Tony Bou - the best there is.

Six minutes of awesome ability & he dabs twice, scratches his nose once & even manages to impress "Mr Cool" in the bandanna.

Watch and marvel.

All the best, Jim.

The essence of trialling

SSDT Scottish 6 days Reset Demo from ResetFilms.co.uk on Vimeo.

This video manages to capture the grace, fluidity and "presence" of trialling. All without resorting to the usual cliches.

All the best, Jim.

Peter - His first half day on a trials machine - I think he's doing rather well.

Is that a nervous smile @ the start?

Good body position for a beginner

Getting the hang of downhill weight transfer

ditto for ascents

And carrying his front wheel up the hill!

Do not forget to breathe!

Watching this video of a road race in the small Spanish town of La Baneza in 2009, had me transfixed to my seat. The ride becomes even more spectacular after he has his off @ 3:58, as he makes his way back up through the field. When he DNF's through mechanical failure I joined in the applause.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkExel3YJxQ&feature=player_embedded#at=238

Enjoy.

No "right" way

Just back from a meeting with other motorcyclists having been asked to do a presentation on "advanced riding" - bit like extracting honey from a wild bee colony without aid of smoke! Lots of good stuff, but my don't some folk get attached to their preconceived notions, almost as if I was asking them to reconsider their sexual orientation.

A couple of givens -

i/ - no two situations are exactly the same, therefore the best option needs to be assessed each time, rather than applying a rigid rule.

ii/ - you need to apply your riding plan until you revise it in the light of changing circumstance.

In other words, coherent flexibility is the maxim.

Well, having poked that particular stick into that specific hive I was rewarded by a half hour of attempts to find absolute rules. Our discussion ranged from the hoary old "Hendon Shuffle", through speed, to "lifesavers" ect. I thoroughly enjoyed the evening and learned a lot about how others approach their riding.

All the best, Jim.

Some photographs taken in the Eifel Sept. '10

My 1100GS above Volksfeld, Riedener Muhlen in the Eifel

A season pass to The 'Ring

Again, taken above Volksfeld

An all too rare photo - I'm smiling!

Public sessions @ The 'Ring

Some of you will be aware that there have been rumours circulating that The 'Ring's days may be numbered -

http://jalopnik.com/#!5684589/save-the-nurburgring

I have my doubts that anyone would kill this particular golden goose & hopefully events will prove me right.

However, just in case I'm wrong, here is a link to the public sessions @ The 'Ring for the first half of this year. -

http://www.nuerburgring.de/en/angebote/driving-experiences/tourist-rides-nordschleife.html

The cost of a single lap has gone up to 24 Euros

All the best.

Riders with advanced training are quicker too!

Following on from my post of the 3rd Jan. - I've been able to access the full report & to quote Dr Alex Stedmon from the Human Factors Research Group @ Nottingham University : -

"advanced training appears to develop deeper levels of awareness, perception and responsibility. It also appears to make riders better urban riders and quicker, smoother and safer riders in rural settings"

Best of both worlds then!