Ok… So the first day comes! I wake up pretty early a) because we have to b) because I’m used to it, and c) cos I have a moderate hangover.
Hotel Breakfast: GREAT! filled my boots, usual hot buffet stuff…. hmmmm food! I shouldn’t be writing this so close to lunch! Anyway…
Back to the rooms to get kitted up for the off.
The Harley Riders Edge Centre is a short ride away from where the Hotel in Builth Wells.
[Llandrindod TO Builth Wells]
Its a bit drizzly outside but not enough to spoil any enjoyment if it was to stay like that all day, you’d just be a little soggy by the end of the day.
This is where the fun started! When I got to my bike I pressed the button to deactivate the alarm….
Nothing… Mild panic sets in…
I see the light still on for my heated grips!!…. Greater panic sets in….
hmm lets think…
Jump start!!! Yeah I wish… we pushed the bike to the top of the car park and tried to get it jump started, I’ve never had much joy jump starting this bike (yes I’ve tried before, but they are other stories), in fact I’ve never managed to jump start it!
After a quick heads together and asking the receptionist if she had any jump leads, which shockingly she didn’t! 🙂 It was decided that I was best just getting to the Harley Centre on the back of Liam’s Ducati 749!
Now, for those of you that have never been on the back of a bike before, its quite a strange experience of having no control WHATSOEVER! which is cool and not at the same time. And for those of you that have never ridden a bike but have ridden pillion before the feeling of ‘lack of control’ is personified even more when you actually ride for yourself and know the levels of control required to safely ride!!
Added to this…. IT WAS A DUCATI 749! not only do these things look like they really want to go, but they actually REALLY GO! It was RAINING! and the pillion seat is about the size of an A5 notebook (tiny!) AND THERE ARE NO DAMN GRAB RAILS! Added to that I’m probably about the weight of Liam + a 3rd again! the boy’s gonna have his work cut out!
I wouldn’t go as far as to say I was cr@pping my pants but I was definitely a little un-nerved!
Well, the first couple of miles of the 5 mile ride were, up mountain, down mountain through, village and I don’t think I could have gripped the bike much more with my thighs! But I can honestly say Liam’s riding was flawless and I soon felt at ease (or was that easier!) on the back!
When we arrived the first thing i heard was Dan laughing, followed by “You two look ridiculous!” evidently having me suspended above the rear wheel of Liam’s bike didn’t look like the daintiest of procedures! you’d be surprised at how small the bike actually is when you get up to it and esp when you see two people on it and one has an arse as big as mine! 🙂
We checked in with the instructors, filled them in on why we were late… they took the piss. and we got on with the day.