Here we are again.

The cold, polar blast we Southeners endured earlier this month played havoc with riding time. In fact the southern winter has been one of the bleakest I can remember in ages.

On the upside I have a couple of trips into the Snowies and it is bizzarely cool to be riding through clean, crisp, white country. With the right gear it's not a chilly as you'd expect.

On the last trip, I met up with the Adventure Rider Magazine to set up a keeping warm story. I've been through Jindabyne numberous time and taken the Barry Way more than a dozen. I've never seen so much snow beside the roads. For those of you who know the ride, there were patches of snow in the hlills and beside the road from Jindabyne to the start of the dirt.

80:20 Adventure tyres are as good as ice skates on the snow. The Bumblewee had its first lie down on this road. I pulled off the road to re-group and the front wheel slid from under me, then my feet followed. I eased it into the snow.

Getting out was another matter. The best we could do was to get the back wheel spinnig and slide the back sideways until it pointed in the right direction. The spin it up gain to reduce friction and push it out.

Avoid white, stay on the brown to avoid skid marks

After a false start we have the new 18 in 1 Andy Micro Tool ready to go.

I just love trick gadgets like this.

As these are made for us in China we didn't brand them Andy Strapz

The first batch were a dissapointment as the screwdrivers didn't work. Our supplier, to their credit, adjusted the mould and remade the lot.

I like the concept of a really accessible tool so that I don't put off the little jobs that tend to come along in a few days on the bike.

Tech Tip

I'm not sure if this is a tech tip or a confession of stupidity.

I recently got Mario Ducati ready for a quick spin. Tyres checked, dust quickly wiped off, oil topped up, chain lubed...The usual sort of thing.

Owners of old bikes will understand that before you declare yourself ready to go, the bike has to run. Now that sounds simple but I'm sure many of you have been fully kitted up only to find yourself puffing, blowing and cursing at a bike that won't play ball. Murphys' Law right!

Fuel on, choke out and second kick it fired into life then hung on a choke idle 'til the cold blooded old V-twin warmed up. As I turned the bike around to face into the go positon, my leg fleetingly touched the rear header pipe, the one that arcs out on the left side.

Here's the tip. Don't wear crappy, cheap polar fleece 'trackies' in the shed.

In a millisecond the things melted onto the header and my leg.

Oouuuuchhhh......... Rookie error, I should know better!