2004 Ramblings

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15/11/04

Wow, where do I start. Ok. Um. Erm, lets start with the easy stuff. Off the road again - waiting at the moment for the insurance assessor to visit and for my foot to heal enough to ride. Got out at the weekend - as baggage on Mikey's bike, just down to Box and to Newlands. Felt a bit odd being back on a bike and a pillion to boot. The short trip was as much as my foot could cope with however, but was nice to be out. See Rideouts.

On a more personal note, I am now living in Surrey with Michael, or LittleNose to those of you who know him. You may remember us spending a lot of time together earlier this year. We none of us can predict what direction our lives will take from time to time, life surprises us when it wants to. I never anticipated falling in love with Mikey, but I know I am more relaxed and happier as a person because of it.

I recently celebrated my 30th birthday. Wasn't what I expected - reaching 30 or the birthday itself - being in a sling and cast for one! (see me at 30!).

September was the KillSpills rally - an amazing feeling leading all those bikes through to Westminster - the noise was incredible, even with earplugs. When we stopped at Downing St and waved and clapped the rest of the rally through my hands were so sore from clapping, my cheeks from grinning and my feet from jumping up and down.

I've gone through and filled in some holes - put up the Snett pics at last - so sorry I've been so bad at updating this, my very own window for the world.

21/05/04

Snett.... Well where do I start!? Went up early Sunday afternoon, visited some friends in Lowestoft and hit the hay early ready for the big day. Set off from Lowestoft around 6:30am to be at the track nice and early. Started to get worried that we were headed in the wrong direction until we passed Realninja (now known as DieselNinja) and Jagsti. This was the confirmation I needed and spurred me on faster, started to get worried again as the signs for Snett felt like a long time coming! What a relief when I saw the exit warning... felt great riding into the track knowing I wasn't coming to watch, but to get out there!

Seemed to take forever to do the sign in, groupings etc. Being in the novice (it was a full Novice day but split into the usual groups) group we were last to go out... which for an impatient thing like me was hell. When finally the call came out for the green group to be ready to go out and we piled up near the lights my tummy was tight and the excitement was like Xmas morning. I couldn't resist calling one of the instructors over and asking what the rules were on shotguns.... he just looked at me blankly, "you know, Shotguns!" - "no one's ever asked me that before" he said "you'll be too busy concentrating for that!" However he did confirm that there were no rules, so I must admit it felt pretty damn good being the only one doing shotguns past the Start/Finish straight on the sighting session. He was right though - once that session was over I was FAR too busy.

The next session I was amazed and more than a little apprehensive that we were just "let loose" but just followed the rest and settled into it pretty quickly. I did take an instructor in the last morning session who confirmed I simply needed to be more concise with my lines but that I was doing the right things and getting round, quickly, smoothly and doing well. I was very pleased with my performance, and the bikes'. I didn't get my knee down but I did make my right hip hurt and split the knees on my leathers (both sides) in trying. Pics will be here as soon as I get round to it.

29/04/04

Oh wow! – France/Belgium! What can I say? A truly fantastic 3 days with some great people, super roads, just amazing. Am in a transitional phase on a personal level so have not been able to keep site up to date easily. Will post some piccies soon however. Looking forward to Snetterton now – just 10 days away! I can’t believe its nearly here!! (quakes)

02/04/04

Well another pre-track day task done - my leathers which I picked up off ebay were a bit big on the top half so have had a chunk taken out of the back and had them cleaned up a bit. Went up to Aylesbury to collect them yesterday taking a rather long and roundabout route (yes I do know you don't head south from London to get to Aylesbury). Had a fantastic ride and was well chuffed with the results when I tried them on. Even the occasional burst of rain could not spoil the day as we (LittleNose & I) winged the route on the way back (extremely dangerous as both of us are notorious for getting lost!).

Leather repairs/alterations - Leatherland, Aylesbury - talk to Pat.

28/03/04

Well I couldn't very well resist could I!? I mean, come on - two new race cans + intermediate pipes for basically the price of a new standard silencer to replace my dinged and scratched one... it had to be done. Shiny stainless steel, Venom race cans direct from Motad. A big thank you to LittleNose (Mikey) my riding buddy for helping me to fit these and to Paul at Venom for all the telephone support!. They look the biz and they sound... well they sound fantastic!

New tires were fitted last Tuesday by Rubber Ranch. Top service, great price. I am so pleased to see the back of those Avons. I opted for Bridgestones - 020 rear and 010 front after listening to lots of views, opinions and advice. The bike feels so much more grounded and I haven't noticed the back wheel sliding at all.

Some more pics of how he's looking now and those new shiny pipes...

21/03/04

All panels replaced, heated grips fitted huge thanks to Kat for those and to Andy for all the hard work, crash bung re-fitted, new clutch cable (I still can't believe how light it is now!). I had to ask R&G for some longer bar end bolts as the Motrax heated grips are slightly longer than the original grips. Well do have a look...

The heated grips are wonderful - even on those milder days it just makes the journey that much more enjoyable not to have cold hands!

12/03/04

They're HERE!!! Looking fantastic. Andy is coming to help me (for help - read do it for me cause he's such a luv!) refit the crash bung and do a clutch cable on Thursday. So after Thursday he'll be looking fantastic again. Exciting!!!

10/03/04

Spoken to bodyshop panels are being lacquered and stickered ready to come back. Can't wait to see them and see bike back to its full glory! More soon...

22/02/04

Well parts all went off for re-spray on Thursday, everything clenched that they come back looking superbly sexy. A simple trip to the local garage for a chain adjustment and to investigate a scraping noise at the front wheel resulted in new chain, sprockets, and new brake pads all round (yes one of 'em was down to the metal - hence the nasty scraping noise!). Still bike feels fantastic with the new chain, very flickable (which for a ZZR is a feat!), still feeling amazingly light as well.

I have confirmed my second trackday (which as I haven't yet done my first feels extremely brave!) 9th July in Wales.

14/02/04

Two years almost (5 days to go) now since I migrated to London and first took a real interest in two wheeled methods of transport.

Been exceedingly lazy getting parts sorted. One sticker was wrong, waiting for replacement and then I WILL get them off for re-spray. I think I have this foreboding feeling that they wont fit when they come back.... Bike passed its MOT at the beginning of the month - without needing new tyres - yet! Will have to do them soon though. Bike needs a damn good service - sounds a little ropey at times.

Been out every Sunday of late, last week was incredibly windy but some of my best riding to date.

31/01/04

All parts and stickers now arrived. Just need to make a quick check that all of them fit properly and then send off. Bought a second-hand one piece race leathers, arrived today and fit rather snugly. T-shirt ready for trackday has arrived (to be worn over leathers) so I can be easily identified (and lapped!).

Been getting out as much as possible at the weekends - did 220 miles last Sunday with the Essex crowd - fantastic day out, little bit cold at the end but well worth it. This weekend looks to be wet and dull but might make it to Boxhill if nothing else.

23/01/04

2004! Time flies as they say! Happy New Year to anyone I've not spoken to recently. Its cold but not too bad, no snow yet although its threatened for next week, which means I may go soft and look at heated grips or those "Hot Hands" wrap things.

Well update on the parts, got myself a second hand belly pan and top fairing, got the prices for the new bits I can't find, just looking for one more second-hand panel then I can get them all re-sprayed. Crash bungs went on just day before yesterday (should say evening really as it was well dark by the time we finished - I say "we" but I didn't do much other than hold the torch when it got too dark!), many thanks to my very good friend AndyC from the Ninjas site for "helping" me with those.

Assessor has finally been so at least I have the all clear to start repairs. Put the new bar ends on myself in December, just have the hugger to do. May attempt that this weekend, if I'm feeling brave!

Been getting out most weekends, mainly down to Boxhill on Sundays, flexing my throttle so to speak. Strangely just this week bike feels extremely light (which for a ZZR is RARE!). Can't decide whether this is just confidence or the road conditions improving.

So the next Big Thing: I was lucky enough to receive a Ron Haslems Race School day for Xmas and this WILL be done as soon as dates allow! On top of this *deep breath* I have booked a trackday on my beloved Zed. Yep, he and I shall be zooming around the curves of Snetterton in early May in the company of some 45 (so far) MCNNinjas members.

(How scared am I!? - Very!! But excited too!)