Motorbiking
"Biker" for me usually means motorbiking, though I also have a couple of mountain-bikes... see Trail Bike
My current motorbikes are a Honda CBR600RR ABS 2017 and a Kawasaki Ninja Z250SL.
Previously I have owned: Kawasaki ZX4-RR (Ninja anniversary edition), Honda CRF300 Rally, Honda CBR600RR 2005, Honda CBR600FW, Honda VF750F, Yamaha FJ600, Suzuki GSX750EX, Yamaha FJ750, Yamaha XJ900, Kawasaki Z750 and I passed my riding test on my Kawasaki KH250.
See also my Motorbiking web links
River Caldew, Mosedale
Little bike ride up and down Mosedale, then the complete circuit round Blencathra and Skiddaw via Caldbeck, following part of cycle route 10, the “Reivers Route”.
Bit of fun though the sunny interval didn’t hold past Caldbeck. The bike needed another good clean afterwards to get the mud off but that’s part of the fun of riding muddy roads, through puddles and a couple of fords. Note the snowdrops in flower at Mungrisdale
Delaying to avoid the storm meant I was riding the beautiful Newlands Valley road with almost the only wheels on the roads as a colourful dusk was brewing. Then turning around after sunset at Buttermere to retrace the narrow road back to Keswick, including the 20% and 25% inclines near the summit. Not a lot of distance but good fun plus gaining experience wrangling the little bike on mud, grass and gravel before my lightweight trail bike gets delivered.
More photos: Newlands Valley to Buttermere at dusk - Lake District National Park
Ride out from Keswick chasing the mercurial sunny intervals. I chose the minor roads to Ullswater and Patterdale. Kirkstone Pass looked dodgy weather so I turned around at Sykeside camp site, note the remains of snow drifts on the flanks of Helvellyn etc. Rewarding views for my first ride of 2022.
More photos: Chasing sunny intervals from Keswick to Sykeside - Lake District National Park
Planning my 2022 riding whilst breaking in fresh new leathers. Bought at a useful discount in the Boxing Day sale online, the leathers arrived laid out like a mummy in the packing box. I’m not expecting to use the elbow sliders but good to know they are there.
Route des Crêtes on Cap Canaille
Cassis
Great day out riding my RR; this is what I came here for this time, despite the hassles of travel at the moment.
After a classic Provence winter dawn, breakfast of just a croissant and some coffee, but indoors as it’s the coolest breakfast-time air temperature so far, just +3°C on my balcony. High clouds look like they will limit the sun’s rays but keep the heat in. The wind that stopped me riding yesterday has dropped so it should be good to go later on.
Riding out of Marseille, then passing the Légion tank regiment base at Carnoux-en-Provence, before a stop in pretty Cassis.
More photos: Carnoux, Calanques, Crêtes, Canaille & La Ciotat
Subcategories
Alps Biker 2016
I'm riding light for a week on the mountain roads of the Alps. No laptop, although I do have my SLR camera but photos will have to wait till I'm back in Marseille..
I left Marseille for a long ride north via the Col de la Croix Haute (1179 m.) to Saint-Gervais under Mont Blanc. A bit of rain towards the end of the day which cleaned the Provence dust off my white leathers and boots but didn't soak me through.
