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
Gorges de la Nesque
I heard of a new surface on the road of the Gorges de la Nesque, it would be rude not to ride it. Down then up, it’s a joy to ride - but not if unguarded drops or narrow rock tunnels upset you. There’s about 35 km of road following the gorge and dropping over 350 m. altitude. Tighter than the famous Ardèche gorge but the road is much closer to the cliffs.
Ride out west from Marseille touring the calanques, elegant villas and coastal villages of the Côte Bleue and the Massif de l’Estaque. No big speed thrills though a bit of practice on multi-apex curves.
River Caldew, Mosedale
Little bike ride up and down Mosedale, then the complete circuit round Blencathra and Skiddaw via Caldbeck, following part of cycle route 10, the “Reivers Route”.
Bit of fun though the sunny interval didn’t hold past Caldbeck. The bike needed another good clean afterwards to get the mud off but that’s part of the fun of riding muddy roads, through puddles and a couple of fords. Note the snowdrops in flower at Mungrisdale
Delaying to avoid the storm meant I was riding the beautiful Newlands Valley road with almost the only wheels on the roads as a colourful dusk was brewing. Then turning around after sunset at Buttermere to retrace the narrow road back to Keswick, including the 20% and 25% inclines near the summit. Not a lot of distance but good fun plus gaining experience wrangling the little bike on mud, grass and gravel before my lightweight trail bike gets delivered.
More photos: Newlands Valley to Buttermere at dusk - Lake District National Park
Ride out from Keswick chasing the mercurial sunny intervals. I chose the minor roads to Ullswater and Patterdale. Kirkstone Pass looked dodgy weather so I turned around at Sykeside camp site, note the remains of snow drifts on the flanks of Helvellyn etc. Rewarding views for my first ride of 2022.
More photos: Chasing sunny intervals from Keswick to Sykeside - Lake District National Park
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.
