Motorbike Tours Newsletter 4

Newsletter October 2009

Issue 4

Winter draw(er)s on.

All of a sudden we’re thinking about the clocks going back and rooting around in the depths of the underwear drawer for our Damarts (thermals to the youngsters), but don’t despair; now’s the time to cast your mind forward to next year’s bike tours. It’s never too early to think about riding your motorbike in the sunshine is it? With that in mind, we’ve introduced an early booking discount of 5% for newsletter subscribers who book a 2010 tour before Christmas 2009 (make sure you mention the offer when booking). In fact, what a wonderful Christmas pressy a tour would make; I wish someone would get one for me. I know for a fact that Santa reads these newsletters, so come on Mr Claus get your finger out, and while you’re at it, I could do with a new bike.

Would you believe it? I wrote the first paragraph of this newsletter yesterday, then got up this morning to find this sitting on my drive (see photo). Not my wife; I’ve had her for a while now.

He’s a good un’ that Santa; his timing stinks, but he is getting on a bit. They can’t sack him you know; there’s a Claus in his contract.

One piece of good news is that Brittany Ferries have released their 2010 timetable without changes, so we don’t have to rush off and change the tour dates. There are alternatives to using the ferry to Santander, and if anyone is interested in riding through France before they join us in Santander, we can furnish you with addresses for accommodation along the way. We can also provide a route if it helps.

See the tours here

Focus On The Lobo Park If you’re looking for something different from the usual day out, this could be for you. The lobo Park is a private wolf park situated near Antequera in the heart of Andalucia.

It’s about an hour’s ride from Malaga city, but it may as well be on another continent. Over 100,000 square metres have been allocated for the wolves, but viewing areas allow you to meet wolves eye to eye.

The park is circled by the El Torcal mountain range, which in itself is something to see.

2002 (open to the public since November 2004) with the ambition to establish a wolf park that is unique in its configuration. It is the intention of the owners that all wolves as well as all the other animals live in an environment that was built to protect as much of the existing flora and fauna as well as to ensure that their living circumstances are as related to real nature as possible. The ‘mission’ was to give these fascinating animals the respect that they deserve. It is of great importance that they have huge enclosures to live a life that is almost equivalent to a ‘natural’ environment - to live their genuine pack life without interference of human intrusion or domestication.

Only through this effort can one truly observe how wolves live.

Respect is being given and trust is its return!

Guided tours show visitors the different wolves and let you learn more about how wolves communicate, play, hunt and eat.

The path features observation platforms, where visitors can enjoy a clear view and come into close contact with the animals.

You’ll find four different wolf sub species: Canadian Timber, European, Alaskan Tundra and native Iberian that have been given a home.

The LOBO PARK was founded by Daniel Weigend and Alexandra Stieber (both originate from Germany) as a private initiative in

Wolves are highly social animals; a wolf pack is comparable with a family, a company or a football team. Only through this strong bond did wolves survive to this day. “Their social bonding and care-giving behaviour are second only to those of humans and other social primates ‘ (John Theberge, Wolf biologist) The Lobo Park is just one of the visits taken in by the Andalucia Tour.

Featured Tourer Suzuki V-Strom DL1000GT

I thought it could be a good idea, and you’ll correct me if I’m wrong, to feature a particular tourer in each issue of the newsletter. I’m going to leave it up to you to suggest which bikes we throw the spotlight on, but seeing as this is the first one we have done, I’m going to kick off with my own bike; the V-Strom 1000GT.

it’s touring, touring and more touring (lucky boy eh!). The GT version of the V-Strom comes with full Suzuki luggage and I recently travelled from Britain with the panniers and top-box full to the gunnels with all sorts of heavy items, such as books and pork pies. I like a pork pie with a bit of brown sauce. I know it’s not for everyone, but it certainly floats my boat.

Anyway, back to the bike; what I am trying to say is that it was carrying a really heavy load, but never flinched when the rain started to pour and didn’t struggle in the power department. The only problem I did have was when the alarm button on the key stopped working after I filled up during a thunder storm.

Luckily, I was carrying a spare set of keys.

Another little thing to watch out for is catching loose clothing on the foot-

I hope that some of you will send in photos of your bike, along with some thoughts about how pleased you are (or not) with it; the best and worst things about it.

My bike is a 2007 model and up until now, I’m quite pleased with it. It has been lowered and had some padding taken out of the seat too. I know I’m vertically challenged, but the standard V-Strom would be too high for many riders.

A 90-degree V-twin provides ample low and mid range torque for when you need that little extra in the acceleration department, while its advanced suspension allows for great handling in all kinds of conditions.

You have to think about what you’re going to use the bike for. In my case

pegs, I recently had my wife laid on the ground, hanging on to the bike by her trouser leg. Luckily, I wasn’t doing more than fifty at the time.

Overall, I’m really pleased with the bike. It’s comfortable, economical and I think it looks good too.

Now it’s your turn. Tell us about your bike Email your photos and comments (please).

Riding in the Rain I realise that a lot of you newsletter subscribers live in warmer climes, but this is for the Northern Europeans.

You love riding in the rain don't you? Don't you? Why not? As long as you have the right gear and a little common sense, there's no reason why you can't enjoy a ride out when the wet stuff is falling.

The most obvious thing you'll need, that springs to mind is decent clothing, both from a weather and a protection point of view.

Waterproofs, decent boots and gloves are a must.

Now what about riding your bike?

The thing is to be smooth, and by that I don't mean wearing wrap around shades and a James Dean Tee-Shirt. I'm talking about the way you handle your bike. Accelerate gently, squeeze the clutch and show respect to your brakes. Do not jump on them; treat them as you would treat a Rottweiler with a thorn in its paw. If you're too harsh, it'll bite your head off. Allow extra time and space for braking. This means looking and thinking ahead, anticipating hazards and adopting the optimum road position for bends etc.

When

it's

raining,

it's

very

important to match your speed with the gear you are in, especially when gearing down. Changing down too early can cause the rear wheel to lock, and that's just what you don't need on a slippery road. Don't forget that your tyres are going to need extra time to reach working temperature too, another reason why smoothness is the key. Steering into bends necessitates even use of the throttle. It goes without saying that braking harshly on a bend in the rain is not a good idea. If you adopt the smooth approach, you will probably find that it will eventually translate across to your dry riding.

Riding in the wet can make you an overall better motorcyclist. The anticipation that you have had to learn in the wet, won't suddenly be forgotten when you go out in the sunshine.

In the wet, diesel can show up like a rainbow in a pool of water. Don't head for the pretty colours, there's no pot of gold there.

Visibility is an issue too. Car drivers can't see you so easily in the rain.

The blind spots at the corners of his vehicle increase in the wet. He's limited to the arc that is cleared by his wipers, so make sure that you’re wearing clothes that are highly visible. This is not a bad idea in the dry either.

Once you've taken on board these few aspects of motorcycling in the rain, donned your wet weather gear and drank your Smoothie, you're ready to head off into the elements, but don't come round my house. I don't want you dripping all over my floor.

Original article at www.motorbiketours.co.uk

And Finally Don’t forget to send in you photos and comments about your bikes. If you do, we’ll make it a regular feature. If you don’t, I’ll probably cry initially, then not speak to wife for three months and be really, really sad, so do it.

As I have already mentioned, the ferry timetable is available to view, so the tour dates are now fixed. I’m really looking forward to the 2010 tours. We’ve put a lot of time and energy into creating them, and I think we’re going to have a great time when you come to see us.

I can’t go without telling you about the two nuns who were driving down the road, when a vampire jumped on the car bonnet.

‘Quick Sister Geraldine’, said the nun who was driving, ‘show him your cross’.

So quick as a flash Sister Geraldine wound down the window, leaned out and shouted ‘Get off the effing bonnet, you nob’.

See you soon Take great care Alan www.motorbike-tours.co.uk