Motorbiking
"Biker" for me usually means motorbiking, though I also have a couple of mountain-bikes... see Trail Bike
My current motorbikes are a Honda CBR600RR ABS 2017 and a Kawasaki Ninja Z250SL.
Previously I have owned: Kawasaki ZX4-RR (Ninja anniversary edition), Honda CRF300 Rally, Honda CBR600RR 2005, Honda CBR600FW, Honda VF750F, Yamaha FJ600, Suzuki GSX750EX, Yamaha FJ750, Yamaha XJ900, Kawasaki Z750 and I passed my riding test on my Kawasaki KH250.
See also my Motorbiking web links
Fantastic day riding my CBR600RR out from Ajaccio, Corsica. A clear run just after dawn on the T20. Magnificent trunk route with sweeping curves up to the Col de Vizzavona (1163 m.) and down to the bastion town of Corte (440 m.).
Then a gorge, the granite sharp, not smoothed by glacial action. More interesting curves through forests of tall Corsican pines. Wild pigs grazing at the roadside. Finally the Col de Vergio (1477 m.), up in the thin clouds.
On the Col de l’Espigoulier (723 m.)
Col du Petit Galibier (531 m.)
Warming up on the Col de l’Espigoulier (723 m.) just outside Marseille, its twisty route winding up Mont Sainte-Baume has been my choice many times for a refresher workout when I’ve been a bit ring-rusty on the bike. First-gear bends galore!
Down the similarly challenging north side, then a stop for an old-style pain-aux-raisins and coffee at an artisan boulangerie. Next hill, Col du Pas de la Couelle (531 m.) is known as the Petit Galibier for its steep zigzags through the forest of black pine trees on the Montagne du Regagnas (715 m.).
My CBR600RR sportsbike was bought in Marseille and is garaged in Marseille. This way I don't have to ride it from London to ride the wonderful roads of Provence and the Alps.
My journey today started before dawn, checking-in then taking-off from Heathrow as a pretty dawn was brewing. Soon enough the plane was turning over the Mediterranean and I was out in the mild autumn sunshine.
Full photos: RR ready to ride: my journey from London to Marseille
Larking in the ford of Carrock Beck in waterproof TCX Comp Evo 2 MX boots. Feeling happy riding my Ninja Z250SL on quiet little roads at the north of the Lake District; this stunning topography could be many places, aspects reminding me of Dartmoor, Wyoming and the Yorkshire Dales. Scope to play but can’t ride completely banzai as sheep, cows and moorland ponies grazing on or near on the road.
More photos: Caldbeck and Uldale Fells - Lake District National Park
A6, Shap Fell (426 m.)
Blencathra/Saddleback (868 m.), Lake District National Park
Riding the awesome A6 over Shap Fell in Cumbria on my Ninja Z250SL. Brilliant biking road, long and sweeping, excellent surface (the A6 is still classified as a trunk road) and relatively sparse traffic which gives five miles or so of fantastic motorbiking. Can be chilly, the road summit is 426 m. altitude, then the road sweeps down to Borrow Bridge at 303 m. and back up again and on to Kendal. A dynamic road for dynamic riding. Worth running a couple of times in each direction. Same sort of feel as the Snaefell Mountain Road on the Isle of Man but easier to get to. Currently one set of road works with traffic lights.
Subcategories
Alps Biker 2016
I'm riding light for a week on the mountain roads of the Alps. No laptop, although I do have my SLR camera but photos will have to wait till I'm back in Marseille..
I left Marseille for a long ride north via the Col de la Croix Haute (1179 m.) to Saint-Gervais under Mont Blanc. A bit of rain towards the end of the day which cleaned the Provence dust off my white leathers and boots but didn't soak me through.
