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Spring Cleaning

Life in the Beginner Biker Adventures family has been very quiet, with only essential local travel allowed, there’s not a lot of motorcycle action occurring. I’m still stuck working from home, kids are back at school and Mary’s is still between nursing jobs with her new position taking stupidly long to start – you’d think there wasn’t a shortage of nurses in the NHS!

The bikes still need regular TLC to keep them in good shape. Keeping batteries charged, periodic running of fuel through the engines and keeping on top of any surface corrosion from the bikes being parked outside.

Bigger spring clean plans are underway on the house however, full-on declutter in progress, shabby paintwork is being repainted and other preliminaries prior to selling up. It’s surprising how much clutter you collect, needless spares from bikes, computer kit, DIY projects and other assorted junk. Even more surprising is how much some of it sells for on eBay and other marketplaces!

Now that restrictions gave eased from the 29th, we’ll be back out the bikes whenever we can.

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ChromeBurner – The Specialist in Motorcycle Gear!

ChromeBurner started as a hobby and has grown into the largest motorcycle clothing specialist in the Netherlands, thanks to a good dose of perseverance and our love for motorcycles. Every day we get up to work with something that is our passion: riding motorcycles! We supply bikers all over the world with motorcycle clothing and, no matter your riding style, we make sure we’ve got what you need! With over 70 brands and more than 6000 unique products it’s very likely you can find your new motorcycle gear on our webshop! Found your new helmet, gloves, jacket, pants or boots? Then place your order quickly, we will kick it into gear and ensure that we send your purchase the same day. Because of our huge stock, we can always deliver quickly! This allows you to have your new motor gear as fast as possible. Is the ordered product not to your likings? No worries, returning your product is just as easy. We only sell products that we ourselves would want to buy, we call that the ChromeBurner approval!

ChromeBurner motorcycle gear specialist

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Lockdown III and Future Planning

Like many of you, there’s been very little riding happing here at Beginner Biker Adventures, lockdown blues combined with the winter’s miserable weather and dark nights have scuppered any chance of motorcycling therapy.

Mary commuting on bike, but not a fun ride

Our Christmas and New Year break a quiet family affair, just Mary, myself and the kids. No visits from extended Grandparents or family and all festivities rescheduled due to Mary working in ICU on the Christmas Eve and Day. No bother really, every day blends into the next at the moment. Beyond that, there’s just been the usual monotony of working from home, homeschooling the kids and the craziness Mary’s been dealing with in the hospital ICU. The commute may have kept her riding, but the A406 North Circular is hardly a fun ride and the only daylight ride was after a night shift.

Most action my bike has seen lately

Again like many, such times cooped up at home have made us reevaluate priorities and question the future and where/how we want to live. From the obvious things like decluttering and renovating our immediate living conditions to the longer-term things of where we want to be in years to come. Mary’s now completed her nurse retraining (after a diversion into Law and academia for the last 10+ years) and is now looking for fresh nursing positions. My daughter’s chosen her GCSE options and is already thinking ahead to University! Family meetings were held and plans were formed – primarily a house sale and potential migration from London to Scotland.

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Have A Christmas

Better times – Ace Cafe Toy Run December 2019

This year it certainly won’t be happy and definitely not merry, so just have A Christmas.

Stay safe, follow the best scientific advice, scrutinise the politics and look after those you can. It’s cold, dark and bleak out there and the weather isn’t much better either. Optimism is in short supply, each day seems worse than the last. But hang in there, keep in touch with friends, family and loved ones, we’re all in this together. Hopefully, 2021 will bring some better times.

Wishing you all the best health!

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Best Black Friday Discount Motorcycle Gear

It’s that time of year again, marketing departments have gone mental, your mailbox has been spammed with tonnes of offers and you’re getting overwhelmed with so many offers. So who is offering the best deals and biggest discounts on motorcycle gear?

Sports Bike Shop

Between 20% and 50% discounts on loads of gear. Biggest discounts on summer gear, so plan ahead for next year!

Our bargain pick:

AGV Corsa-R V46
AGV Corsa-R V46 for £350!

FC-Moto

15% off with discount code BLACKWEEK15 (expires 30th Nov). FC-Moto operates from Germany in the EU, so no VAT/Duty upon import until we Brexit in the new year… You’ll need to pay postage on returns, but the offer discounted return postage labels to help here.

Demon-Tweeks

Up to 75% off end-of-season gear, some great one-piece suits, track gear, leathers and quality helmets. Demon Tweeks also have 20% off Scorpion exhausts.

Top find:

Gerbing XR12 heated gloves for £122
Gerbing XR12 heated gloves for £122

Ghost Bikes

Lots of discounts on motorcycle and motocross gear (kids motocross clothing included), especially on lesser-known brands like Shox, Black and Agrius. Ghost Bikes also run daily specials discounts and will match and beat competitor prices by 25%!

Also, get 15% off everything with code 2020BFCM

Top pick:

TCX Comp Evo Michelin Motocross Boots
TCX Comp Evo Michelin Motocross Boots for £219!

Get Geared

Up to 30% off loads of kit and 15% off non-sale goods with discount code BLACK15.

MotoIn

20% off everything with discount code BLACK20 (expires 29th Nov)

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Killing in the Name

You justify those that died
By wearing the badge, they’re the chosen whites
Some of those that work forces are the same that burn crosses

#BlackLivesMatter #BlackoutTuesday

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Help Your Favourite Online Bike Store with these Discount Codes

We are in a time of crisis, the current corona virus pandemic has halted all leisure riding and much of the country is facing deep financial trouble. Unfortunately, this also extends to many of our favourite motorcycle stores, who as a result are offering big discounts to drive enough sales to scrape by. So, if you’re lucky enough to be in a position to still have a regular income, there are many bargains and reduced gear to be had. Save yourself a few quid and help keep your favourite online retailers afloat in these uncertain times.

SportsBikeShop: 10% off with code SBSAPR10 (ends 30/04/20)

Motoin: 10% discount with code STAYSTRONG10 (ends 30/04/20)

Motoin: 15% discount with code HAPPYEASTER2020 (ends 13/04/20)

GhostBikes: 15% discount with code GIVEME15

FC-Moto: 10% off everything with code: EASTER20

GetGeared: 10% off everything with code: GETGEARED1020

GetGeared: £10 off £100 spend, £20 off £200 spend, £50 off £500 spend.

Infinity Motorcycles: 10% off everything with code: INFINITY10

Demon Tweeks: Free RST Backpack & Gloves with RST Raid jacket purchases.

Please note, that although I’m suggesting buying some cheap bike gear whilst you’re stuck at home, I’m not condoning heading out on your bike to try the gear out, save your new gear for when normality returns. Do also give the above retailers and postal staff some slack as they run reduced staff in these unprecedented times. If you are self isolating with the virus, do add a note to your order and stick a note on your door so postal staff can maintain a safe distance.

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Hanging Leathers up for a While, and so Should You

The Coronavirus pandemic has now spread globally, has taken thousands of people and is accelerating in pace. Things just got real, very real. If we stand any chance of preventing our health service from being swamped in the coming weeks we need a drastic change in our social interactions, and that includes ride outs.

The biking season may be upon us, the weather improving and we’re all geared up to head out with biking buddies, but this would be very bad. You may be carrying the virus, your buddies may be carrying the virus, other people you meet may be carrying the virus, those you interact with at retail outlets may be carrying the virus. Symptoms from this virus don’t typically manifest themselves for 5 days, sometimes up to 14 days and some people carry the virus without developing any symptoms. You can’t guarantee those you’ve interacted with over the last couple of weeks didn’t have it, you can’t guarantee those you interact with on a ride out hadn’t picked it up from someone in the last couple of weeks. To head out because you feel fine today would be incredibly selfish to those you meet and those in your household for the coming weeks.

To head out because you feel fine today, would be incredible selfish

But I hear you say, I’ll just go for a solo ride, protect myself with helmet and gloves, fill up with petrol at a self-service pump and take my own thermos flask of tea. Sure, you probably won’t catch or spread the virus with this strategy. However, if you happen to break down you’ll be interacting with recovery staff and any other bikers who stop by to help out. If you have a tumble, it will be even worse. Sure, you may be the safest biker in the world, but unexpected things happen, potholes, debris in the road, diesel spill, or a mad driver thinking the roads are quiet and his to rally. When you find yourself injured in a hedge, don’t expect the incredibly stretched health service to get an ambulance to you in a hurry, don’t expect a free bed in hospital, don’t expect to see a doctor promptly or get any surgery in any time soon. But certainly, bank on picking up a nice Coronavirus infection from the warzone-like hospital as a souvenir.

So for these reasons, I’m hanging up my leathers until things change and I urge you all to do the same.

Staying healthy today so you can ride another day is the current priority.

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February Leap Year Update – When Life Throws a Curve

“When life throws you a curve, lean into it”

It’s been a pretty crap couple of months for biking, the weather has been naff. Wet and stormy, so no leasuire riding and some pretty miseable commuting has been it.

There’s also been a number of life’s challenges that have reared up and thrown some curve balls. From battling illnesses within the family, to work stresses and the sad loss of an old friend. It’s been a tough few weeks and we’re still not 100% in the clear yet.

Some things have progressed however. As you may have noticed this website has received a revamp and new look. An update that has been brewing in the side lines for a while, I hope you like it and would love to hear your feedback.

I have also been doing a fair bit of work for the ELAM group, managing their online presence and recently putting together a little promo video for their annual Folembray track weekend.

I hope your 2020 has had a better start and see you on the road soon!

 

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Merry Christmas!

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Ace Cafe Toy Run at Royal Brompton Hospital
Ace Cafe Toy Run at Royal Brompton Hospital

We’ve had many biking adventures over the past year, trail riding, track day, trips to Australia, California and the French Ardennes; plenty to takes one’s mind off the current political climate… One of the years last jolly’s was the annual Ace Cafe Toy Run, a charity event to deliver toys and gifts to sick children in London hospitals. A fun day with dressed up and decked out bikes.

I hope your 2019 has been filled with adventure and fun riding. What has been your biking highlights this year?