Home Office - Misery – Costs – Inconvenience to Bikers

The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG UK) have expressed their serious
concerns to the Home Office regarding their proposals to increase, by
almost 300%, the statutory charges for the removal, storage and disposal
of motorcycles by the police.

Under the current arrangements the police can charge £105 for the
recovery of a motorcycle considered to be abandoned illegally,
dangerously or obstructively parked, or broken down. They can then
charge up to £12 a day for storage until the motorcycle is reclaimed by
its rightful owner.

Under new Home Office proposals bikers would be charged £300 for the
recovery of the machine and £15 per day storage. This will not only
affect riders involved in road crashes but will also affect those who
have had their motorcycle stolen and subsequently recovered, adding to
the misery, cost and inconvenience to the owner.

Responding to the consultation which closes today, Friday the 25th
January MAG has highlighted the totally unjustified 300% increase and
brought to the attention of the Home Office failures in communication
between the police, insurers, and the recovery companies which results
in unnecessary delays in the release of impounded bikes and escalating
costs incurred by the biker.

David Short, MAG Campaigns Manager, says, “The proposed charges are
totally out of proportion to reality and the increase from the current
£105 to £300 is totally unjustified.”

“There are too many examples of bikers who have been victims of
motorcycle theft who have then had huge recovery and storage costs
charged by the police because of a lack of communication between the
police and the victim of the crime.”

“This also applies to bikers who have been involved in road crashes and
who have not had the opportunity to make their own arrangements to
recover their crashed bike”

“MAG will be making the strongest representations to have these proposed
rip off charges consigned to the bin”


Notes

1. Proposed Charges
http://www.network.mag-uk.org/documents/071221Home_Office_letter.pdf

2. View Original Consultation
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/stat-charges-index

For further information contact:

David Short

Tel: +44 (0) 1347 82221
Mobile: +44 (0) 77389 48080

E-mail: campaigns-manager@mag-uk.org



www.mag-uk.org

Motorcycle Tax Evasion - Its Not Right

The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG UK) remain sceptical of the claim in a recent report that 40% of bikers evade paying VED. Anecdotal visual studies carried out by the group at motorcycle events do not reflect anything remotely like this level of non compliance.

Unfortunately the media has jumped on this unreliable and suspect headline figure to brand motorcyclists as law breakers.

The report, from the House of Commons, Committee of Public Accounts, itself acknowledges that the methodology used to capture the data is suspect.

A recent series of expensive TV adverts advised us that the DVLA do not have to look on the road or in garages but simply at computer screens in order to identify tax evaders.

If this is the case then let them get on with it and fine all these defaulters. If it is not the case and the DVLA were completely wrong then it begs the question – are they wrong about the level of evasion?

MAG makes no apologies for those who fail to tax vehicles and will happily work with the DVLA to enable them to make an accurate assessment of evasion rates.

MAG recognises however that for all road users road tax has lost its credibility. When it was used to improve roads motorists could see the benefit. However, when it just disappears into the black hole of the treasury, people become sceptical and the whole system loses credibility.

The whole system needs reviewing.

Notes

1. Download the committee report http://www.network.mag-uk.org/documents/080122%20Vehicle%20Excise.pdf

2. For further information contact:

David Short

Tel: +44 (0) 1347 82221

Mobile: +44 (0) 77389 48080

E-mail: campaigns-manager@mag-uk.org

The UK's Leading Riders' Rights Organisation

www.mag-uk.org

20 years defending European riders:FEMA - An association run by and for European citizens!

10 January 2008 - The Federation of European Motorcyclists’ Associations is very proud to announce its 20th Anniversary. 2008 marks 20 years of pro-active lobbying in Brussels and in Geneva and will be celebrated with a series of events throughout the year. Representing all European motorcyclists: a look at the past to better face coming challenges.

http://www.fema.ridersrights.org/20years


Reducing congestion, pollution and accidents while at the same time increasing mobility is one of Europe’s main challenges. The use of Powered Two-Wheelers clearly offers major advantages to the transport mix as well as solutions to many of the transport problems faced by EU Member States. Recognition of their positive contribution has been one of FEMA members’ main reasons for creating the Federation in 1988. 20 years later, promoting fairer and appropriate legislation for motorcyclists remains FEMA’s main task.

On 25 June 1988, motorcyclists’ associations from France, Germany, United Kingdom, Greece, Austria and Luxembourg decided to form a European citizens’ organisation in order to make European riders’ voice heard in the political debate: The Federation of European Motorcyclists (FEM) was born. Ten years later, on 10 January 1998, FEM and the European Motorcyclist Association (EMA) merged to form the Federation of European Motorcyclists Associations (FEMA). The two associations joined their forces to offer motorcyclists the best representation possible. Today, FEMA counts on a 4 person office in Brussels.


In 2008, 24 national road riding motorcyclists’ organizations from 19 European countries will hence celebrate 20 years of riders’ representation in Brussels. The 10th of January has been chosen to officially launch FEMA celebrations for this double anniversary. Throughout the year, FEMA will disseminate information about its history and how it works, but it will also organise a series of activities, such as participation to shows, workshops and conferences, interviews of keynote representatives, and a special edition of the MEP Motorcycle Ride in Brussels. The detailed programme and additional information are available on FEMA 20th Anniversary dedicated web space www.fema.ridersrights.org/20years

Aline Delhaye, FEMA General Secretary, says: “I would like to take this opportunity to underline how local decisions are increasingly linked to European policies. European motorcyclists need to get stronger to face coming challenges. As in the early days, there is a need to ensure that motorcycling is rightly and fairly considered in crucial debates, such as Intelligent Transport Systems or Congestion Charging Schemes, to only mention 2 examples. I warmly thank FEMA members and partners for their faith in the work of the Federation and I call all motorcycling stakeholders (industry, media, clubs, individuals) to support the Federation and give it the means to promote motorcycling through the next 20 years and beyond”.


We are looking forward to celebrate this event with you!

MAG Prepares to Defend Motorcycling

The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG UK) is preparing to defend motorcycling in the forthcoming Parliamentary scrutiny of Road Safety.

The Parliamentary Transport Select Committee has announced that it is to hold a scrutiny into Road Safety. The Committee will inquire into what further policies could be considered to reduce the risk of death and injury between now and 2010—when the current target period comes to an end—and beyond.

Although the Committee will look at all transport modes and measures to improve road safety the fact that motorcycling is viewed as a high risk transport mode will not escape the members of the committee. The fact is that the relative risk of a motorcycle rider being killed or seriously injured per kilometre travelled was 51 times higher in 2006 than for car drivers.

Motorcycling is however becoming safer and the casualty rate for those killed or seriously injured was 27% lower in 2006 than it was in 1994. This is even more favourable when compared with an increase of 37% in the amount of motorcycling traffic between 1996 and 2006.

David Short MAG Campaigns Manager is preparing the MAG response to the committee and will be giving evidence at the scrutiny.

David says, “It is essential that motorcycling is not regarded as an easy target by the road safety lobby. There will be those calling for speed and power limiters and punitive legislation and MAG will put forward rationale and considered arguments to ensure a balanced view is received. Yes motorcycling caries a higher risk than other transport modes but these can be ameliorated by continuous improvement in the measures that already exist. The new test procedures, schemes like BikeSafe, improved roads and better education for all road users will enhance motorcycling which in turn will help reduce traffic congestion, minimise environmental impact and provide greater social mobility.”

How can you help?

Simple, join MAG.

Your membership will add weight of numbers and therefore enhance MAG’s credibility in representing the nation’s motorcyclists.

Ends

Notes for Editors

For further information contact:

David Short

Tel: +44 (0) 1347 82221
Mobile: +44 (0) 77389 48080

E-mail: campaigns-manager@mag-uk.org

Issued by

Trevor Baird
General Secretary (MAG UK)

MAG UK
PO BOX 750
Rugby
CV21 3ZR

Email: general-secretary@mag-uk.org

The UK's Leading Riders' Rights Organisation

www.mag-uk.org

Europe Questions the Role for Motorcycle ‘toys’ on our Roads

A leading EU transport “expert” has questioned whether there is any place for motorcycles on Europe’s roads.

Norwegian Rune Elvik says: “In Norway, I believe all the most cost effective measures have been implemented – mandatory helmet use, strict licensing, engine tuning ban, daytime running lights for motorbikes. The question that needs to be raised now is whether there should be any place for these motorised toys in the transport system at all.”

The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG UK) says that Elvik’s comments, which are contained in a recent report from the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC), are biased and anti motorcycling.

There is a real danger of these so called experts’ opinions and motorcycle safety reports being accepted without question.

On 21st December 2007, the Flemish Parliament in Belgium was presented with the ETSC report as a basis for legislation on motorcycle safety.

However the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) Belgium, with the support of MPs, defended the riders’ position by using the Federation of European Motorcyclists Associations’ (FEMA), European Agenda for Motorcycle Safety which highlights the importance of finding real solutions to improve the casualty rates for motorcyclists.

As a direct result of MAG Belgium’s action, the ETSC report was rejected and instead, MAG Belgium’s motorcycle friendly programme was adopted.

MAG’s General Secretary, Trevor Baird, says, “Motorcycling is under constant threat from the European safety agenda. The introduction of this agenda has been thwarted in Belgium before it spreads further like a rash across Europe. MAG will continue to protect motorcycling and defend riders’ rights from whatever quarter the threat comes.”

Ends

Notes for Editors

1. FEMA’s European Agenda For Motorcycle Safety http://www.fema.ridersrights.org/docs/EAMS2007.pdf

2. ETSC report can be found at http://www.etsc.be/PIN.php

Issued by

Trevor Baird
General Secretary MAG UK

MAG UK
PO BOX 750
Rugby
CV21 3ZR

Tel: +44 (0)1788 570065
Fax: +44 (0)1788 570052

Email general-secretary@mag-uk.org

The UK's Leading Riders' Rights Organisation

www.mag-uk.org

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Urban Art

Cheered me up for some reason - just a bit of random graffiti, but it made me smile.

DfT ‘Think!’ Rural Speed Campaign

The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG UK) supports the new Government ‘Think!’ campaign to raise motorist’s awareness of the dangers of speeding on rural roads.

The campaign highlights that in rural areas accidents often involve single vehicles suggesting that drivers are travelling in excess of the speed limit or travelling too fast for conditions. In 2006 325 car drivers were killed on rural roads.

As vulnerable road users motorcyclists are often the victims of dangerous, careless and aggressive driving which is exacerbated when that driver behaviour takes place on narrow roads with high hedgerows and limited visibility.

Motorcyclists too need to recognise that roads are not race tracks and that having an accident in remote rural areas is further complicated because of access problems and distances the emergency services have to travel. It is a sobering thought that you are three times more likely to die in an accident on a rural road than an urban one.

MAG’s Campaign Manager, David Short, says “ Motorcyclists are often branded as using rural roads as race tracks but it is clear from the Governments own evidence that it goes much wider and that this is as much a problem with dangerous and careless car drivers.”

“I would advise all motorcyclist’s to heed the campaigns advice and drive within the speed limits and at an appropriate speed for the road and traffic conditions. Unlike race tracks which have huge run off areas with marshals and medics on standby the rural roads have no such immediate support by the emergency services and dry stone walls and trees offer little ‘give’ in the event of an impact!”

“Advanced training courses or assessments such as the excellent police run Bike Safe courses will give riders a better appreciation of hazards and improved riding skills.”

1. Think! Campaign http://www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk
2. Details on Bikesafe can be found at http://www.bikesafe.co.uk
3. DSA's Register of post-test motorcycle trainers http://tinyurl.com/3xg4n2
4. The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) "Skill for Life" http://www.iam.org.uk
5. RoSPA Advanced Drivers and Riders http://www.roada.org
6. Motorcycle Retailers Association and Motorcycle Riders Training Association (MRTA) http://www.rmif.co.uk
7. David Short can be contacted at:
Tel: +44 (0) 1347 82221
Mobile: +44 (0) 77389 48080
E-mail: campaigns-manager@mag-uk.org

Issued by

MAG UK
PO BOX 750
Rugby
CV21 3ZR

Tel: +44 (0)1788 570065

Revised Highway Code Launched - Read It!

The first revised Highway Code in eight years has been unveiled by Road Safety Minister Jim Fitzpatrick. The updated Code offers the latest road safety rules and advice, as well as promoting greater courtesy and understanding among all road users, particularly those who are most vulnerable.

The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG UK)) says that motorcyclists are vulnerable road users and often bear the brunt of inattentive drivers who are more pre occupied with trying to light a cigarette, fiddling with CD's, trying to read road maps, not to mention the omnipresent mobile phone users who persist in using their phones despite increased penalties. All these activities result in distractions from driving and present a very serious danger to motorcyclists which are now categorically defined in the new Highway Code as activities prohibited whilst driving.

In addition the code outlines the dangers caused by overfilling fuel tanks, in particular Diesel, which if spilt on the road causes serious danger, especially to motorcyclists and cyclists. Advice is given for motorists to be especially vigilant when manoeuvring, such as turning right or changing lanes and being aware of their vehicle blind spots.

The code recognises the benefits of motorcycles in beating traffic congestion and advises motorists to look out for motorcyclists who are legitimately filtering between lanes of traffic.

MAG has been involved with the Department of Transport throughout the consultation process from which the new Highway Code has evolved.

MAG's Campaign Manager, David Short, says, "Motorcyclists everywhere will be all too familiar with having to dodge lit fag ends, chip wrappers and drinks tins hurled out of vehicles by their irresponsible drivers."

"Diesel spills are a further curse which motorcyclists have to deal with as well as drivers who fail to look properly for motorcyclists at junctions or whilstmotorcyclists are defeating traffic congestion by filtering through lanes of stationary and slow moving traffic."

It is very encouraging to see the new Highway Code taking into consideration all these issues on which MAG made representations in the consultation process."

"The Highway Code is basic, simple advice which could save countless lives on the roads if people took the time and trouble to read and act on it."

"All road users would be well advised to read it!"

Notes

• The Code is available for free at http://www.direct.gov.uk/highwaycode
• The Official Highway Code is published by The Stationery Office Ltd (TSO) and is priced at £2.50. Visit http://www.tsoshop.co.uk/highwaycode or call 0870 600 5522. Copies are also available from all good High Street and online bookstores

David Short can be contacted at:
Tel: +44 (0) 1347 82221
Mobile: +44 (0) 77389 48080
E-mail: campaigns-manager@mag-uk.org

Teaching Motorcycle Travel Literature by Steven Alford

Teaching Motorcycle Travel Literature

Steven Alford

http://ijms.nova.edu/July2006/IJMS_Artcl.Alford.html

The literature of motorcycle travel can be taught at the university level in a variety of ways. Here are some suggestions.

Unlike other subgenres within travel literature (e.g., travel by women, religious travel, etc.), motorcycle travel literature is circumscribed by the existence of the internal combustion engine. For convenience sake, we can point to 1894 as the potential beginning of motorcycle travel, the year in which the firm of Hildebrand & Wolfmüller in Munich, Germany established the first national patent for a motorcycle and began production and commercial sale of the machines. This gives us an active period of approximately 110 years. By 1903 people were already using motorcycles as tools for extended travel, such as one Dr. Herzog, a German doctor who used the vehicle for his professional travel, logging 8620 kilometers in eight months, colliding with only two horses in the process. Two early adventure travelers were G. Schwarz and W. Glöckler, who traveled 1600 km through the Black Forest and Switzerland, crossing passes of over 2000 meters. Take that, Ewan McGregor!

As well, people began writing about traveling by motorcycle almost as soon as they were able to do so, as evidenced by W. H. L. Watson’s 1915 book, Adventures of a Dispatch Rider, and Lady Warren’s Through Algeria and Tunisia (1922). Every year the shelf of motorcycle travel books grows in both quantity and quality. How is one to go about organizing the literature for pedagogical purposes?

Two general directions suggest themselves. First, one could use historical, geographical, or technological information about the motorcycle itself. Second, one could use theoretical concepts already in play in scholarly discussions of travel literature and apply them to motorcycles. Let’s look at the first option:

A simple approach would be to look at motorcycle travel literature historically. A sample list would include the following currently available texts:

Fulton, Robert Edison, Jr. One Man Caravan. 1937. North Conway, NH: Whitehorse Press, 1996.

Simon, Ted. Jupiter's Travels. Covelo, CA: Jupitalia, 1979.

Culberson, Ed. Obsessions Die Hard: Motorcycling the Pan American Highway's Jungle Gap. North Conway, New Hampshire: Whitehorse Press, 1991.

Noren, Allen. Storm: A Motorcycle Journey of Love, Endurance, and Transformation. San Francisco: Travelers' Tales, 2000.

Haffar, Rif K. Away From My Desk. Seattle: Ameera, 2002.

McGregor, Ewan and Charlie. Boorman, et al. Long Way Round: Chasing Shadows Across the World. London: Time Warner Books, 2004.

Note the large gap between Fulton and Simon. Many books during this period are either out of print or otherwise unobtainable. There are, however, books in French, Spanish, Italian and German, for those who could use them.

Another approach would be geographical. For example, one could write about African travel. Among such books would be these:

Bausenhart, Werner. Africa: Against the Clock on a Motorcycle. Toronto: Legas, 2002.

Bealby, Johnny. Running With the Moon. London: Arrow Books, 1995.

Scott, Chris. Desert Travels: Motorbike Journeys in the Sahara & West Africa. London: The Traveler's Bookshop, 1996.

Smith, Jerry. Into the Heart of Africa. Kearney, NE: Morris Publishing, 2002.

Wallach, Theresa. The Rugged Road. London: Panther Publishing, 2001.

These are all fine and entertaining books.

Given the prevalence of certain motorcycle marques used in traveling (e.g., the Yamaha XT; various BMWs, most recently the 1200 GS), one could also organize one’s reading around a specific marque.

A second approach, as noted above, would be to take theoretical concepts from scholarly work on travel and then apply them to motorcycle books. For example, Paul Fussell’s notion of exploration, travel, and tourism (found in Abroad: British Literary Traveling Between the Wars [New York: Oxford University Press, 1980]) provides a way or organizing one’s thoughts around the historically evolving ideas of what modern travel signifies. Or, one could use a concept that is not strictly travel-identified, but quite useful, such as “speed.” Such a general concept would allow one to bring to bear the ideas of writers from Marinetti, the originator of Futurism, to Virilio, a prolific contemporary French author on the significance of speed.

The sociology of travel and tourism might also be a useful approach, although it obviously focuses on the political and social, rather than the literary realms of motorcycle travel, as suggested by the following sources:

Alt, Alan. "Popular Culture and Mass Consumption: The Motorcycle as Cultural Commodity." Journal of Popular Culture 15.4 (Spring 1982): 129-141.

Barrell, John. "Death on the Nile: Fantasy and the Literature of Tourism." Essays in Criticism 41.2 (1991): 97-128.

MacCannell, Dean. The Tourist: A New Theory of the Leisure Class. New York: Schocken Books, 1976.

Olszewska, Anna and K. Roberts. Leisure and Life-Style: A Comparative Analysis of Free Time. London: Sage, 1989.

Pearce, Philip L. The Social Psychology of Tourist Behavior. New York: Pergamon Press, 1982.

Pred, Alan. "Structuration and Place: On the Becoming of Sense of Place and Structure of Feeling." Journal for the Theory of Social Behavior 13 (1983): 45-68.

Rojek, Chris. Capitalism and Leisure Theory. London: Tavistock Publications, 1985.

Urry, John. "The 'Consumption' of Tourism." Sociology 24 (1990): 23-36.

---. The Tourist Gaze: Leisure and Travel in Contemporary Societies. London: Sage Publications, 1990.

Finally, one could also take historical understandings of the meaning of travel and, using them as a contrast, tease out what it means to travel by bike. Here are some texts that describe, in different ways, the relation between history, epistemology, and travel:

Casson, Lionel. Travel in the Ancient World. Toronto: Hakkert, 1974.

Campbell, Mary B. The Witness and the Other World: Exotic European Travel Writing, 400-1600. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1988.

Newton, Arthur P. Travel and Travellers of the Middle Ages, 1968.

Brundage, James A. The Crusades: Motives and Achievments, 1964.

Penrose, Boise. Travel and Discovery in the Renaissance: 1420-1620, 1962.
Adams, Percy. Travelers and Travel Liars: 1600-1800. Berkeley: U California Press, 1962.

Greenblatt, Stephen. Marvelous Possessions: The Wonder of the New World. Chicago: U Chicago Press, 1991.

Todorov, Tzevtan. The Conquest of America: The Question of the Other. New York: Harper Torchbooks, 1984.

Batten, Charles. Pleasurable Instruction: Form and Convention in 18th Century Travel Literature. Berkeley: U California Press, 1978.

Van Den Abbeele, George. Travel as Metaphor: From Montaigne to Rousseau. Minneapolis: U of Minnesota Press, 1992.

Franklin, Wayne. Discoverers, Explorers, Settlers: The Diligent Writers of Early America. Chicago: U Chicago Press, 1990.

Parks, George. "The Turn to the Romantic in Travel Literature of the Eighteenth Century." Modern Language Quarterly 25 (1964): 22-33.

Buzard, James. The Beaten Track. New York: Oxford UP, 1993.

Withey, Lynne. Grand Tours and Cook's Tours: A History of Leisure Travel, 1750-1915. New York: William H. Morrow, Inc., 1997.

Feifer, Maxine. Tourism in History. New York: Stein and Day, 1985.

I hope this brief excursus is sufficiently provocative. I will append a by-no-means exhaustive list of books on motorcycles and travel. Some authors, such as Werner Bausenhart, have multiple works not listed here. You will see many of the titles above duplicated below.

Baker, Christopher. P. Mi Moto Fidel. Washington, D.C.: The National Geographic Society, 2001.

Barr, Dave. Riding the Edge: An 83,000 Mile Motorcycle Adventure Around the World! Bodfish, CA: Dave Barr Publishers, 1999.

Bausenhart, Werner. Around the Americas on a Motorcycle. New York: Legas, 2000.

---. Africa: Against the Clock on a Motorcycle. Toronto: Legas, 2002.

Bealby, Jonny. Running With the Moon. London: Arrow Books, 1995.

Carlstein, Andrés. Odyssey to Ushuaia. Chicago: Chicago Review Press, 2002.

Carroll, William. Two Wheels to Panama. San Marcos, CA: Auto Book Press, 1995.

Culberson, Ed. Obsessions Die Hard: Motorcycling the Pan American Highway's Jungle Gap. North Conway, NH: Whitehorse Press, 1991, 1996.

Dautheville, Anne-France. Une Demoiselle sur une Moto. Paris: Flammarion, 1973.

de Mandiargues, Andre Pieyre. The Motorcycle. Westport, CN: Greenwood Press, 1965

Drutt, Matthew, ed. The Art of the Motorcycle. New York: Guggenheim Museum Publications, 1998.

Evans, Paula. Kiwis Might Fly: Around New Zealand on Two Big Wheels. London, Bantam Books, 2004.

Frazier, Gregory. Riding the World: The Biker's Road Map for a Seven-Continent Adventure. Irvine, CA: Bowtie Press, 2005.

Fulton, Robert Edison, Jr. One Man Caravan. 1937. North Conway, NH: Whitehorse Press, 1996.

Haffar, Rif K. Away From My Desk. Seattle: Ameera, 2002.

Heggstad, Glen. Two Wheels Through Terror. Center Conway, NH: Whitehorse Press, 2004.

Holfelder, Moritz. Motorradfahren. Muenchen: Deutscher Tashenbuch Verlag, 2000.

Hollern, Susie. Women and Motorcycling. New York: Hollern, 1992.

Hunt, Christopher. Sparring with Charlie: Motorbiking Down the Ho Chi Minh Trail. New York: Anchor Books, 1996.

John, Erika. Motorrad-Amazone: Strassen bis zum Horizont. Berlin: Erijott-Verlag, 1985.

La Plante, Richard. Detours: Life, Death, and Divorce on the Road to Sturgis. New York: Forge, 2002.

Larsen, Karen. Breaking the Limit: One Woman's Motorcycle Journey Through America. New York, Hyperion, 2004.

Liska, Danny. Two Wheels to Adventure. Niobrara, Nebraska: Bigfoot Publishing, 1989.

McGregor, Ewan and Charlie Boorman, et al. Long Way Round: Chasing Shadows Across the World. London: Time Warner Books, 2004.

Miyake, Notch. Purple Mountains: America From a Motorcycle. North Conway, NH: Whitehorse Press, 2001.

Moore, Peter. Vroom With a View. London: Bantam Books, 2003.

Noren, Allen. Storm: A Motorcycle Journey of Love, Endurance, and Transformation. San Francisco: Travelers' Tales, 2000.

Paulsen, Gary. Pilgrimage on a Steel Ride. New York, Harcourt Brace & Company, 1997.

Pedersen, Helge. 10 Years on Two Wheels. Elfin Cove Press, 1998.

Perreault, Celine. Partir . . . J'avais peur. Je L'aimais. Je l'ai suivi. Quebec: Libre Expression, 1980.

Philipp, Christine. Motorradreisen durch Americka, Finnland, Sri Lanka and Rumaenien. Muenchen: Sonnentau Verlag, Christine Philipp, 1984.

Pierson, Melissa Holbrook. The Perfect Vehicle: What It Is About Motorcycles. New York, W. W. Norton & Company, 1997.

Pirsig, Robert. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values. New York, William Morrow, 1974, 1999.

Reynolds, Tom. Wild Ride: How Outlaw Motorcycle Myth Conquered America. New York, TVBooks, 2001.

Rogers, Jim. Investment Biker: Around the World with Jim Rogers. Holbrook, MA: Adams Media Corporation, 1994.

Scheib, Asta. Schwere Reiter. Muechen: Nymphenburger Verlagshandlung, 1982.

Scott, Chris. Desert Travels: Motorbike Journeys in the Sahara & West Africa. London: The Traveler's Bookshop, 1996.

Shannon, Alyn. Women of the Road. Minneapolis: Shannon, 1995.

Sheridan, Clare. Across Europe with Satanella. New York: Mead & Company, 1925.

Simon, Ted. Jupiter's Travels. 1979. Covelo, CA: Jupitalia, 1996.

---. Riding High. 1984. Covelo, CA: Jupitalia, 1997.

Sobolev, I. S. K. Nansen Passport: Round the World on a Motor-cycle. N.P.: Bell, 1936.

Steiner, Elfriede. Ein Maedchen sieht Europa. Wein: Weltfahrten-Verlag, 1956.

Symmes, Patrick. Chasing Che: A Motorcycle Journey in Search of the Guevara Legend. New York: Vintage, 2000.

Thomas, Peggy Iris. A Ride in the Sun. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1954.

Thye, Keith. MotoRaid. Seattle, WA: Elfin Cove Press, 1999.

Tin, Hjalte and Nina Rasmussen. Traumfahrt Sued-Amerika: Auf dem Motorrad mit Kindern von L.A. nach Rio. Muenchen: Frederking und Thaler, 1983.

Wallach, Theresa. The Rugged Road. London: Panther Publishing, 2001.

Warren, Lady. Through Algeria and Tunisia. N.P.: Cape, 1922.

Watson, W. H. L. Adventures of a Dispatch Rider. N.P.: Blackwood, 1915.

Autumn is starting

The turning of the seasons is starting now is the time to get the maps out to start planning for next year.

Blue skys....

But for how long. This is proving to be a pessemistic summer. Sun is shining and no wind , warm and comfortable. But when will the cloud and rain come back, they are due soon as it is nearly Autumn.

There are places in the UK that could flood at any moment as the soil is too damp to allow the rain to drain away, and here we are contemplating Summer ending. Not looking forward to a mild wet winter.

Summer thoughts

Sunshine at last ! First shadows I have seen this week , but does it have to be so windy ? The Jetstream is well knackered this year , and they say there is no Global warming yet...

Summer ?

Another grey august day

Morning Thought

Today is another summers day turned to autumn by Global Warming ?!?

Testing e-mail from phone....

Just testing the ability to blog from my mobile via e-mail. Interesting to see if this works

Derby Peregrines

As residents of Derby we take great delight in our Peregrine Falcons nesting on the Cathedral.

Okay pigeon fanciers may not agree but the sight of these beautiful birds in the city is fantastic.

The only other place nearby we have seen them breeding is the quarry at Breedon on the Hill.

Go to http://derbyperegrines.blogspot.com/ for more info on this years brood and what has been found since they fledged.

Countdown to Cropredy

Off again on our tours, this time a quick trip to the 2007 Fairport Cropredy Convention.

Here's too keeping an eye on the weather for the weekend using our fave Weather site!

Technomadics

Many many years ago I joined the Technomads mailing list, I dreamt of being able to travel with all the cool tech that was part of the then blossoming Personal Computing era.

The list was started by Steve Roberts who many see as the doyen of Technomadics. Joining this list drew me into the world of GPS,wearable computing and a whole new Cyberculture.

in 1994 I left this list and joined what is now a place I consider to be my real home on the 'Net , Future Culture. A place where we once discussed the future of the internet and now just have left it to those younger than ourselves... but occasionally a bit of tech from our past dreams and discussions appears.

I can gladly say I can endorse this product whole heartedly, it is exactly what we once wanted! Look at the pic, a portable solar energy source combined with a Li-Ion storage battery. Can be charged with a USB cable from your 'puter or gets a full charge from being left in the sun for a 5-6 hours. A full charge is reputedly kept for up to 3 months, but so far I have found a couple of weeks storage before use is sufficient.

Of course you need to know more so go to Solar Technology in the UK or WaveMaker for the rest of the world. It rocks, I love it and it can charge up my GPS,phone, and camera !

So keep dreaming folks, one day some of them will come true!

Rok Straps Work!

Need I say more, these wunnerful straps from Oz just work.

No hooks, just loops, no stretching around and around objects, just locate connect adjust! For securing motorcycle luggage there are no better straps. We lurve our Rok Straps so much we even bought extra sets. We keep converting others that we know and meet when they see how easy they are to use and how secure they are. In the UK contact the luverly peeps at TravelDri-Plus.

Just one of the beauties of motorcycle travel, we find out so much by talking with other travellers that we meet. There is a mutual bond between riders , and amongst long distance ones even more so. The further you are from your own soil, the easier people find to talk to you.

Always be a traveller and never a tourist.