Beginner Biker Adventures | Trials and tribulations of a London biker, from newbie to seasoned commuter

Riding

The Best Off-Road Tracks and Courses in the UK

Post author By Phoebe Conner
Post date March 21, 2018
3 Comments on The Best Off-Road Tracks and Courses in the UK

Owning an off-road vehicle is all well and good, but even if you have your own space on a muddy field to practice on, it’s unlikely to provide the high-octane thrills you’re seeking. Whether you’re into quad bikes, 4x4s, motocross (MX) or all of the above, driving an off-road vehicle presents a whole different challenge to their on-road counterparts. For an all-terrain rider, there will be thrills, skills and the need for a different approach to safety.

You may think the UK is limited when it comes to spaces to have the perfect off-road experience, but you’d be surprised! We’ve compiled the top places from around Great Britain to get your wheels muddy, as well as some safety tips, for whichever type of off-roader you’re into.

Tags Off-Road

Videos

BMW Drivers

BMW don’t have a great reputation. I’m sure they’re not all that bad, but it does seem like an awful lot are pretty bad. Here’s a Beemer driver I spotted last year, though this one got his comeuppance – enjoy!

Maintenance Videos

How to Replace a Clutch Lever (Honda CBF 500)

Post author By Arthur
Post date January 15, 2018
2 Comments on How to Replace a Clutch Lever (Honda CBF 500)

We’ve all a dropped a bike or few, so easily done when new,
Your joy laying on it’s side, gone is all your pride,
Clutch lever broken in the fall, repeatedly you now stall,
Such a cheap repair, why did you not pack a spare?

A snapped lever is so common after an embarrassing drop of your bike. But fear not, replacing a clutch lever is a such a simply and quick job, that anyone can do it. No need to pay for garage labour, let me show you how to replace it in 5 mins with just a spanner and screwdriver. This is on a Honda CBF500, but many other bikes will be near identical.

It’s also a good plan to order a couple of replacements (these non-genuine levers were only £6.50 from M&P), so you can stow one under your seat in case you find yourself inconveniently stuck.

Note: this guide is for traditional cable clutches and not a hydraulic clutch.

Tags Repairs

News Videos

Video Montage 2017 Highlights

Post author By Arthur
Post date January 15, 2018
No Comments on Video Montage 2017 Highlights

A new year, but before we look forward, here are some of the highlights from 2017

A little late maybe, but that ruddy flu got me and has set me back.

News

Farewll 2017, Roll on 2018

Post author By Arthur
Post date January 14, 2018
No Comments on Farewll 2017, Roll on 2018

2017 was quite the packed year on and off the road. In my main line of work as a software team lead, I’ve been managing multiple projects in parallel, done three work trips to New Jersey and one to San Francisco, and have now just taken over a second team!

On the biking front, I’ve also been busy in 2017. The highlights were a couple of track days (except when I binned it), an Essex Fire Service/Hopp Rider skills day, and hiring a big fat Harley Dyna in California. I’ve been heavily involved with ELAM, sorting out their new website which has been very rewarding. And let’s not forget all the great rides over the year, with ELAM, London Bikers, solo or with family.

News

New ELAM Website Launched

Post author By Arthur
Post date December 30, 2017
No Comments on New ELAM Website Launched

As well as working on this blog, I am involved with the East London Advanced Motorcyclist (ELAM) group and over the last few months have been revamping their website. That’s my excuse for the somewhat sporadic updates to on this blog recently.

The group’s old site was pretty dated, but was WordPress based so plain sailing to update with a theme change. Fresh photos were sourced and page layouts reworked make things more engaging. Whether the IAM is something you’ve considered or not, take a look, any feedback would be much appreciated.

Riding

Happy Christmas!

Christmas wishes and Happy New Year to you all!

I trust you all had a good year and are now putting your boots up and enjoying a well earning Christmas break. Weather, man-flu and busy work deadlines this last month have preventing me updating here as much as I would have liked. However, I did manage a great day at the Ace Cafe Toy Run with my daughter. No matter how crappy things seem to be going at times, it’s generally just first world problems and we can be glad of our health. Don’t forget those in worse plights or very ill.

Happy Christmas!

Clothing/Protection Gear Reviews

Dainese Clutch Evo D-Dry Unisex Gloves Review

Post author By Jay
Post date November 22, 2017
No Comments on Dainese Clutch Evo D-Dry Unisex Gloves Review

Right, let’s set the scene: small hands, permanently cold fingers, and a bank account that laughs in my face every time I even think about heated gloves. Sound familiar? Yeah. So instead of living that luxury life, I’ve been running the Dainese Clutch Evo D-Dry gloves with heated grips—and honestly, it’s been a pretty solid working-class solution.

Picked these up about 18 months ago at the Excel Bike Show (dangerous place for the wallet, that), and they’ve been through everything the British weather can throw at a rider. I’m talking proper conditions—snow, sideways rain, biting wind, the odd “why am I even out in this?” kind of day. And through all of it, these gloves have held their own.

Tags Gloves

Gear Reviews

Comparison of Anti-Fog/Mist Solutions to Stop Glasses Fogging Up

Post author By Arthur
Post date November 18, 2017
No Comments on Comparison of Anti-Fog/Mist Solutions to Stop Glasses Fogging Up

As a glasses wearer, I’ve always struggled with my glasses fogging up/ steaming up on cold days. Whereas as my visor stays clear through the use of a Pinlock, there is no obvious solution for glasses, just a multitude of products to squirt on that claim to stop all misting up. But do they really work? In the name of science, I conducted a mini-experiment to compare some popular products to ascertain which were most effective. These best solutions here should also be equally useful to stop visor steaming up too.

The Experiment

I used a number of old pairs of glasses, which I first cleaned and then applied the various products as per their directions. As a control, one pair was left untreated. I then placed the glasses in the fridge to cool to 5℃, to mimic a ride on a cool winter’s day. First I took the glasses out into the kitchen with a humidity reading of 55%, to see how the lenses misted up (or not). Secondly, I repeated by taking the glasses from the fridge to the hot shower room with a humidity reading of 60% to test a more extreme scenario.

Tags Visors, Winter

Clothing/Protection Gear Reviews

EDZ Ladies Merino Wool Base Layers Review

Post author By Jay
Post date November 6, 2017
No Comments on EDZ Ladies Merino Wool Base Layers Review

Alright, gather round—you’re about to hear the least sexy Christmas wish list you’ve ever encountered. Some people want lace, silk, and a bit of “ooh la la” under the tree. Me? I looked my partner dead in the eye and said, “Get me more EDZ Merino wool base layers or don’t bother.” Romance isn’t dead, it just smells faintly of engine oil and practicality.

Now, before you start judging, let me explain. I picked up my first set of EDZ Merino wool base layers—a long-sleeved top and matching leggings—at the Excel Bike Show last February. There was a cheeky little discount on, which softened the blow because let’s not pretend otherwise: merino wool ain’t cheap. But listen, I’ve been living in these things ever since, and I mean that in the most committed, borderline concerning way.

Tags Base Layers, Ladies