Here comes the summer

So here we are – British Summertime is here at last. The strange yellow spherical object in the sky shines forth, daffodils start to bloom, the distant hum of lawnmowers can be heard on the breeze and different varieties of flabby white skin can be seen as people again start to bare their bodies to the sun (even though the temperature at the moment is scarcely into the early teens celcius). Yes, judging by the weather on show last weekend, spring has well and truly sprung in Olde Englandshire.

There is another, somewhat perplexing phenomenon to be seen at this time of year, a strange, yearly occurrence that takes place at each Vernal Equinox – it is the re-emergence from hibernation of the weekend sportsbike rider (otherwise known at Chegwin Towers as the “all the gear but no idea” brigade). Commonly named “Gaz”, “Baz” and “Daz”, these extraordinary creatures, reminiscent of the species “Powersus Rangerum”, are known for their bright, shiny colourings, expensive new machinery and for “givin’ it some” knee-down heroics. Their common habitat, having completely over-estimated their ability after months off a bike, is wrapped around a tree or in a ditch by the side of the road.

You would think that more biking calamities would happen in winter when the weather is at its worst yet each year the biker accident statistics rise with the mercury. Clearly, it’s a numbers game but it really is no wonder the OB take such a keen interest in bikers – we do ourselves no favours sometimes. As far as “Gaz”, “Baz” and “Daz” are concerned, if they are lucky, they survive and don’t take anyone else with them – if not....

Anyway, putting my middle-aged prejudices aside for a moment, from a biking perspective I love this time of year. The spring, summer and autumn months are stretching ahead of us, with long evenings to enjoy and plenty of grip in the roads - so what delights does the biking year ahead hold? Speaking personally, aside from bits and pieces like next weeks’ “Ride of Respect 2011” through Royal Wootton Bassett not that much is in the diary at the moment – at least in terms of bigger trips.

There’s talk of a jaunt to the Nurburgring and of a long weekend in Normandy in May sometime – and of course, my club has the yearly Remembrance Weekend trip over the Channel to wartime battlefields and monuments. Apart from that, a lot of stuff happens on the spur of the moment, perhaps when some spare time is identified or the weather prospects are particularly good – such as with yesterday’s cracking post-breakfast hoon around the roads of Surrey and Sussex in the glorious sunshine.

Whatever we do, being a winter rider too hopefully I’ll be ready – the bike is working well and I just have a feeling that it’s going to be a good summer. So enjoy (and stay safe)....