Author: Åsa

There hasn’t been much riding lately, in fact, with the exception of the test ride of a Honda CG 125, I haven’t even been close to a motorbike since the MCN Motorbike show and not riding one since October in Australia. It’s been a long winter although not cold, in London bikers ride pretty much all year round I believe. I can’t wait for spring and the unveiling of my bike which is now in winter slumber in Gothenburg. In the end of April, finally, I will be able to bring Lazy Cat to England and get some use out of her. Since leaving Spain my riding season has been radically diminished. Depressing really, it can’t go on like this. After summer things will change, again.
With the absence of a bike to ride I have done more running. I joined a social running club, located at the end of my street – imagine that – and I run with them several times a week. I thought I was a lone runner, but actually I am a social runner. I absolutely love heading out running with the club. On Sundays we do long runs, many with me are preparing for a marathon, and we often run to scenic places, Buckingham Palace, Tower of Westminster, Northala (ruins of old Wembley) and so on.

I’ve run a few races with them as well. Next one coming up is the Finchley 20, for the silly reason that while in England I want to run a mile-measured race (20 miles is 32k) – besides, it is good preparation for the marathon. For more about my running, see the Ride & RUN section.

As for the marathon itself, preparations are going fine, the Virginmoney Giving page is up and receiving donations for Motorcycle Outreach and people are showing their support liking the FB event page as well. We aim to reach £840, £10 per kilometre between the two of us. If you can, please consider donating! Motorcycle Outreach is a well-managed, small UK-based organisation and what they do makes a difference!

I’m very found of T-shirts with witty one-liners and the best one I’ve seen so far is from Horizons Unlimited and says: “Wherever your heart goes – ride after it”. I’ve just got back home from the MCN London bike show and I have troubles following my heart, big troubles. Because my heart wants to go everywhere.

It all started when we were talking to the guy at CCM.  We do fancy the CCM and I had tried to get a test ride last year at the Overland event in Great Missenden but it was unfortunately fully booked. I was slightly shocked when the sales person remembered me and offered to contact me later on to schedule a personal test ride when we could meet up for a ride out. Amazed, both by his memory and the offer, I gladly agreed to this. If this bike is as ace to ride as everything I’ve heard about it, I would very much consider buying one, or two, for us. That is what my heart fancies.

Next was a visit to the Adventure Stage where Nathan Millward (best known for his journey from Sidney to London on a 50 cc postie bike) was interviewing fellow adventure riders who had done equally amazing trips on old and small bikes on small budgets – true adventures. Yes, said my heart. Buy a cheap old bike and find out where the road ends.

Well, well. We went for a walk around the stalls and found Kaapstad Motorcykle Adventure. I wanted to talk to Alex since I follow him on Facebook and his nature pictures are fantastic. Now I started thinking about spending my money on one of his package tours to see wildlife from the saddle – in my heart, I could feel that I wanted to.

We continued and strolled by the Ducati stand where we filled in a form to possibly win a Ducati Scrambler. Yes, please, I want to  ride a Ducati again – and live in Italy. When I took my certificate, my TESOL teacher even said there was a school in Bologna and she thought I should move there. Ducati has always got a place in my heart.

From there on we went to see the Bike Safe and Metropolitan Police stand. I fancied posing with their Ducati police bike, so I did. While there, we were convinced to sign up for at Bike Safe rider course, free of charge since apparently our borough will cover the cost for making us safer riders. Who ho! Living in London is ace – why would I ever want to leave, there is always so much cool stuff going on. My heart felt like staying for ever. In addition, tomorrow I’m going to run the Harrrow Hill race with my amazingly friendly social running club – so why would I want to leave.

But all the other dreams then… London was never meant to be forever, just a transit to something new, but what? My heart was set on Japan… life to be continued!

I love reading motorcyle magazines but it is hard to find magazines that reflect motorcycling in a balanced way. Therefore I’m happy to have found Women On Wheels Magazine, which is for women by women: finally there can be some balance to the force! I actually liked it so much that I offered to write for it, so now I’m putting together an article about the WIMA rally in Australia and our ace experience marshalling at the MotoGP.

Regarding the MotoGP, I’m also writing an article for Cucciolo 🙂 a lovely, totally unbalanced, club magazine for the Swedish Ducati club – in favour of all things Italian. Despite not riding Ducati for several years I have to admit I miss “la familia”.  One day I will live in Italy, eat pizza, pasta and gelato every day and once again ride a Ducati – if only in my dreams.