Sitting in the garden on my fishing chair early this morning, my breath ballooned out in front of me as it met the winter air. A quick peak towards the skies, however, showed virtually zero cloud cover! Time to get the bike out! At 0930 every Sunday, a dedicated group of island based riders meet in the Halfords car park in Newport. At 10am sharp they depart for an hour’s ride around the island, culminating […]

The last Saturday of every month the KOA MM (Knights of Antioch Motorcycle Ministry) host a brilliant Bikers Brekkie at Hardley Green, about 15 minutes north of Lymington port. Today was the last Saturday of January! Each month around 100 to 150 bikers turn up for a chat and a belly full of bacon. MCs, MMs, MCCs and just regular guys and gals off the street, all mingle together in what is always a great […]

I’ve eaten so much turkey this Christmas that the turkeys are currently demonstrating outside my house! It’s been nice to rest and spend time with the family, even the out-laws, but at some point you need a break and for me a “break” is throwing a leg over the bike and heading out for a few hours. The weather has been relentlessly rubbish this year with constant rain and storms, so when the app showed […]

Today it was time to lay down the spanners, throw a leg over the T700 and let her do what she does best: ride! We got slightly battered by 55mph winds as we sped over The Downs and on up to the Culver Downs overlooking Sandown Bay. But at least it was dry so can’t complain too much and if I wasn’t full awake when I started I certainly was by the time I returned! […]

A good friend of mine (the Mikester) got himself a new bike, replacing a 1300 FJR with a Triumph Street Triple, now affectionately known as “Kermit”. So Saturday there was nothing to do but meet up for a ride! East Cowes to Newport, Bembridge, Brading, Sandown, Shanklin, Ventnor, Blackgang Chine, Military Road to Freshwater and back across the middle road to Newport and back to East Cowes. That’s a route we’ve often ridden and it […]

The weather here in the UK this week has been T-Shirt weather. The difference between this week and last is unbelievable and it really feels like we’ve turned the corner from Winter to what could be a lovely Spring! I ride all year round. I tend to keep the bike in when it’s pelting down with rain but if it’s dry the outside temperature is not a factor for me and if the sun is […]

Unusually sunny weather (and ((again)) against the Met Office App’s prognosis) led me to stop working at 1600 hours and get the bike out! Only a quick ride but I could just feel my mental health improving by the second. Finished up back at East Cowes seafront, just as the Red Funnel ferry departed, its so-called green credentials rather in question as it billowed diesel smoke from it’s funnels. SUBSCRIBE TO THE OVERLAND RIDER BLOG […]

Weather has been dodgy here of late so any sunny break needs taking advantage of!! On a small island you’re always susceptible to high winds and today was no exception! The Isle of Wight is 65 miles around if you follow the coastline. Both of these images were taken at the Culver Downs, overlooking Sandown Bay. Cobwebs duly blown away it’s time to head back to the warm! SUBSCRIBE TO THE OVERLAND RIDER BLOG Please […]