... And in with the new

Well, I've had a wonderful weekend. The weather has been a bit kinder to us with the sun even poking its head out of the clouds for a few minutes.

On Friday Graham picked up his new bike, a Yamaha Super Tenere 1200. Huge thing it is. I think he's only gone for one this big so he knows it's safe from me... I did get on it, but it was a struggle and my feet were several inches off the ground. I know it was on the centre stand, but even allowing for that I'm still way too short.

On Saturday, after getting back from Dad's, we went for a trundle, no idea of destination, just somewhere we could have a cuppa. Firstly we went out towards Corby, and stopped at Fermyn Woods for a little chat. I was a bit anxious at this point. I think it's because I know it's a big bike and it could easily get me into trouble, and I'm determined it won't. I'm also wary of road surfaces and how much grip I have so I slow down a bit... And bends!! Yikes, now those are scary!! I know all this will come with experience but I want to get past this tense stage as its killing my muscles!!

We decided we'd stay out until we'd had enough, so set off again, going from Corby to St Neots. Now that's a nice road...! We went there the other day, when I was as tiff as a board and held the traffic up. Not today... I told myself off for over thinking; I had my instructor's voice in my head, "look where you want to go!". This is always followed by the image I have in my head of him doing the waltz round the training area at the school to show me the slalom isn't difficult, which always makes me laugh, and therefore relax. I wouldn't say I was fast, but I didn't hold anyone up, felt more confident and safer... It was also a lot more fun!! We had another cuppa by the river then came home. The sun had buggered off by this time so when we got in I was freezing!

Today we went out again, not as far but an improved ride again, I even had a little play, doing a pretend slalom down our road. Apparently my chicken strips have shrunk from yesterday!! Graham's bike looks really good, big black mean machine in my mirror, and he looks good on it, but of course I can't always see him properly as I keep leaving him for dead coming out of 30 limits... Not cos my bike is that fast, but cos his is being run in and he can't go over 3000 revs. Shame..... I'm making the most of it while I can!

After all this riding this weekend, about 120 miles, and with the weather improving, I've decided I'm going to ride to work... This will probably prompt the next ice age, but I'll give it a go. Been dying to ride to work for ages!!

Out with the old...

Due to the weather, I've not been able to get out on my bike (I love those two words!) since Tuesday, so today, we went out.  Poor Graham, being forced to come out with me when sensible people stay in doors and wrap up warm!  Graham is changing his bike next week, so today is really the last chance for me to go out with him on the BMW.  I love that bike, we did hundreds of miles on it a couple of years back, when we toured all round the Surrey & Wiltshire.  Couldn't move afterwards, but it was good fun. 

Within a few seconds of leaving home I thought I'd been a bit keen as it was bitter!  The wind made my eyes stream even before we'd got off the estate.  Carried on though, had a mosey up the A6, in the snow... We didn't stay out long, but did about 30 miles all in.  We stopped at Nene Valley Motorcycles on the way back for a cuppa and a natter with Ann of AJ's Diner.  

When we got back home, we had to wash both bikes as they were plastered in salt.... all in all utter madness;  I really should wait until the weather's warmer!

These two photos were taken at Nene Valley in the bit where I murdered a few cones a few weeks back :) 

What a Week That Was!

Well what a week that was! This time last week I was a learner and owned a Suzuki GZ125 Marauder and didn't have a full bike licence... Today I have both a full licence AND a lovely shiny (soon to be even shinier when it's been washed) Honda CBF1000.  

I've wanted to ride a motorbike since I had a little play on a 50cc Suzuki when I was about 17.  I've never had the means to do it before, and it became one of those things that you would like to do but accept that you never will.  Until I met Graham, that was.  Meeting Graham revived this dream, and last year I did my CBT - just to see if I'd enjoy it - and passed that.  Then we got the Suzuki, and I did several hundred miles on that, which convinced me that I really did want to ride a bike...  In December I went for a two hour assessment at Nene Valley Motorcycle Training Centre in Wellingborough,  signed up for a few lessons, and now, 10 weeks later I am the proud owner of a piece of paper that allows me to go out and have enormous amounts of fun.  

Last weekend we went over to Stratstone Triumph in Leicester to look at an ER6F and a Versys.  I'd been training on an ER6F so it seemed sensible for my first bike to be one.   The Versys was way too tall unfortunately, but they also had an orange CBF1000, and since I had sat on one three years ago and loved it, I had to sit on this one.  Comparing the two bikes was no contest, so after a little bit of sensible thinking, I signed on the dotted line and the bike was mine.  Fancy having a 1000cc bike for your first bike!  I am getting quite a few incredulous reactions from people when I tell them this... but I am quite sensible really.  Most of the time anyway.  To get the bike home involved some personal sacrifice from Graham, as I couldn't ride it home as at that point I still didn't have a licence.  Graham hadn't come prepared to ride, so he bought the cheapest helmet they sold and a pair of gloves and rode home with both our coats on.... Didn't work though, he was still frozen stiff when he got back! 

I got my chance to ride it on the Tuesday, the day I passed my test.  I'd already spent 2 1/2 hours riding in the morning, but thought it would be a good idea to go out in the afternoon as well.  We rode over to St Neots, in the sunshine.  We had a cuppa and bacon buttie by the river... lovely.  Just the sort of trip I'd been waiting to do for years :)