First bike - Honda CB250

I got this bike because I wanted a black one and felt it was important that my feet could touch the ground. It's a girlie bike with nice shiny bits.

London to Brighton – on a bicycle

Summer has finally arrived in London and just in time too. I took part in the 54-mile cycle ride that takes you over delightful undulating countryside all the way from Clapham Common to Brighton waterfront. Of course the last hill just slaughters you – even walking up was hell. It took a whole 7 hours of pedal pushing and numerous water stops. What a lovely day – Africa hot, sunshine and I really enjoyed the company of my two German student colleagues, Andrea and Davina. During those 7 hours, I did think that perhaps a little electric bike would help when you just feel like a break or get you up that mother of a hill but I suspect that the objective was, actually, to get all sweaty. I confess I was rather jealous of the marshals on their 500cc plus machines. Motorcycle police officers were out in force, big bikes, in uniform. Voom voom. Oh yes, thank you to those motorcycle cops for just hanging out in their sexy biking gear.

Beaulieu Bike Show

Nothing beats a bike show. And then, for sure, Beaulieu has to be the best bike show I’ve been to so far. The reason is that it’s a real bike show in that bikes are ON SHOW. It’s not just big dealers punting the latest machines and every other biking accessory outlet trying to flog end of range products, but also a vast number of clubs that represent practically ever aspect of biking.



Little old bikes are so cute that they get me all emotional. Seeing them in action had me all choked up. Let the pictures speak for themselves.



The next best thing to being at a bike show is riding to the show. Before meeting Paul I used to be a lone rider and the only time I used to ride with fellow bikers was when I met them on the motorway. When I first got my 650cc I went biking with some more experienced bikers and they scared the living shits out of me. From then onwards I chose to ride alone. Maybe because of this self inflicted isolation there was something really thrilling about spotting bikers going in the same direction (or opposite “oh crap”) and gradually more joined until a thumping, shiny horde of bikers were heading down the motorway in an impressive display.

Well. It still thrills me.

Bike Girl and Friends

Here I am on the left as Bike Girl - my very own cartoon-type creation based on "Tank Girl". For all those ignorant people out there!! Tank girl is a cartoon (and a film too) about a girl... who loves tanks. Her friend is Jet who flies jets. I'm Bike Girl and I ride bikes :-P

Do something Good today

In 2004, with the help of my friends, I wrote a small cookbook called “Circle of Friends 2004” and sold it to raise money for a school in Fouriesburg, South Africa. It's a collection of recipes and photos that I've compiled into a book (if I can call it that!). If you would like to support this school then please contact Rose Bailey directly via http://www.carolinalodge.co.za/ as she manages the project and will be selling copies of the book.

If you have a school you would like to support, why don’t you write your own “Circle of Friends” book?

Here is my introductory paragraph to help your inspiration…

When I first told my friend I was writing cookbook, he said “But you can’t cook.” I said, “I know. I can’t write a book either.”

And so the adventure began…

This recipe book was borne out of compulsion to fill an empty void in my life. The long, dismal winter ahead of me was too fearful to face without a project to help pass the hours away. I realise that as we pass through life we all suffer loss and have empty spaces in our lives. Its being able to reach out and make contact with others that helps to ease the pain and though we will never recover what is lost, we can at least fill our lives with good things, wholesome things, and wonderful people that remind us of how worthwhile this all is after all. I needed to remind myself that I am a very lucky girl indeed to know so many people and I wanted to remind those people that they are too part of a network, a Circle of Friends.

(Extract from "Circle of Friends 2004" compiled by S Langton)

My point is: You can make the world a better place. Yes YOU.

It doesn’t have to be something remarkable or extreme. For instance, changing your light bulbs to energy efficient ones. How about reducing paper waste at work. Find out if furniture is made out of sustainable wood before you buy – and don’t buy if it isn’t. Smile when you say thank you. Walk your kids to school. There must be thousands of things that you could do that would make a little difference.

The thing that I feel most strongly about is EDUCATION. This is the most valuable thing that you can give a child. So, educate your children and if you are like me (fancy free), then please, find a way of helping the kids out there who without your help would not have the opportunity to learn. You will be giving them the chance to rise up and become someone they could not dream of becoming without education – without your help.

Biker Etiquette

For those of you who didn’t know…

In the UK when you are riding your motorbike and see a fellow biker come your way, the correct thing to do is greet with a slightly sideways nod.

If you are across the channel in mainland Europe then lifting a boot off the peg is a hello. Or even taking your hand off the clutch control and showing a V would make a suitable hi there (but only if it’s safe to let go of your controls).

And to car drivers, a suitable (safety first) thankyou is a nod.

I do appreciate that when commuting to work or blasting on a motorway its not always appropriate nor possible to be all chatty – but it's very nice and that is what biking is all about.