Tuesday, 27 February 2007

Charity Event

"The Panthers"
Annual
Easter Egg Motorcycle Run

Visiting the children at

Break Children’s Home
Sheringham


On Sunday 1st April 2007

Meeting at the
Three Horseshoes Public House, Scottow
(B1150, Between Coltishall and North Walsham)

Leaving @ 10.00am

All Motorcyclists Welcome

For more information contact Michael on 01692 409980

Monday, 19 February 2007

On the Brits Abroad trips we have always seen ourselves as true ambassadors to the Nation!!!


We did you proud in the National Table Tennis Championship...





You can tour abroad on a supermoto, its just very,very painfull!



At Mont S,Michelle the force of the explosion very nearly took Steve's hat off!







Gollum spent some time locked up in Normandy before his trip to Mount
Doom

Comments appreciated.......................





Sunday, 11 February 2007

Tales from Thailand

Email recieved from Stuart today to let us know he is well and enjoying his few months in Thailand. It reads "this is my new bike what do you reckon, just got to love them wheels eh?".
Never mind the wheels, it's the basket on the front thats a tad concerning! Comments please!!!

Saturday, 10 February 2007

Enduro Africa 2007 (Gibbo needs your support)

If you’ve been in the club for a while you will know about the "riders for health" charity. In the past we have often nominated them for our support when we have raised money for good causes and you may remember us presenting money to their representative at some of our Christmas parties.
You may also be aware that on the Thursday before the British Grand Prix, or Moto GP as it is now, there is a "Day of Champions" event where the worlds top riders are available for autographs and general worship. An auction is held at the end of the day to raise money for the above charity, which is now known as just "riders".
Last year Gary and I rode down to this event and had a bloody good time watching the various events and pointing at famous people all day, finishing off the day at the auction.
During the auction an announcement was made about a new scheme called "Enduro Africa" which involves willing souls raising money to buy a bike for a health worker in an outlying area in Africa and also training that health worker in basic maintenance skills to ensure the longest and most reliable useful life for the bike. The snag, or main attraction, depending on how you look at it and how intact/un-injured you are afterwards is you also get to ride the bike approx 3000 km across S. Africa before handing the machine over to "riders " for them to distribute them all over Africa.
Last year I thought this looked fantastic but had an excuse not to sign up instantly as I was already set for a big trip around Spain with Sophie this year, however, with nothing on the long term radar for 2007 and a degree of mid life crisis brought on by it being the last year of my first half century, I’ve actually been an’ gone an’ dunnit!
I have signed on the dotted line and sent them 500 of my best bike tokens as a registration fee and will now, cold feet or not, have to get on and raise £4500 in the following year and then drag my old bones 250km a day for 14 days, non stop.
As most of my previous off road experience consists of the bits where I had made unexpected detours from the safety of the tarmac and was about to be parted from my steed into the welcoming arms of a thorny hedge, some training, practice and a degree of physical toning may be required. So God help me and if you can please sponsor me!!


Live music from Great Local Talent
Wide range of music from a bundle of young bands.
Fantastic Auction of Promises
Lots include adventures on water, on land and in the air!
Scottow 3 Horseshoes Barn; Sat 24th Feb.
Licensed bar from 8pm.
Tickets only £5!
More information from 01692 538 382.
ENDURO AFRICA & #65532;

Gibbo's Enduro Africa

Motorcycles have played a huge part in my life for over 40 years. Whether riding with friends, touring abroad, racing on tarmac or struggling on the dirt, I just can’t get enough. Most of my closest friends are biking friends and my wife
Sophie and children Sam and Bonnie also ride (that’s probably due to pressure from me)!
When I’m not riding I’m either reading bike magazines or in the garage working on a bike. Yes, the word is obsession! After all this fun its time for some Pay-Back!
"Riders" is a charity set up by Motorcyclists, supported by many top racers, their teams and thousands of ordinary people like me, raising money to provide support for people in impoverished and isolated areas of Africa.
One such scheme provides bikes to health workers together with a training package which enables them to carry out their own servicing and basic repairs to the motorbike. These machines can carry vital basic health services, such as inoculations, into areas where other vehicles would find the lack of basic roads a real barrier.
In 2005 "Riders" announced a scheme called ‘Enduro Africa’. To take part you must raise £4500 to pay for a Bike and training package. The enticement or challenge, depending on confidence and ability, is the chance to ride 3000km across Africa to hand the machine over to "Riders" for them to deliver to its user.
The whole trip takes 14 days so that’s an average of 250km per day on a dirt bike you’ve never been on before, over poor or unmade roads you’ve never seen before. Temperatures range from -5 to 30 + degrees. To me that sounds like a challenge.
The first Enduro Africa takes place in November 2007 and I’m delighted to say I have been accepted for Nov’2007, what a fantastic way to celebrate my 50th birthday!
Now all I have to do is raise £4500! The money has to be collected and paid in by Sept 2007.
I will be holding an Auction of Promises, there will be Live Music nights with top local bands and I will be chasing individual and business sponsorship.
If you would like further information, wish to help with any of the above or have other ideas such as holding a sponsored event of your own please call me on 01692 538 382.
Thank you,
Keith (Gibbo)

On top of the world!

On a bleak night some time in the winter, Stuart, Paul and I sat in the Horseshoes contemplating the bike season ahead and what to do, and so the seed was sown “A boys weekend somewhere on the bikes”.
Somewhere quickly turned to the Peak District, before we knew it the dates had been agreed and we’d even found a biker friendly B&B, at the time Friday 23rd June 2006 seemed so far off.
With all the planning completed the day soon came, there I was Friday morning doing the final checks on the bike, luggage security etc, under a beaming hot sun and clear blue sky’s.
We agreed to meet at Stuart’s. All fuelled up and ready to go, Paul and I turned up and the three of us made the final agreements on the route, watering holes and fuel stops, and then we were off.
As virgin two wheel tourers we agreed to stop every 100 miles, this as the more experienced of you will know, soon runs into time on the bike rather than miles covered. As normal the traffic on the A17 was horrendous so the farm shop seemed an appropriate coffee stop.
It soon came to light that Friday’s probably isn’t the best day to travel, but we picked our way through the traffic, really appreciating being on two wheels as we sliced our way through one traffic jam after another. Thanks to Paul’s excellent route planning we had a safe, enjoyable and uneventful trip.
Fortunately the lovely weather we had left in Norfolk had decided to follow us all the way to the Peaks. On arrival at our B&B we found a welcome together with some breath taking views. After a shower and change we relaxed and enjoyed the panoramic views, as our hosts discussed the surrounding area and earlier two wheeled visitors that had stayed before us.
After a lazy couple of hours chatting with our hosts, we took their advice and went off in search of the recommended hostelry. “There are two pubs opposite one another, we recommend the one on the right, the foods good, and the other is a bit noisy”.
The brochure clearly stated the pubs to be “only five minutes walk!” so off we set. Fortunately the 5 minute walk which actually took 15 minutes was down hill, we arrived in a welcoming village pub and the food was well worth the walk.
Friday nights appears to be the local’s night out, the pub soon filled up and as it was such a warm evening we ate our meals and retired to the garden. At this point we soon realised the difference in pubs, the other “lively” pub faced on the beer garden. The locals appeared to get their entertainment screaming with delight as the on coming traffic narrowly missed cars coming in the opposite direction. So joyously they screamed as the tyres screeched and another accident was narrowly avoided.
Stuart wasted no time in phoning his family back home, walking towards the rear gate so we couldn’t hear him declare his undying love for her. As he turned around to face us he was met with the most amazing back drop to the pub which lifted us all.
As the sun started to set we started to feel the day journey catching up so we headed off for the five minute walk back to our B&B! The uphill (bloody steep up hill) walk back was just what the doctor ordered after a full meal and a few pints and half an hour later we arrived back. Off to bed as the hills came alive to sound of Stuart snoring!
The following morning Stuart awoke completely refreshed as Paul, myself and the heard of sheep on the hills behind our B&B awoke with head aches. It was raining so we had a leisurely breakfast (which kept us going all day), had a walk through the village and by the time we returned the rain had stopped.
We set off midmorning for our first days riding around the peak district, the route was planned to be a basic figure eight of the district, taking in the Snake Pass and the Cat and Fiddle run.
Due to the playful police coverage we agreed to stick to speed limits and not risk challenging the police helicopters that trawl the area picking on unsuspecting bikers.
The roads were still damp as we set off down the Snake Pass, the views where fantastic, which is something that couldn’t be said of the road condition, you’d have to be an idiot to want to ride down there fast.
Our first stop of the day was at the Lady Bower pub. Situated beside the famous Lady Bower reservoir, this reservoir is best known for being the testing ground used for the bouncing bomb development. Paul and I used our charm and charisma to woo what turned out to be the land ladies mother, thinking she was the land lady herself, worked in our favour anyway!
Back on the bikes again heading for Bakewell and than Buxton. We came we saw and we left, as we rode into both places I was disappointed to note just how commercialised they were and that really wasn’t what we were looking for. We did stop for short breaks, but it wasn’t the sight seeing I envisaged.
After riding several roads we ended up on the infamous Cat and Fiddle run. As the heading states, my ears popped and I felt like I was riding to the top of the world, you could see for miles, that’s probably what the motorcycle cop sitting in the car park at the Cat and Fiddle thought, giving our bikes the once over as we rode into the car park.
Another coffee break was taking as we enjoyed the panoramic views. Friendly lot those Peaky People, as we sat enjoying the surroundings a lonely biker approached us to tell all the bad things that had happened on the surrounding roads, the longer he stayed to gloomier his stories got, most inspiring character that we think may have been un undercover policeman!
After he tales of whoa he proceeded to tell us of the fastest routes, showing us on the map how to get there. He then mounted his bike and attempted to impress us by accelerating up the road, missing a gear and once out of sight (or so he thought) slowing right down.
Turning right out of the Cat and Fiddle we soon found ourselves on some of the best roads I think I’ve ever ridden, they where fantastic. Deciding to take our new found friends advice we ended up heading in the direction of the fastest road, stopping on route to fill the bike up with some much needed motion lotion.
Considering he was such a plonker he did do us a favour. We soon found ourselves approaching the road in question, not breaking every speed limit as he suggested we rode the route and it was fantastic, the scenery was breathtaking. So much so that we would end up revisiting it the following day!
Heading back in the direction of our B&B we stopped off allowing Stuart and Paul time to do a sponsored walk in search of the cash point and toilet, it was a bloody hot day for walking the streets in leathers.
Back at the B&B, we showered and set off in the direction of our favoured pub for a meal. On route Paul and Stuart tried to persuade me to try an Indian restaurant. As I know little of the menu’s I knew Stuart would use this as an opportunity to give me the shits so we carried on to the faithful old pub.
Back at the B&B, Stuart once again entertained us with his wind instruments and nasal noises. The sheep came down from the hills thinking a storm was imminent.
Next morning and another fantastic Breakfast, after a brief stroll we loaded our bikes, paid the landlady and set off. So impressed by the Plonkers route we decided on a detour to take another aspect of the route, stopping to take a few snaps. Unfortunately the warm air had caused some mist but the views where still as breathtaking as the previous day.
On to our final destination Matlock Bath, we stopped off in the centre of some town for a coffee, excellent location to watch the heroics of bikers on route to Matlock.
After a short stop we continued on our journey, arriving in Matlock about midday. As those of you who have visited before will know this is a Mecca for bikes, and traffic wardens! You can stop for one hour before he creeps up in an attempt to screw a ticket into you.
Under the baking hot sun we rested under a tree watch the world of bikes go up and down. We made one little lads day as he thought our helmets belonged to the “power ranges”, I don’t think he realised how close he was to action heroes!
And then it was time to head off home. I have never been more thankful for the World Cup, the roads were deserted and we had a fantastic ride home, no cellulite on my arse by the time we arrived back in Norfolk, but the whole weekend was fantastic.
Will we do it again, too right; we all agreed that we had never had so much fun on the bikes without breaking a single speed limit. That company was excellent, superb and welcoming B&B and areally good introduction to a touring weekend.


Orleans

Maynestone Road
Chinley
High Peak
Derbyshire
SK23 6AQ
England
Tel. + 44 (0)1663 750640.

If you are considering a similar weekend you won’t be disappointed staying at this location.

Friday, 9 February 2007

Not to be out done, the others photo's

Opening my emails today and the first one was Jimbo, after seeing Gibbo's corner speed at a recent trackday he rightly thought it was time you all enjoyed his action shot, unfortunately the cameraman didn't get a chance to get out of the way after taking this photo!!!
Unfortunately I too then got thinking "why should these two grab all the lime light, so decided that I too would get a little publicity, and also chucked my own photo in for good measure. In my case though the cameraman actually had time to sit down have a sandwich, align his camera and then took the shot! I still enjoyed the day as much as anyone though.
Fortunately the bike club is far more than a bunch of overaged holigans trying to rekindle their youth on the track. Hopefully others will now take the lead and share some of their biking expliots as many of you have enjoyed days out, trips abroad etc, so get those articles in for posting and you too could look as good as Jimbo and me, Oops well it felt like I was a long way over honestly!!!

Thursday, 8 February 2007

"Giggle Corner"


Bob's marital problems!!!!!
Dear Ms Proops,
I've never written to you before, but I really need your advice on what could be a crucial decision. I've suspected for some time now that my wife has been cheating on me. The usual signs... phone rings but if I answer, the caller hangs up. My wife has been going out with the girls a lot recently although when I ask their names she always says, "Just some friends from work, you don't know them." I always stay awake to look out for her taxi coming home, but she always walks down the drive. Although I can hear a car driving off, as if she has gotten out of the car round the corner. Why? Maybe she wasn't in a taxi? I once picked her cell phone up just to see what time it was and she went berserk and screamed that I should never touch her phone again and why was I checking up on her.
Anyway, I have never approached the subject with my wife. I think deep down I just didn't want to know the truth, but last night she went out again and I decided to really check on her. I decided I was going to park my Honda Fireblade next to the garage and then hide behind it so I could get a good view of the whole street when she came home. It was at that moment, crouching behind my bike, that I noticed that the valve covers on my engine seemed to be leaking a little oil. Is this something I can fix myself or should I take it back to the dealer?
Thanks,

Bob
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Crazy for a day off!!!!!!!
I urgently needed a few days off work, but I knew the Boss would not allow me to take leave. I thought that maybe if I acted "CRAZY then he would tell me to take a few days off. So I hung upside-down on the ceiling and made funny noises.My co-worker (who's blonde) asked me what I was doing. I told her that I was pretending to be a light bulb so that the Boss might think I was "CRAZY" and give me a few days off. A few minutes later the Boss came into the office and asked "What in the name of f*cking good god are you doing?" I told him I was a light bulb. He said "You are clearly stressed out. Go home and recuperate for a couple of days". I jumped down and walked out of the office.When my co-worker (the blonde) followed me, the Boss asked her "...And where do you think you're going?" (You're gonna love this..... )She said, "I'm going home too, I can't work in the dark!
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The Golfer!!!!!!
Today, I got up early, put on my long johns, dressed quietly, made coffee, grabbed my clubs, slipped quietly into the garage, loaded my clubs into the car, and proceeded to back out into a torrential downpour.There was snow mixed with the rain and the wind was blowing 50 mph. I pulled back into the garage, turned on the radio, and discovered that the weather would be bad throughout the day.I went back into the house, quietly undressed, and slipped back into bed. There I cuddled up to my wife's back, now with a different anticipation, and whispered, "The weather out there is terrible."She sleepily replied, "I know, can you believe my stupid husband is out golfing in that sh-t."

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The Cold Remedy!!!!!!
The pharmacist walks into the store to find a guy leaning heavily against a wall. He asks the blonde clerk, "What's with that guy over there by the wall?" The blonde clerk responds, "Well, he came in here this morning to get something for his cough I couldn't find the cough syrup, so I gave him an entire bottle of laxative.”The pharmacist yells, "You idiot! You can't treat a cough with a laxative! "The blonde clerk responds, "Of course you can! Look at him, he's afraid to cough"
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