Success – of sorts – with the RAC

In my last post I explained how I felt aggrieved about the poor performance of the RAC in it’s response to a breakdown suffered whilst out riding through the glorious south west countryside. I’ll not repeat what I wrote last time, but basically I’d lost some brake fluid and a bolt from a rear brake calipre. The RAC sent a recovery truck without even bothering to attempt to repair the problem. This took several hours and I was wound up by the poor service.

Well after making a telephone complaint…boy did the RAC complaint officer not want to admit that the org was at fault in any way, despite my showing that the operators/advisors on the day of the breakdown tell me various contradictory information and had told blatent untruths (lies to you and i).

Eventually they caved and I got an apology and three months extra cover. Not a lot considering the hassle they caused me, but in this day and age even getting a corporation to admit it might be at fault is almost impossible.

So as a result I’d like to say thanks for the three months extra, but once it is over I will be looking elsewhere. I did look at various bulletin boards and found many comments from RAC members saying that bike riders don’t get mechanics, that it is nearly always the recovery truck that appears at the scene of a breakdown, despite the propaganda eh sorry the marketing spiel of the RAC. I wonder if the AA etc are any better?

Back and barking…

Ok it’s been more than a month since my last post and I feel ashamed…ok not really. I recently become a man of leisure thanks to the people paying me deciding to close the department I worked for. 13 of us got the boot.

So it’s been a month of self-pity and a holiday in Ibiza (don’t ask). Now I’ve got the old bike going again I’ve been out and about in Glorious Devon. God there’s a some beautiful biking roads in this place.

Last week I lost a bolt from my rear brake caliper…obviously didn’t have a spare on me or any brake fluid so called the breakdown service and hey presto they managed to turn the event into a nightmare. What should have been a bit of a wait followed by a 15 minute fix turned into more than a four hour nighmare…they made no attempt to fix it. Bastards!!!!!

I’m in the complaint process and we’ll see how they perform with this. Once the story is over I’ll do a write up as a warning to others….unless they attempt to resolve their pathetic performance.

Cafe Racer for under £300

If you, like me, are envious of those bikers who can fork out huge amounts of money for the latest custom job and you’re fed up with the huge amounts charged by the custom builders, then take a look at the video (linked below).

The vid features Jeff, a USA based mechanic, converting an old cheap bike into great looking cafe racer:

JeffsCafeRacer

Whizz – Bang – Wow

 

Having searched online for interesting classic looking bikes I came across the Whizzer (pic above). Having never seen one in real life and having talked to bike riding mates, who also have never seen one I thought I’d put the pic on the blog.

Motorcycling in India 1925 – 1927

Riding through India on a motorbike is perhaps one of the scariest experiences of traffic any biker could have. These days there are millions of bikes, many of them Indian made Royal Enfields, ridden by locals and visitors alike. But what of the early days of biking in India? We see plenty in the classic mags about here and the US but what of India?

Motorcycling perfection

I love to read and love to ride, and often combine the two. Yes, I’ve started reading more biking books, I’m not sure why I love hearing about other peoples adventures on two wheels but I do. One book that I read and loved recently was ‘The Perfect Vehicle’ written by Melissa Pierson a writer based in the USA.

A beautifully written piece of motorcycle literature covering Melissa’s own love affair with her motorcycles. Through her writing Melissa explores her feelings for what she sees as the perfect mode of transport, whilst also exploring how the motorcycle came to be the love of so many peoples lives.

Melissa covers history of women and motorcycles, and questions the perception of the non rider’s views of the rider. This is not full of the usual macho observations about how great one bike make is compared to another. This is for anyone who knows that feeling when having turned a corner, one spots the open road, and its open invitation to twist the throttle and just fly down the road.

Look out for this book, it’s for those who dream and dare to ride motorcycles.

Three bikes at show – Only three bikes

1940 Royal Enfield 350cc, OHV, Restored 2006 – Colours of the Provost Company 43rd Wessex June 1945

Vintage military vehicles they said, including motorcycles they said. Who are they? The ‘They’ are the organisers of the annual ‘Air Day’ held at the airbase in Yeovilton. I had received a couple of free tickets and decided that as the Events website and brochure both mentioned vintage bikes, plus the fact I got all misty eyed whilst recalling airshows when I was a nipper. I remember the Concord being displayed high above the show held at ringway near Manchester. She had to flypast as she couldn’t land as the runway was too short.

Summer is here – grab your waterproofs

Being a British Biker, I talk about the weather a lot. I look at the Yanks, Ozzies etc and get jealous of their warmer climate. Yes, I confess I tend to run my life around whatever the Met Office or BBC weather site is saying. I spend at least 15 mins of the day staring at the computer screen, swearing at any predictions of rain, blaming the sites managers for any signs of bad weather.

Paignton Bike Festival – WOW!

Wow, how do these guys pull it off? I’m talking about those behind the annual  BMAD (Bikers Make A Difference) BIKE FESTIVAL held in Paignton, North Devon.  This year was the second time I’ve attended the event, and it didn’t disappoint.  Despite the threat of rain, it turned out to be a complete success. The BMAD group did themselves proud.

 

Dreaming of the next ride-out

Rain, rain and more bloody rain! I’m getting a little fed up with not being able to ride  out for fun. Sure, I go to work on my bike, sure, I get to feel the wind in what’s left of my hair, but I’m so bored of checking the 5 day forecast and just seeing predictions of rain.