US Road Trip

I had no plans on doing a US Road trip this year, and then I had a call from a friend (Oren) about a trip to the US to celebrate a friends 50th (Nick) - we had all ridden down to St Tropez together in 2010 and hope to get at least six of us for this trip.  The aim will be to start and finish in Las Vegas and in between take in the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley and Yellowstone Park - so about 2000 miles in 10 days.
So Road Trip wise - its Croatia in May, which is 1800 miles (and shipping bike back), June  - The USA another 2000 miles and then July its Spain which must be around 2500 miles - I am so looking forwards to all this.

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My Road Trips

Another blog this time combining three of my previous road trips - Route 66, St Tropez and Blue Ridge Mountains, into a complete road trip blog - to this I will be adding my forthcoming Cowboys and Indians tour starting in Las vegas on October 2nd 2010 - check it out - www.7agesroadtrips.blogspot.com

Eaglerider

The reason for the lack of posts on the blog recently is because I have been touring with the family in California - and as I cant fit a wife and two teenage girls on a bike (not that they go on them anyway) - we are in a big Black Cadillac.  Yesterday in San Diego I had a free day so I hired a nice 2007 FatBoy from Eaglerider - and I just wanted to say what a great service they provide - and for us Europeans it all seems very good value at just over £100 a day all in.
I planned a good route of about 150 miles and it all went according to plan.

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Highlights were the Cuyamaca National Park, then Julian a great old mining town, seeing a flight of gunships landing at Miramar and some F-18's shooting overhead.  Finally onto the coast road home through La Jolla - a superb ride in the sunshine -without SatNav just some notes taped to the tank.  All the video and pics was shot on an Iphone 3G.

Gary's USA Tour

I mentioned my friend Gary France a few times here, but he has now started his epic ride over 14,000 miles and 4 months across the USA on his own - riding his Road King newly painted with Hollywood Film Stars.

If you have any interest in Motorbikes, photography / Video, Travel or the USA then please check it out and follow his blog to keep him company.

Its www.garysusatour.blogspot.com

Harley Euro Festival - St Tropez 2010

Well back from this great weekend event - and despite the weather it was a superb rally - and a must for my 2011 calendar.
Brief highlights:
Tues Day 1 - Met up with 9 other riders in Kent for a blast down to Beaune - unfortunately I got some engine trouble on my 2009 Streetglide and had to divert to Lille where a really helpful team from the main HD dealer drilled out my breather bolts and gave me an oil change.  So I now had 400 miles to catch up the rest of the group on my own, which I managed in around 5 hours.
Weds Day 2 - It was raining and very cold, one of the group decided to head direct to St Tropez, while the rest of us followed the plan to head for Gap and then the Route Napoleon to the Italian border at Jaussier. It was about 275 miles though twisty mountain passes - but in cold wet rain and hail lost a bit of its shine.  Still we arrived in Villa Morelia for a nice group dinner.
Thurs Day 3 - The rain held of and we completed the last 200 miles through Gorges Verdun into St Tropez - cold but dry - and were soon ensconced in a nice bar overlooking the arbour and checking out the scenery.

Friday Day 4 - went for a ride out with the guys in the morning and then headed up to Grimaud for the bike show where I met my friend Gary France on his bike Tradewinds and Steve Willis of Shaws on his new V-Rod (he came runner up in class).  Bands and bikes were great and a very nice sunny afternoon.
Saturday  - Day 5 - met all the Chelsea and Fulham guys for a ride around the coast and ended up at the beach for a nice party courtesy of Warrs.  I went on the Hamlet bike and lent my Streetglide to an old friend Gavin.  On return to the main campsite I stupidly accepted Gavin's offer a drink, which lead to an 8 hour Rum and Pernod session, with the C&F boys - great at the time, but........
Sunday - Day 6 - had to be up at 8 to pack and get ready for the ride back with the group of 14 from 1066 - now a day of hell is riding 450 miles in the rain in an open face helmet with a monster hangover - how I survived I dont know - but it must be thanks to Bealy being a great Road Captain.
Monday - Day 7 - up at 7:00 am and a blast on my own to Calais and home (dry but very cold).
A great trip and adventure covering 2000+ miles, and special thanks to: Oren, Nicholas, Paul, Gary A, Mark, David, Adrian, Rob, John, Gary F, Gavin, Janet, Oliver, Grizz, Mrs Grizz, Manuela, Terry, Sarah, Maz, Bealy and anyone else I met.

London in the Sunshine

Had a great ride through London, with my friend Gary France today.  I met Gary last year  - I think through blogging - but found out we have quite a bit in common - we both worked in property - we both gave up work early and we both love custom bikes.  So with Spring well and truly here we decided on a ride through London.  Two loud customs certainly got plenty of attention as we started at The Royal Observatory and followed the River Thames to Chelsea and Warrs Harley Davidson for some lunch.  Please check out and follow his excellent blog www.garysusatour.blogspot.com about his awesome 15,000 mile solo trip to the USA this summer.

We attached videos to our bikes - but Gary had the excellent Go-Pro on a super mount and I had a cheap Samsung mounted with Gaffer tape, and so despite Gary's best attempts at editing, he only used his footage - but if you love London and bikes enjoy this ride with us.

USA Tour (Part 2)

I have called this post USA Tour (Part 2) as  we are still trying to organise the USA Tour Part 1 which is with the guys from New England who we toured with last year  - see Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountain Tour

Anyway today I confirmed my booking for this tour which has been organised my tour guide friend Gary Fleshman and his new company California Sunriders .  Its an invite only tour, with people who have previously ridden with Gary in other parts of the US.  The theme is Cowboys and Indians and as you can see we are doing about 2600 miles across the Southern States from Las Vegas to Dallas, in early October 2010 - I will be riding my favourite Harley - the Streetglide.  I will do a more detailed blog on the tour as it progresses.


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Road Trip - Harley Euro Rally, St Tropez, 2010

Having just been out for my first ride of the year (apart from New Years day), it has made me realise how much I am looking forwards to the trip to St Tropez in May 2010.  I also checked out the HD video of last years event, which although very "European"still gives the idea of what a great event it is.

I am riding down on the Streetglide in a group of nine who I know from Chelsea and Fulham HOG, taking it easy over three days and staying at very nice hotels.  When I get there I leave them to stay in the main camp site in a chalet by the beach - so I can listen to all the Euro Bands playing Foreigner covers until 3am - nice.  at the site I pick up the Othello Tracker which has been shipped down to pose around St Tropez on and enter the bike show, and hopefully a mate will fly in to join me and use the Streetglide.
 I will also be meeting up with friends from 1066 HOG and then riding back with them on a two day return.


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The weather will be hot and it will be great.

2009 Year 1 for 7 Ages

I started this Blog in January 2009 - I remember I had a number of aims for the year - to have some great motorcycle rides and to get 7Ages started as a genuine custom motorcycle brand.

Highpoints for the year:

• A fantastic ride to the Harley Euro Festival in St Tropez on Macbeth.
• A tour of the Blue Ridge and Smokey Mountains with friends on a Streetglide.
• A trip to Helsinki and back to see friends on my Streetglide.
• Getting Macbeth on the cover of BSH and displayed at the NEC Bike Show.
• Building Hamlet and getting it featured on Bike EXIF and Cyril Huze Blog.
• Getting the 7Ages brand created and the website up.

For 2010 - my ambitions are to finish, Bikes 5 (Othello) and 6 (un-named cafe racer) - exhibit at some shows and maybe sell 2 bikes! Rides well St Tropez is booked for May and New England for June, and maybe a trip to the southern states for September / October.