Into February now and my first post of 2024 with the worst of Winter behind us thankfully and warmer days to look forward to now - can’t wait! That said, I have been out riding most weekends on free rides with Kidderminster Advanced Bikers and with Tim and Chris for a most enjoyable Boxing Day ride in Herefordshire up to Ludlow cafe. A bit chilly and the roads were flooded in parts but good to be out to blow the cobwebs away after the Christmas festivities.
Tim has one of those Insta 360 cameras with a GPS attachment and I do like the resolution. It fascinates me how the AI stitched video masks out the camera boom, and the clarity of image and sound is far better than my GoPro. Click on these images to run Tim’s videos, a ride around the Alps with this camera set up would be amazing. You can just see Chris as pillion behind him too.
Over the Christmas break I received a surprise message from Rob, my old Harley ‘mukka’ from years ago. We toured together on our Harley Sportsters with HOG Brettours as featured in some of my older blog posts back with Steve and Jeromy too - the old ‘Slipper club’ we had a lot of fun on those trips we both recall with amusement from time to time in messages. Due to work and family commitments along with other interests Rob sold his Harley back around 2010, so I was bowled over when Rob sent me a picture of his new Triumph Tiger 660 just bought and was awaiting collection. We arranged a meet and ride for last weekend and headed off up to Church Stoke Cafe and later Shobdon Aerodrome for an overdue ride and catch up.
Rob pictured here with his shiny new Tiger, fitted with panniers wearing his new RST touring suit he’s ready and raring to go for some new adventures it seems. We had a nice Sunday ride, despite the cold weather it was great to catch up at last and chat about our families and how our kids have grown up now and what they are doing with their lives. That Tiger is a real nice bike, the build quality and lines of the sporty 660 triple make it a great package and Rob was having a lot of fun and looked comfortable riding it. I have to say you wouldn’t know he hasn’t owned a bike in 12 or 13 years it was a pleasure to ride with him again, I look forward to meeting up again soon in warmer weather and I must take him down in to the Cotsowlds for a meet up with Steve, thats going to be a lot of fun!
My other bike related activities this Winter include attending the Kidderminster Advanced Bikers AGM where I’ve decided to get a bit involved in some of the activities going on and attempt to spread the word of the good work they and IAM are doing in helping bikers improve their riding skills and roadcraft. Such a great friendly club of like-minded people, so if you are local to Kidderminster and fancy learning some new skills drop in on KAB and request a taster ride via the website here.
Roll on Spring, and warmer rides. In the meantime don’t forget to listen to Adventure Rider Radio podcasts. I really enjoy listening in on some of the episodes where there are some great skills based discussions as well as some guests who have been on some fascinating adventures world wide. Ride Safe !
