First Practice at the TT

Well I can't say much about the weather without censoring. I haven't got past the Road Closed board at the foot of the Mountain Course due to the high winds, fog or rain, although Monday night at 6.25pm the first timed practice kicked off and those guys managed staggering speeds, literally flying over the Snaefell road. Marshalling gives you THE best views. How they did it in high winds, I've no idea .. I took the coast road from Douglas to Ramsey, via Laxey, and my bike was lifted off the ground twice in a second by the gusts coming inland .. fairly scary even at only 50/60mph, forget 150mph!

Marshalling at Kerrowmoar, a few points before Ramsey, my stretcher skills came into use, unfortunately for one of the marshalls who fell over running to the aid of a retiree sidecar. Trivial compared to the unfortunate and devastating high-speed incident of James McBride, who is still in Nobles Hospital with major fractures, but alive. The sidecars were delayed and lost half their session time with the all new shiny orange (??) Audi TT Roads Open vehicle finally having to go around back of the Gorse Lea area to proclaim the practice session over.
[Big thanks to wonderful Vera who allows marshals full use of her house, garage & driveway throughout the TT season, despite being barely able to walk.]

I was introduced to more of Ramsey yesterday. After holding the Rain Flag at Sky Hill I joined a mass of Sector 8 Marshals at the Trafalgar & the Ellan Vannin pub which offers free 1st beer & a taxi home to all Marshals, despite it being staggering distance to my tent. IOM is just brilliant and KO2 contact cards are being passed out to all !

A new addition to KO2 Adventures

Image via Wikipedia

Just picked up the new bike (actually a K3 GSXR 750) thanks to Armadillo At Large, who provide security services to humanitarian agencies. We get some sign-writing shortly prior to our jaunt to the Isle of Man TT Road Races.

I'd like to offer a massive thank you to Steve M, for making all this possible. I'm going to be photographing the area to highlight the incredible roads we have around North Yorkshire and the Isle of Man, only 1 hr & a short ferry ride away. Great roads and great scenery, perfect for "sensible" biking. Its easy to disrupt the peace & quiet around here, although, despite my roaring up into the car park, once the engine was off, the tamest little chaffinch hopped right up to my boots here at Scar Reservoir in the Nidderdale Valley, as I stood by the bike.

A lovely gent had been out walking with his wife & came over to tell me the story of how he ran into a truck on his BSA 500 many years back, but it was exactly what made him meet his wife, she nursed him in the hospital .. bless !!



There are more photos of the area if you visit the FaceBook group.
As for Kenya, now things are calmer we're hoping to make plans for Summer 2009, if not a Christmas Santa Run.
We hope you'll join us.

Damn blasted mo'bikes

I'm being haunted now !

Still without a bike and TT looming up, NorthWest200 week after next ...



A good friend just got his new baby,

a limited edition Aprilia RSV Mille R Colin Edwards rep. ... Stunningly beautiful he rightly says.



I also keep seeing the KTM RC8's too & it strikes me as a bit scary
how fast & light they're making these bikes. The RC8 is claimed to
be the lightest, most modern series twin yet .. delivering 155bhp at 10,000rpm .. only 120Nm of torque and only 64kg ???? Thats less than me !!



I'm all for everything about bikes but thankfully don't have the
testosterone racing around in me that blokes do. I regularly
communicate with a group of very intelligent scientist-types, one in
particular gave the following fantastic advice, from his 30 years
experience of being a biker.

Everyone should heed this (especially point 8) :



1) Don't get on a motorcycle.

2) If you do, respect your fear and make a solemn ritual of your safety

precautions.

3) Wear armor, lots of it.

4) Keep as large a volume of air around you at all times (between your

vehicle and everything else).

5) ALWAYS check your equipment EVERY time you use it.

6) Get emergency riding lessons from an expert (maximum braking

maneuvers, emergency course adjustment, how to come out of a skid/flat

tire/etc).

7) Practice! When you need them these skills need to be automatic, and

they come into play almost daily.

8) Imagine that you are invisible to almost everyone on the road, and

that if they could see you they are going to try to hit you with their

vehicle.

9) Enjoy! :)



Cheers, Joseph