I went for a ride to Gillingham today, down past Salisbury.

My first stop was lunch at the Old Brewery Cafe and Kitchen, just coming out the west side of Gillingham. Here.
Review: Nice bikes to look at, but a bit lacking soul somehow. Scampi and chips was alright.

Then I headed back to a place I spotted on the way, The Rising Sun, Shaftesbury. Here.
Review: It has on its logo "coffee tavern" so I had to take a look. It's a pub owned by a nice couple, the husband used to ride motorcycles. I had a nice chat and a decent coffee. Highly recommend! They also do lunch and the usual pub things. Next time I'll lunch there.

You might have heard I've been doing some trail riding over the last twelve months. I started with Level 1 of BMW Off road Skills in Wales last May, followed by a week with them in Portugal in February. It was a lot of good clean... I mean wet and dirty fun.

Upon my return a few weeks ago I decided to get something to keep learning with. Riding an R1300GS offroad still seems a bit silly, especially if I'll be alone a lot. So I went small. Itchy Boots did OK with a CRF and so I looked at the 300. After much reading I found that after purchase there's a load of stuff required to make it not rubbish. Namely replacing the universally panned suspension.

Long story short, I saw sense and bought Brian's 250 where he's done all the hard work for me.




I've mapped a little route near me using the TRF green lane map and hopefully will go for an exploration next week.

There's nothing that needs doing on it, though I'll get it serviced and MOT'd around May time. Oh and I'm going to do that playing tunes thing on the spokes when I remember, and tighten as appropriate if they don't play waltzing matilda. Or something.

Anyway, I think it looks brilliant, and I never thought I'd be comfortable on something with such a high seat height. But the light weight combined with my Portugal-confidence makes it feel achievable.

More updates when I started ruining all Brian's tasteful mods

After last May's Level 1 Off Road Skills (writeup here) I signed up for this Portugal trip. It's a week of 150-200km trail rides (with some tarmac between them) from a central hotel, riding the new R1300GS through all sorts of challenging and fun terrain.

Day 1 - Saturday

An early start to get to Heathrow for an 0730 flight to Faro in Portugal. I spotted one other helmet bag on my way to departures, but only on arrival did I actually start meeting people from my flight. As it turns out these 3 others were great and we spent a lot of time together throughout the week. They, like the other 20 or so on the trip, had wildly varying degrees of experience of off road riding. From Level 1 newbies such as myself, to decades of experience across the world such as the TET (Trans European Trail, it looks awesome, here's the UK leg), and all sorts of stuff.

Once we'd checked into the hotel our little group headed into the marina area for some food and drink. Later that evening at 8pm we had our first briefing at the hotel, where we met Simon Pavey and the several other instructors involved in the week. Essentially those of us who arrived on Saturday had paid to spend Sunday doing a bit of refresher training, whilst the overly confident would arrive Sunday night, skipping this. It was good to see that almost everyone opted into this, even the highly experienced. The general consensus was "it's more time riding".

Couple of bikes out front so we knew we were at the right place!


Day 2 - Sunday

Annoyingly it was also more time raining. Sunday started out wet and ended almost as wet.

We started out the day with a rainy ride out for about 30 minutes or so to get to a trail. Here we split up into groups of 5-7 and spent time practicing the basics. Turning in the track, weight transfer, clutch control, ascents and descents. Basically a re-hash of L1, to get us started. More stuff/guidance came as the week and our skills progressed.

I had a git of a morning doing this stuff, we were in the clouds, visibility was less than 20 metres and my visor kept fogging up. Then about 11am the sky cleared slightly and I could see incredible scenery. This along with a rotation to another pair of guides/trainers reset my brain, and I was engine braking down a steep as descent that "nobody in the other group could manage it just on engine braking" in no time, and I had my confidence back.

And wet feet. And lunch. Today's lunch saw 30 ish people cram into a little restaurant and get served slow cooked pork, beef, lamb, and some incredible vegetables too. Thoughts of trench foot disappeared as we all devoured tasty Portuguese animals. Every day was organised as such. Having done this trip - with various route changes/additions over the years - for 13 years, they have relationships with cafes and restaurants all over the region, so we're always expected. This means guaranteed good food, and also guaranteed decent speed lunch, as opposed to the Portuguese standard of at least 2 hours spent lunching. We found this out later in the week when events forced us to go off-plan.

Lunch ended and we went to some more trails and practiced turning in the road, either on the pegs or sat down using one leg. Then we did some laps of a nice little route which was great fun. All this time we were being told "with the rain there's actually more grip than when it's all dusty!" And I at least was starting to believe and test this.

I didn't fall off. I did go to the spa when we got back to the hotel though. For the first time in my life. That's thanks to my cool kids club balance of sensible people (read: actual human women). I didn't realise saunas are so hot.

The evening almost ended (because beer came after, at sensible amounts) with the briefing for the rest of the week, with the addition of a few new faces. One guy had ridden down.

Wet wet wet


More wet


And silly angles because one of the instructors' grandkids was taking these


Day 3 - Monday

My little lot came down for breakfast at 0730 after having hair-dryered the crap out of our variously damp boots and waterproof socks. As with yesterday, with this being the first day for the new arrivals, the bikes were waiting out front for us. After this they were over the road at the apartments where the instructors stay.

Every day started the same: pick up the keys, listen to who will be your two guides, then head off in one large group to the petrol station. Get filled up, then get directed to your little group at the exit. Sit about for another 5 mins. Have a brief chat with whoever is taking you out, and then set off.

We had some beautiful weather finally, though it rained a bit before lunch. At this stage we're all pretty new in my group, and going quite slow. Positioning on the bike and various little bits of style were probably missing from my riding at least. In any case, the day progressed well, and each time we al met up for coffee/lunch we'd have great stories to tell. Mostly of water crossings soaking us all again.

Near the end of the day we headed back along a gnarly little route, but I was feeling confident and following my holiday-wife at a decent pace. Unfortunately over confidence and being tired ensured that I went a little to fast into a corner, failing to give myself enough time/space to choose an exit. So the exit I took was into a rut type thing, which I then failed to find a way out of. Or rather, the bike failed and I flew off out of it successfully. Apparently you're supposed to stay on the bike though, so holistically speaking this was a failure.

After landing my first auto-pilot actions were to scramble back and hit the kill switch, followed by a long press to stop the emergency SOS call happening. Just then the rest of my lot arrived and helped my pick the bike up. Although it wasn't until our lead instructor came back that we got the thing out of the rut.

After that my left foot hurt on top, and changing gear was a bit painful. Oh and my ribs hurt. On arrival at the hotel I prodded my foot and then had it inspected by another lady in my group who is a physiology type person. Seemed ok, and indeed no pain the next day. Then we spotted my bruised ribs and a bit of a bruise/friction mark on my forearm. Yes, we were all in the spa again that's why these injuries were being pointed out! The ribs continue to ache a bit, but it didn't stop me riding.

Bikes!


Scenery


First watery bit of the day


A nice easy descent


A slightly less ridiculous angle


What a view! So many trails


Day 4 - Tuesday

Down for breakfast and an ibuprofen to be on the safe side. Off we go with my favourite of our guide combos, a confidence-inspiring fella called Tony up front, and our Simon Pavey as tail end charlie.

It was probably the best combo for what we found this morning. Our route on the itinerary spoke of a beautiful ride around a reservoir. Unfortunately that rain over the weekend was unseasonable and more than in many many years. It started out as the trail being muddy slush, with lots of opportunity to practice proper weight transfer and avoid falling off. Then a couple of km in the whole track was under about 10 inches of water. The following few km were a mix of wading, paddling, or standing and bricking it to get through this trail. At the coffee stop at the end of this, Pavey confirmed they'd never had anything like it in thirteen years. So it felt good to have made it through this without coming off. And experiencing way more front end waggling than I'd ever like to again!

Other than a brief sprinkle, today was dry in the sky, though. This was my favourite day too, somewhat strangely. I got faster and faster, and more confident as the day progressed. After lunch we had some amazing sweeping stuff across the top of that nightmare reservoir area, where it was just damp gravel and sand. Whenever I was at the back of our group I'd pull over and spend a couple of minutes chatting with Simon, taking photos etc, before flying off and catching up with the rest before the next stopping point. Simon was fine with this approach, and seemed to just enjoy spending time out here too. Conversely, when I was second, behind Tony, he'd go as fast, and then a bit faster, than he thought I could go. So I'd always have a stretch objective! I/We'd watch his exaggerated movements and always learn something.

Back to the hotel and then out for pizza. I did drop the bike today, but in almost the exact same scenario as I did back in Wales: faffing with my tail pack and over-balanced the thing as it wasn't on the level anyway.

Tony and Simon and the cool kids club


A little stop


More fun to come!


Next year's ride


Day 5 - Wednesday

The whole group were given the option today to either have an entirely on-road day, another off-road day, or a day off. It went about 50/50 between on road and off road. I opted for off-road. Our group was 7 this time, with a couple of faster people who were also a couple. Of married people. We started the day with dry feet, until coming round a corner of the trail and seeing a deep river. We walked through it first to find the best path, and so as the water level reached our knees... well, yes, wet feet.

Anyway, we crossed that river by going slow as, and keeping both feet down. Apart from my holiday-wife who was so short she had to go balls out across it. We then continued until i rounded a corner and saw a bike literally upside down. Thankfully Tony was already on the scene. We're still a little uncertain what happened, but the fella above's wife came off and was sat at the side being tended to by Tony. We kept a respectful distance and eventually found that she needed to go to hospital. Being in a steep valley we had no signal and no GPS so she had to ride pillion whilst Tony gently got her back to the road. With suspected broken ribs this can't have been much fun but she kept smiling. We then followed, and then one of our group got ridden back in to bring the slightly bruised GS out. Shortly after this the recovery van arrived - it shadowed us every day - and took her to hospital. She was back with us at the hotel later sporting two broken ribs. No more riding this week .

We were impressed with the professionalism of our guides in dealing with this situation. No panic.

After this we were in the wrong area for lunch so we took some new trails, some wrong turns, and then tried to find somewhere for lunch, Spotting some Harley Davidsons outside a restaurant we parked up and got a table. And spent over two hours having lunch. It was great food again though. We didn't have a bad meal the whole week.

I expected we'd just ride mostly directly back to the hotel now, for the usual 1530'ish finish, however the guys didn't want us to lose out, and so we stayed out until just about visor switch-over levels of light. I think 1830 we got in. What a day. The injured lady arrived a little later and was smiling but confirmed the broken ribs.

Oh! On this slightly off-piste part of the day we came down from some heights through a forest trail which was covered in fallen bark/leaves from whatever lanky/leafy trees they have in that area. It was amazing as it looked like it'd be low low grip with all the long slender leafy stuff, but actually one could make quite a bit of progress with quite aggressive braking/acceleration. At least I could any way. It was pretty hilarious and I found my self laughing quite often when coming down these steep ass tracks. Even now we were still getting a bit of 1-1 advice and tuition whenever we stopped.

I was official photographer for our group by now!


This was a fun section, quite low grip levels so pretty funny coming down steep bits


Cool kids!


Day 6 - Thursday

Ok Thursday, The big day. This was pitched as a night trail ride after Tapas in the hills. I thought this would mean an easy day but nope! After a bit of rain early on we had some nice road riding to get us to the trails. These bikes, even on the Metzeler Karoo 4 things, have incredible grip on tarmac. Alas it was only Friday I remembered the 'Sport' display mode, and checked my max lean angle. 37 degrees. That wasn't trying too much either.

Ok where was I? Oh yes. So after some fun road sections we took a wrong turn, the bane of everyone's life having to turn on the trail! Thankfully I was becoming more confident and turned the thing round without making a fool of myself. The rest of the group... took a while longer.

Anyway. More riding then lunch somewhere. This was pretty good again. Then off for more sweeping trail stuff where I could get up to 5th and even 6th gear. It's very satisfying! Then more coffee. Then with the sun setting, we gradually made our way up into the hills to a village named Salir and a Tapas place called Janela da Serra. There we met the rest of the group, our injured lady, and another guy's wife. As the sun went down we enjoyed some amazing food and good conversation. Replete with not a little trepidation.

Back to the bikes we go, and I hastily switch over to my clear visor. And add my wind proof top. We set off as one big group on the road for the first half, then all into a trail we'd done in the day, but which - even with the fancy new R1300GS lights - looked a bit more scary at night. Every shadow made stones look twice the size. Only one person I know of fell off on this, and I had someone on my bum the entire time. I thought I was a slow arse on this section, but when I got out to the exit of the track I had the instructor only there - we'd lost maybe 4-6 people as drop-offs on the trail - and we spent another minute waiting for the next bunch to catch up.

Then it was a relatively speedy night ride on the road back into town. Again I was impressed with the pace of these things on these tyres. Apart from the doubtless terrible mileage I'd get from these tyres doing any proper tarmac distance, I'd be tempted to put them on any GS I get. It opens up so much fun... at least in Europe proper.

Ok, too late for the spa tonight, but not for beer.

Watching the turning round shenanigans


Pausing for some space again


A dog


View from the Tapas place


A churchy thing outside the Tapas place


Day 7 - Friday

Last day! Today would be a late lunch/early finish back at the hotel for 2pm. And that's what it was. By this stage I was faster than everyone in my group on road as well as off road. This made it a bit difficult as for some reason we didn't have a tail end charlie today so I had to stay relatively close to the back of the group. This meant instead of going up and down the gears I'd end up sitting (sometimes literally) in 2nd gear.

My main takeway was that I had to ensure next time I'm not in the slow group. Which is why I've joined the TRF and went to sit on a CRF300 today.

Back to the hotel and a nice buffet type affair with decent wine. Then to a beach bar (the only one on the beach, which was nice, not some overcrowded seafront affair) for some cocktails and sunset, before steak over the road a bit. Real good steak. The steak was great. Then wine back at the hotel again. The wine was great.

Last time on this little beauty. Note I managed to smash the mudguard fork protector bit!


Beachy place



Day 8 - Saturday

Flying home day. As happened on the way in, airport transfer taxi was provided by the organisers, so we had a leisurely breakfast and got the taxi at I think 0945. Faro airport is pretty small and wasn't busy either - unlike busy ass Heathrow on the 10th, because fricking school holidays. Also the return flight was nicer as I didn't have a small child kicking the back of my seat all 3 hours. We also had some turbulence too which I always enjoy. Although this time the glee was tempered somewhat as I'd just dropped an earbud, and bending down to fetch it has hurt my ribs again.

Plane landed, I didn't crash. Said goodbye to new friends and got in my car and drove home.

Me


Oh yeah, whatever day this was, we were all queueing for the crossing... because Simon had dropped his phone in and so a search party was required We must have done dozens of river crossings


In summary: It was a great trip, I highly recommend both L1 and this. There's a Tasmania trip in December I'm mightily tempted by too. Though I may just get the CRF300 and start learning UK and Europe first.

I'm in New Zealand at the moment (humbrol brog) and just picked up a Kia Niro 2 eV to get me around.
From what I've found out so far it's got a motor out front making roughly 200hp, and a 64 something battery that claimed (the car, not the BS marketing material wltp stuff) just over 400km of range. So 240 miles.

I've driven 200km today and the range is 200km less than this morning.

It's quite a nice car for these roads. The power is enough at the NZ "speed kills" low limits everywhere, and it accelerates like you're always in the right gear. Ride comfort is pretty good too, but I didn't bring my e class to compare.

Downsides are probably standard for all new cars. It tries to flipping steer round corners. The annoying thing about this is it's lacking an idea or ability to measure sight lines, so it wants to hug the inside line round bends. It also gets stressed and vibrates the wheel when I change lane, or overtake, or when there's a merge in turn. These happen a lot here as some kind of aid for people joining a main road by turning right.

The auto steering is alright on the motorway though. Add radar cruise and it's a good combo. Though I'm sure everyone following is seeing the car weave from side to side expecting death and destruction.

Anyway. Who's driven or is owning am eV?

Obviously the main thing once all normo stuff is done is charging. I spent 2gbp this morning as I visited that Scottish museum place but the git charger stopped at 80% so it was hardly worth it. Tomorrow I need to leave it in town for a while on a measly 50kw charger otherwise I won't make it to John o groates equivalent. And up here you get one or two chargers and that's it.

And everyone lived happily ever after. Also, Europcar say most of their fleet here is eV now.

Level 1
After years of seeing the posters in dealers (and a year after selling my last BMW) I finally signed up, late last year, to the BMW Off Road Skills Level 1 for May 2023. It's a two day course in south Wales at a place I think used to be the Nant Helen open coal mine. It's 4,000 hilly acres of tracks, trees, streams, wind turbines, and occasional transit vans.

Day 1
Day 1 began at their storage/garage unit a few miles away, where incidentally Triumph also have their off road skills setup 50m down the same road, and with a Touratech premises opposite.

On arrival nice and early I was greeted by about 34 R1250GS motorcycles ready to go. From the website and google I had expected to see some 800s and 310s, but it seems everyone here had chosen the big bikes. And the low chassis big bikes for a few of us! The group was half Level 1 and half Level 3.



The first task was to variously get kitted up and collect rented gear. I'd chosen to rent boots and gloves. Thankfully they both fitted perfectly well. Next was to stand about and chat for a while. Eventually everyone had arrived, collected kit and keys, proven they had a bike licence and were ready to go.

We then rode the 15 minutes or so to the site. It was nice being back on a GS, although the Metzeler Karoo 4 tyres felt strange on tarmac at first, and riding without mirrors illustrated how often I subconsciously check them. As you can imagine, getting 34 bikes to any destination is going to be a challenge, and here they introduced us to the 2nd man drop-off system. I'd read the theory but never practiced. In actuality it's easy and intuitive and worked great to get everyone to the park. It was slightly amusing to watch the eager beavers zoom off behind the leader and inevitably end up arriving almost dead last to either endpoint!

Once we entered the site it was mostly tarmac/concrete leading the 500m or so to a huge, mostly flat, open area covered in loose dust, gravel and fist sized rocks. Here we all pulled in and were split into L1 and L3, being sent off with our instructors to either end of this area.

The 14 of us Level 1 kids (I say kids, the demographic averaged at probably ten years older than me) then spent a good while off the bikes discussing theory. This led to practicing dropping and picking up the bikes, getting on and off them 'properly', and how to stand on the pegs with the correct posture, passively and during inclines/declines and so forth.

Finally we were allowed to start the bikes! I forget the order of events here, but we practiced weighting the pegs, using the two fingers approach to the hand controls, and did many laps of the arena. Once they'd decided we were getting more confident they set out an ever-tightening slalom course of cones and we were one-by-one sent through. This was a great test of looking where you want to go (I definitely found target fixation was more potent, maybe because this was all new, as opposed to road riding where I feel much less affected by it). It also - as was a theme throughout, unsurprisingly - meant we had to put together what we'd learned already, peg weighting, finessing the clutch and throttle.



I loved this stage, it was very satisfying getting nice tight turns, and perhaps just as importantly I got to see for the first time where I sat in the 'it's been 3 hours how good are you?' ladder. Pretty good I decided, as it appeared the only way for some of our group to make the slalom cones was to ride about 5 metres past the cone before making the turn. When we were all going through together at the end of the exercise this meant I had to really focus on going as slow as possible, which can only be a benefit.

I think we stopped for lunch now. Although I should add that throughout the entire weekend we had a support van which has water, snacks, sun cream, first aid kits etc. The weather was sunny and all the instructors were very clear on the need to keep hydrated. We generally carried two water bottles at all times, crammed behind the windscreen. Lunch was at somewhere on the site, possibly a caravan park pub/community place, I can't find it on the map. Anyway the main thing is it was decent food and kept us fuelled. On the second day we took a different, much narrower and technical approach to the lunch place, which was a lot of fun. It's obvious a great deal of thought goes into the whole event.



After lunch we went back to the flat area. Already it was great to feel so much more confident on the ride - along gravel tracks - to and from lunch. And only once at this stage did an extra eager beaver need reminding not to overtake. If I recall correctly our next and last 'car park' exercise was now what they called "circling the square". 4 cones in a square about 2.5 metres between each (apart from diagonally, Pythagoras). Ride around them for a few laps, then bring the bike inside and ride inside them. After a demonstration we were sent off to find our own space and practice, being told to come back to the three cone squares they'd set up when we felt confident. After a few clockwise and counter-clockwise tests I felt good and went to do it for the instructor. Bam! He'd shown how when we circle outside we're weighting the inside peg, but when he got to inside he ended up counter-balancing so much his inside foot was off the peg. When I got to this stage myself without even realising it I started laughing. Having ticked that box I let someone else have a go and practiced the opposite again, before boshing that one too. I can't do justice to how great it felt, being able to pretty much have full lock on and not fall off. That was something I'd got into my head over the last 15 years of riding, I think, that fear/assumption of doom.

It was mid afternoon by now, and we finally rode off following the instructor, using the 2nd man system to get us to another area surrounding a wind turbine. Here we practiced locking the rear (after turned to 'Enduro Pro' mode, I think!) and sliding to a halt. I think I'd last done this with a mountain bike 20 years ago, but it soon felt pretty easy. At this stage our two instructors split us into two groups of 7. Our group then road off to another area where we practiced locking the front. This was at around 10mph and trying to keep enough throttle so we're being pushed along and can start to just feel the front grabbing. That two finger finessing again. That was really great, and with us practicing this on a 'path', we had to ride loops to get back to it, which was somewhat akin to the first time you ride the bike/car alone after passing your test! Freedom!

The first day ended with a ride back to base and a couple of hours later an evening in the pub, where our meals were paid for.

Day 2
Day 2 was all about bringing together everything we'd learned. I believe our first ride was to the top of a very steep and scary looking decline. Here Carl, our instructor, told us we'd be going down on engine braking alone. I likened this to the Defender in low range, trying to build my belief it'll grip enough to not just slide to your doom! And of course it did. That lovely engine had half a moment of building a bit of speed before the engine braking held it at a nice 7-8mph. We then practiced the same downhill run but using the front brake to slow us to 4-5mph. And after that using the front brake and having the clutch completely disengaged. Different feeling of control with each approach. We were building a toolkit of options. After this we went to another bit of the earth to play on:



We all chuckled nervously as Carl walked us half way up this hill (recall photos hide the steepness here!). However, it turned out his plan wasn't immediately to convince us we could surmount this obstacle, but that should we decided half way up that we can't, to show us how to get back down! A 3 point turn on a massive gravely stony rutted hill. Suffice to say, we all did it, and in many ways I now think it's easier to turn a 250kg bike around on a ridiculously steep hill than on the flat! The main points here were making a plan, standing so as to not get crushed if you cock it up, and again those 2 fingers on the clutch. To a man we all succeeded at this, from the bigger than Richard sized to the smaller than me sized! Safely at the bottom we then listened as he reminded us to keep enough momentum to get to the top without having to add positive throttle half way. Made sense to me. Carl rode to the top, telling us to listen to his engine as he went, demonstrating his conservation of momentum without adding revs. We then, one-by-one, rode to the top of this thing, and felt very good about it!

We probably did some more hilly exercises but I forget. The next highlight was going to play around some water. This was a little route most of which couldn't be called a 'track' but a lucky arrangement of gravel and stream. To get onto it we had to first cross a 8-10 inch gulley at the edge of the main track, from rain run-off. This saw one chap get his wheel stuck, and us watch as he briefly span it up trying to get out, which he did. It was then across a raised slag pile, down a narrow rocky part and an unsighted tight right which then dropped down to cross a stream that was maybe 6-8 inches deep. Out the other side, 90 degree left and round to the main track, fly up there and do it all again. We did this for quite a while, and as our exit from the stream got muddier and muddier it was quite something to have both wheels sliding about.



We then left this area and went to another place that Carl told us he doesn't always go to as it's pretty tricky. Essentially it started as a ride up the side of a dried out stream, into a fairly steep rise, which levelled for maybe 3m and then a very steep rise, also rutted with rain run-off channels, to a flat top where another turbine sat. Oh yes, we'd also earlier practiced climbs where we expended all momentum just as we crested, so that we would have time at a blind summit to choose the next step, as opposed to flying up and over and into a tree/car/fruit bat. This came in handy here, for those of us who wanted to practice this skill. This photo doesn't really capture it, but this was from the top:





To be honest after I'd done this the first couple of times in 1st gear, then in 2nd gear, and satisfied myself I was in control at the top, I had the most fun trying to beat my personal best speed flying back up the track for the next lap.



I was pretty much smiling, laughing or chuckling to myself as I rode along, for the entire time. After a while of this we were running out of time and rode back to the staging area part of the park, before riding as a group back to base where goodie bags and a nice certificate awaited us.

---

From my pre-course state of getting into a flap riding up that track to the space observatory last year, to ending Day 2 having accomplished all of the above, I can hardly believe it. There's a lot to take away for road riding too, and I enjoyed it so much I signed up for their week long Portugal trip next February! The setup there will be similar to the Welsh Ramble, with a home base hotel and daily ride outs. I can't wait.

I highly recommend this course. The blurb on the site says you should be relatively fit, or some such, but we had every fitness level from "well, middle age is coming" to "something went terribly terribly wrong and I solved it with three main courses" and everyone found it manageable. Next is Level 2 Foundation, then Level 2, and finally Level 3. Level 2 Foundation apparently came more recently as they found the jump to Level 2 for some was quite large. I'm unsure what I'll do next, given I'll be doing Portugal before any new courses are available, but I've no doubt they'll be just as awesome and just as achievable. Go do it.

Well it's that time of year again. March.

In September 2016 I went to Motolegends and swapped (with lots of money) my baggy Hein Gericke textile suit (from around 2010, and that chap in a cap fella was most amused by my 'look' in it) for a Halvarssons Prince textile getup. As that was/will be almost 7 years ago, though only half of those years had a daily commute, I'm now contemplating an upgrade/replacement again. The drivers:

1. Boredom
2. Realising they can't handle the big rain anymore (even after re-waterproofing washes etc) I've come to carrying the lightweight "oh bugger it's raining" top and bottom to throw on, just like the Leather Boys (tm).
3. I no longer - and praise Jesus won't be again - commute daily, plus I have a car.
4. Realising things have moved on a bit, protection wise.
5. Deciding I'm wearing my current outfit for my Wales BMW off-road weekend in May, and have resigned myself to either a broken leg or a ruined suit.

Those justifications aren't necessarily in order.

Having watched the Bennetts Bike Social interview with BKS again and then re-reading our thread that went towards BKS, they seem to be winning in my brain.

I'm moving towards their leather suit given it still appears to offer the most protection, and given my above statement re no daily commute, it's more aligned to my nice rides and big trips usage type these days.

I have my armoured Hood jeans (and the Rokkers that apparently aren't all that anymore) and various jackets for rides to pubs/the dentist etc, so the only real drive towards getting a BKS textile would be for the risk of having to get a real job again.

I'm pretty sure there's no bad decision here, but if you got this far well done. Here's the request:

BKS still have an entry price of £2,500 ish, which I want us all to acknowledge is pretty great considering the inflation etc lately! Are there any other UK-based if not incorporated companies that similarly make highly regarded made to measure suits, in textile or leather?

From watching 44Teeth ages ago I recall them getting sponsored by RST and going there for similar but very much cheaper bespoke leathers. Much like Peugeots I have an irrational dislike of RST due to owning a cheap rubbish set as my first ever gear.

Right. Now I've pumped up the tyres and noticed I've no fuel so am about to nip out for petrol and then the dentist, wish me luck.

Any suggestions? Or shall I book a romantic weekend down BKS way?

Hello.

I've decided to sell my old BMW/Garmin Zumo 550, what with me not having a BMW and it not being 2001 anymore. Also because it's rubbish.

If you want this rubbish it is yours for 70GBP. For that price I won't pee on it but I will post it to you provided you aren't living in a place that makes this complicated/expensive. As you can see from the photos it works and comes with what is probably the car mount and a simply delightful branded carrying case that has probably been used twice in its life.

Lots of love,

Matthew
xxx