The Ark is nearly finished, the plans to run a Jetski GP in the factory car park are well advanced, Christmas is looming, the ducks are being fitted with winchesand the war in Europe is approaching carbon-neutral. The ducks are bogged, the grass seems to grow behind the mower and the weeds are turning into Triffids. Jack Miller gets knocked off his bike at the newly named Miller corner. What a month! Like most Australians with a passing interest in bike racing, seeing Marques the Second sucker-punch Jack, I was gutted and struggled to get back into the race. I still feel he would have been able to parry in the cut and thrust of what was a cracker of the last few laps. After walking three or four klicks to meet a mate of a mate's spouse to get a lift, we made it back to our digs and watched a replay on the telly and I was able to pick up where I left off... Holy sheet, what a race! For those who were smart enough to stay home and didn't have to contend with the cluster fk that was the bussing system at the conclusion of the event, smart move. Traffic management was dumb and patrons took hours to get back to their off-circuit car parking. At one stage we looked back and saw masses filling the whole of Gate 1's apron and massing the whole area up the hill to the start of pit row. Naturally, putting that many revved-up punters, many who had a few bevvies during the day, cheek by jowl for hours is not a recipe for harmonious relations. I was told there was a fair bit of Farn Khaning going on. Our attempts to have open days at Strapz HQ bombed, it is what it was... I couldn't have staffed the Island or had much in the way of stock to offer if I did. Faeces occurs!
The Pothole is Half-Full
Australian roads have gone from bad to sh1thouse over the last couple of years thanks to Nina, and I suspect, cutting corners (sorry) at the time of construction. On my last ride, I found a way to turn it into a positive. We all know the dangers of target fixation. I found it a great exercise to use the gaping holes in the road as an avoidance exercise. 'You go where you look' is the regular maxim, so, I used it as a training exercise to pick an avoiding line through the acres of front wheel traps. By the way, what's the taxpayer's warranty on roadworks? A number of roads being repaired were relatively new! On a more serious note, be bloody careful out there some of the potholes I've seen could do some worrying things to bike and rider.
Is this the automotive equivalent of a defibrillator? As it's ether-based (the first form of true anesthetic) maybe it's Shut up Ya B4stard?
Shed Aid
Some of life's sure things are grease marks on yer clothes that appear even as you walk past a motorbike, and the spilling of knuckle claret fettling the buggers. Band aids never seem to stick to oily hands.
Gamming a Garmin
Ok, Ok... I give in. I've been keeping my Luddite head tucked tightly up my RRs for the last few years, preferring to use Hema maps on my phone. Hema no longer supports the basic app that was good enough for me. The only option now is to upgrade to a more expensive version and pay a monthly subscription. We have been asked regularly for GPS units at which point I had been putting my fingers in both ears and shouting La La La... The time to put on my 'big boy IT pants' had to come and Garmin was the only choice. But... they are far from perfect. Here's the review I put up on the website.
All they say about it is true, glove-friendly, easy to read in any light, stable and fast.
It looks well-made, sealed and rugged. Like all confusion boxes, it needs patience, reading and re-reading instructions and watching a fair bit of YouTube. I even resorted to calling Garmin Oz to get my head around some of the weird stuff I couldn't sort out.
The downsides.
At a recommended retail price of $800 plus it is a serious purchase, I'd expect them to include a bag/case that would cost them $5. My Zumo 550 had a strong and useful case... in the box. Unlike my old wind-up 550, the XT doesn't have any form of locking system onto the cradle. The 550 had a dickie little screw device that discouraged opportunistic theft so it didn't need to be removed each time I stop for a slash. We do have a locking device but that is another expense, weight and complication as it is a key system. Despite Garmin banging on about wifi enabled, if you have 5GHz wifi, system don't bother. It won't talk to it, as it's set up for 2.5 systems... doh! Not bothering to come and play in the modern world, they have stuck to the same Mini USB cable as Noah used to charge his Cubit Scanner. The rest of the world uses USB C now. Another cable to cart each big ride! When changing between Topo and City maps, this can only be done on a computer it is registered to, the phone app won't help here. So - the scenario of heading in a loop via the other side of the black stump and back into civilisation will mean that if you choose Topo you won't be able to use the unit to find your mate's house in a regional city. It's one or the other. The workaround is another purchase of additional mapping via a mini SD Card to plug into the back of the unit.
Despite me sounding like I'm ready to toss it in the bin... Which I was when trying to connect it to wifi, I'll confess. As I settle into riding with it, now I understand it more, I like it. Like all computer-based devices, they have to be explored and set up which takes time and patience.
I sat at Turn 1 watching the CEO of the Moto GP on the big screen bang on about the usual stuff they do before the race. One of the comments was the usual trite comments around sustainability... I was sipping on bottled water from TUSCANY! We live in one of the cleanest parts of the world and the machinations of corporate irresponsibility and sponsorship see the SABMiller groups (aka Coke) mandate that all vendors at the circuit sell only this water and at what price?... $5. Shame on youse!
Andy spits the bottle over EU H2O Image courtesy AMCN, photo by Incite
The New World
The world gets weirder every week. COVID tests in Air BnBs. Sheesh.
New Held Soft Armour
The first generation of this armour shirt was a cracker and I spent some long and comfy days in one. We've been hanging-out for the next generation ever since the last version was pulled. Essentially this mesh shirt is loaded with D3o soft protectors and designed to allow as much air through as is safe. Either whip the protectors out of your jacket or double up with this. More info here
Coming Soon
In the next couple of weeks we have access to the Ducati Desert X and Aprillia 660 Tuareg to get them into our workshop and design our pannier frame sets. We should be ready to deliver by the end of November.
I'm looking forward to riding the Duke, I still have an empty corner in my heart left by my Cagiva Elefant. Email us here to secure a pup from the first littler.
Sinkin' The Boot In
In a moment of frustration, I sent a text to my mate Darren who was the initial importer of Forma boots. "Maaate, what is the story behind the ongoing delays with boots supply? I bleated. "Look at a map of Europe mate!" "Remember they are made in Romania" came the response. Oh, ok... Say nah more. The latest news I have is that the Oz distributor will see a container arrive mid-December. Whether it gets here in time to get boots out for Christmas is anyone's guess. The last batch went as soon as it was unloaded, so, if you're in the market for new Forma boots giz a yell and I can reserve some for you. EMAIL here
Brain Bucket Collection
As promised, here is another installment in the series of collectable helmets. This Kangol hat is one of MIke Hailwood's circa 1980, the last helmet he wore while doing a parade lap at Donnington. It is accompanied by a letter of authenticity from Dave, his son. Obviously racers can't ride slow. I bet that visor rattled like a bast'd at 120 mph.
Here's a more modern helmet, one of Troy Bayliss' 2001 year, his WSBK Championship year.
If you look closely, the image below has scuff marks on the right side where he ran out of track.
That's all for this month. It won't be long until we start counting sleeps to Christmas. FaaaarK! Copyalater Andy
