| | Biker News - Regularly updated
Category: Random
-
 While there isn’t as much space for nature in Europe as in Australia or North America, the diversity across the continent both historically and in terms of natural landscapes make it an incredible place to tour. From natural landmarks to cultural heritage sites, the Old Continent boasts some fantastic routes for bikers looking to explore new territory.
Below are just some of the most beautiful summer biking routes throughout Europe that include national parks, mountain ranges, coastal scenery and plenty more!
Ring of Kerry, Ireland
Ireland is home to some of the greenest and most beautiful coastal landscapes in Northern Europe, and one of the best ways to soak in the beauty is biking along The Ring of Kerry. This countryside trail is a circular road that starts in Killarney and moves along the Iveragh Peninsula.
While tour buses and larger vehicles tend to struggle to maneuver through the sharp turns, for bikers the road is perfect for quick maneuvers, fun curves and breathtaking scenery.
Col de la Bonette, France
France may be best known for great cheese, fine wine and the Eiffel Tower, but its countryside and mountainous landscapes are also well worth a look. If you find yourself in France over the summer then the Col de la Bonette, which is a road surrounding a 2,860m mountain the French Alps, takes you through the Mercantour National Park and some of the most beautiful terrain in the country.
It is not only the highest paved route in the entire Alp mountain range, but it is also the peak section of the Tour de France route. Not to mention the fact that this road takes you right to the Italian-French border, where you can continue your travels into Italy!
Czech Paradise: Turnov to Jicin
If you wander about a hundred kilometers away from Prague you will find yourself on the banks of the Jizera River at the heart of Czech Paradise, also known as Bohemian Paradise. Not only is this a UNESCO protected park since 1955, but this road between Turnov and Jicin takes you through some distinctive landscapes peppered with unique rock formations unlike any you’ll find in the entire region.
While the road to Czech Paradise is one of the most well-known biking routes in the country, if you drive around 100km in the other direction from Prague you’ll find yourself in Rozvadov. This small town is not only home to some of the biggest casino events in the country, but the road there also covers some beautiful Czech landscapes and rural villages.
From AutoZug in Hamburg, to Djursland, Denmark
Germany’s Autobahn will not only take you across the country at maximum speed, but if you take the route from Hamburg to the Danish city of Djursland you will also witness the hilly beauty of Jutland’s Mols Bejrge National Park.
From swamps and farmland to thick forest and beaches you get a bit of everything along the AutoZug road. This tour is one of the most diverse in Central Europe and is a real treat for nature lovers looking to get a bit of everything in one pleasant ride.
-
Barry Sheene’s 1976 world championship-winning XR14 – which has been restored with the help of Suzuki’s Vintage Parts Programme – will be ridden by his son Freddie at this year’s Sheene Festival at Oliver’s Mount on 22-23 July.
The bike, which carried Barry Sheene to victory in four Grands Prix in 1976, was recently restored by former Team Suzuki mechanics Martyn Orgborne and Nigel Everett. Freddie will ride the iconic machine in a special parade session during the weekend, while Steve Parrish will ride the 1977 XR14 that Barry also rode to world championship glory. There will also be a display of other bikes raced by Barry Sheene, and a collection of his leathers.
Suzuki, sponsoring the event for a third consecutive year, will be bringing a fleet of display bikes, including the Team Classic Suzuki Katana and a number of race bikes from the firm’s decorated history. The original GSX-R750F that was restored as part of the 30th anniversary celebrations will also feature, as will the GSX-R1100 restored by Suzuki’s apprenticeship programme and the TL1000S built from new parts.
The event, held at the only true road-race circuit in England, will also feature a full programme of 21 races, a trade village, and live band on the Saturday night.
Freddie Sheene said, “I’m really looking forward to the Oliver’s Mount event, not only for the usual atmosphere but for the fact that the public will be able to see the ‘76 and ‘77 world championship-winning bikes back where they belong. Those bikes laid dormant for the past 40 years and it’s a special moment for everyone to be a part of. The whole process of bringing the bikes back to life wouldn’t have been possible without the help from Suzuki GB and most importantly Martyn Ogborne and Nigel Everett; they have put over 600 hours between them to make this happen. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone over the weekend; let’s just hope the weather stays in check.”
Scott Beaumont from Oliver’s Mount, commented, “To say we are excited about seeing Barry Sheene’s world championship-winning bike riding around Oliver’s Mount again is an understatement. Then the fact that his son Freddie will be riding it simply gives us goosebumps. This is an incredible opportunity to see this bike ridden in the UK for probably the final time. We simply cannot wait for the festival to get underway, and we hope to see all fans of Sheene, Suzuki, Classic Bikes and riding legends attending. See you all trackside for what is likely to be a once in a lifetime event.”
Suzuki GB aftersales marketing coordiantor, Tim Davies, added, “We’re delighted to be backing the Sheene Festival again this year, and we’re really looking forward to watching Freddie ride Barry’s championship-winning machine RG500. It’s been really special to be involved in the restoration of such an iconic machine, with the help of the Sheene family. It was great to watch it come together, and it’ll be even more special to see Freddie ride it at a circuit that Barry loved and enjoyed much success at.”
The 2017 Barry Sheene Festival will take place at Oliver’s Mount on 22-23 July. For tickets and event information, visit www.oliversmountracing.com
-
For adventure riders Thailand and Laos provide superb, excellent value riding. In this naturally beautiful region with its wonderful cultural heritage, our offroad tours take you to some real hidden gems rarely seen by tourists and travellers.
On our Dragon's Tail 7 day tour to the top of Thailand's highest mountain - Doi Inthanon - we ride through bamboo forest, elephant camps, the hot springs beauty spot of Pai, along the Ping river with its wooded banks and dramatic waterfalls, through tribal villages and visit the largest cave in SE Asia. As you'd expect the terrain is wonderful and varied - steep mountain mud trails, gentle stony tracks, river crossings, narrow tarmac roads... This is a weeks offroading like no other!
Golden Triangle tour extends Dragon's Tail into the Golden triangle region on the Myanmar and Laos border for a 12 day adventure. Infamous for its historical opium production, this area provides a heady mix of lush jungle, hill-tribe villages, tranquil rice paddies, mist-shrouded mountains and mixed cultures. We ride across the border into Myanmar, take a riverboat on the mighty Mekong into Laos and take in a little bit of China (in Thailand) in unique Santikharee village.
Laos: Gateway to China Adventure is more expedition than tour. We ride through Northern Thailand littered with its hilly national parks and village trails, continue through the Golden Triangle and then into Laos - one of the most unspoilt countries in the world and with many unpaved roads! The World Heritage City of Luang Prabang with its fabulous temples, palaces and museums is a cultural highlight and we visit an elephant camp and cross the Mekong River by boat. Whether you take our New Year tour, aimed at more experienced riders, or go in February you'll be in for a treat - a truly unique 14 day motorcycling experience!
Enduro training? Want to improve your offroad skills pre tour? No worries - we offer 1 and 3 day Enduro Training in Chiang Mai where you can get used to your bikes by practising on uphill sections, traversing log bridges, river crossings, sand, mud etc.
And extra nights accommodation is available at very reasonable prices in Chiang Mai. Either relax by the pool or immerse yourself into the classic culture of elaborately ornamented temples - there's 30 'wats' to choose from.
For further details on all our other tours, locations and summer destinations too, please visit our website: www.hctravel.com
-
Destination diner Billy’s on the Road has long been a supporter of the Dame Vera Lynn Children's Charity – and now they are donating part of the income from one of their best-selling desserts. 
Located just north of Billingshurst – halfway between the M25 and the coast, the independently-owned café will give 25p for every sale of their ‘Meringue of Hope & Glory’ puddings – inspired by the famous Dame Vera song.
The delicious desserts are based on an ‘Eton Mess’ with a bed of mouth-watering meringue topped with fresh fruit, such as blueberries, strawberries and raspberries, and finished off with a drizzle of coulis and a mint leaf.
“The Dame Vera Lynn Children's Charity is a cause that is very close to our hearts,” says chef/owner Vicky Willison (Billy). “We are always delighted to support their amazing work in any that we can.”
Based in Cuckfield, the charity provides an early intervention service to families with young children who have cerebral palsy and other motor learning disabilities.
“We would like to say a big thank you to Billy’s on the Road for supporting us with their generous donation,” says the charity’s marketing and appeals officer, Carole Whorwood. “We receive no statutory funding and rely entirely on the community to help raise our funds. We are extremely grateful for the continued support of the team at Billy’s.”
Opened in 2012, this thriving diner is a popular pit stop for bikers on route to the coast.  They source many of their ingredients locally, including sausages, eggs, tomatoes and vegetables, and are renowned for the 12 varieties of ice cream and hearty breakfasts served all day.
Open Monday to Friday, from 7am to 7pm, and 8am to 4pm at weekends, there is also ample free parking.
Billy's on the Road, A29 Stane Street, Five Oaks, Billingshurst West Sussex RH14 9AE.
www.billysontheroad.co.uk
-
The current heatwave means that local highway authorities have one eye on the thermometer and the other one on their road surfaces as the current high temperatures are causing some to melt.
With temperatures topping 30C, the bitumen in some road surfaces may soften and rise to the top. This makes the road surface sticky and more susceptible to pressure loads from heavy vehicles resulting in surface ridging and rutting.
Most roads will not begin to soften until they hit a temperature of around 50C. However, even a sunny day in the 20Cs can be enough to generate 50C on the ground as the dark asphalt road surface absorbs a lot of heat and this builds up during the day. The response for local highway authorities is to send out the gritters to spread granite dust or sand to absorb the soft bitumen and so stabilise the road surface and make it less sticky.
“Drivers may be bemused to see the gritters out in the summer when they are usually spreading grit and salt during the winter”, said Howard Robinson, chief executive of the Road Surface Treatments Association. “However, this is effective standard practice for keeping a road surface safe during extreme hot temperatures.”
He continued: "Asphalt is like chocolate - it melts and softens when it's hot, and goes hard and brittle when it's cold - it doesn't maintain the same strength all year round.”
Following a heatwave in 1995, the road industry introduced a new asphalt specification introducing the use of polymer modified binders in hot rolled asphalt (HRA). These polymers raise the asphalt road surface softening point to around 80C which prevents it from softening under extreme got weather. Other asphalt products such as thin surface course systems also normally contain polymer modified binders. Modified asphalts tend to be more expensive and are generally only used on heavily-trafficked roads. Robinson estimates that less than 5% of all the UK’s road surfaces contain polymer modified asphalt. Surface dressings which are sued to seal road surfaces and restore skid resistance also now predominantly contain polymer modified binders which will resist softening during periods of hot weather.
“Melting of some roads is not surprising during this heatwave but they can be quickly treated and revert back to normal once temperatures decline,” said Robinson.
|
