Last updated 13th April 2019
Head behind the bubble
  • Home
  • Riders blog
  • Out there, riding - my articles
  • My Bikes - Past and Present
    • Ducati 1098s
    • Honda CBR954RR FireBlade
    • Ducati 695 Monster
    • Kawasaki ZX7-R
  • Motorcycle Media
  • My kit
  • Other rides
  • Videos
  • Bucket List
  • Contact me

March 04th, 2016

3/4/2016

0 Comments

 
With 2016 moving along a quite a pace, we're coming to the end of the Winter. The evenings are getting lighter and the temperature is showing sporadic increases as Winter and Spring fight it out for bragging rights.
Despite the cold and often damp conditions, I've been trying to get out on the bike at least once a week to keep those 'cobwebs' at bay. There is still a real split within the community between those who ride in the winter and those who don't. As we get closer to double figure temperatures and salt free roads, social media chatter is filled with riders proclaiming how they are itching to get back on two wheels. I do get it, I really do. If you enjoy 'proper riding', then why would you want to poodle around getting cold and wet, covering the bike in various levels of road grime? Look, my Ducati is still in the garage under a cover, waiting for the warm weather, so I understand.
Me, I just like riding and I don't care if its cold and wet. As they saying goes 'There is no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing.' Okay, the saying may not actually exist, but you know what I'm getting at.
So with no actual cobwebs to blow away, I was back on the bike yesterday and if I thought that Monday's riding was good, yesterday's was brilliant. To start with though, I have to briefly go back to Wednesday when I was in the car heading to work. The overhead gantry stated the M3 was shut, probably for overnight roadworks, so I turned off and took the A31 to Guildford instead. The road was empty and I got to work quicker than I would do normally. So fast forward again to Thursday and I knew I wanted to take the bike that way instead. 
The morning was chilly, but dry and sunny and the Blade felt great underneath me. With a route filled with fast bends on pretty bumpy tarmac, interspersed with roundabouts, towns and villages, the route was far more interesting than the drudge up the motorway. For the route home I went back to the A29, A272, which is always a great ride. The section on the A272 between Billingshurst and Petworth is possibly my favourite bit of road at the moment.
So after a winter of riding the 'Blade really looks like I've dropped it in a river. It's filthy. I've made the effort to spray her down with the hose when I got home, but all that's really done is remove the loose dirt on the surface. 
She may be dirty, but this winter, she's been as good as gold and I couldn't have wanted a different bike. Lets all give this little 954 a big round of applause. She deserves it.
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Me

    My 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
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012

    Categories

    All
    1098
    Ducati
    FireBlade
    Monster
    Weather
    Zx7r

    View my profile on LinkedIn

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.