Prepping For Next Biking Season

[Hedgetrimmer]

Well, it's that time of year. The weather has now obviously turned away from summer, it's dark when I go to work in the morning and set to be dark when I come home after the clocks are adjusted soon. Any decent biking weather now will be confined to very short days. So I figure it's time to start saving for next year's fun. This year, I achieved the things I set out to do, largely because I kept my targets to sensible proportions. Last January, I told a work colleague that I would have a gen 1 thou by the end of June (got it at the end of May), this starting from bugger all money in the bank. I promised myself that I would get this one Ivanised, and in time to still get some decent rides in before the new winter approached. Well, it's done, and I didn't waste a minute of decent riding weather this year, over 6000 miles covered, a touch of camping, and new roads and areas explored, met lots of you guys and had a bit of fun. Yep, it's been a pretty good year for me - a quite large proportion of that is down to you Foccers so many thanks for that  .
 
And so, what of next year? Now is the time for me to start easing back on the riding, and begin to save for whatever next summer has to offer. I've got a couple of things I would like to achieve next year. Firstly, I'm hoping to do the R1 forks and R6 rear shock mod for the bike, plus a few more minor cosmetic touches. Secondly, I would like next year to be the one in which I finally crack my Euro-touring cherry. I feel quite driven to get this one under my belt as something of a priority; 30+ years riding and apart from 8 months or so in Germany with an FZR1000 EXUP, (largely wasted cos I was on the piss most of my free time  ) I have done very little on the continent. I did do a trip from northern Germany to Le Mans, a few rides to the Moehne See (which was the local-ish run for a couple of us on a Sunday), visited my brother at RAF Bruggen a few times, but that's it. So I've decided that next year is the year this must be put right.
And of course, still more places to explore and hopefully people to meet in good ol' Blighty.
 
So that's next year's goals. Again, not too ambitious - after all, I'll still be paying off this bike and, no doubt like many of you, I don't exactly rake it in money-wise. And I hope I might be able to achieve a couple more things on top of that, but unclear what else at this early date. Got all winter to think about that now!
 
Roll on 2014!
 

[dickturpin]

good thinking nick...I know what you mean about the lack of biking weather in the coming months!
I have toured Europe a lot in the cage with family and whilst it is tempting, it really is a slog from Yorkshire to the channel then a long day down to Austria or Switzerland. for that reason I tend to keep the bike in this country, with the Scottish hills only a few hours away,  as is wales, and the lake district about two hours away I could think I was spoilt for choice. I also have the Yorkshire moors and dales in very close proximity.
I also enjoy a few days in cornwall/devon area and am fortunate that I can go last minute when the weather is looking good for a few days. lets face it, for biking and camping the weather makes it or breaks it! I will try and head in that direction at least once next year but that is a full days ride off the motorways from here.
whatever we do I know we will enjoy.....good to have something to think about on the winter evenings!

[dickturpin]

[dickturpin]

 
A few from this summer!

[Hedgetrimmer]

First pic - Lake District?
Second pic reminds me of the coast road of Kintyre.
Third pic - I've got that one, Aberystwyth, twice this year!

[dickturpin]

pic 1, yes top of newlands pass near buttermere
pic 2, between newquay and padstow
pic 3, as you said.

[Hedgetrimmer]

2 out of 3, not bad? 
I 've walked the fells extensively around Buttermere, a really beautiful, peaceful place. Been to the top of Red Pike, Haystacks, did Robinson from there too. Got loads of photos from then, but cheating to post them here, as they weren't taken on a biking trip! Must go back on the bike soon, perhaps next year.
I've also walked that stretch of the Cornish coast - Minehead to Penzance in about 1996 or thereabouts. If you can park up the bike and get on the coast path it's well worth walking a few miles of it - rugged and wild.
And Wales of course - what can anyone add?! 

[noggythenog]

Nick....the best thing about having a bike........you dont have to walk anywhere!!!! .......& you get to pollute the countryside while admiring it!! ..........ha ha only pissin about of course.....i love a good walk but my feet have always disintegrated through distance & it really winds me up, i just cant enjoy much more than 20 miles without worrying about walking on bloody stumps....


Fair play to yous guys though for getting about so much, pretty inspirational really & im sure next year will only get better....ive had a pretty good time myself really this year considering im a bike tourist, managed a few good runs up in scotland & a few in wales.....& even learned how to fall off


I cant deny that the bike being lain up for the winter will save me a pretty penny & i know ill be chomping at the bit to get back on it come april time.

[adeejaysdelight]

Not a bad biking year for me this year. I toured Skye on my own in February/March. I managed to do my first Euro tour and lap the Nurburgring several times. I lost my chicken strips and did my first clutch change (well, still doing it  ). Covered about 8 or 9 thousand miles over both bikes and had a great deal of fun doing so.


Next year I plan to hit the Stelvio Pass in northern Italy, via the ring (again). I want to do a track day too, maybe at Knockhill as that is my local track. I also intend to add my third bike to the garage and am half way there with the pennies. I just need to decide what bike to go for, although it will definitely be a focused sports tool. Finally I would like to do a wee bit of advanced training. Maybe something like the police riders assessment or something similar.


Here is to another year of keeping it shiny side up 

[Hedgetrimmer]

Ah, that's a good idea, track day!
Another thing I've not yet done. Training too, some good courses out there these days. Which one to choose?

[noggythenog]

maybe at Knockhill as that is my local track.



Your a fifer then Adee????, im from Glenrothes even though i live in Wales


Ill give you a shout when im up next year.

[Hedgetrimmer]

Scotland is never far from the top of my list of where to go, but obviously it's a bit of a trek from where I am so needs some prior planning. Twice I've ridden to Skye, and had to turn around because of the lateness of the day and the fact that my tent was parked elsewhere, so this is unfinished business for me. So next time I cross that bridge, the tent will be on board, and I'll spend a couple of days on the island.

[esetest]

Fair play to you guys , iv'e not done nearly as much  in the three years iv'e had the fazer , managed some maintenance stuff  and had the major service done + valve check . Done my first biking tour to Scotland this year . Hopefully next year I will go to North Wales and  go  to Silverstone for motogp .
 I am hoping to do some mods next year to compliment the mods done by previous owner -  carbon  stubby exhaust slip on , ivans jet kit installation , k&n air filter .
On my biking bucket  list - biking tour of Europe , track day , route 66 on a Harley , ride around the med , do some motocross .

[sure2ride]

Not had a bad year apart from hitting that damned pheasant 2 weeks ago. Got bike repaired and went to Dartmoor last weekend. Came back filthy, 3 hour clean now nicely tucked up in garage waiting DRY day for rideout before the year is out!
Dartmoor in background, Stonkingly good Fazer 8 in foreground !!!!

[savvy]

Hi Dickturpin. is pic 4 Padstow inner harbour looking across towards the old railway station and car parks?  Was there about 6 weeks ago.

[ogri48]

Excellent stuff nick. Touring Europe isn't cheap, what with the price of fuel etc. but if your a biker, the experience and memories mean far more than money. Places like the pyranees, Swiss and French alps etc have to be done to be believed. And the lack of traffic is unlike anything you will find in blighty. I've been hooked since my first foray on a '88 zx10 to the bol dor back in the early nineties. All the stuff you read about foreign coppers nicking you and fining you gazillions of euros on the spot for speeding won't be a worry once your off the motorways, which I avoid like the plague anyway coz there boring and have tolls. I know you already really appreciate your bike already, once you've done Europe you will be even closer to it, just like all relationships I guess, the more you go through together, the more you bond

[Hedgetrimmer]

Lol, yeah, me and a mate got nicked for speeding leaving the circuit at Le Mans (me on the EXUP, him on a ZXR750). They were pulling all the speeding Brits, anyone else they just let go, foccers. Plus, I ended up paying mine and his fines, for reasons I don't recall now. Not having family or any other ties, I pretty much work to feed the biking habit, so as long as I can get the dosh together in the first place, I don't mind spending it on fuel, bike mods and bike trips. I need to save enough so that I don't have to worry about costs when I go on a Euro tour tho - nothing worse than a trip of a lifetime and having to watch the pennies!
 
I did have all the French currency, holiday booked and everything ready for the Bol D'Or myself in 1991, all ready to go, but had my big stack a couple of weeks before, so never did make that one. For some reason, probably the morphine, whilst in ICU I had a very vivid dream that I was in a French hospital - weird.

[dickturpin]

Yes savvy it is padstow harbour. I found a campsite there from which u can walk into the harbour area and have a beer without needing to ride back to campsite which is a plus .

[Punkstig]

Season?

[Hedgetrimmer]

Winter riding? Been there, done that. I'll leave that to you young sprogs now 
 
Slightly more seriously tho, cutting back on the winter riding is the only way I can ever get the money together to pay for the things I want to do next year, in better weather 

[adeejaysdelight]

Noggy, from Glasgow mate. I know Knockhill is not exactly "local", but it is as local as any other


Nick, get your arse to skye. It is well worth it. I rode up one day. Rode round the mouse ears several times the next. Rode back home the next. Foccin fantastic. Maybe we should arrange a foccers outing to the island for next Spring?

[/size]Esetest, had the major service DONE? I had mine in bits withing weeks of ownership

[Hedgetrimmer]

This was the furthest I got to on Skye last time before turning around (had to get back to Kinlochleven, where the tent was pitched). Not a great photo of the Black Cuillin. I wanted to get round to the other side of this range as there is apparently a campsite there, and better views of the famous landmarks of the Cuillin Ridge, Sgurr Alisdair etc.
Next time, next time.....
 
 

[locksmith]

I had a very vivid dream that I was in a French hospital - weird.

Make sure you keep it a dream, been there done that, not pleasant.

[VNA - BMW Wank]

Skye?  Take yer walking boots with you!

The problem with Skye (the island of mist) is that in a country with dreadful weather, Skye arguably  has the worst weather of anywhere in the country. 

My last couple of visits the Cuillin Ridge has eluded me.  High winds, too much snow, low cloud and so on.  Loads of gorgeous smaller hills and fab low land walks. 

I'm not a camper but the Glen Brittle Campsite though basic has a good reputation, and a fantastic location.

If you like a roof over yer heid but don't wanna fork out a fortune, The Waterfront Bunkhouse next door to The Old Inn in Carbost is good.  The Old Inn is a cracking wee proper local pub (strangely owned by a couple of Cornish dudes), very friendly, good real beer and excellent food at very reasonable prices, probably gets seriously mobbed in the middle of summer though.  There's wigwams just along the road from Carbost at Portnalong, and they have nice wee bothy style self contained units good for small groups too, as well as a hostel (one big bunk room though)

Carbost and that ridge;






You get a great view of that ridge from Ergol (boat trips in summer), there's usually loads of pretty picture landscape snappers hanging out here waiting for the light to do something, umm but not in this weather ;





Bla Bheinn, considered by many to be Scotland's finest hill, it has it's own personal cloud, so even on nice days you often can't see foc all on the summit, for once I got lucky,

[Hedgetrimmer]

Yeah, you're bang on VNA. where there's hills, there's weather!    Chance you take with visiting hilly/mountainous country, but worth it for those sublime moments when the light does break through. That's why I liked doing the backpacking and camping - yes you get wet sometimes, but when the rain clears and the sun comes out, and there you are to see it on some high ridge with no one else around - it's the only thing that for me comes close to the sheer joy of the b iking experience at it's best. And I guess going camping with the bike is the closest I can get to combining the two.
Some nice shots there mate, thankyou 
A shot or two of my last backpacking trip in the Lakes region (very amateur I'm afraid!):