Lockdown

Last weekend myself and Mark decided on 'socially distanced' ride in to Wales. One week on we are all in total lock down now on Government orders, so my bike is polished clean and put away under cover and I've used the weekend time to clear out my garage, a much overdue chore I kept putting off in the past. As tempting as it may seem to go out for a ride on these ultra quiet roads, I think we all have to do our bit and stay at home now. Motorcycling does have its risks, and even a minor injury at this time might affect our wonderful NHS workers as they try to cope with treating people infected with Coronavirus. So for now, I've decided to binge watch some motorcycle videos on YouTube (TMF and The Long Way Round again), and dig up some of my past GoPro ride footage videos to reminisce on happier times on tour over the past few years. Here are some of my favourites below.

The Predator

This short five minute mash-up video sums up all that is great about riding in the Alps. High mountain passes with excellent road surfaces in most parts, the giant dam at the Grimsel, the Azure blue lake on Mont Cenis, the Col d'Iseran overlooking Val d'Isere and riding with our tour leader Steve Freeman in the Vosges. It ends with a beer as usual, as presented to me by Mr Guest as I finally arrive at the hotel. Wonderful! Watch out for the selfie stick footage while riding through a Swiss Village.

Five Minute Alpine Montage 2016

While riding the big five passes in 2016 I decided then the Susten pass was my favourite. There is something special about riding with that huge valley dropping down below, and the bends are so fast and sweeping, yet tighten up a little, just the right amount allowing you to engine brake on the way in, then slingshot out with a thump of GS torquey throttle on the apex. In 2016 it was a weekend day and a little busy, but in 2018 it wasn't on the official route that Monday morning so myself and Steve diverted away to ride it instead. Such a good decision, devoid of traffic amazing ride, with a very pleasant lunch stop in Andermatt to follow too.

The Best Mountain Pass - Susten, Switzerland 2018

This has to be one of the best motorcycle roads in the world, the N621 in the Picos de Europa mountain region in Northern Spain. My first time riding it was with Mark, Lindsay and Peter in 2012, and then this one featured with Lindsay in 2015 will be forever remembered for so many reasons. I did it again last year with Steve, in both directions heading to/from Portugal. Every time from Potes we always stop off at the famous 'deer' statue to admire the view and watch other bikes racing up and down. The little mountain lake town of Riano is such a popular stop at the hotel for lunch, with a convenient fuel stop too at I believe to be the most picturesque petrol station in Europe. 

The Picos, N621 to Riano, 2015

One of the hottest June's on record coincided with my planned short trip to South West Ireland to ride The Ring of Kerry. Just couldn't fault it with great company in Mark and Mike who had never met before this trip. Some very memorable moments not least those bumpy B roads, and a mad night in Killarney that left us starting out later in the day, after me crashing into the breakfast table as I sobered up, but I did enjoy riding around those Irish coastal roads and then out to Brandon. Not a cloud in the sky for the entire trip, plenty of Guinness, and Mike's first real motorcycle tour with no clue where were ever heading. Priceless!

The Ring of Kerry 2018

You have just got to love the Vosges Mountains, great on the way to/from from the Alps and a far better option than the B500 in my opinion. I'd prefer to visit them in both directions every time now. In 2018 the famous Routes des Cretes took myself and Steve up and over this mini mountain range consisting of La Bonhemme and La Schluct passes. Not as high as the Alps, but by no means less fun. Long sweeping bends in a forested region with almost zero traffic in the week. Some great little cafes to stop and get a hot chocolate and warm up a bit, before riding on across the border into Switzerland. Download the Route here.

Route des Cretes, Vosges Mountains, 2018

I took the option to ride the Stelvio again in 2018 it was a free day rideout choice on this trip despite having ridden this 40 odd hairpin Austrian/Italian pass before in 2013 with Bluemooner Andy, Mike the Bike, Davey Boy and the rest of GSClubUK. This time, with Motorrad tours I was following Alan on his S1000 RR. Great fun, busy as usual with bikes, cyclists, motor homes and all sorts. For this reason it's not my favourite mountain pass, but such a good atmosphere anyway, it has to be done at least once if only for the novelty factor.

The Stelvio, Italy, 2016

A nice little ride down to Applecross via 'The Pass Of the Cattle' with Lindsay. The ride that day was a wet one, especially as we went around the coast and started our climb when the heavens opened with low misty cloud over the Skye peninsula. Fortunately, as we climbed up high into the cloud base  (the highest driveable pass on mainland UK), the rain stopped, the gnarly road dried up, and as we passed over the top the sun came out as we dropped down in to Applecross to pitch our tents on sodden grass later followed by a meet with Andy to sample some fantastic sea food and beer at the Inn up the road.

The Pass of the Cattle, West Coast of Scotland, 2016

At the end of a fantastic day riding six big mountain passes e.g. Furka, Grimsel, San Bernadino, Nuefenen, Susten and around Mont Blanc, I was feeling a bit tired late afternoon. With a huge smile on my face, as the sun dropped low over the mountains, I wound my way down into Italy alone via the Valle d' Acosta to our hotel in the little village of Cormeyeur. I found myself listening to a perfect track over my headset. Of course it had to be 'On Days Like These' by Matt Monroe. What else? Perfect, so with the GoPro footage I recreated the moment .. forever!

On Days Like These, Valle d'Aosta, Italy 2016

Mothers Day ride to Llyn Brianne

As the country comes to terms with 'social distancing' measures set out by the government in order to mitigate the risk of spreading the Coronavirus, a big dilemma is deciding  if we should go for a ride this weekend, or stay at home and isolate ourselves some more. Myself and Mark came to the conclusion by taking a little care, keeping the suggested two metre distance from each other, we should enjoy this sunny Sunday and head out West to ride some of those long awaited roads through Herefordshire and beyond. Despite all of the usual biker meet cafes being closed, we met on the OK Diner car park in Leominster, and it seemed many other bikers had the same idea too. At one point I counted at least a dozen bikes on the garage car park next door, but thankfully most did seem to keep their distance from each other, a real mix of sports bikes, adventure bikes and the odd Harley too. The  biker community have all been waiting too long for a suitable dry sunny weekend day, so today was just too good an opportunity to get our fix, and for me personally a long awaited relief away from a week or so working from home alone.

Keep apart folks, abide by the rules 👍

 

Mark suggested we head out to the wonderful Llyn Brianne reservoir via Builth Wells, to wind our way up through the valley where the river meets the reservoir.  I left Mark to the navigation, and followed. The roads out here are superb, hardly any traffic today and finally, a great opportunity to get a good 'lick' on through the twisties at last.  It was cool with a biting wind up on top but we chose to stop and eat our packed lunches looking down over the reservoir. I have to say I was missing my usual 'Full English' today, but thankfully I had prepared a flask of hot tea to help keep warm. There were quite a few bikes parked up here too, and many others had driven up to sit in their cars and admire the view as well. 

 

Our route back took us over 'Sugar Loaf' to Llandrindod Wells, before heading into Shropshire via Clun and Craven Arms. I left Mark who decided to visit his parents who live in the area, so I headed toward Bridgnorth before taking that fun back road to Kinlet, Button Oak and on through Bewdley. A good deal of fun it was too, and good to get away from all of that bad news on he telly for a bit. I believe the decision to ride today was the right one, there is plenty of discussion on forums suggesting we should stay at home and polish our bikes instead, but in my mind keeping some level of sanity by simply riding a motorcycle that has always been a mostly solitary pursuit anyway goes along way to avoiding 'cabin fever' we shall all most likely suffer in the coming weeks!

Social Isolation on Clee Hill

What a start to this year ! Weeks of horrendous weather with repeated storms keeping my bike under wraps until March, finally getting dry enough roads to have new tyres fitted last weekend down at Cotswold Motorrad, and now just as I'm thinking of getting out and about in the Spring, all of the drama involved with the Coronavirus Pandemic encouraging us to all avoid none essential travel !

Anyway, 'sod it' I thought, I've been itching to get out, so today while working from home I couldn't resist an extended lunch break with a ride down to Bridgnorth, looping back via Ludlow with a quick stop on Clee Hill. A cool but sunny day at last, great to scrub the tyres in. I've had the trusty Metzelers (Tourance Next) fitted again, first set on this GS, but  I've always been happy with them in the past. The Battleax A41's were good, but only got 5k out of them, and reckon the Metzelers have a more premium feel. Let's hope I get the usual 6k+ like I did on my old GS.

 

Quite a few other bikes out too. A quarter of a car park full at Quatt Cafe, which is great for a Monday, and this guy on his Royal Enfield Himalayan, and another chap out on his old Matchless Single. 

The Himalayan looks a lot of fun, the owner having sorted the trademark electrical issues out, and the Matcless too sporting LED lights to keep the current consumption down. Nice to have a chat to their owners while keeping 1 metre apart of course! Disappointing that most of us with motorcycle tours planned will have to cancel this year, probably including my trip to Normandy / Brittany with Steve and Motorrad tours in mid-May. Damn.

Anyway, good to get out at last, if only to knock the bobbles off the tyres and stretch into the new riding gear at the same time (my Motorcycle Live bargains from last November). Looking forward to some warmer days now. 👍