Latest Biking News



Latest News
Thursday
As my P45 hasn’t landed on my desk, I’m still plodding away at work. Whilst sitting here in my Louboutin splendour, there are a few tell-tale signs that what you see is a thin veneer of corporate polish and underneath, subversion lurks...

My lid lives on the end of my desk. (My standard response to men fiddling with the Suomy: ‘I don’t play with your helmet, kindly don’t play with mine’)

My screen saver is his Rossiness getting his knee and elbow down and it all indicates that I like bikes but most people assume I’ve got a moped, and a certain visitor behind me was no exception:

"What bike do you ride?"

Me, obtusely, "A small black one"

"What make is it?"

"Yamaha"

"I see you like Rossi. Do you watch the racing?"

"I love it. All those fast bikes!"

Him, patronisingly, "Yeah, I’ve ridden Gixers, R1’s, ‘Blades – the lot. You not fancy trying a proper big bike?"

"Well, I have often thought about it."

"Just not for you?"

"No not really. The R1 and Blade are a bit too big for me, but my R6 is just right"

Told him.

Tuesday
Got a call from my brother in Shetland.

"What you doing this weekend?"

Nothing much.

"Can you go to Bognor and pick up a bike I’ve bought on eBay?"

Let me think about this.

Over 60 miles each way, sub zero conditions, picking up a 30 year old Suzuki SP 375 with a top speed of about 50 mph with no guarantee it will work, no insurance etc... not much to think about there.

"No"

"It would be good to write about in your magazine"

"Still ‘No’"

Talking to Ed later on and I mention the conversation with my brother.

"Lovely old proper bikes those Suzuki’s. Yeah, that would make for good copy!"

"You like the idea that much – you go pick it up"

"Not bloody likely!! It’s fekkin’ freezing out there, it’s at least 60 miles, the top speed’s about 50 mph, no insurance, there’s no guarantee it will work, it’s at least 30 years old..."

Wednesday and Friday
The 6 is still giving me gip in the cold weather. It died on me 5 times until it got up over 70 degrees. I was not best pleased.

Got in to work and was straight on to my mate Stuart – he of ‘Rides a Girl's Bike’ fame.

(I met Stuart years ago when the 05 Raven came out and I fell in love – not with him! Having spent a weekend drooling over his bike in front of his mates, I uttered the now fabled line, "well, it is a girl’s bike really". Since then he’s been stuck with the tag line of ‘Rides a Girl’s Bike’)

Despite our history, he is my best source of info on my bike and I updated him on my troubles, only to be told that he had no idea what I’m on about, as his has never given him a day’s grief – but he always lets it warm up to about 65 degrees before going anywhere.

That man has too much time on his hands.

However on Friday he got in touch and told me that over the weekend he would try some experimental riding off when the engine was still quite cold and see if it died on him after a minute or 2 when he pulled the clutch in.

Considering we are forecast -150°C, that’s what I call a true friend.

About that ‘Girl’s Bike’ thing... didn’t mean it...
two wheel passion
www.theridersdigest.co.uk

Six_in_the_City 9/2007
Six and the City 121
Six_in_the_City 10/2007
Six_in_the_City 11/2007
Six_in_the_City 2/2008
Six_in_the_City 2/2008
Six_in_the_City 2/2008
Six_in_the_City 4/2008
Six_in_the_City 6/2008
Six_in_the_City 6/2008
Six_in_the_City 7/2008
Six_in_the_City 8/2008
Six_in_the_City 11/2008
Six In The City 12/2008
Article supplied by
Links
Place a review of your bike
Fancyapint? Pub Reviews & News
Place a FREE ad today!