I'm so pants

I've not updated this blog in so so long but now I will as I've finally ditched my addiction to flash-based Moonfruit.com and therefore the KO2 website too. A wonderful designer in London, Li, of FreakorGeek, is, as we speak, rustling up a new look site for us but since we're still stalled in process and council ... Yawwwwwn.

I won't bore you with details but we're S-T-I-L-L waiting for a go-ahead from NYCC as to  whether or not we can join forces with their new 40-place BESD School on the Forest Moor site. when things start moving we can too.

Although the waiting around is of course frustrating, while this takes place, Zero Motorcycles are stepping up their presence with the help of the TT Zero event (Year 1) of electric superbike racing on the Isle of Mann. Since KO2 wants to use electric dirtbikes this is all good and will help bring the prices down of the units.

So .. I wait patiently but in the meantime am hoping to go get some valuable experience with Simon "Dakar" Pavey and Charley Boorman over in Wales at his off road skills school.

Route 66 with James Cargo

KO2 have partnered with James Cargo Services, world-wide freight forwarders, to offer a chance in a lifetime ride across the United States of America, by bike. James Cargo will ship your own bike and is donating to us for every bike shipped. There are 2 routes available, one taking in the renowned Sturgis Rally the annual event with races, music, food August 9th – 15th 2010, in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Chicago to Sturgis is 937 miles then another 1,363 miles onto LA.

.. or take the Mother Road, the original U.S. highway of 1926 running from Chicago (Illinois) to Los Angeles, passing through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. 2,448 miles (3,940km) in total.

James Cargo have put together a draft pdf Guide, which you can download here or watch their online presentation here.

I'm personally doing the Mother Road as well as catching the end of the Burning Man Festival first week of September, in an RV, with my son and daughter.
Join us.

Technorati Tags: james cargo, KO2, adventure, bikers, route 66, sturgis

Tour d'Afrique in pictures from Simon Gardner

Simon's back, rested and put together all his photos onto Flickr of the amazing Cairo to CapeTown Tour d'Afrique 2009 journey by bicycle. His full blog is here. Simon incredibly fundraised for AVIF, enough to cover another years secondary education for Pius and Norbert, 2 Yala boys, who he met when riding through Kenya March 5.



The images speak their own words and give incredible details to the road conditions so make a coffee and scroll through by clicking here to take you to the full photostream.


Namibia desert



Technorati Tags: simon gardner, AVIF, roads, conditions, africa, tour d'afrique, mountain biking

An engineering specialist school

This morning I went to see Skipton Girls High School, just down the road, about collaboration with KO2. They are an amazing school, dealing with all the normal curriculum as well as encouraging girls to get involved with engineering.

Last year they became TV heroes when they competed on the BBC with Top Gear's James May and others, building an old-style "bogie" or go-kart from a Silver Cross pram. The girls were given only 2 weeks and had to work flat out even at weekend cutting, hammering, bending, drilling, welding and finally painting the go-kart. Local boys school Ermysted also competed but the girls won by average, beating even Silver Cross's own commissioned bogie raced by James May.



SGHS are now interested in taking part in the programmes of KO2, to introduce electric powered dirtbike engineering to their pupils. We're talking with Zero Motorcycles about a franchise with their fab bikes, competing in TTXGP next month.



Hopefully soon we'll be pushing ahead bringing more and more kids into dirtbiking outside and inside school!



Technorati Tags: engineering, dirtbikes, Skipton Girls High School, electric power

Biking for Charity

In less than 2 months a team of motorcycle riders, including lickle me ;-) will ride from the UK, down to France, all around the border and back again covering over 3600 miles in less than seven days to raise funds for St John Ambulance.

We are a volunteer organisation of over 20 members who help other charities raise money to carry out their good work. Since September 2008 One Way Round has attended almost 20 public collection days, motorbike events and various training days.

 

 

We are currently in the progress of organising a charity dinner at the end of 2009 where we hope to have some of the biggest riders in the UK attend.

 

We need your help.

If you can donate a product, service, advertisement or funds it will help us so much.

 

 

St John Ambulance helps not only motorcyclists throughout the UK at race events such as the TT and BSB, but also attends hundreds of public events all over the UK every year to help those who need their help.

 

We are trying to give them back just a little bit of what they give us.

 

Please take five minutes out of your busy schedule to look at our web site www.onewayround.com.

 

If you can donate, please visit the JustGiving site where we can obtain a further 28% on top of any donation via GiftAid.

 

Kindest regards
The One Way Round team

Thompson Suzuki rises again

I've been frequenting the IOMTT Forum since the beginning of the year, having "lively" discussions with bikers and racers alike regarding TTXGP at this years TT road racing event on the Isle of Man.

While talking on there about a friends Thompson Suzuki T20 I was contacted by another classics lover. 2 years ago, at the TT's Centenary Celebrations, Australian racing legend Barry Smith, Multiple TT winner and twice World Champion, paraded the Harrogate bike he first took there 40 years ago.

Barry Smith, on No. 88 in the 1967 TT and No 83 reunited for the Parade of Champions at the Centenary TT

The original Thompson, 1980, photo taken by Shirley, daughter of the late Harry Thompson of Spa Motorcycles, Harrogate.

The "super 6" classic racer today belongs to Mick Oliver (sat on bike in photo above), who still parades the bike and was the very fella who contacted me, interested to know which Thompson Suzuki my friend Lou had .. turns out to be one in the picture above!!

I love it when things like this happen.

If you're going to the Barry Sheene Classic Road Race Festival at Olivers Mount Road Circuit May 23/24, Mick will be parading the Thompson. The pic above is him at Cadwell in 2008.

April 19th marks the opening of the Olivers Road Race Season with the Ian Watson Spring Cup. Friend Dave Clarke is racing up against Guy Martin, Ryan Farquhar, the Dunlop boys, Chris Palmer and many others. Ian Lougher is entering 125, 250, 600 & R1!!.. busy day, see you there.

Technorati Tags: thompson suzuki, TT, harry thompson, mick oliver

One Way Round

While I'm drowning in paperwork I just heard about this wonderful little jaunt. Not sure I'll be able to weasle my way into this one, since their Logo clearly states 12 Guys, 12 Bikes, 4000 miles but it'll be a great ride.
Check their website and donate, its for St Johns Ambulance who keep us safe at most events you can think of.



The event started in 2008 with Rob Lewis organising a ride around Britain’s coast line for the charity covering over 3000 miles in less than 5 days. They now have a host of sponsors including MCN, BikeSafe, Buff, Pirelli, MotorSportVision to cover costs.
Schedule of events is here, based in North Wales.
Good Luck to Everyone and thanks to Jenny Tinmouth for passing on the link.

Technorati Tags: onewayround, french enduro, rob lewis, motorbike, motorcycle, st johns ambulance