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 30th, 2014

3/30/2014

0 Comments

 
I had a great day out on the bike yesterday. Sarah was stuck in Birmingham as she was training for her forthcoming 'summer of running' so I had the weekend free to play about, which is exactly what I've done. In order to get some decent road time under my belt I left the house early doors yesterday and spent the morning hooning it around the home counties. 
Picture
I rode out of London and headed West. I skirted Amersham and Chesham, rode through Aylesbury and ended up in Oxford City Centre where I stopped for a sarnie and vanilla smoothie in Cafe Neros. There were some bays outside and a few cars had stopped so I parked up and looked around for signs which indicate the parking restrictions. I couldn't see any, but I knew that as Oxford was one seriously car unfriendly place, there had to be some somewhere. I decided to risk it as I was only going to off the bike for a maximum of 10mins. Just after my sandwich arrived the parking warden arrived. Sh#t!!.
I hopped out of my chair and headed over to plead my case. He was probably the nicest civil servant I have ever encountered. I explained that I was just grabbing a bite to eat and I that I couldn't see any parking restriction signs. It turns out one was mounted on the wall between the shops right behind me. In London, they're normally on poles and I'd simply failed to spot them. What an idoit! He asked me how long I was going to be, to which I replied less than 5mins, which was true and he said, okay, that's fine no problem and he scrapped my ticket. I asked about the motorcycle bays for future reference, but I was left with an overriding feeling of thanks and gratitude. He could easily have been a jobsworth, but he was a really nice bloke. I guess i didn't hurt that I was polite to him and didn't go off the deep end. 
The rest of the mornings riding went well and after a brief stop at the Ace Cafe for a cuppa, he I got home just as the fuel light came on. So this morning, after cleaning the bike last night, I made a quick run to get some fuel this morning. Traffic was already far to busy to think about going for a proper ride so I just stopped for morning coffee and headed home. I then noticed this.

Picture
Somewhere on this mornings very short journey, my clutch reservoir cap made a break for freedom. I can't comment whether this happened by chance, or if it had a helping hand, but as it's Sunday all the dealers are closed, but thankfully my mate Dave, who lives just around the corner and owns a bright red 1198, is going to lend me his cap as he wont be using his bike this week. Thankfully no fluid spilled onto the paint, which is very handy for me. Knowing Ducati though, this is going to cost me £20, which I suppose its one way to boost the Italian economy in these tough times.
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.