Holidays . . . .

I work in a small office for a large company and each year we have to juggle our holiday entitlement so we don't overlap with each other. Now thats ok most of the time, my wife arranges her holidays to my rota and everything runs very smoothly. ..

My problem is, I want to go to the NW200 next year (2008) with my mates, but by the time the organisors announce the race dates in November, my office holiday rota will be filled. Without the co-operation of my workmates, I might not be able to go.

I know its a trivial thing, but these past few years I've enjoyed going to the BSB (British SuperBike) races at Croft, and Knockhill. I've been to the IOM for the TT's and last year for the first time I managed to get to the NW200 with my friends. We enjoyed it so much we decided we wanted to go again next year.

Why don't the organisors schedule the race for the 3rd Saturday in May each year. That way I could book my holidays, ferries, accomodation etc, same in the knowledge I was actually going to make it to Portrush and enjoy this wonderful spectacle again and again.

Smell that 'New Rubber'

I've just had new tyres fitted on the Bandit after 8,000 miles and was advised that ContiRoad attack tyres were perfect for the job. So after fitting I went on a nice quiet 100 mile ride across the A66 then up over Alston and back into Newcastle via the A69. Tyres suitably scuffed, I checked them over and was terribly confused about the reverse tread pattern between the front and rear tyres. I checked directional arrows on both tyres and found they were correct. My friend has Conti-attack tyres fitted to his Bandit and both tyres have the same directional pattern.
Confused.. I went to the Continental Tyres website http://www.conti-tyres.co.uk/contibike/tyres/road-attack.php where I found an excellent article which explained everything.
"After the launch of the ContiSport Attack test riders commented on the fact that the reversed tread direction gave much more uniform wear across the tyres section and so the ContiRoad Attack front pattern was switched in late October 2006 to take advantage of this better wear characteristic."
Confidence restored, knee down.. isn't the internet a wonderful thing !!

Summer of 07

Where's it all gone, It only seems like yesterday when the sun was shining day after day with the prospect of hundreds of hours in the saddle during another record breaking long hot summer. April seems so long ago now.

On the other hand, we managed to find a few days of sunshine mixed with the occasional shower when my friends and I went over to Portrush for the NW200. We hired a cottage in Portballintrae for the week and had a brilliant time. Sweeneys Bar will never be the same after Micky Mac's entertained us with his own brand of dancing after several pints of the black stuff accompanied by a few Black Bush. It was the first time in Norn Iron for them and they were well impressed by the hospitality shown by all. Everyone was so friendly and wherever we travelled in the province, there was always a friendly wave or time for a chat from the locals. They had such a good time, they've decided to book again for next year.

Going off the rails

A revolutionary magnetic powered 311 mph rail link between London and Aberdeen is undergoing a full-scale feasibility study by the rail transport committee. The trains (MagLev) don’t run on rails, they glide above magnetic tracks. But that’s not the interesting point, oh no, the jargon that goes with this press release almost made me spill my morning cuppa.
A typical Maglev train would be 10 carriages long and carry up to 840 passengers. Operating at 60% capacity it would generate 40 grammes of carbon dioxide for every kilometre travelled by one passenger – compared to 60 grammes for a conventional high speed train and 275 grammes for an aeroplane.
That’s the green people satisfied, and to keep the noise abatement society happy it also operates in near silence..
Two things spring to mind almost immediately,
1 What the flying ‘scotsman’ does all that crap really mean, “are we there yet?”.
2 How will the cows and sheep get off the line if they cant hear the bloody train coming. You arrive at your destination in 47 seconds but you’ll have to wait 30 minutes until they steam clean the blood and guts from the carriages. Animal rights activists and heavy metal enthusiasts please stand clear of the magnetic rails.
3 Thank god for page 3

Premium Rate Politics

Another 0901 Premium rate number uncovered as cheating us out of our hard earned cash with phony prize and holiday offers. This time its our children’s pocket money they’re after…, Blue Peter for goodness sake, it’s almost a national institution, how can I wear my badge with pride again. But, this got me thinking. Should we ban all 0901 numbers. I was just about to create an e-petition on the governments website at http://www.number-10.gov.uk/. Asking that all 090 premium rate rip off lines be banned with immediate effect, when it suddenly occurred to me. Noooo don’t ban 090 numbers… ban all politics and politicians instead, lets run the country with phone in programmes. (as long as its not coordinated by Channel 4)
Think about it, True democracy at last. No more hiding behind the conscience vote. Every night after the news headlines, a list of policy’s come up on your screen. All you have to is dial the number and by next morning, they become the law of the land.

To bring back Hanging for murder ring
0901 00 00 01 Yes 0901 00 00 02 No
To let Asda open all day on Sunday ring
0901 00 00 03 Yes 0901 00 00 04 No
To ban all Morris dancing ring
0901 00 00 05 Yes 0901 00 00 06 No

Think of the saving’s we would make on our TAX and VAT bills. All those grace and favour flats in the West End a thing of the past. No more luxury cars or freebie holidays for useless MP’s. We’d finally be in charge of our own destiny. And you wouldn’t have to listen to Tony ‘fecking’ Blurrrrr lie to us day after day.
It makes perfect sense to me !!

The year of the PIG

Everything is falling into place at the start of the Chinese New Year for the PIG. I've finally been allowed to spend my hard earned cash on a new 2007 model Suzuki 1250cc S ABS Bandit. It gets unwrapped on March 8th, whereupon I am required to 'run it in' gently apparently!!!.
Is it possible to ride a new bike and keep it below the subscribed revs (in accordance with manufacturer recommendations).
I can't wait... second childhood here I come.
Did I mention I was keeping the Ducati as well... It's difficult being a man in these challenging times.... .. Oink Oink

Nee Naa Nee Naa

2007 has hardly started and already I've been pulled over by PC Plod for speeding on the A194(m) just south of Newcastle. They say I was travelling in an easterly direction at 90 MPH and I say it was closer to 80 MPH. We agreed to differ, even after they showed me the reading on their lying robbing money making speed camera machine. "Have they been tested on Motorbikes", I ask ?.. "Fixed penalty, 3 points and a £60 fine" they say.
Bastards...... but there is some good news on the horizon, apparently they are axing 100 police jobs and introducing an extra 70 police community support officers (plastic PC's) in an ongoing restructuring programme.
Happy New Year !

Brake pads

Well, after complaining about the back brakes making a screeching noise on the bike, I decided it was time to check what the problem was. They could'nt be worn out already for goodness sake. I'd only changed them about 6,000 miles ago, and if you listen to the ramblings of superbikers, most people hardly ever use their back brakes these days. ??
Well, it would appear (see photo above) .. that I use mine slightly more than most people. New pads front and rear, quickly followed by a three hour test ride .. and the bike stops quietly now... well.... you cant say I didnt get my moneys worth out of them...

Isle of Man TT v NW200

In 2006 we went to the Isle of Man for the first week of the TT races and had a brilliant time. The weather was amazing and we even managed to survive Mad Sunday, although there were times we had to stop and check our underpants before eventually finishing the complete course. Then on the Monday night we completed the circuit going the wrong way round. We almost had the roads to ourselves. The rest of the time was spent watching the races and other bikers/bikes from the safety of a bar and doing our level best to make sure we left no beer glass unturned. Unfortunately we never quite had enough to drink each night before we headed back to our gaff, between the posts on Douglas Rugby ground. Apart from Micky Mac that is, (and we have this on video) who complained one night that he could not drink another drop. Unbelievably there was still over 30 mins until last orders. !!! Still, after much consideration and an awful lot of pisstaking by workmates, we eventually agreed to ask him to accompany us to Ireland in May 2007 to drink even more guinness and watch those supermen compete in the NW200.
The Antrim coastline has some beautiful biking roads. We will be leaving Larne and travelling north along the Coast Road (A2) through Ballycastle, maybe have a wee nip in Bushmills and on up to Portrush. We are all looking forward to some legendary Irish hospitality with lots n lots of the famous black stuff. (in moderation of course)
Just one question, where are all the best viewing spots on the NW200 course ??
Answers on a postcard please to .....

Am I the last NEW blogger

At last, I've reached the 21st century and stumbled across something even I can use to communicate with the world. My friends have all had their blogs for years and I've always promised that one day I'd join them in their quest to offer the world their opinion on anything and everything. Does it have to be accurate, or can I just talk crap like everyone else. Today is the first day I've been let loose on the net. .. or yesterday was the last day you were Porky free.
You decide which day suits you best.
Talk to me.....