Where has this year gone? We’re more than halfway through already… This year I have mostly been riding... the excellent Kawasaki Versys 1100SE Grand Tourer Pic: Jason Critchell I don’t know what happened. I woke up and… it’s nearly August. Where the hell has the year gone? I can’t deny that it’s been busy so far, though. In January I set off for Australia – partly to escape the British winter, partly to see my brother, partly to have a holiday and then mostly to work. Some of what I do can...

With great weather forecast, grab your helmet and have a good time With great weather on the horizon, it's time to get out and ride. Pic Jason Critchell I’m old enough that Michael Fish shattered my faith in forecasters, but the meteorological establishment seems pretty united in predictions of great weather coming up. That means one thing: time to get the bike out. My advice: don’t just ride your regular old route – treat yourself to a trip and make the best of the brilliant weather....

I've been putting my head in one place for nearly 700,000 miles. Here's why The first five yellow-and-black Sharks, retired in my old garage. I'm now on my tenth... Col de la Petit St Bernard 2007 with the first of the series. Pic Chippy Wood / Bike IT WAS THE SCOOTER that woke me. A high-pitched two-stroke whine, somewhere out of sight. I could see a window - pure blue sky. I had no idea where I was and for a second my brain thought: I’m in Imola. Then the pain hit and I remembered. Not...