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Into the Woods
Well, I made it to America. After the bike was freighted into Canada (less red tape than going direct into the US) I had to unbox it...
Simon Weir
Jul 12, 20195 min read
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A bumpy start
So I made it to Canada - woohoo. Still, the Big Stupid Trip of a Lifetime hasn't quite got off to the dream start for the dream trip....
Simon Weir
Jul 10, 20193 min read
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And so it begins...
The preparation is over. It’s too late to chicken out. I’ve dropped the bike off with Moto Freight at Heathrow, paid the money and it‘s...
Simon Weir
Jun 28, 20192 min read
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The calm before the storm
What's the perfect first tour for someone new to biking? It could be this one. Short, sweet and very rewarding – it's an ideal...
Simon Weir
Jun 25, 20195 min read
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Starter’s orders
You’re probably wondering why I’m still here. Wasn’t I meant to be riding around the world? Well, yes - and that’s precisely what I am...
Simon Weir
Jun 6, 20192 min read
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Bank Holiday Funday
Bank holidays were not invented to facilitate the mowing of grass or the hanging of wallpaper. Bank holidays were created for riding...
Simon Weir
May 28, 20196 min read
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Good days, bad days
Bright sunshine, green hedges frothy with white blossom, grippy tarmac on a bendy road and a congenial pillion. That's a good day. Stuck...
Simon Weir
May 24, 20193 min read
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Bank-holiday plans
I woke up to enough fleeting sunshine to optimistically start speculating about where to ride this weekend. After all, I’m getting...
Simon Weir
May 3, 20193 min read
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My first ride after the crash
I catch myself finding reasons to hesitate before getting on the bike. Faffing around. Where’s my phone? Have I locked the house? Where...
Simon Weir
Apr 27, 20194 min read
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How to recover from a bike crash
Two ribs went for a motorcycle ride; after a while, one said "Let's have a break..." But falling off a bike isn't a joke. Especially as...
Simon Weir
Apr 16, 20194 min read
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Leaving on a series of jet planes
Today is my last day in the South African town of George - after arriving in an ambulance at midnight exactly four weeks ago. I’m itching...
Simon Weir
Apr 5, 20193 min read
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The Marmite pass
What is it about Stelvio that provokes such strong reactions? More than any other road I can think of, Italy’s highest pass polarises...
Simon Weir
Mar 25, 20194 min read
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Crasher’s guilt
I don’t often feel guilty about riding bikes. Okay, when I stood in the dock at Bristol Magistrates Court in 2004 to explain why I was...
Simon Weir
Mar 25, 20194 min read
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The 20 best motorcycle rides in Europe
I’ve been trying to come up with the definitive list of Europe’s greatest motorcycle rides, to stop myself going crazy as I lie in my...
Simon Weir
Mar 18, 20193 min read
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The kindness of strangers
Big boys don’t cry. Especially not big, macho, laugh-in-the-face-of-broken-bones, bike-riding boys like me. But it’s damn difficult to...
Simon Weir
Mar 15, 20193 min read
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Gear review: Interphone Tour
I've used a lot of different Bluetooth headsets over the years but this Interphone Tour is the one that's become my default – and it's...
Simon Weir
Mar 5, 20194 min read
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Monday commuting blues
Bob Geldof was right about one thing: I don't like Mondays. It's not that I don't enjoy work – even when I was a wage slave, I liked what...
Simon Weir
Feb 25, 20194 min read
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Gear review: Givi UT803
Before I dive into reviewing this 40L waterproof rolltop bag from Givi, I should explain two things. First, I didn't pay for it: it was...
Simon Weir
Feb 21, 20195 min read
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Northbound
It’s a greasy, slick morning to be out on the bike. There’s a flicker of orange from the traction-control light on the dash, a tiny but...
Simon Weir
Feb 19, 20193 min read
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Fit to ride
There's one thing about being a middle-aged motorcyclist with big plans: at the back of the mind is a horrible nagging doubt about...
Simon Weir
Feb 15, 20193 min read
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