Time for a change?

So, here we are at the back end of February and although the weather remains cold and (largely) miserable, it is at this time of year that Spring starts to come into view on the horizon, with its lighter evenings and gradually warmer weather. It is also at this time of year that thoughts start to turn to the possibility of a new bike (and by that I mean new to me - not sure I'd ever actually buy new from a showroom because when you wheel it out, you immediately lose 25% of its value, which seems a strange economy to me, but that's by the by....).

This is year 3 of owning the Z1000 and I have to say that I've enjoyed every minute of it (apart from being blown all over the place on Belgian motorways, due to lack of wind protection). But overall, it is a fantastic bike with power, character and presence and it does everything I ask of it. And I still look at it and think "pfwooooorrrrr"! So why thoughts of change? Well, it's what we do as bikers isn't it? There's always something newer, faster, shinier, comfier and it's nice to get the full experience isn't it?

Look at this monstrosity!

What I can say at the outset is that any "new" bike WON'T be a BMW, nor will it be one of those "adventure" bikes that seem so popular these days. Not only are they pig ugly, they are often ridden by people called Malcolm who kid themselves they're a cross between Ewan McGregor and Dr. David Livingstone, eating miles and traversing continents when in actual fact they live in a 3-bed semi in Surbiton and use the bike to pop to the shops! I exaggerate of course....(but not by much!).

So what is on the Chairman Chegwin wish list these days? I had a bit of a thing for a long time about the Ducati Diavel, but although undoubtedly a very good bike, it left me a bit uninspired (especially at the price). When thoughts of a new steed do start to take hold, Triumph's excellent Speed Triple is never far away from consideration. The bike mags all love it and it sells very well - and yet, despite admiring from afar, I've never been *that* moved to go and get myself one. These days the styling puts me off a bit and it seems to get smaller with each passing year, which is no good to those of us with, shall we say, a more "robust" frame. Call me old fashioned but I like a bike with over 1000ccs to actually feel like a bike that's got 1000ccs.

So what else? Well, this is definitely one from the leftfield but I have to admit to a bit (ok, a lot) of a man crush on the gorgeous Kawasaki W800. It sounds barmy but I absolutely love the looks and, while I haven't (yet) ridden one, sitting astride it, it fits like a glove. It is soooo comfortable and just felt so.....right! Ultimately, it would be a more sedate option than the rather more manic Z1000 I have now, but I think it would be SERIOUS fun. A second bike perhaps? Hmmm....

However, my new object of desire (and it is only an object, since I haven't actually seen one in the flesh as yet) is the MV Agusta Brutale 1090R - there's a sportier "RR" version too. I mean, just look at it....it's absolutely....brutal! The naked superbike class is definitely where I'm positioned as a biker and a buyer these days and this would certainly be a natural progression from the almost-as-brutal Z1000. But there's always a downside isn't there? Yes, it's Italian! Which means that as sure as night follows day, it will be unreliable and bits will fall off at regular intervals. And, naturally, it's expensive....with a list price of £12,500. Is it worth it? I have absolutely no idea. But the question I ask myself is: is it £7,500 better than what I paid for my Z1000? On a straight comparison, they're actually fairly similar bikes - and this is where reality starts to bite because I'm not about to plunge a lot of money on what is effectively a punt. Bike dealers must hate people like me.

So, what happens now? Well....precisely nothing! I still love the Z1000 and I haven't seen many other bikes that do it for me as much as my current bike does. It's only coming up to 17k miles, runs like a dream, looks fantastic and is in many ways the perfect bike.

So why get rid? This love affair has a while to run yet methinks.... 

Weather and public transport RANT!!!

So here we are, in mid-late January. The last five days in London (and much of the country) have been characterised by varying degrees of snow, ice and plunging temperatures. Kids love it - I don't. While all the main roads in our locality are well gritted and usable, sadly the same cannot be said of the side roads where we live, where pavements remain covered in snow and the side roads themselves are like sheet ice. Sheet ice = dropped bike, so this has meant that my beloved steed stays put and I have to resort to the horror that is public transport to get to and from work. So far, I've had three days of it and I have to say, an end to this weather cannot come quickly enough.

My journey to work consists of a 2-mile bus ride to the end of the tube line. From there it's a straight run up into Central London. With changes, it takes an average of 90 minutes to do. So that's about three hours a day - for a journey of 14 miles each way! On the bike, it takes a third of the time.

I topped up my Oyster travelcard yesterday (Monday) with £30.00. If this weather continues, that'll be gone by Thursday. But cost aside, I just find public transport in the London rush hour a thoroughly dispiriting experience. This morning the queue for the bus was 13 deep. The first bus that came along was packed to the rafters, so didn't stop. Wait for the next one then....

The tube trains have also been rammed each day. Fortunately, being at the end of the line, I do manage to get a seat. Others further up the line are not so fortunate - if they manage to get on at all. People are rude, they push and shove, they cough all over you, batter you with their rucksacks, the trains are dirty and full of stale air and germs and people just look so bloody miserable all the time - as well they might, it's a horrible horrible experience.

                                  
                                 THIS ISN'T LIVING!!!!!!!

                            WHY DO PEOPLE DO IT????
                                   
                                 I HATE IT, I HATE IT!!!!
                
                 AAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!
  
PS. On arriving home tonight I find that it's 'effin snowing....AGAIN!! 

Box Hill or Bust recommends....

Bikes and biking is a bit of a niche subject in terms of creative and lifestyle writing and it can be difficult to come up with interesting pieces that are not simply a variation on the same theme. I'm strictly an amateur at this and write from a purely personal perspective on the bike-related things I get up to but I do find it interesting that, when looking around the web, it appears that the number of similar active (amateur) bloggers writing regularly and solely about our favoured pastime is actually quite small (or at least I've not been able to find vast numbers doing it).

So, while Box Hill or Bust is obviously the most interesting, most informative and best written blog in the "blogosphere" [quiet at the back there!], what else is out there for our delectation? A handful can be found on the "Blog Roll" further down this page on the right hand side and for the purpose of this piece, I thought I'd highlight four in particular that I enjoy reading. And if this helps increase their audience in any way, then all well and good.

First up, "A Bedford Biker".

Written by Lizzie Lane, a young blogger and biker from (I know you won't believe this...) Bedford, this is written from the perspective of someone growing up with a love of bikes but who has only recently passed her test - so her's is a different and interesting take on all things biking (and in stark contrast to old gits like me who have been riding for years). This is an entertaining and well written blog and I really like her youthful positivity. She'll learn.....!

Next up, "Braais, beers and bikes".

This one is much closer to home for me - written by Andrew Wood (aka "The Rider"), a gnarled old rocker, drinker and biker who is based in the Western Cape in South Africa. Andrew comes across as a really good guy and this one does exactly what it says on the tin - it's all about braais (barbeques), beers and bikes and basically having a good time (all the bloody time, it seems!). It's a very entertaining blog, packed full of photos and I have to say that I'm somewhat envious of Andrew's lifestyle!  

Next we have "Confessions of an Ageing Motorcyclist".

This one is different again. Written by Geoff James, a British ex-pat nowadays living on North Island, New Zealand, who describes himself as a "Grumpy old curmudgeon on some occasions, mental age of 5 on others". Hmmm...that's quite close to home too! Geoff has been riding a long time and has definitely "seen it and done it", so to speak. He is also a longstanding IAM member so this blog tends to be a bit more in-depth, informative and sensible than the tripe I write.      

Last (but certainly not least), we have "Find Me On The Road".

This one is a relatively new discovery for me, written by "SoniaM", who is based on the West Coast of Canada. Sonia seems to be fairly prolific, having written 138, 137 and 111 pieces respectively in each of the last three years (where does she find the time I ask?!). I'm still catching up with all this content but again, this is a well written and an interesting account of biking from yet another part of the world.   

So there you have it. Four very different blogs and four very different people, each offering a different experience and perspective on the life that we love. Now I suppose I'll have to get to work and make Box Hill or Bust a bit better!

Happy reading.....

You lucky people!

Back to work after the Christmas and New Year break and what do we find in the news to welcome in 2013? Yep, rail passengers are facing their tenth consecutive year of above-inflation fare rises. This is a familiar theme for this blog and what we now find is that from today, the average season ticket goes up by 4.2% and many will rise by more than double that (a season ticket from Banbury to London rises by 9.2% or £436 - incredibly, that ticket is now just shy of £5,200 a year!!).

The unions have been quick to say that the Government is pricing ordinary people off the railway and according to a Network Rail study, more a third of trains are still late! This is going to keep happening, yet bizarrely, more people are using the railways than ever. Demand is growing at 5-6% every year, despite the fact that average train fares have risen nearly three times faster than average incomes since 2008. Rail use and the high prices, overcrowding and questionable punctuality that go with it seems to buck every trend and no one that I know can explain it.

Many commuters are spending a good 10%+ of their salary simply on travelling into work - and that's not even considering the time it takes out of the day with delays, connections etc etc. I suspect many of those will also say that they have no choice but to keep paying what is demanded of them. It's a captive market innit? But aside from how good any of this is for the world of work, people's pockets and their family/home life (or the country's economic recovery), will people really keep taking the hit? How much more can the Government and the rail companies get away with extorting from their "customers"? And does the "no choice but to pay it" argument really stack up?

I don't have all the answers but what I do know is that this state of affairs must represent a real opportunity for the motorcycle industry. The "Get On" and "Ride to Work Day" campaigns are doing some really good work but they are voices in isolation, so what I'd like to see in 2013 is a concerted campaign, backed (and funded) by all sides of the industry and the biking media, to really drive home the message of the advantages of switching to two wheels. The arguments are well-rehearsed but they're not being heard. What I don't see is any sense of us as a community working together.  

They say the two certainties in life are death and taxes. These fare rises are now becoming a tax on work - it's time to try a different direction....

Happy New Year!!!

Well, that's 2012 (nearly) out of the way and so we look forward to what 2013 has to bring. One thing's for sure (especially for those of us living in London), 2012 will be very hard to beat. Virtually all summer long, London was the centre of the world's attention and despite the downbeat predictions I made at this time last year, I have to admit that we as a city coped brilliantly with the Olympics. In fact, against all expectations, it was an absolute dream getting around London. There was no gridlock on the roads, the transport system didn't keel over and at times Central London seemed largely deserted. Clearly, the government did such a good job with their doom-laded messages that it seems many people simply took August off! If only it could  be like that all the time.... And our athletes delivered - all in all, it was a very un-British display of organisation and excellence!

On the downside, I didn't do nearly enough biking this year. Despite plans being laid, there were no big trips and the weather put paid to a lot of riding here at home. It is also fair to say that this had an effect on this blog. I'm not really one for New Year's Resolutions but the message for 2013 is very much "must do better". More riding and more writing is the order of the day over the next twelve months.

As a start, plans are emerging for a return to the roads of France - in particular, the Route Napoleon and Gorges Du Verdon, down in deepest south of France (close to Nice), which have been suggested by biker pal Steve. I'm not familiar with these myself but am reliably informed that these should be on every bikers' bucket list. And I have to say that it does indeed look promising....! (click on the pic below)

The so-called "Grand Canyon of Europe"

So that's something to look forward to in probably April time.

Aside from that, having spent Christmas up with family on Anglesey, we have to do last year's aborted trip to Wales this year. The roads up there are just brilliant (as long as the weather is ok....)

That's all to come (and more besides, hopefully), but for now I would just like to take this opportunity to wish all of you who bother to read this blog a happy and successful new year. Most of all, keep the rubber on the road and stay safe - there are a lot of idiots out there!

Winter is here....

Yes, dear reader....the clocks have gone back, the days are shortening and it's only a matter of a few weeks until Christmas. Where did the year go?

Biking wise, I have to say that 2012 has turned out to be a complete non event, which is a shame because 2011 was full of good riding, including a couple of fantastic long weekends in France. I had plans for this year but work, circumstance and (mostly) the weather has got in the way. I definitely need to make amends in 2013 but this year isn't over yet. You never know....

While plenty of fellow bikers will be putting their pride and joy away in the garage for the winter months, I'm not one of them. Never have been. As far as I'm concerned, bikes are there to be ridden and there is plenty of good winter riding to be had (there's plenty of crap, attritional riding to be had on the commute too, but we'll ignore that for the purpose of this piece). Yes, the winter months get a tad chilly and you might have to deal with a bit of wind and rain on occasion if you're caught out but I don't think there's much that's better than a bracing blast in the bright winter sunshine. It's good for the soul!

And if you are so minded (or a bit of a pansy), there's a plethora of kit and accessories available these days to keep you warm and dry - from handlebar muffs and handguards to heated grips and seats to all manner of waterproofs and heated clothing....gloveliners, vests, jackets, trousers, boot insoles etc etc. Just make sure your battery (and wallet) can cope!

Personally, I don't bother with any of that (other than waterproofs). I had some heated grips on a previous bike (my beloved VFR) but found that while they can almost burn your palms off on the underside, they do very little to offset the chill on the outside of your fingers. They just didn't feel right, so I got rid.

I'm a bit of a purist when it comes to winter riding anyway - I prefer layers to manufactured heat and, despite my advancing years, actually quite like the chill and the feel of exposure to the elements. And yes, I get a strange kick from the cold weather tears, ruddy cheeks and nose dribbles that go with it! It seems to me that if you have heated everything, then you may as well be in a car. Others will disagree, I'm sure (I'm also sure that if I had to do long motorway schleps on a regular basis, I'd be taking a very different view!)

Mind you, there are limits. It was 3°c on the ride into work early this morning and as I drew up to some lights alongside a young guy on an R6, I could see that all he had on as protection from the elements was a thin jacket, jeans, trainers AND NO GLOVES!!! Brrrrr!!!!! 

Enjoy the winter ride!    

Bikes....Football....Beer....GOLF?!

Yes dear reader, it would appear that your faithful scribe has succumbed to middle age....having reached nearly 47 years of age and never having played the game before, golf is now a new pastime of choice. How did this happen? It's not very "bikerish" is it? Well that's what I thought - but the reality it seems is somewhat different. I learn that quite a few of my biker and football pals enjoy a round from time to time. One of my oldest friends is so engrossed in the game he even blogs about it: check out the excellent Three Off The Tee

Everything is still at an early stage - at the moment, I'm enjoying some introductory lessons to learn the basics, will then graduate to playing a 9-hole course, and then onwards to the full 18. I very much doubt that Lee Westwood is looking over his shoulder but it's good fun, a good challenge, good exercise and at the present time, it's all about incremental progress. I'm even buying golfing magazines alongside Fast Bikes, Motor Cycle Monthly and Classic Rock!

Now, you may laugh but what has surprised me is how close golf is to biking. Yes, you read that right - golf and biking actually share very similar characteristics. Let us consider the evidence....

1. It's all about the wrists and arms (and posture) - something I've learned very early on is the importance of getting into the right position(s), of not gripping the club too tight or tensing the arms. This of course is the same in biking - tensing on the bars and throttle is not good. Nice and smooth and relaxed is the way forward in both (mind you, it ain't easy teeing off in helmet & leathers....)

2. Look good and feel good - get the right gear, make sure it's comfortable and that you're looking good (as with John Daly, below right, it doesn't matter if others don't think so, just as long as you do!). If you look good you feel good and you will play better - just as in biking, you will always ride better in decent gear on a clean, well-looked after machine rather than some filthy, rusty old nail. It's sycolojikal innit?

3. The balance of patience, power, poise, touch and concentration - whether you're golfing, racing, off-roading, green-laning or commuting you need to learn how to develop and balance these attributes. Too much (or too little) of any one in the wrong place and it's Goodnight Vienna.

4. Accessorize (and make sure your wallet can stand the strain) - oh yes, both pastimes can be bloody expensive with all the little "extras" that are on offer in showrooms and golfing shops. I'm not a huge fan of golfing "fashion" but the missus is already wincing at the prospect of an open wallet.....for starters, check out this bad boy golf caddy....


Keeping the biking links going, I'm currently using a set of FAZER clubs and as a nod to my favourite tyre manufacturer, will use BRIDGESTONE balls (you can poke Dunlop stuff....)    

So there you have it. Bikes....Football....Beer....and now GOLF. Quite unexpectedly, I'm now embracing fully a game that I had previously thought of as only of relevance to old men and oddballs. How wrong I was....