He shoots , he scores.....

Well today I took one big step towards my goal of getting my bike back by passing my first test. The test took a total of 8 hours with half of it being on the road, connected by radio mike, with the tutor. The first half was on a disused airfield and involved an array of tests including emergency stops, slow controlled turns and an assault course. The on-road was mind numbing as it was so hot and I was fully kitted up. I was quite dizzy and vague by the time I got home! The good news is that Tree and I went out today and bought my new bike. Tammy is now sold and goes to her new home later on today.

Tree is adamant that I will not miss Tammy but I think I will always have a soft spot for scootering about.

Then again, I have just fired up the Yammy and already become seduced by the sound of the V-twin rumbling like gentle thunder!

Cough it up ..you know you're wrong!!!

Back in December I had a bit of a slide on my scoot , Tammy, and slid my ar*e 65 feet down the Newtown Road. Now, as it happens, Severn Trent were 100% in the wrong but as you might expect would not admit liability. The law stands that if someone does not admit liability in 3 months then you sue them and take them to court to fleece them. Well what do you know? Severn Trent, 3 months to the dot, paid up without a quibble. None of the "reducing your estimate for damages" was heard, they just paid up. Of course they also didn't admit liability but why pay up if they're innocent ? I should have claimed way more, now I think about it but I am happy to see an end to it and get Tammy repaired so I can sell her.
XVS here I come!

Slip sliding away.....

Well it had to happen at some point I guess and happen it did in style. I am talking about an accident I had this morning at the top of Newtown Road. I set off for work as usual at about 5.30'ish in the morning, taking extra care because of the hard frost the night before and made my way up to the top of Ronkswood Bank. What I didn't know was that a water leak, left unattended ALL weekend, had turned into an ice rink on the other side of the brow of the hill. Yep, you guessed it, as I hit the ice I crashed the bike and proceeded to slide on my ass for 65.2 feet ( as calculated by the insurance company on Google Earth) coming to a halt some way down the road. I was helped up by a passer by who remarked on the prang as "spectacular". A Police car soon arrived, having been notified by a motorist who nearly crashed, and I chose, at this point, to phone Tree. As I was on the phone, another bike came over the hill and slid past me, missing me and the Policeman by inches. Tree was going crazy by this time as all she heard was me shout "Noooooo" very loudly and then the sound of the crash as his bike disintegrated.

I went on to work and got checked out as okay, apart from bruising, but, in hindsight, I should have taken the rest of the day off. It was a good job I wear an armoured jacket as I certainly would have broken my arm without it. The elbow plate is cracked and the arm torn.

Tammy, however, took the brunt of the crash and looks in a very sorry state. I am still riding her but she needs a full makeover. My insurers are taking a case against the local water authority for negligence in doing nothing about the leak, knowing there was a frost due, so I should get her fully repaired. I, meanwhile, feel more than a bit stiff and achey now the adrenaline is wearing off !!!

Oh I almost forgot, I also got a mention on Radio Wyvern as the "White bike man". There is now traffic lights and one way traffic, a frost sign, a slow sign, a police slow sign and a slippery road sign out at the scene. Smacks of too little, too late !!!!!!