fits well in the hand; its just how a tool should be. I'm so pleased that I plan of replacing the draper T bars I currently have, but only in the sizes I use on the bike. I'm not made of money you know

There is something very distinct and unique about the smell of a motorcycle when ridden after it has been out in the rain. Its the strange sickly smell of debris and dirt suspended in the rain water being burnt away by the heat of the engine and the exhaust. I have never liked it which is funny because I have no problem riding in the rain or poor weather conditions. High winds maybe, but certainly not rain. As the saying goes 'there's no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing'. This mornings ride was the first ride in the rain that I've had to make for several weeks, but the wet greasy conditions often leave me with no confidence in my tyres, nor the condition of the road. I have often talked about the amount of diesel and oil I see when riding around London and my constant amazement that fewer vehicles seems to break down. This morning wasn't any different.
The Pirellis that are currently on the Ducati are a superb dry weather and track day tyre, but as the summer fades into autumn and winter I'd rather have a bike shod with Michelin's excellent Pilot Road 3s which would give much better wet/cold weather grip. Saying that, its pretty much a moot point because as soon as the temperature drops down close to freezing and the council decide to spread the road salt about, the Ducati will stay tucked up in the garage on a charger.
Hopefully I'll get the second bike sorted by then, as I really hate using the car in London, but then again, who doesn't?