Some brilliant biking action on video/DVD

On Saturday I found a video copy of "Miles Ahead" on a charity stall, for 40p. This is the story of an epic 17,000 mile road trip on a BMW from Alaska to Argentina, two up! The ride was completed in 35 days, smashing the previous record of 47 days.

Available on DVD from www.globebusters.com, it's a great story of how, without support vehicles, Kevin and Julia Sanders beat all the odd's to gain the Trans America's record in the Guiness Book of Records.

I also found a copy of 'A Street, A Track, An Open Road' on DVD, which is a very good instructional riding DVD, presented as a competition between three riders. I found myself thinking on the way in this morning on the bike about positioning on the road and braking etc etc. Available from www.stordvd.com, it is well worth getting hold of.

Brilliantly sunny on the way in today, on the bike, but it has rained since, so will be tip-toeing home very shortly!

talking of long distance rides(9000 miles this time), a group of three novice bikers set of from Stonehenge to go round all of Europe's borders later this week, see www.enduroeurope.co.uk.

Bit of a break in blogging now, will be back soon....

Update.....and a picture from Algodonales...

Well it seems the last few days have been pretty busy...Wednesday night did the telephone interview training, more of a laugh than Tuesday night! Thursday at work we had a sales meeting and then went to the pub...Dan had scout's, his trip to Scotland is "postponed", cancelled, more likely!


Friday at work had a talk with Ian which got me worried, then had a meeting on Greece with Barry/Mike/Mark. Barry wound me up so I left at 5pm straight after the meeting finished. In the evening we had a BBQ at the radio, it was okay, and then we came home and vegetated in front of the TV for a couple of hours. Saturday got up and did a reasonable show, I think I will have to prep for it in future. Just get a couple of pieces of news and write some notes. Shouldn't take long! Julie went to Newbury for a craft show, Dan and I went to town, did a little bit of shopping.

Sunday (and Saturday) were very hot, so we pottered around and got a few small job's done.

Tash's has been living away from home at Scott's, not seen here since Saturday. Rabbit got out twice, once during the night and once this evening. I think it will have to go....

Well got to face up to work one more day and then as I said HOLS!!!!!

Oh yes random picture is from Algodonales, Spain, from the radio training trip. Will write that up one day! I spent over an hour this morning copying the picures of my
1Gb memory card from the camera!

More later.....

Brought the car in today......

...even though it is really sunny, since I needed to go to the recycling and get some petrol. Tesco's are running 5p off a litre (and it's down to all of 117.9!) and the voucher expires tomorrow.

Both the car and the bike have CFS suffix,they were both registered in Scotland, or so I am told. There's a coincidence for you...it even took me a while to realise it. Someday soon I will take a pic of them both together.

Talking of recycling I gave up on the plastic's at Tesco, the "bong-bong" of the machine every time it dislikes the way you put something in drives me mad! Tesco's no longer take cardboard (due to arson, the sign says), so I took the cardboard to Andover dump, and they no longer take plastic! To say I am already wound up is an understatement!!!! Will email Hampshire CC again, soon....

Talking of "wound up" had a training session with Baz at the radio last night, one to one, about creating a recorded show. I have been doing live for what seems like ages but I have not yet done recorded. I tried some time ago to do the Time Tunnel links, but gave up because they were too "flat". Last night was fine until we got to the bit where I had to record some links, to play around with. Managed a cracker on the Ludgershall Village Show, then went downhill. Baz kept pushing and pushing until I was all of a tiz, sweaty and unable to think. He told me he was doing this on purpose, to make me feel "pumped up"!

Baz explained that to do recorded and make it sound live you need to visualise a happy place, and keep yourself there. Also do not read from the piece/script/whatever verbatim. It sounds awful! Anyway, now that I know the technical process I have to decide what sort of show I am doing, and get some links recorded. Need "four in the can" to get number one on air.

Tonite further training on the telephone interviews, hopefully it won't be so pressured!

Bidding on some motorcycle boot's on Ebay, and sort out the hols, so pretty busy all week!


Must go, more soon.....

War & Peace Show 2008

Well we had a great time at the W&P show this year, me and Julie, Dan and his mate Mike. When we got to the car park it rained heavily twice, so we went in with coats and boots on, then luckily enough it did not rain again all day! In fact it got quite sunny and we got burnt!
The show had all the usual good stuff, and we also managed to get to the very end of the stalls this year, although we did not quite get to the end of the military vehicle parking. Went to Tonbridge on the way home, KFC (again!) and looked round the castle and park. A good day. Have a feeling that we will not go again, that's our third visit, it's not cheap, and what with Dan's plans who knows!
This week is busy in the evenings, Julies out every night, I'm out twice with the radio, Dan has Mountainbiking and scouts. Sunday Tash went to the beach at Bournemouth, next Saturday she is out on the town with Gary back from Uni. Friday there is a BBQ at the radio for end of term.

Next week we are off to Ibiza, so plans are in hand for what to take, monies and parking etc. etc. More about that later. Can't wait, although I am a bit concerned about all three of us (me, Julie, Dan) in one room for 10 days!

Bike's ok, used it yesterday, and on Sunday both Dan and Julie went on the back. It's a big responsibility for me as well. Emailed the Wiltshire BikeSafe course, places in September and October, might go. Scott's Suzuki has blown up in a puff of smoke, hope it's not too expensive.......

Well it's 7am and I have to get ready for work....will update as the week goes on....

Footnote: It takes 40 minutes to get to work by bike, less than 20 by car! By the time I've moved my car off the drive, rolled Julies back to open the garage, wheeled the bike out, put the helmet/jacket/gloves etc on, closed the garage, put Julies car back, started it, rode in (slower than by car, today via Appleshaw again, lovely day), got to work, it was 8.40am. And I started at 8am! Still, no rush to get in....

Fifth day at work on bike.....

War and Peace 2008







...and it's been drizzling with rain on and off all day, oh well.





Sent our "Ride to Work Day" to MCN, wonder if they will use it?

Off to W&P in the morning, hope it's drier than last year, we had mud up to our ankles!

More text to go with Wednesday's Ride to Work pic:

"Trilogy Ride to Work Day 2008

From left to right:

Ben and his 750cc Honda Shadow "I’m grinning with every ride".

John and his 500cc Royal Enfield Bullet, built in India in 1993 to a British design from the 1950’s. "Pain in the butt to start" is the only repeatable comment!

Charles and his 1300cc (yes, that’s correct!) Kawasaki, built in 1985, the last of the ‘70’s superbikes. "Special bits …1.3 litre inline 6 cylinder, direct fuel injected engine, developing 129 BPH so fun to keep on the road. All up weight 300kg special technique required to lift onto stand…". And you should have seen him bump-starting the thing!

Doug and his 348cc OHV AJS, the oldest bike by far, built in 1928, so eighty years old this year. "Usually called the Big Port because of the size of the exhaust pipe. Last year of the vintage fashion flat tank style before we got the saddle tanks we now have. 3 speed hand-change gearbox, exposed valve gear. Should do 70mph, returns 80mpg, total loss oiling system. Weight about 180lbs. Raced on the grass in Suffolk in the 1930's, recently did a turn at Brooklands".

Thanks to all of you and thank you to those that tried valiantly (Paul) to make it and failed. And to Graham our No1 bike racer, who is so serious this year with his drag racing he does not have a road-worthy bike!"

Must go....news on W&P Monday (probably!)....

Fourth day on bike at work....

Doug setting off home on Ride to Work Day 2008

..yes I have made it four days in a row to work on the bike....my new red helmet arrived yesterday so my heads not so squashed! Bike's OK, I think the neutral finder's knackered, so junctions are my worst problem.


Looks like rain today so might regret bringing bike in after all!!!

Well it's 5.25pm and although it has been looking dodgy all day it's not rained (yet!). Will be off home soon so fingers crossed.

Pretty uneventful day to be honest. at least it's TGI Friday tomorrow, with the weekend to look forward to.........

Ride to Work Day at Trilogy

Well we had four bike's for Ride To Work Day, me, Doug, Charles and Ben. Graham's not got a roadworthy bike, and Paul had trouble starting his...

Left to right Ben on his Honda Shadow 750 (I’m grinning with every ride, he said), me on the Enfield, Charles on his Kawasaki Z1000, Doug on his 80 year old AJS.

FYI the first day I rode the Enfield to work was Monday 2nd June...and the tank of petrol that I just used gave me 66MPG. Will try and improve on that.

Thinking of what to buy for the Enfield, mechanically. Reckon I need:

• Accelerator cable


• Centre stand (not urgent and would be expensive from India due to the weight!).


• Electronic ignition (watching a new one on Ebay right now)


• Oil (needs and oil change, I have the filters and air filter)

Would like to change handlebars and get new grips, and a rubber for the sidestand, and a kickstart repair kit. Still running the NGK BR8ES plug, spits more and I reckon it runs hotter

Dan's birthday did not pass without incident, family issues, and Julie is very upset. He enjoyed his X Box 360, and we went to KFC. Tash and Nan came 2.

That's all folks!

Brilliant DVD.......A Bike Is Born......

Finished watching a brilliant DVD last night, all about restoring a Triumph Bonnie T120R. Bearing in mind the whole DVD was only 90 minutes long, and included stripping it down, painting, rebuilding and riding, the pace is quite quick, but it is a good intro to all things mechanical. Made me want to strip the Enfield down over the winter! Mind you, the Bonnie did cost nearly 5K to get on the road......

Description from Ebay........

A Bike Is Born
1970 TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE T120R

"The intrepid self-build guru Mark Evans takes on another challenge, attempting to restore a Bonnie from a "basket case".
Aside from the self-build challenges, the series includes some personal biking stories gathered from motorcycles fraternities around the UK.
Appealing to amateurs and professionals, male and female alike, this is serious nuts and bolts action from the heart of the workshop. A Bike is Born contains the perfect ingredients for anyone passionate about motorcycles.
In this volume, Mark restores a 1970 Triumph Bonneville T12OR. Despite being a British marque, it was built for the American market, being despatched to the Triumph Corporation in Baltimore. Now, it's the focus of Mark Evans' second self-build challenge, which reveals aspects of its history. Affectionately labelled the 'Bonnie', it remained in production for 25 years. Mark's 'Bonnie' was found in condition best described as 'tired'. Before Mark can get to grips with the construction process, he has to track down some missing parts".

Well worth tracking down and watching.

My bike ran much better today, even though I did not do anything too it. Came in via Appleshaw which is a much better route, but takes longer and I am sure more miles. The council are still replacing the bridge at the back of Charlton Park, so cannot go that way.

It's Dan's 16th today, gave him his X Box 360 this morning, I expect he is going to be on it all day! He also got 5 games in total, not bad. Will go to War and Peace in Kent this Saturday for his birthday treat. http://www.thewarandpeaceshow.com/

Other than that pretty busy at work, quiet on the radio front, need to catch up with Baz at some point. Interviewed Roy Mayer at the weekend to promote the Ludgershall Garden Show....need to edit it and add it to the system.

Bought a second Box helmet today, a larger one, so I have a spare, should anyone be brave enough to go on the back of my bike. Hope to persuade Dan and Julie to come out with me from time to time...

Be back soon with more updates.....

Yes it's National Motorcycle Week and Wednesday is Ride to Work Day. Yesterday (Sunday) I was working on the 'bike and the centre stand fell off, luckily I was holding the handlebar at the time and the side stand was down, so it did not fall over. The day before I had put it on the centre stand whilst filling it with petrol, god only knows what a mess it would have made if it fell over then!

I've changed the plug back to the "proper" one, started better, but stalled when I slowed down (twice, at the top of the road and at the big roundabout near the nature reserve). Oh Yes, had a mad motorist moment on that roundabout, he did not like me going so slow so he swung round me, and gave me several V signs! He also went round the next roundabout 360 degrees, so he could have another go at me. I pulled in to KFC for a minute to let him go. WARNING, do not argue with motorists!

Will try and get all Trilogy motorcyclists in on Wedesday for a photo-shoot, not aware of anything else happening locally by way of motorbike events. Shame really. Let's hope the sun shines.

Last week I was in Greece for a couple of days for work, boy was it hot! 42 degrees, and a hot wind. Stayed inside with the aircon on most of the time. Back by Thursday night.

Busy week this week, tomorrow is Dan's 16th, bought him the X Box 360 he wanted, oh well, might as well spend it while you have it. Not seen or spoken to Baz since Spain, did the Saturday Morning Show as usual, not too bad this week.

Anyway, must go, will keep you posted.

I've been away.....

...and not bothered with Blogging, since it was hard to get Internet access. I went to a small village in Spain called Algodonales, in the Andalusian part of Spain, down towards the southern tip. The trip was an EU funded Media training course, and I met a terrific group of like-minded Community Radio professionals. Except radio is my "hobby", not my job! Picture shows the really nice church in Algodonales.

Before the trip Dan and I did Chute Fete, it was a damp day, but OK. Met and interviewed Georgie Palmer, BBC South Today's weather reporter, who opened the fete. Struggled a little with the equipment (we had to use the Mk2 RRRR, called the "Burger Van", and the little generators and my laptop/mixer combination just did not get along!). Castledown Radio volunteer Lynne Mayo came along and helped all afternoon, so the time passed ok.

As I said I then went to Spain, on the training course. I think I should write a whole post on that trip!

Got back last night at 6pm, had dinner and checked out Tashie's car, which needs to go to the garage for repairs. Started the bike, which has developed a tendancy to pop and bang on tickover, did not use it today, too tired. Must put the old plug back and see if it runs better. Also received from India the oil and air filters, no points/condenser, out of stock.

Dan's prom this Friday, radio show Saturday, then off the see mum in Essex for the weekend.

Must go, will write a longer blog on the Spain trip soon......honest........