I've been back on the bike for a few weeks now and a few things have changed for me. Strange and possibly stupid as it is to say, possibley untrue too, but I wonder if it was the accident I needed to have? In both good ways and bad I have to admit, it might have been. No one wants The Bad, of course, but if you learn from it it's not a wasted experience at least.
I ride much the same, but not quite the same. I find myself taking much greater stock of my environment and relying less on my Gardian Angel to see me through. As has been proven GA takes a nap once in a while and I end up in the back of a car! I often find myself berating me for my lack of focus on the road; "Stop looking at the pretty clouds, dumbarse!" and the like. I know that such thoughts are to my benefit so I'm not worried about that.
Sometimes though, I get a real fright that the bike doesn't have enough distance to stop, even when I have 10 meters. Or I find myself worrying about being rear ended, although that did nearly happen a few days back and only luck saved me so I can excuse that for now. It's little things that make me jumpy now and I'm a bit more "crash-shy" for want of a better word. I have another friend who is also riding again after an accident. In her case she was hit by some scum and they did a runner, just left her lying in the road. I have Opinions about that best left to another time. She was relating to a few of us recently how movement in the corner of her eye can really startle her when she's on the bike.
What I can self-analyse about it is that I went through a traumatic experience which neither my mind nor body wish to revisit; Hence the reactions. I can accept that for now but I need to be careful of the long term. I do not want and will not let something like my little off screw up my confident riding style or put me in future danger by reacting rather than controling my riding situations.
I've just reread what I wrote about the "accident I needed to have" and it sounds quite stupid. Like the recession we needed to have, aye? Bollocks! Big ones at that! What am I doing, trying to bullshit myself? But there is just a small kernel of truth in it, it was a sharp and focusing reminder that this little passion we share is not a fecking joke. You must take every ride seriously, even when you're not, still with me? It's great fun but it's not very safe at the best of times. It will get you killed or hurt if you feck up, lose focus or are even just unluckly. That's just the way it is.
In many ways it reminds me of my sailing days as a younger bloke in Tassie, racing off the coast. I'd be flying across the sea from one marker to the next loving life. Handling the jib and kite, swinging from the trapese. No one could touch me as we cut through the sea. But now and then a gust would just batter at you or you'd take a wave at the wrong angle and over you go. Then it was all about not drowning and getting untangled from the lines, swimming around the boat and getting it back upright, back into the race. What a rush, the thought of sharks made you move that bit quicker. Then you got back in the boat, grin at the Captain, get your shit together, and go dammit! I loved every second, upright and in the drink.
I feel exactly the same about riding. Sometimes you're up and flying, other times you're in the drink. It can be bitter sweet, but even to myself, I think of the times not riding as exactly that - Not Riding Times, waiting to get back up and fly.
I feel better for that. I'm going to make some dinner, drink some wine and wait to go flying again.
Catch you later...
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Thursday, November 24, 2005
Finally...
The bike is back. The sun is shining. I'm riding again. All is right with the world. Ahhhhhhhhhh!
I forgot what a great bike I had, it feels great to ride it and sounds like aural sex each time I start her up. It looks better than ever and has been improved by a rather snazzy bike alarm, battery recharger and lockable Givi topbox I scored for $100. Yay for Me!
Mel has taken a renewed interest in me, that's the benefit of a bike boys, learn this lesson well. Of course, spending all Sunday replacing chain and sprockets, clutch cables and doing a brake service and pad replacement on her little gem hasn't hurt my cause one bit.
Here's me and Mark doing our manly duty, I'm the one in the overalls. Tres chic, non? The overalls make me look fat, I'm really very svelte....really.
Catch you later...
Thursday, November 03, 2005
Always look on the birght side of life..da,da..da,da..da,da!
I have a slew of thoughts birthed by my recent accident, trying to put them all down would be tediously long and no doubt very boring for anyone foolish enough to read them. Not to mention hopelessly self-indulgent and bordering on being a Nick Cave quality tragedy. So, I'm going to pick a couple of the important ones, to me that is.
Friends, be glad you have them. I made no effort to let anyone know about my misfortune, I was too embarrassed and frankly, depressed, to want to even mention it. But, the grapevine of local events saw that a few people found out anyway. As soon as they heard I had two friends on the phone making sure I was in one piece and to ask if I wanted their bikes to take to Phillip Island for my up coming holiday. That, ladies and gentlemen, is friendship. The loan of a mate's bike is no small matter to me and it made it clear that there were at least two people who, for whatever reason, held me in high enough regard to trust me with their machines even after me proving conclusively I couldn't be trusted with mine. Thanks blokes, I owe you both.
Bikes are great but life goes on. The world doesn't end, the sun still shines and my dog still needs a bath. It sucks I can't ride my beaut bike right now but it'll get fixed and I'll be back. What is important that I'm walking, talking and don't need bones set or surgery. My hip is still playing up 4 weeks after the event but that's ok with me, I got off lightly. I know of people who were going about their lives in their normal fashion at the beginning of this year and are now paralyzed from the waist down due to one moment of stupidity on a bike. Lucky? Fuck, I'm blessed! Perspective is a wonderful thing once you can step away and compare yourself to others. You wont catch me moaning my misfortune, because I really am a lucky bastard.
I said I'd mention a couple of thoughts but here's a third. Support. I needed it and I got it and it meant so much to me I can't thank the people enough. Mel was and is great. I called her from work and there was no question of her not coming right over from hers and making sure I got home safely. She then spent the next few days with me to make sure nothing worse than some mild shock set in. The first night I just rambled on and tried to get some demons out... fear, nervous excitement, anger, heady relief, sadness etc... and she put with it beautifully. She said later I was clearly suffering shock, I'm just glad she was there looking out for me.
Mum and Dad gave what support they could to their idiot child. Dad lives in Holland and Mum in Tassie so it was all verbal and all good. To quote Dad: "I don't give a shit about the bike as long as you are ok!" That's just what I needed to hear. Mum was in the same vein if with less swearing. They both just wanted to know I was ok and to let me know how much they cared, no mention of how much they fear for me riding and how happy they would be if I gave it up and bought a Volvo, just support. I love those two.
Well that's it for the moment. I needed to write that down and now I'll hopefully move on to other topics of my charmed life. I heard yesterday that the panels are off being spray painted and all the part are there. I dropped off a bike alarm I bought so it'll be coming back a little better than it was. Little silver linings to brighten my day...
I'll catch you later...
Friends, be glad you have them. I made no effort to let anyone know about my misfortune, I was too embarrassed and frankly, depressed, to want to even mention it. But, the grapevine of local events saw that a few people found out anyway. As soon as they heard I had two friends on the phone making sure I was in one piece and to ask if I wanted their bikes to take to Phillip Island for my up coming holiday. That, ladies and gentlemen, is friendship. The loan of a mate's bike is no small matter to me and it made it clear that there were at least two people who, for whatever reason, held me in high enough regard to trust me with their machines even after me proving conclusively I couldn't be trusted with mine. Thanks blokes, I owe you both.
Bikes are great but life goes on. The world doesn't end, the sun still shines and my dog still needs a bath. It sucks I can't ride my beaut bike right now but it'll get fixed and I'll be back. What is important that I'm walking, talking and don't need bones set or surgery. My hip is still playing up 4 weeks after the event but that's ok with me, I got off lightly. I know of people who were going about their lives in their normal fashion at the beginning of this year and are now paralyzed from the waist down due to one moment of stupidity on a bike. Lucky? Fuck, I'm blessed! Perspective is a wonderful thing once you can step away and compare yourself to others. You wont catch me moaning my misfortune, because I really am a lucky bastard.
I said I'd mention a couple of thoughts but here's a third. Support. I needed it and I got it and it meant so much to me I can't thank the people enough. Mel was and is great. I called her from work and there was no question of her not coming right over from hers and making sure I got home safely. She then spent the next few days with me to make sure nothing worse than some mild shock set in. The first night I just rambled on and tried to get some demons out... fear, nervous excitement, anger, heady relief, sadness etc... and she put with it beautifully. She said later I was clearly suffering shock, I'm just glad she was there looking out for me.
Mum and Dad gave what support they could to their idiot child. Dad lives in Holland and Mum in Tassie so it was all verbal and all good. To quote Dad: "I don't give a shit about the bike as long as you are ok!" That's just what I needed to hear. Mum was in the same vein if with less swearing. They both just wanted to know I was ok and to let me know how much they cared, no mention of how much they fear for me riding and how happy they would be if I gave it up and bought a Volvo, just support. I love those two.
Well that's it for the moment. I needed to write that down and now I'll hopefully move on to other topics of my charmed life. I heard yesterday that the panels are off being spray painted and all the part are there. I dropped off a bike alarm I bought so it'll be coming back a little better than it was. Little silver linings to brighten my day...
I'll catch you later...
Monday, October 24, 2005
Just when you think...
Life is like a box of chocolates...oh really? Since when does a box of chocolates contain a special dark blend of painful reminders of mortality and the after effects of an accident? Just a couple of weeks ago I got a sharp reminder that, against all previous beliefs, I'm not totally invincible and made of kevlar. I'm going to post a more thoughtful write up shortly, I learnt quite a few good things in the aftermath but right now I feel like a quick rant.
Frankly, I'm mega pissed off. It has to go down as one of the most stupid accidents I can think of (in a general sense at least) applying to me. My smug "it'll never happen to me, I'm way too experienced and aware on the bike" premise is in tattered shreds, rammed face first into the congrete road way of The Big Bad World, or just plain reality as we know it. I fucked up and now I get to live with it.
Briefly, there I was minding my own busines not quite nearly enough when Ms Average Driver in Mummy's car decides this piece of road is a great place to stop. And what was muggins here doing? Daydreaming of the fantastic week of holidays ahead and NOT LOOKING AT THE FRIGGING ROAD! Oh for the love of God, how dense can I be? Honestly? Pretty darn dense as it happens, thanks for asking.
So, I turn back just in time to begin the whole "oh shit!" process which turns quickly into "Ouch!" as my once lovely bike rams head first up her arse. The irony kills me, as that was where my head was in a personal sense milliseconds before. In some weird way I'm a blessed soul as I'm only still limping around on a banged up hip with few grazes to speak of. My bike, though cosmetically speaking is the bike equivalent to a smashed crab, is still structually in good nick and totally repairable.
This does not change the fact that I'm angry at myself most for losing that essential riding instinct for danger and just being simply plugged in to what is going on. At the time I just wasn't, I was days into the future enjoying all that the week held. Not in the here and now, keeping my arse in the saddle and my bike upright. You have no idea how much that shits me and how much simple fun it has now cost me, and let's not mention the insurance issues right now....
Dopey Girly was exactly that, dopey. But not evil or reckless or lining me up. She just did something rather stupid and I walked right into the middle of it, so to speak. So as I blame her poor judgement to stop for no clear reason so I judge my own lack of "switched-oneness" for want of a better term. I'm simply lucky that my lights weren't turned off permenantly.
I'll catch you later...
Frankly, I'm mega pissed off. It has to go down as one of the most stupid accidents I can think of (in a general sense at least) applying to me. My smug "it'll never happen to me, I'm way too experienced and aware on the bike" premise is in tattered shreds, rammed face first into the congrete road way of The Big Bad World, or just plain reality as we know it. I fucked up and now I get to live with it.
Briefly, there I was minding my own busines not quite nearly enough when Ms Average Driver in Mummy's car decides this piece of road is a great place to stop. And what was muggins here doing? Daydreaming of the fantastic week of holidays ahead and NOT LOOKING AT THE FRIGGING ROAD! Oh for the love of God, how dense can I be? Honestly? Pretty darn dense as it happens, thanks for asking.
So, I turn back just in time to begin the whole "oh shit!" process which turns quickly into "Ouch!" as my once lovely bike rams head first up her arse. The irony kills me, as that was where my head was in a personal sense milliseconds before. In some weird way I'm a blessed soul as I'm only still limping around on a banged up hip with few grazes to speak of. My bike, though cosmetically speaking is the bike equivalent to a smashed crab, is still structually in good nick and totally repairable.
This does not change the fact that I'm angry at myself most for losing that essential riding instinct for danger and just being simply plugged in to what is going on. At the time I just wasn't, I was days into the future enjoying all that the week held. Not in the here and now, keeping my arse in the saddle and my bike upright. You have no idea how much that shits me and how much simple fun it has now cost me, and let's not mention the insurance issues right now....
Dopey Girly was exactly that, dopey. But not evil or reckless or lining me up. She just did something rather stupid and I walked right into the middle of it, so to speak. So as I blame her poor judgement to stop for no clear reason so I judge my own lack of "switched-oneness" for want of a better term. I'm simply lucky that my lights weren't turned off permenantly.
I'll catch you later...
Friday, September 30, 2005
Pics of the Bike Expo Sept 2005
Bike Expo... like sex for your eyes.
You'd have to agree that this is with out doubt one of the most exciting photos taken in 2005. It's the car park directly outside Jeff's Shed.Note the intrinsic sense of action in this pic, the almost unbridled excitement. Nothing says "Action!" like a bunch of bikes parked next to each other. I needed a lie down and a calming ale after this one.VTR1000 Concept Bike
I clearly hadn't recovered enough. As soon as I tried to take the pic I started listing to one side, then fell over completely. It was peaceful laying on the floor. Just for some journalistic endevour, you should know that this is Honda's VTR1000 concept bike. It's just jam packed with wonderful feature like radial mounted brake disks, some super-duper front end thingy that does away with forks, a purty single sided swingarm and other stuff I can't remember and don't really care to report. Needless to say it's very pretty and would look cool as hell on the road but don't hold your breath. It's really just an engineer's moment of wank. Shame, as it's a very nice wank, but a wank nonetheless.
Hyosung Aquilia 650
This is a new cruiser from Hyosung using the flexible 650 V-twin. All reports I've read have been positive to a point but it seems that the brakes have a way to go before they catch up to Japanese quality. Apparently Harley wasn't too impressed with the design, as it borrows heavily in looks from the V-Rod VRSC models. From the other side you can see some Yamaha Warrior influences in the shape of the enormous exhaust. Size wise it looks like a good option for larger people especially in LAMS mode.Royal Enfield Cafe Racer
Royal Enfield would be the only mass produced motorcycle that still follows the designs and practices established 40 years ago. The parent business in England went broke years ago but the India based arm has been flourishing. They might still be making bikes from the 1950-60's but they're selling them to an appreciative market who like a bike that is robust and easy to fix by the side of the road with a hammer. This tasty morsel is the first cafe racer style from them I've seen and it looks quite trick. Unlike modern versions you can be sure that this would be as close to riding an original cafe racer as it gets, oil leaks and break downs included. Still, if I could afford to own one just for fun it would make it into my garage. That polished tank really looks cool and the seat actually looks comfortable.BMW Fatzen Bastard Uber Tourer
If I had to spend more on a bike than I would on a house, this might be the bike for me. Big, plush, full of wizz-bangery as standard. It even has a bidet. Although you can't see it from this angle, each bike comes with a German power lifting midget who jumps out of one of the panniers to help hold the bike up when stationary. Whole families have been killed when one of these panzers fell off the side stand and they weren't even in the same town. This is a bike for real men, as long as your definition of a real man includes lofers, chardonnay and bree on limited edition water crackers.Another German bike, Sachs Parts Bin Special
Pardon the shakey unfocused quality of this pic. I was so underwhelmed by this sorry example of German manufacturing that I just couldn't get it right. It was almost like the camera felt insulted to be capturing it's image and refused to focus or get the colours right. I think the engine comes from Suzuki or Yamaha. I really couldn't care less about this bike so I'm not even going to bother to check. It just screams "i'm so average and underdone it hurts, just look away". Why someone would go to all the trouble to build a piece of crap is beyond me but it's their money to blow I guess. This will not be gracing my garage anytime soon, or ever.Sachs scooter thingy
I get the feeling that this was where Sachs' development dollars went for this year. I'd be more likely to have this in the garage than it's bigger brother. I can only assume that they aimed it at the young-groover-who-is-too-young-and-poor-to-buy-something-with-intrinsic-"cool" market, hence the projector beam head lights, funky rear mono shock and urban scooter warrior look. For a scooter it doesn't suck, that's high praise coming from me.One is an Indian, one is not. Parts are hard to find.
They're really old, that's all I know. Actually, I know one other thing, whoever made them is now dead, they're that old. Note the lack of rear suspension. These babies were the prefered ride of eunuchs the world over. It should come as no suprise that owners of these bikes invariably had small families. Wives wishing to prevent further bundles of joy approved of these machines even if their men folk did not. It's no wonder that riding took a while to take off when you look at these two examples of self-harming heaven.Who is that masked spunk?
That's all the women (and possibly a few men, we are an understanding society down south you know) were asking themselves as your truely took a Buell for a test ride. I'm the dashing gentleman in the middle of the shot in the fetching orange saftey vest. Simply wearing said vest increased my crash protection by 10,000%. I'll be buying one soon. I also hear there is a "bedroom" version that prevents pregnancy and STDs. I suspect it is because the partner you are trying to make sweet love to is laughing too hard at you to get romantic.Well sports fans, that's it for the moment. I might post up a few more later once my PC gets back to broadband speed. Trying to load anything on dial up speed is just annoying and crashes alot. Hope you like the shots, or you've just wasted five minutes of your life and there is no refund.
Catch you later...
Sunday, September 25, 2005
Aftermath of the Track Day and Bike Expo
What a great weekend! Seriously, that's how you spend a weekend properly! I went around to "Sunshine Boy" Mark's place on the Friday evening to leave the love of my life in his care (the bike, not Mel, she came home with me) to trailer it down for me he following morning. That all went smoothly and now I really want a bike trailer. After seeing Brendon's fully enclosed Super Trailer with carpet, lighting and other goodies I knew I just had to have one. My bike deserves no less than the best, damn it!
I knew everything went too bloody well, I woke to a really crap Saturday. Rain? Since when was that in the script? Bugger, bugger, bugger! Well a little water isn't going to stop me! Mel and I made amazingly good time getting ready given it was 6am on a Saturday, though I did manage to forget a couple of things, namely my water proof jacket and ear plugs, ahh well it's part of the challenge.
Phillip Island isn't exactly around the corner from my place, two hours later we rolled into the track warm and sufficiently primed with some ACDC setting the mood. The Sunshine Boy had already had Betty II scrutineered so all I needed to do was saunter around to the pit garage, drink some tea and get leathered up. My morning could not have been easier.
There were three riders in Team Lounge, myself, Sunshine Boy Mark and Brendan. Between us we had a VFR800, VTR1000 and a Buell XB1200 (I think, Buells all look the same to me). The morning banter was light and easy, I could tell this was going to be a good day with the type of people that even bad weather couldn't dampen.
First out was Brendan on the Buell, with light rain falling. Next out was Mark to strangely clear weather and a drying track. I followed in the next session and a return of the rain. Don't ask me how or why but this pattern seemed to follow for the rest of the day - Brendan, rain and high winds, Mark, patches of blue sky and a semi dry to dry track, Me, some ridiculous squalls and huge gusts.....Something is going on here! By now you might have worked out why young Mr Mark was becoming familiar with his new name, the lucky bastard!
Out of eight sessions only about 1 1/2 was in dryish conditions. The two pillion sessions with Mel on the back were the worst. She clearly wasn't praying hard enough as it seemed the weather took a particular dislike to her and dumped even worse amounts of rain on our heads. For her part Mel thought it was "romantic" to ride so slowly around the track so she could enjoy the view of the Bass Strait going troppo. I was just trying to keep the bike upright and pointed in the right direction. Oh well, as long as she had fun.
That pretty much sums up the day. It was wet, windy and occasionally frustrating. It was also accident free and a total ball. I just love track days, even the wet ones. At least I know my wet weather skills are up to scratch. The drive home was warm and relaxing, unlike those other times I rode the bike back. If I can't trailer the bike I'm not going, it's just too much hassle.
And then there was one, one more day of bike porn! Sunday, just to shit me, arrived sunny and warm. I could have sworn but I was in too good a mood. We took our sweet time getting ready but eventually made it down to Jeff's Shed (aka the Exhibition Centre). There were the usual manufacturer displays and some nice apparel and accessories stands though there weren't any new release bikes. The one stand out was the Honda VTR1000 concept bike. It's really something else but it's unlikely to go into production as it is as it looks too impractical. Still there was enough innovative ideas on show to suggest some interesting developments in the future.
Mel spent some time getting the feel for various bikes. In the end she felt the Suzuki SV650 has the best ergonomic for her. Now all we need to do is arrange a test ride once she has a full license. I sat on everything I could, Goldwings, Triumph Rocket IIIs, Ducatis 999s. You name it, my bum got to sample the seat. In my mind I was making "vroom vroom" noises and cruising imaginary back roads on bikes I can only dream of owning. Lucky for me then that I own a dream of a bike in the first place then.
On our way out to meet some friends I stopped by the Buell/Harley test ride stand and took a Buell XB1200S (I think is the model designation) for a quick spin. This is a a bike that feel so small yet packs a big torque punch right off idle. I was worried about it tucking under, the front feels that small. It never did though, it steers quickly but without hassle and pulls hard when asked to. It runs out of puff fairly quickly so you need to play with the box to keep it in the happy range. You do that and it's all smiles and happiness. By the end of the test run I must have been getting the hang of it as I pulled a reasonable mono from the lights without even thinking about it. I wont be trading the VFR but it was fun enough to ride that I'd do it again. It's made it onto my list of "bikes to have when money is no exception".
My overall impression of the expo was that it was slickly run but smaller and lacking in "feel" of the previous ones. I managed to get around this one in about 3 hours. Last year took around 6 hours to give you an idea of the difference.
I've got a number of photos of both days to post. It might take a few days but I'll get something going soon.
Catch you later...
I knew everything went too bloody well, I woke to a really crap Saturday. Rain? Since when was that in the script? Bugger, bugger, bugger! Well a little water isn't going to stop me! Mel and I made amazingly good time getting ready given it was 6am on a Saturday, though I did manage to forget a couple of things, namely my water proof jacket and ear plugs, ahh well it's part of the challenge.
Phillip Island isn't exactly around the corner from my place, two hours later we rolled into the track warm and sufficiently primed with some ACDC setting the mood. The Sunshine Boy had already had Betty II scrutineered so all I needed to do was saunter around to the pit garage, drink some tea and get leathered up. My morning could not have been easier.
There were three riders in Team Lounge, myself, Sunshine Boy Mark and Brendan. Between us we had a VFR800, VTR1000 and a Buell XB1200 (I think, Buells all look the same to me). The morning banter was light and easy, I could tell this was going to be a good day with the type of people that even bad weather couldn't dampen.
First out was Brendan on the Buell, with light rain falling. Next out was Mark to strangely clear weather and a drying track. I followed in the next session and a return of the rain. Don't ask me how or why but this pattern seemed to follow for the rest of the day - Brendan, rain and high winds, Mark, patches of blue sky and a semi dry to dry track, Me, some ridiculous squalls and huge gusts.....Something is going on here! By now you might have worked out why young Mr Mark was becoming familiar with his new name, the lucky bastard!
Out of eight sessions only about 1 1/2 was in dryish conditions. The two pillion sessions with Mel on the back were the worst. She clearly wasn't praying hard enough as it seemed the weather took a particular dislike to her and dumped even worse amounts of rain on our heads. For her part Mel thought it was "romantic" to ride so slowly around the track so she could enjoy the view of the Bass Strait going troppo. I was just trying to keep the bike upright and pointed in the right direction. Oh well, as long as she had fun.
That pretty much sums up the day. It was wet, windy and occasionally frustrating. It was also accident free and a total ball. I just love track days, even the wet ones. At least I know my wet weather skills are up to scratch. The drive home was warm and relaxing, unlike those other times I rode the bike back. If I can't trailer the bike I'm not going, it's just too much hassle.
And then there was one, one more day of bike porn! Sunday, just to shit me, arrived sunny and warm. I could have sworn but I was in too good a mood. We took our sweet time getting ready but eventually made it down to Jeff's Shed (aka the Exhibition Centre). There were the usual manufacturer displays and some nice apparel and accessories stands though there weren't any new release bikes. The one stand out was the Honda VTR1000 concept bike. It's really something else but it's unlikely to go into production as it is as it looks too impractical. Still there was enough innovative ideas on show to suggest some interesting developments in the future.
Mel spent some time getting the feel for various bikes. In the end she felt the Suzuki SV650 has the best ergonomic for her. Now all we need to do is arrange a test ride once she has a full license. I sat on everything I could, Goldwings, Triumph Rocket IIIs, Ducatis 999s. You name it, my bum got to sample the seat. In my mind I was making "vroom vroom" noises and cruising imaginary back roads on bikes I can only dream of owning. Lucky for me then that I own a dream of a bike in the first place then.
On our way out to meet some friends I stopped by the Buell/Harley test ride stand and took a Buell XB1200S (I think is the model designation) for a quick spin. This is a a bike that feel so small yet packs a big torque punch right off idle. I was worried about it tucking under, the front feels that small. It never did though, it steers quickly but without hassle and pulls hard when asked to. It runs out of puff fairly quickly so you need to play with the box to keep it in the happy range. You do that and it's all smiles and happiness. By the end of the test run I must have been getting the hang of it as I pulled a reasonable mono from the lights without even thinking about it. I wont be trading the VFR but it was fun enough to ride that I'd do it again. It's made it onto my list of "bikes to have when money is no exception".
My overall impression of the expo was that it was slickly run but smaller and lacking in "feel" of the previous ones. I managed to get around this one in about 3 hours. Last year took around 6 hours to give you an idea of the difference.
I've got a number of photos of both days to post. It might take a few days but I'll get something going soon.
Catch you later...
Monday, September 19, 2005
International Talk Like a Pirate Day
Yaarrrrrr! It be International Talk Like a Pirate Day, so it be! Ah haarr! Tell this salty seaman yur salty salior stories or walk the plank, yaarrrr!
Thursday, September 15, 2005
Converting the masses
I've decided to travel around the blogosphere, as a virtual apostle, courtesy of the "next blog" button and I have a mission. That mission is to spread the gospel according to Jaked. At this point it's pretty basic and could use some work but I don't see any reason to hold back just because it's totally half arsed. It'll fill out as a sort of organic growth on my brain and may even help the sad, lonely and weird to be less so.
Basically, each time I come across some angst filled individual, struggling with life's little nut crackers, I intend to pass on my way to happiness and fulfilment - get a motorcycle. Whoa! I here you say, but just think about it. A motorcycle is a great mood lifter and once out there it allows for some really deep thought moments. It's very spiritual, believe you me. Jesus would ride, I take that as a given. Not some Harley or some uber sports weapon. I'm sure His choice would be quite sensible but ride He would. It's not as if He'd have to worry about leathers or the like either, so He'd no doubt get really into it. I can see Him on a Honda CT110 Step thru delivering the Message like God's Mailman, or maybe a VFR800, that would work too.
Any way I digress, or I don't, either way that's what I plan to do. It's a sound message and one that is worth spreading. Wish me and Him luck. Catch you later...
Basically, each time I come across some angst filled individual, struggling with life's little nut crackers, I intend to pass on my way to happiness and fulfilment - get a motorcycle. Whoa! I here you say, but just think about it. A motorcycle is a great mood lifter and once out there it allows for some really deep thought moments. It's very spiritual, believe you me. Jesus would ride, I take that as a given. Not some Harley or some uber sports weapon. I'm sure His choice would be quite sensible but ride He would. It's not as if He'd have to worry about leathers or the like either, so He'd no doubt get really into it. I can see Him on a Honda CT110 Step thru delivering the Message like God's Mailman, or maybe a VFR800, that would work too.
Any way I digress, or I don't, either way that's what I plan to do. It's a sound message and one that is worth spreading. Wish me and Him luck. Catch you later...
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Coming up - Track Day and Melbourne Bike Expo
In a mere couple of days the best possible combination of events, somewhat like the planets aligning, is too occur. I'm talking here about an orgy of blokey-maness. I celebration of testosterone and adrenaline, a fever of steel and petrol fueled madness akin to the best sex without the diseases and prengency. I'm talking here folks, of a bike weekend.
This Saturday I and a few mates are heading down to Phillip Island to pit man and machine against ummm....other men and machines. In other words I'm off to another HRCA track day. On hand will be the cream of Honda's sports bike crop, which I hope to lap up and lap around the track, often.
So that's my Saturday taken care of, what about Sunday I hear you say? Well I'm glad you asked, it's the annual Melbourne Motorcycle Expo! Yay! Double Yay with oggie-knobs on! I'm heading to that drool-fest with my good lady Mel and her newly bike mad mate Dimi. Between us we will site on each and every machine present and bother countless happless sales stooges with many and varied questions such as "does her bum look big in that?" and can I "pleeeease have a test ride, I wont pull monos (much)?". Can you guess which question will be asked by whom?
Yes peoples, this truly is better than sex and I am to get some group action going. Wish me luck for Saturday and fun for Sunday.
Catch you later...
This Saturday I and a few mates are heading down to Phillip Island to pit man and machine against ummm....other men and machines. In other words I'm off to another HRCA track day. On hand will be the cream of Honda's sports bike crop, which I hope to lap up and lap around the track, often.
So that's my Saturday taken care of, what about Sunday I hear you say? Well I'm glad you asked, it's the annual Melbourne Motorcycle Expo! Yay! Double Yay with oggie-knobs on! I'm heading to that drool-fest with my good lady Mel and her newly bike mad mate Dimi. Between us we will site on each and every machine present and bother countless happless sales stooges with many and varied questions such as "does her bum look big in that?" and can I "pleeeease have a test ride, I wont pull monos (much)?". Can you guess which question will be asked by whom?
Yes peoples, this truly is better than sex and I am to get some group action going. Wish me luck for Saturday and fun for Sunday.
Catch you later...
Friday, September 09, 2005
Why grown men cry
Or at least why this grown man is shedding a tear....Yes folks, Honda has finally released it's line up for 2006. 2006 was to be a watershed year for VFR owners with the introduction of the new all singing all dancing VFRxxx. What we ended up getting was more of the same with clear indicators.
Actually, in this shot it doesn't look so bad, nice colour and all that. Still, compare it to my wonderful '99 VFR and this freak of nature is the bike equivalent of the elephant man. All they could manage to do was lower the transition point for the VTEC change and fiddle with some cosmetic changes.
Clearly Honda has either not been paying even a little attention to the various outlets for owner's opinions or they just don't care. Not exactly the best way for the world's largest manufacturer of motorcycles to endear it self to the buying public. Other models in the range seemed to have also received the lazy touch this year so I can only wonder as to what Honda is thinking or has planned for the next year. Well, the Triumph Sprint ST1050 is going to murder the VFR in the sales race with it's larger, gutsier engine and good handling but the finish still doesn't compare to what Honda is famous for.
Ah well, when the finances allow I'm shelling out for a PCII, steel brake lines and a better seat. Stuff it, mine's tried and true and doens't look like an Aprillia Futura. Thanks Honda, for sweet FA.
Catch you later...
Actually, in this shot it doesn't look so bad, nice colour and all that. Still, compare it to my wonderful '99 VFR and this freak of nature is the bike equivalent of the elephant man. All they could manage to do was lower the transition point for the VTEC change and fiddle with some cosmetic changes.
Clearly Honda has either not been paying even a little attention to the various outlets for owner's opinions or they just don't care. Not exactly the best way for the world's largest manufacturer of motorcycles to endear it self to the buying public. Other models in the range seemed to have also received the lazy touch this year so I can only wonder as to what Honda is thinking or has planned for the next year. Well, the Triumph Sprint ST1050 is going to murder the VFR in the sales race with it's larger, gutsier engine and good handling but the finish still doesn't compare to what Honda is famous for.
Ah well, when the finances allow I'm shelling out for a PCII, steel brake lines and a better seat. Stuff it, mine's tried and true and doens't look like an Aprillia Futura. Thanks Honda, for sweet FA.
Catch you later...
Friday, September 02, 2005
Birthday and stuff (all)
Back, trying to get over my annoyance with this site and it's ability to lose posts all over the place. I'll have to save on a religious basis and see what happens.
So, I turned 32 Late last month and enjoyed having Mum visit from Tassie and had a great party the following Saturday after the actual day. I suffered like an unloved puppy the next day but my loving girlfriend and a mate had done all the dishes by the time I crawled out of bed so I was able to take it easy on the couch for the most part. Another good friend did all the cooking for the event and I have to say he did a fantastic job of it. I don't think I've had such good curries, and never one with fried banana.
Work has been fairly busy, but that goes hand in hand with taking on the Supervisor's responsibilities and jobs. At least the week flys past now, just wish the weekends didn't as well!
New Orleans has been devastated by a hurricane and from the news footage looks to be pretty much all under water. I'm sure it wont take too long for the global warming doom sayers to jump up onto a soapbox with a tired "i told you so" diatribe.
I've got about two weeks until my track day at Phillip Island and still need to arrange for new boots and fix some tie points to the ute so I can stick the bike in the back. I'm not riding back this time, way too much in one day.
Here's a pic of my Mate Mark's SR500 Single Cafe Racer, it's a tidy piece of kit and one I'm using as a sort of template for another bike I want to modify, namely, Mel's SRV250 V-twin. Don't know when she'll let me at it but the seed has been planted.
So, I turned 32 Late last month and enjoyed having Mum visit from Tassie and had a great party the following Saturday after the actual day. I suffered like an unloved puppy the next day but my loving girlfriend and a mate had done all the dishes by the time I crawled out of bed so I was able to take it easy on the couch for the most part. Another good friend did all the cooking for the event and I have to say he did a fantastic job of it. I don't think I've had such good curries, and never one with fried banana.
Work has been fairly busy, but that goes hand in hand with taking on the Supervisor's responsibilities and jobs. At least the week flys past now, just wish the weekends didn't as well!
New Orleans has been devastated by a hurricane and from the news footage looks to be pretty much all under water. I'm sure it wont take too long for the global warming doom sayers to jump up onto a soapbox with a tired "i told you so" diatribe.
I've got about two weeks until my track day at Phillip Island and still need to arrange for new boots and fix some tie points to the ute so I can stick the bike in the back. I'm not riding back this time, way too much in one day.
Here's a pic of my Mate Mark's SR500 Single Cafe Racer, it's a tidy piece of kit and one I'm using as a sort of template for another bike I want to modify, namely, Mel's SRV250 V-twin. Don't know when she'll let me at it but the seed has been planted.
Well, this was just a quick post to see if it'll stick this time. If you are reading this then it did, if not, then I'm writing this and totally wasting the effort.
Monday, August 15, 2005
Finger's crossed this post actually gets in without being lost during the last save.
So, had a big weekend and was made to pay yesterday and I still feel RS today too. Bloody bourbon. Mel (see below) made me dinner on Friday night and gave us both mild food poisoning so that didn't help either. I blame the butter. Besides that it was a pretty good strog for a first attempt.
I've often considered getting into more political postings but given that they are covered with greater detail on better blogs than this I'll just stick to stuff most relevant to me. That, and I want to avoid some psycho muslim starting a jihad on me ;-).....ahhh screw them, give them all a bomb and plonk them in a desert far from everyone not insane and let them get martyred as fast as possible. "religion of peace" my arse, I hope we take the same approach as the poms and expel any and all foreign nationals who support/ promote/ participate in any activity counter productive to Australian national security. And if they are Aussie, jail the scum.
Well well well, it fucked up again AFTER I saved my changes this time. I went back to this post after adding and carefully saving eveything and still at least three paragraphs are gone. Great, very professional blog site this one. I'm going to have to start BLR somewhere else as this place is a joke.
So, had a big weekend and was made to pay yesterday and I still feel RS today too. Bloody bourbon. Mel (see below) made me dinner on Friday night and gave us both mild food poisoning so that didn't help either. I blame the butter. Besides that it was a pretty good strog for a first attempt.
I've often considered getting into more political postings but given that they are covered with greater detail on better blogs than this I'll just stick to stuff most relevant to me. That, and I want to avoid some psycho muslim starting a jihad on me ;-).....ahhh screw them, give them all a bomb and plonk them in a desert far from everyone not insane and let them get martyred as fast as possible. "religion of peace" my arse, I hope we take the same approach as the poms and expel any and all foreign nationals who support/ promote/ participate in any activity counter productive to Australian national security. And if they are Aussie, jail the scum.
Well well well, it fucked up again AFTER I saved my changes this time. I went back to this post after adding and carefully saving eveything and still at least three paragraphs are gone. Great, very professional blog site this one. I'm going to have to start BLR somewhere else as this place is a joke.
Thursday, August 04, 2005
I'm back
Or I would be if this effing site stopped losing my super long posts. It was a pretty good one by my standards of crap writing so I'm a bit annoyed. Ah well, going to give up on it and start another later on.
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
Thursday, June 02, 2005
Get pumped
I'm about to do something I promised myself I'd never do again. I'm about to start going to the gym again.
I was a gym junkie in my late teens and early to mid 20's but the lure of beer and bongs and generally turning into a lazy bastard put pay to that. A few things has changed my mind on the whole health thing. One of which is that I'm no longer able to rely on the stamina and strength that youth gives you in spades. Not that I'm feeling old or am old - at least I don't think so. 31 is hardly retirement age.
It's just that I find it harder to bounce back after a big night and I realised my overall fitness that came so naturally is starting to fall away due to lack of attention. I decided it was time to do something about it a while ago but couldn't find anything I wanted to do that badly.
Then I met Mel. Mel is a wonderful woman and almost the opposite to me in many ways. She doesn't smoke, hardly drinks, has no inclination to try drugs, and she plays first grade soccer. Whereas I like a smoke and a drink and while I'm not into chemicals I have been there before. I haven't played competative sports since high school and I'm not that keen on team sports prefering to rely on myself than letting anyone else decide if I/we succeed.
So how do we even get along? Well for a start Mel rides a tidy little SRV250 V-twin. One little bike I could really see turning into a cool cafe racer. For another thing she isn't some air head floating about. Mel has a spine and a plan for what she wants in life - I find that so attractive and I can really respect someone like that. Another thing - she is genuinly happy with her life, something I can't remember seeing in anyone else in such a long time.
What does Mel see in me? I still don't know, and I hope like hell she continues to see it. I'm not about to make grandiose statements that she is the one, not yet at least, but she make me feel good about being me and I feel like I want to lift my game when I'm around her.
So, now I have a work out program and a free gym membership thanks to work. I really have no excuse anymore. I honestly can't say if I'll stick to it or not but I am going to give myself a chance and see how it goes. Just the idea that I'm doing something positive for myself is a real upper, it makes me feel motivated and like I'm about to achieve something.
Wish me luck,
Catch you later.
I was a gym junkie in my late teens and early to mid 20's but the lure of beer and bongs and generally turning into a lazy bastard put pay to that. A few things has changed my mind on the whole health thing. One of which is that I'm no longer able to rely on the stamina and strength that youth gives you in spades. Not that I'm feeling old or am old - at least I don't think so. 31 is hardly retirement age.
It's just that I find it harder to bounce back after a big night and I realised my overall fitness that came so naturally is starting to fall away due to lack of attention. I decided it was time to do something about it a while ago but couldn't find anything I wanted to do that badly.
Then I met Mel. Mel is a wonderful woman and almost the opposite to me in many ways. She doesn't smoke, hardly drinks, has no inclination to try drugs, and she plays first grade soccer. Whereas I like a smoke and a drink and while I'm not into chemicals I have been there before. I haven't played competative sports since high school and I'm not that keen on team sports prefering to rely on myself than letting anyone else decide if I/we succeed.
So how do we even get along? Well for a start Mel rides a tidy little SRV250 V-twin. One little bike I could really see turning into a cool cafe racer. For another thing she isn't some air head floating about. Mel has a spine and a plan for what she wants in life - I find that so attractive and I can really respect someone like that. Another thing - she is genuinly happy with her life, something I can't remember seeing in anyone else in such a long time.
What does Mel see in me? I still don't know, and I hope like hell she continues to see it. I'm not about to make grandiose statements that she is the one, not yet at least, but she make me feel good about being me and I feel like I want to lift my game when I'm around her.
So, now I have a work out program and a free gym membership thanks to work. I really have no excuse anymore. I honestly can't say if I'll stick to it or not but I am going to give myself a chance and see how it goes. Just the idea that I'm doing something positive for myself is a real upper, it makes me feel motivated and like I'm about to achieve something.
Wish me luck,
Catch you later.
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
Bike n stuff
Hi All,
Bikes, I love them. They're almost as varied as women and safer and less trouble in the long run. Bikes I can understand, women are a constant shifting sand dune. Don't know where I'm going with that analogy but that's not the point. Both women and bikes are wonderful, but bikes are easier to maintain and don't crack the shits for unknowable reasons.
I'm off to a track day at Phillip Island at the end of this month. It's a HRCA event which means not only to I get to fang my P&J around the circuit but I get to sample Honda's latest and greated too. I'm particularly keen to try, in descending order, the VTR1000, CBR600/1000 and the VFR800 (mostly to confirm my VFR is better). It'll be only my second go on a track so it's al still very exciting! Fingers crossed nothing expensive happens.
Troy Corser, legend. Suzuki, fantastic GSXR1000. Combination? SBK World Champion if the start to the season is anything to go by. I never got around to finishing my SBK wrap up but I'm slack like that and no one reads this stuff anyway. Well the actual race at PI was truly superb. Watching it from a rain-soaked Siberia Corner was a hoot and seeing an Aussie carve them up was the icing on the cake.
Now Troy is sitting on 182 points from team mate Kagayama on 130 with the great Chris Vermeulen in third on 115. The Suzuki team just seems to be killing the others at the moment so expect some amazing racing in 2006 once the other unofficial Factory teams get their act together. This season is all Suzuki though. Ducati must be seriously worried with last year's world champ James Toseland struggling down in the middle of the field on an uncompetitive twin. There are rumours of a V4 Duke road bike to meet homolgation rules and I for one hope it comes about. Wait an see.
The world of MotoGP is back into it's predictable groove. Rossi is beating up on his opposition like a bunch of man-bitches. Gibernau is still chasing and sucking and sooking, Biaggi is valiant but will never be the champion, Nicky Hayden is trying but still not there yet, Troy Bayliss is really having a hard time getting used to the Honda after being a Ducati man for so long. I'm in the process of working out accommodation for the week and already it's near impossible to find a place. Shits me to tears to see how much they jack up the prices but there you go.
On the up side for the Aussies, Casy Stoner has 2 wins from 4 starts and is looking very strong. After an accident plagued last season on the 125 it's great to see him really make a mark. Go Casy!
Well that's it for now,
Catch ya later...
Bikes, I love them. They're almost as varied as women and safer and less trouble in the long run. Bikes I can understand, women are a constant shifting sand dune. Don't know where I'm going with that analogy but that's not the point. Both women and bikes are wonderful, but bikes are easier to maintain and don't crack the shits for unknowable reasons.
I'm off to a track day at Phillip Island at the end of this month. It's a HRCA event which means not only to I get to fang my P&J around the circuit but I get to sample Honda's latest and greated too. I'm particularly keen to try, in descending order, the VTR1000, CBR600/1000 and the VFR800 (mostly to confirm my VFR is better). It'll be only my second go on a track so it's al still very exciting! Fingers crossed nothing expensive happens.
Troy Corser, legend. Suzuki, fantastic GSXR1000. Combination? SBK World Champion if the start to the season is anything to go by. I never got around to finishing my SBK wrap up but I'm slack like that and no one reads this stuff anyway. Well the actual race at PI was truly superb. Watching it from a rain-soaked Siberia Corner was a hoot and seeing an Aussie carve them up was the icing on the cake.
Now Troy is sitting on 182 points from team mate Kagayama on 130 with the great Chris Vermeulen in third on 115. The Suzuki team just seems to be killing the others at the moment so expect some amazing racing in 2006 once the other unofficial Factory teams get their act together. This season is all Suzuki though. Ducati must be seriously worried with last year's world champ James Toseland struggling down in the middle of the field on an uncompetitive twin. There are rumours of a V4 Duke road bike to meet homolgation rules and I for one hope it comes about. Wait an see.
The world of MotoGP is back into it's predictable groove. Rossi is beating up on his opposition like a bunch of man-bitches. Gibernau is still chasing and sucking and sooking, Biaggi is valiant but will never be the champion, Nicky Hayden is trying but still not there yet, Troy Bayliss is really having a hard time getting used to the Honda after being a Ducati man for so long. I'm in the process of working out accommodation for the week and already it's near impossible to find a place. Shits me to tears to see how much they jack up the prices but there you go.
On the up side for the Aussies, Casy Stoner has 2 wins from 4 starts and is looking very strong. After an accident plagued last season on the 125 it's great to see him really make a mark. Go Casy!
Well that's it for now,
Catch ya later...
Saturday, April 30, 2005
Lazy blogger
Dear Non existent Reader,
Apologies for the infrequent nature of my blog posts, I am a lazy bastard who gets all these great ideas at work and then comes home and drinks a red and does something else. Anzac Day was one thing I wanted to write about but didn't. How slack is that? I was actually at the Dawn Service this year with a mate of mine, Mark, and even wrote a comment on Tim Blair but didn't write jack here. Bloody hopeless.
There have been a few things I wanted to share, but for one reason or another didn't. For instance, my Gran is knocking on Heaven's door. Surely that is worth a few measly words? Someone who has existed for 92 years must warrant at least a paragraph right? The celebration of her life is soured somewhat by the stupid fighting of her children over what to do with her last days and what to do with the remaining assets. Some people need a good slap and I know of two I could line up right now. I hope I can write a proper eulogy when the time comes. It's not the sort of thing anyone likes to think about and I'm an anyone.
I've run out of steam so will sign off. Thanks for your perserverance dear Non existent Reader, I'll see you soon.
Catch you later...
Apologies for the infrequent nature of my blog posts, I am a lazy bastard who gets all these great ideas at work and then comes home and drinks a red and does something else. Anzac Day was one thing I wanted to write about but didn't. How slack is that? I was actually at the Dawn Service this year with a mate of mine, Mark, and even wrote a comment on Tim Blair but didn't write jack here. Bloody hopeless.
There have been a few things I wanted to share, but for one reason or another didn't. For instance, my Gran is knocking on Heaven's door. Surely that is worth a few measly words? Someone who has existed for 92 years must warrant at least a paragraph right? The celebration of her life is soured somewhat by the stupid fighting of her children over what to do with her last days and what to do with the remaining assets. Some people need a good slap and I know of two I could line up right now. I hope I can write a proper eulogy when the time comes. It's not the sort of thing anyone likes to think about and I'm an anyone.
I've run out of steam so will sign off. Thanks for your perserverance dear Non existent Reader, I'll see you soon.
Catch you later...
Thursday, April 14, 2005
Bastards
Some days I just want to kick particular people in the nuts. Really hard. I have this shaved monkey at work that takes up oxygen on a daily basis, contributing the sum of his exhalations of carbon dioxide to the world. An otherwise pointless, annoying, primate that learned to use tools. Fuckwit. I may just kick him in the nuts tomorrow.
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
World Superbikes Phillip Island - My Mecca Day 1
Let me just start by saying how sorry I feel for all the people who weren't there for one of motorsports great events. The weekend just gone started on the Friday for me and stretched out to a lazy Monday. In between I spent three, count them, three glorious days wandering around a track so full of charm and beauty it should be a heritage site.
For those who have never been to Phillip Island it is a place of simple, rugged, natural beauty sticking out into a sometimes raging Tasman Strait. About two hours by car (and just a bit quicker by bike) it's a pleasant ride down with varying quality roads and highways or detour and take in the twisties. It's a rural sort of place that takes in a handy income from being the site of one of the world's great race tracks. It reminds me greatly of Tassie and I always feel at home when I'm there. There is something special about being so close to the ocean, it's a vibrancy, a freshness in the air that absorb within you. I love the place.
A recent friend of mine, John Orchard, was scheduled to race that weekend in the Australian Superbikes, facing up to the likes of Krusty Ferguson. John works for the Benelli importer who have provided John with a bike to race, a tasty Tornado Tre in red. Having had the pleasure of briefly riding a standard version Tre and falling instantly in love, I was looking forward to a spectacle. As it was I had just arrived when John headed out onto the track for some qualifying laps. I chose to watch the excitement from the viewing area above pit lane, did I mention that I scored a pit pass for the weekend? Yes, I am a lucky bastard sometimes.
I did my usual wander through the AMCN tent to touch bikes I cant afford and buy my own small slice of the event. I walked out with a hat, the Faster DVD (truly excellent), a stubbie cooler (must have item) and some photos of bikes I plan to own when I win a million. The tent wasn't as well stocked as years past, not as many stalls and fewer bike brands but still a nice display.
The day itself was hot and sunny with only the smallest smudge of clouds across a light blue sky. I rode down in my leathers and was more than glad that I brought some shorts and sneaker to change into. The crowd was minimal, mostly bike crews and bike-tragics like myself. The hard-core campers had taken the best positions by the fence line and the orange overalled marshals made the most of any shade, what little there was.
I spent my time trying to soak up as much pit-side atmosphere as I could, probably looked the complete tool to the old hands, but with my trusty digital camera in hand I snapped away and rubber-necked my heart out. I caught up with John to see how things were going only to find out that he was suffering tyre and suspension problems. I noticed him getting blown away on the straights too so he wasn't too pleased. We chatted for a bit before I went to watch the SBK kings cut some fast laps.
A man who has languished at the bottom of the heap on a slow pig of a bike finally showed what class his possessed by posting the quickest time of the day was none other than Troy Corser, Aussie legend. Finally aboard a decent bike again he's on top of the competition once more.
I've got more to say about those three great days but right now I've got noone to see and nothing to do, better get to it.
Catch you later.
For those who have never been to Phillip Island it is a place of simple, rugged, natural beauty sticking out into a sometimes raging Tasman Strait. About two hours by car (and just a bit quicker by bike) it's a pleasant ride down with varying quality roads and highways or detour and take in the twisties. It's a rural sort of place that takes in a handy income from being the site of one of the world's great race tracks. It reminds me greatly of Tassie and I always feel at home when I'm there. There is something special about being so close to the ocean, it's a vibrancy, a freshness in the air that absorb within you. I love the place.
A recent friend of mine, John Orchard, was scheduled to race that weekend in the Australian Superbikes, facing up to the likes of Krusty Ferguson. John works for the Benelli importer who have provided John with a bike to race, a tasty Tornado Tre in red. Having had the pleasure of briefly riding a standard version Tre and falling instantly in love, I was looking forward to a spectacle. As it was I had just arrived when John headed out onto the track for some qualifying laps. I chose to watch the excitement from the viewing area above pit lane, did I mention that I scored a pit pass for the weekend? Yes, I am a lucky bastard sometimes.
I did my usual wander through the AMCN tent to touch bikes I cant afford and buy my own small slice of the event. I walked out with a hat, the Faster DVD (truly excellent), a stubbie cooler (must have item) and some photos of bikes I plan to own when I win a million. The tent wasn't as well stocked as years past, not as many stalls and fewer bike brands but still a nice display.
The day itself was hot and sunny with only the smallest smudge of clouds across a light blue sky. I rode down in my leathers and was more than glad that I brought some shorts and sneaker to change into. The crowd was minimal, mostly bike crews and bike-tragics like myself. The hard-core campers had taken the best positions by the fence line and the orange overalled marshals made the most of any shade, what little there was.
I spent my time trying to soak up as much pit-side atmosphere as I could, probably looked the complete tool to the old hands, but with my trusty digital camera in hand I snapped away and rubber-necked my heart out. I caught up with John to see how things were going only to find out that he was suffering tyre and suspension problems. I noticed him getting blown away on the straights too so he wasn't too pleased. We chatted for a bit before I went to watch the SBK kings cut some fast laps.
A man who has languished at the bottom of the heap on a slow pig of a bike finally showed what class his possessed by posting the quickest time of the day was none other than Troy Corser, Aussie legend. Finally aboard a decent bike again he's on top of the competition once more.
I've got more to say about those three great days but right now I've got noone to see and nothing to do, better get to it.
Catch you later.
Monday, March 21, 2005
Beer is not my friend
My mate Craig is a bastard. That's about the best reason I can come up with for the hangover I'm suffering today. What sort of bastard inflicts a hangover on a mate on a Monday? Yesterday was a perfect Melbourne day, warm, sunny, beautiful. So what does a young lad about town do on such a day? Get pissed and look at hot chicks? You betcha!
It all started with an invitation to go with him to the Carlton family day. I thought he was joking at first, being a bombers supporter I'm not to inclined to hang out at the Blues events. As it was he was taking his sweet time so we only caught the tail end of it but he got a photo with the Wizard Cup, so he's happy. What an ugly piece of silverware that thing is, looks like a year 10 metal-work assignment gone wrong.
So after standing out on the turf and having a general gander we decide heading into the city for a quiet cleansing ale. After much farking around with a car that wouldn't start we finally get back to his joint, grab some travellers and train it in. To cut a long story short, we ended up in Richmond at the Corner Hotel and sat on the roof admiring the scantilly clad scenery and sipping on fine amber draught. His girlfriend eventually joined us, a rather nice Italian lass, and we decided to drink dinner. We eventually got back to my place where he started on bourbon and I thought a glass or two of Château Box would be the ticket. All was right with the world and everyone's happy.
Cut to today. It's 6:30 am, my alarm is sending sonic needles into my brain and a very small carpet layer has been to work on my tounge. Faaaark! About an hour later I finally manage to stumble out and not throw up all over the place. I somehow manage to shower myself and even dress with everything around the right way. Mako the Wonder Dog does his best to get his useless master awake and functioning, a sloppy lick on a bare leg will do that first thing in the morning. I eventually mope out into the garage and bring the bike out for the ride in to work. Why did it gain an extra 50 kilos in the night?
On the way in some stupid bitch decides that the space I'm currently occupying is just to good to pass up and forthwith swerves into my lane. Thankfully for me the part of the brain that is still able to tick over is also the part riding the bike and I avoid another bone crunching accident. Bitch naturally doesn't give a stuff and gives me the finger when I get on the horn. Typical.
So to work. My manager is very impressed I'm an hour late, the lunch menu at the caffeteria sucks even by it's low standard and I'm just happy to keep my stomach in the right place.
The personal hell that is my work station eventually spits me out at a bit after 5 and I again have the pleasure of a near-death experience thanks to another hateful shrew bent on my destruction. I make it home. Gods, the things we do to ourselves.
And all of this is thanks to my mate Craig. You bastard!
Catch you soon...
It all started with an invitation to go with him to the Carlton family day. I thought he was joking at first, being a bombers supporter I'm not to inclined to hang out at the Blues events. As it was he was taking his sweet time so we only caught the tail end of it but he got a photo with the Wizard Cup, so he's happy. What an ugly piece of silverware that thing is, looks like a year 10 metal-work assignment gone wrong.
So after standing out on the turf and having a general gander we decide heading into the city for a quiet cleansing ale. After much farking around with a car that wouldn't start we finally get back to his joint, grab some travellers and train it in. To cut a long story short, we ended up in Richmond at the Corner Hotel and sat on the roof admiring the scantilly clad scenery and sipping on fine amber draught. His girlfriend eventually joined us, a rather nice Italian lass, and we decided to drink dinner. We eventually got back to my place where he started on bourbon and I thought a glass or two of Château Box would be the ticket. All was right with the world and everyone's happy.
Cut to today. It's 6:30 am, my alarm is sending sonic needles into my brain and a very small carpet layer has been to work on my tounge. Faaaark! About an hour later I finally manage to stumble out and not throw up all over the place. I somehow manage to shower myself and even dress with everything around the right way. Mako the Wonder Dog does his best to get his useless master awake and functioning, a sloppy lick on a bare leg will do that first thing in the morning. I eventually mope out into the garage and bring the bike out for the ride in to work. Why did it gain an extra 50 kilos in the night?
On the way in some stupid bitch decides that the space I'm currently occupying is just to good to pass up and forthwith swerves into my lane. Thankfully for me the part of the brain that is still able to tick over is also the part riding the bike and I avoid another bone crunching accident. Bitch naturally doesn't give a stuff and gives me the finger when I get on the horn. Typical.
So to work. My manager is very impressed I'm an hour late, the lunch menu at the caffeteria sucks even by it's low standard and I'm just happy to keep my stomach in the right place.
The personal hell that is my work station eventually spits me out at a bit after 5 and I again have the pleasure of a near-death experience thanks to another hateful shrew bent on my destruction. I make it home. Gods, the things we do to ourselves.
And all of this is thanks to my mate Craig. You bastard!
Catch you soon...
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
A brief intro....
So this is bloging is it? Hmmm, doesn't seem that hard. Just think of something worthwhile to write about and put it down. So, how about that...ummm, ah thing, you know? Really good stuff!
Ok, so thinking of a decent first post isn't that straight forward. Perhaps a couple of comments on things that are going on around me...
Well the F1 was on yesterday and for a change Schumacher didn't win. Nice change actually but still a boring race all the same. At least the V8s occasionally pass each other. Check out this link for Tim Blair's take on the race.
http://timblair.net/ee/index.php/trackback/1380/GdUdIWBh/
As an aside, one of the first things I want to learn is how to change the ugly links into something shorter and more readable.
The World Superbikes are almost with us again, thank God! Being a motorbike tragic I'm really excited about this year's competition. With six Aussies in the line up and Troy Corser already with one win under his belt from the first round it's shaping up to be a good season. For the rundown on the first round pay a visit here... http://www.mcnews.com.au/motorcycleracing2005/superbike/round1_losail/sbk_r1.htm
I was planning on staying down there ("down there" being Phillip Island) with a group of people but that got spannered when the girlfriend made one too many decrees and we parted ways......and she then hooked up with the next best, taking my spot. Thanks for that..*muffled expletive*. I'm still welcome to stay so I'm told. Somehow I can't see that happening.
In local racing news there was a tragic accident a the Broadford round of the Victorian Road Racing Championship. Richard Cant lost his life racing in the 250cc class after crashing and being hit by two following bikes. He is survived by his wife Tiffany and their as yet unborn child. I was there that day I can tell you that it was the worst day I've spent at a track. These days with rider gear and on-track help at such a high standard you just don't expect to see a man die just having a go around a small circuit against some mates. Here's a pic of Richard at the 2003 GP.
http://www.mcnews.com.au/Riders/richard_cant/tragedy_announce.htm
If you are wondering who's behind this embryo of a blog, I'm a guy, living in Melbourne. I've been here for that last few years after having lived pretty much everywhere else in Australia and more than a few places overseas. I love Thai food, cold beer and fast motorbikes. I don't score highly on the PC charts but I'm not a neanderthal either. "I'm a bloke" would be how I'd put it. I did my time at Uni and earned the piece of paper only to find it means sweet FA in the real world. I work for a multi-nat but would love to run my own small business, humble as that may be. I think being my own boss, while perhaps not as financially stable, would be much more satisfying personally. For the animal lovers I have a large German Shepherd cross who does a passable impersonation of a puppy even though he weighs in at more that 46 kilos. We found him at the Lost Dogs Home and from the moment I saw him I knew he was my dog. A better natured animal would be hard to find.
Well now, I seem to have run out of things to say for the moment. I hope to make this little collection of thoughts reasonably interesting but don't hold your breath. I'll mostly just talk about what interests me or comment on events around Melbourne and internationally. To be honest there are far better established bloggers who do a much better job so I'll be making good use of links to their sites. I have no illusions about becoming a great writer or blogger of any renown but it's something I want to have a crack at, so let's see where it goes.
Catch you soon....
Ok, so thinking of a decent first post isn't that straight forward. Perhaps a couple of comments on things that are going on around me...
Well the F1 was on yesterday and for a change Schumacher didn't win. Nice change actually but still a boring race all the same. At least the V8s occasionally pass each other. Check out this link for Tim Blair's take on the race.
http://timblair.net/ee/index.php/trackback/1380/GdUdIWBh/
As an aside, one of the first things I want to learn is how to change the ugly links into something shorter and more readable.
The World Superbikes are almost with us again, thank God! Being a motorbike tragic I'm really excited about this year's competition. With six Aussies in the line up and Troy Corser already with one win under his belt from the first round it's shaping up to be a good season. For the rundown on the first round pay a visit here... http://www.mcnews.com.au/motorcycleracing2005/superbike/round1_losail/sbk_r1.htm
I was planning on staying down there ("down there" being Phillip Island) with a group of people but that got spannered when the girlfriend made one too many decrees and we parted ways......and she then hooked up with the next best, taking my spot. Thanks for that..*muffled expletive*. I'm still welcome to stay so I'm told. Somehow I can't see that happening.
In local racing news there was a tragic accident a the Broadford round of the Victorian Road Racing Championship. Richard Cant lost his life racing in the 250cc class after crashing and being hit by two following bikes. He is survived by his wife Tiffany and their as yet unborn child. I was there that day I can tell you that it was the worst day I've spent at a track. These days with rider gear and on-track help at such a high standard you just don't expect to see a man die just having a go around a small circuit against some mates. Here's a pic of Richard at the 2003 GP.
http://www.mcnews.com.au/Riders/richard_cant/tragedy_announce.htm
If you are wondering who's behind this embryo of a blog, I'm a guy, living in Melbourne. I've been here for that last few years after having lived pretty much everywhere else in Australia and more than a few places overseas. I love Thai food, cold beer and fast motorbikes. I don't score highly on the PC charts but I'm not a neanderthal either. "I'm a bloke" would be how I'd put it. I did my time at Uni and earned the piece of paper only to find it means sweet FA in the real world. I work for a multi-nat but would love to run my own small business, humble as that may be. I think being my own boss, while perhaps not as financially stable, would be much more satisfying personally. For the animal lovers I have a large German Shepherd cross who does a passable impersonation of a puppy even though he weighs in at more that 46 kilos. We found him at the Lost Dogs Home and from the moment I saw him I knew he was my dog. A better natured animal would be hard to find.
Well now, I seem to have run out of things to say for the moment. I hope to make this little collection of thoughts reasonably interesting but don't hold your breath. I'll mostly just talk about what interests me or comment on events around Melbourne and internationally. To be honest there are far better established bloggers who do a much better job so I'll be making good use of links to their sites. I have no illusions about becoming a great writer or blogger of any renown but it's something I want to have a crack at, so let's see where it goes.
Catch you soon....
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