Posted by I rode the bike to work on Friday morning, finished at lunchtime and went straight to meet a friend for a coffee.
It had been raining pretty much all week but by Friday it had finally stopped. It wasn’t sunny but that was okay. I had a nice ride to Dunstable Downs which is the highest point in the East of England and one of the best-known viewpoints on the Chilterns ridge.
I met up with a friend where we grabbed a coffee and cake and sat on the downs looking at the views and watching the gliders taking off from the local gliding club and chatting. Perfect way to spend a couple of hours. I then went home the really, really long way.
After dinner I rode to a pub not too far away to meet up with the local group of the Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club (VJMC). You may remember that a few weeks ago I was asked if I would like to test ride a newly restored Yamaha 250 and I wrote a blog about it. Well the chap that owned the bike, Steve, belongs to this group and he invited me along to meet some of the other guys.
Well it was two stroke heaven for me. Amongst others, there was a Yamaha RD250 LC; a Suzuki GT550; and a Yamaha TDR which were all clearly very well looked after and cherished bikes.
The guys were very welcoming and it was interesting to hear about what they get up and the bikes they have now or have restored and they invited me to join them on their ride out the following morning. It was starting to look like this weekend was going to be a good one 🙂
The following morning I met with the VJMC group at 10. The sun was shining and it was beginning to get a little warmer. The guys were not on their classic bikes this morning but on their more modern bikes such as a GPZ750; a Suzuki GS, a CBR 600 and a Suzuki Gladius.
All together there were nine of us and we headed off, what I call ‘the long way round’ to On Yer Bike which is a Ducati, Kawasaki and Moto Guzzi dealership in Westcott, Buckinghamshire.
We rode to Wendover, then out through Great Kimble, onto Thame and then through Long Crendon and Oakley to Ludgershall and then picked up the A41 for the last blat along to Westcott. This route gives you a great mix of roads, there are twisties, long sweeping bends and fast straights so there is something for everyone.
We arrived at On Yer Bike and parked up. There were a few bikes there and for the first time since re-opening the burger van was open which was fantastic as it meant we could get a cuppa and a bacon stick. Perfect.
It is good to see places opening back up again and it is great to be able to have a look around at other bikes and chat with people. I have really missed the social side of biking, it is a big part of biking for me.
Parked in the car park was a rather gorgeous road legal Suzuki Racing outfit complete with a bag of cement tied down on the back in the ‘chair’, I assume for ballast.
It was amazing to be able to have an up close and personal look at this fine machine and it was even better to be able to see it being ridden off.
After a while we headed off back towards Aylesbury but then turned left and went through Weedon and Aston Abbots to a pub in Aldbury for a sandwich and a coffee.
It was a brilliant day and I was really glad the VJMC asked me along for their ride out, they are a really nice friendly group of guys who are very welcoming and there was plenty of light hearted banter which was quite entertaining.
Even though I do not have a classic bike of any description, I have since joined the club and hope to be able to go on more runs with them.
So Sunday morning, the sun was shining and some mates asked if I was up for a ride out to get breakfast. Heck yes!!!! Six of set off and headed out to this little cafe we had previously found in Brackley.
There is a quick route to Brackley up the A5 but where’s the fun in that!!! We headed out of Aylesbury to Whitchurch, onto Winslow and then into Buckingham. We love this route as, a bit like yesterday’s ride, the roads give everyone something that they like – twisties, long sweeping bends and fast straights.
I was really loving the bends today and enjoying my Z900 sooo much. I have found that since I have been riding the CB1000R my riding has improved so much on the Z and I have gained so much more confidence especially where I felt I was lacking in the corners. I have no clue as to why this is.
I love riding the CB, it is very different to ride from the Z and is slightly heavier but it is easy to ride and smooth. Whatever it is that it has, it is having a good influence on my riding which is great.
The little cafe in Brackley, Jenny’s, is now able to have customers eating in so we sat in their back garden in the sunshine eating our breakfast, drinking coffee and chatting. What a perfect way to spend a Sunday morning.
After several coffees we were getting restless (it must have been all that caffeine!) and we needed to get back on the bikes and get riding again.
We headed back towards home but via another coffee stop, Whitewater Deli Cafe in Wendover, where maybe, possibly they do amazing cakes and so coffee was accompanied by a piece of cake. Well, it would be rude not too!
I can honestly say I had a great weekend, lots of biking, loads of chatting, bacon, cake and coffee. Perfect 🙂 🙂 🙂
BK
Great read.
Thank you Giles, I really appreciate you taking the time to read my article.