Looking at the forecast for tomorrow, it looks like I'll be able to to finally test out the waterproof qualities of my Rukka suit. Saying that, I must remember to put all my stuff in a carrier bag inside my tank bag for the morning. My suit is waterproof, but my bag isn't. I do have a waterproof Kreiga tailpack I can use, but its a bit small for my needs.
Well the last two days have felt like Summer taking its last stand, so its been a real pleasure to be out on the bike. Today, after work, I headed out to see an old friend in Maidenhead and on the way, well on the A4 at North End Road in Hammersmith to be precise, the odometer on the FireBlade clicked past 17000 miles. Admittedly only about 2000 of those are mine, but it still caught my eye whilst sat at the lights.
Looking at the forecast for tomorrow, it looks like I'll be able to to finally test out the waterproof qualities of my Rukka suit. Saying that, I must remember to put all my stuff in a carrier bag inside my tank bag for the morning. My suit is waterproof, but my bag isn't. I do have a waterproof Kreiga tailpack I can use, but its a bit small for my needs.
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For the first time in a long time, I've actually wanted it to rain. Now I'm sure you can guess that the only reason I want it to rain, is to see how my new suit reacts. I have no reason at all to think that it will be anything but 100% waterproof so its all a bit silly really. I will say one thing about the suit though, It's proper warm, even without the thermal liner.
A good piece of advise to anybody when they own a bike would be to join a bike specific forum or social media group. Why you ask? well, apart from a pretty decent knowledge base in most cases, you can pick up some real bargains. For example, I managed to get these crash mushrooms through Facebook for £35 delivered, which is a good £20 less than direct from R&G and also avoids ebay, which can only be a good thing. I'll get them fitted in the next few days Well as the weather forecast alluded to, today the UK was being lashed by the tail end of Hurricane Gonzalo worked it was across the Atlantic. So, this was the perfect day to start using my new Rukka gear which arrived yesterday. Having not worn textiles for ages, it took a little getting used to, especially the weight. The jacket is bigger, and a broader than my Alpinestars jacket, but even with the thermal lining removed, is lovely and warm. So far so good, but despite the forecast warning of serious downpours, not a drop fell on me all day. I'll be able to give a more detailed review in a month or so, which I'll update into the kit section.
I had been thinking about going to the final round of the 2014 BSB Championship at Brands Hatch today, but yesterday Kiyo fell at Graham Hill, broke a collarbone and all but handed the title to Shane Byrne, killing off pretty much all the excitement from the day. So instead I watched the MotoGP from Philip Island live on BT Sport first thing, went for a run and then cleaned up the FireBlade. Well, its what Sundays are for isn't it?
Not much has really been happening with me lately. I'm working on an article for the British arm of the Ducati Owners club (DOCGB) and have been getting some great stuff from their members which I should have polished off by the weekend. In other news, when I got back from Italy earlier this year, I did a bit of work for my mate Simon (formally of RiDE magazine) who has been working on a project called Lincolnshire Biker. I donated some work about World Ducati Week which he'll be using at some point....hopefully and from what I can tell it started out as an online magazine, but is now more of a rolling blog, like this one. So, if you fancy a little look around, check it out by following this link. http://lincolnshirebiker.wordpress.com/2014/10/ Tell him I said hi.
Well after exclusively wearing leathers since my crash in 2012, today I've ordered up a nice basic Rukka textile suit. I'm basically tired of getting cold/wet during the winter, so I'm investing in some more practical clothing. My current combination of leathers and oversuit do keep me dry and warm but there's always been a slight problem. If its not raining when I leave the house/work, I tend not to actually wear the oversuit and then if caught in a shower, I get wet. The jacket is also vented, so even with the liner in, isn't what I would call toastie.
The Rukka kit should last a good five or six years plus if looked after and I'll still have my two piece leather suit for the dryer and warmer months. Anyway, come Motorcycle Live in Novemeber, I'm after a new one piece Alpinestar leather suit to replace to one destroyed at Silverstone earlier this year. The 'Commute' - always different, but always the same. That most regular of journeys, to and from work, five days a week, forty eight weeks a year. Its always different, but always the same. You never know which junction the blind motorist will drive out of. You never know which motorist won't give you the space you need to feel safe. Its always a wonder to realise which pedestrian will step in to the road without looking or caring. The commute, its always different but always the same.
Its not all bad though. You never know which light will stay green long enough for you to pass through. You never know if you'll be able to achieve the Holy Grail of commutes, one in which you only put your foot down once when finally reaching your destination and just maybe, a fellow motorist will surprise you, or maybe you'll receive a nod from a non weary rider. The commute; its always different and never the same. Well it was two years ago today that I nervously started this website, but it's nothing without the people who actual visit and have a look around, so may I just pass on a massive thanks to each and every one of you.
So what's happened in the last year? Well, first I bought and sold a Ducati Monster and then bought a minty 2002 Honda FireBlade to replace it. What a bike! I did a few track days on the 1098s, the last of which resulted in a massive lowside at Silverstone and an £800 bill. Could have been a lot worse, especially as the only injuries I received were some burns to my elbows and arms. Eight weeks later I rode the very same bike all the way across France and to the Ducati factory in Italy for World Ducati Week. I can hardly believe that I did, but I've got photos so it must have happened. But the most important thing from the last twelve months are still the friends, new and old, I've made and the stories we've shared. The motorcycle community is, for me, one of the greatest in the world. Once a biker, always a biker and despite all the pain, both financial and physical, I wouldn't have it any other way. Well over the last two days, summer has very much made way for Autumn. As I result, I've got soaked...twice, which is never nice. I know I've mentioned if before, but I am seriously impressed with the way the Angel GT tyres are performing. The sheer amount of water on the road yesterday and this morning was dealt with without a single 'moment'. I wasn't riding hard (I'd be an idiot if I were) but the FireBlade remained totally stable and controllable at all times. Knowing that I have good tyres underneath me really helps me concentrate on the actual riding and avoiding all the hazards each journey throws my way.
In other news, tomorrow is a big day for headbehindthebubble. Tomorrow is this sites second anniversary. Wow, doesn't time fly. After an earlyish start yesterday, I headed up to Silverstone to catch the qualifying for the British Superbikes. Due to my work with the Ducati Forum, I was able to get some hospitality for myself and five friends with Pirelli. With a tasty sausage sarnie and a coffee inside me, we were shown a presentation on the evolution of the Angel GT tyre, which are the tyres I used to get to and from World Ducati Week earlier this year and were shown around the tyre changing facility that Pirelli had up and running for the racing. The weather was awful in the morning, so the tyre changers were super busy, changing tyres for everybody across all the classes. Thankfully the weather improved and we got to see a few races and the qualifying itself, which by now was on a rapidly drying track. Sat up in the Luffield Grandstand, I watched as proper riders gave it the berries onto the start finish straight. I love Silverstone and having been on track there myself, the respect I have for those guys is immense.
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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
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