All 35 entries tagged Travel And Motorcycles

Bikes, babes and seeking thereof

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November 05, 2005

Bike Report: GS and Dakar bikes at the NEC Motorcycle Show

On Friday I visited the Motorcycle Show at the NEC. The number of off-road tourers and Dakar racers on show demonstrated just how significant the shift has been from sports racers to long distance trail bikes.

Firstly, a photo of what may be my next bike. This is the R1200 HP, a 105bhp lightweight desert racer based upon the R1200GS:

This photo was taken by Dave Halsall, Sales Manager of SBW Motorrad in Hertford. My meeting with Dave turned out to be yet another small world experience. Dave spent many years living in Gaborone in the Eighties, and knew our friend Blix. Dave also set up the first off-road track in Botswana. We talked about what it was like there before tarred roads and traffic lights.

The BMW display also included a BMW R1200GS Adventure although it wasn't available for sitting on. For the first time I got to see this beast for real. The bike is as wide as it looks in the press photos. Long range tanks are bolted onto the side of the standard tank, almost as wide as the cylinders. Near to this was an F650GS Dakar, just like the one I will be riding in SA in January. Of all of the big-trailees on show, I still consider the F650 to have the best geometry and riding position. On a long dirt ride, that's the most important requirement.

BMW were also proud to display a rather battered 1150GS Adventure:

…as ridden (and dragged) by Charley Boorman and Ewan McGregor across Europe, Asia and North America in The Long Way Round expedition. Next to the bike is one of the BMW suits worn by the riders.

A little less battered, but threatened with a good thrashing soon, is the F650GS Dakar due to be ridden by Charley Boorman in the 2006 Dakar rally:

And finally, despite their sad attitude towards Ewan and Charley, I had to pay some respect to KTM, who displayed the bike on which Cyril Despres won the 2005 Dakar:

…and actually allowed me to sit on it:

…next stop, Timbouctou.


Robert O'Toole : 05 Nov 2005 20:06 |  Tags:       |  Comments (0) |  Report a problem

November 02, 2005

Bike Report: BMW 1200GS Adventure photos

Writing about web page http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/Forum11/HTML/000673.html

The latest version of the BMW Gelandestrasse bikes has just been announced. It is twice as powerful as my 13 year-old GS Paris-Dakar, but much lighter and with a vast tank range.

The main advantage of the Adventure model over the standard R1200GS is the big 33 litre tank. That is smaller than the 35 litres of my '93 GS. However, the modern engine is much more efficient, so it will do an estimated 750 kilometres or 465 miles, as opposed to the 350 miles that I expect from a full tank. But at the same time it can be ridden as quickly as many sports bikes.

As with the old GS Paris-Dakar, BMW have wrapped the tank in crash bars. It also has a screen designed for covering big mileage at high speed (people frequently do 1000 miles in a day on these bikes). The only disapointment is that BMW haven't fitted a bigger front wheel, like the 21" wheel on the GS-PD. Here's some pictures from the message posted by Grant Johnson on the Horizon's Unilimited forum.


Robert O'Toole : 02 Nov 2005 21:15 |  Tags:       |  Comments (0) |  Report a problem

October 18, 2005

Travel Report: Bike expedition to the Kalahari booked

Writing about web page http://www.karoo-biking.de/en/index.php

I have now completed all of the bookings for my bike expedition in January 2006. This will be something special.

I shall fly to Cape Town and hire one of these from Karoo Biking:


from the official BMW GS web site

…that is a BMW F650GS Dakar, a smaller and lighter Gelandestrasse than my R100GS Dakar, but just as capable an off-road tourer (it has won the Paris-Dakar rally twice). Tank range might be a problem, I guess that it will do about 300km's between fills, so I may need to carry a small plastic can. I've got some lightweight camping gear, which I will carry in a Gelert dry bag bungeed to the seat and rack.

And then i'll head north through the Karoo, the arid plateau in the centre of South Africa. I have travelled a similar route before. From the cold Atlantic coast, the amazing long climb over the Swartberg. Flamingoes in the salt pans between Calvinia and Kenhardt. Northwards into the absolute desert of the south-west Kalahari…


a photo I took last time I went to the SW Kalahari

It's been far too long since I was last in a desert (a trip to the Moroccan Sahara being the last). I miss it so much. I'm planning to head up to Pofadder, and then take some of the dirt roads to the west. Looking at the 1:25,000 South African government geographical map that I have, I can see some fascinating terrain – including dunes. And looking at the satellite images on Google Earth, I can even see some of these features in 3-d:


from the Google Earth satellite maps application

The small communities between Pofadder and the Richtersveld (an empty rocky desert area on the border with Namibia) are initiating "community tourism" projects, with camp sites and small nature reserves. If possible I will investigate these. I will then head west to the coast. I'm not yet sure where i'll hit the coast, perhaps as far north as the mouth of the Gariep (Orange) River. I will definitely revisit the gannet and penguin colonies at Lambert's Bay, looking for whales along the coast.

And then back to Cape Town, possibly visiting some of the national parks along the Cape coast.

Once I have returned the bike, i'll fly up to Gaborone, Botswana for a couple of weeks with Emma and Lawrence.


Robert O'Toole : 18 Oct 2005 21:25 |  Tags:         |  Comments (1) |  Report a problem

October 12, 2005

Baby Report: Lawrence responds to the new Yamaha R1 SP

This was Lawrence's reaction on first seeing the new Yamaha R1 SP. He seemed particularly taken with the Ohlins suspension and the radial brakes.

Not at all surprising, considering…

What a little hooligan! He should ride a BMW like his father.


: 12 Oct 2005 23:47 |  Tags:        |  Comments (0) |  Report a problem

October 11, 2005

Travel Report: Kgalagadi (Gemsbok) Transfrontier Park, SA/Botswana

Writing about web page http://www.sanparks.org/parks/kgalagadi/

A few years ago, my wife Emma and I drove from her home in Gaborone, Botswana, westwards to the Kalahari Gemsbok Park (now renamed the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park). This was part of a longer tour in which we went on to visit Augrabies Falls National Park, the Namaqualand flower fields, Lamberts Bay, Kuruman, and the Karoo. This is a report with photos of the Kalahari leg of the expedition.


The Kalahari Gemsbok Park in South Africa, which has now become the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park with its merger with the Gemsbok Park in Botswana across the border, is my favourite of the southern African wildlife reserves. It combines four of my top priorities: full desert with dune fields, big game, raptors, and a diversity of small but fascinating mammals.

After a long drive from Botswana, including a stop in Hotazel (pronounced Hot-as-hell, which is exactly what it is), as we neared the park the dunes began: red, sweeping, burning dunes – not as large as those of Merzouga in the Sahara, but all the same quite sublime. If you have never been to a desert dune-field, imagine yourself at the seaside, but with no sea, no water, no civilisation anywhere to be seen.

Dirt road through the dune fields.

A wind pump in the desolate Kalahari.

But there is life. First of all, the tsama melon with its deep tap root accessing hidden water and swelling into a fruit:

These, and other such drought-defying flora, provides sustainance to an amazing variety of fauna, such as these dune-dwelling ostriches:

A food chain that even extends to the most powerful and hungry of predators:







Our first drive out into the park gave us a dramatic view of these predator-prey interactions:


A hungry cheetah.
A meal wanders over the brow of a dune.











High speed chase between cheetah and springbok.

The springbok is tripped and the killer engages the prey.









In an instant the springbok is converted into a meal.

Not cruelty but necessity, as the cheetah's young join its mother.

But it's not all brutal drama in the sands. A wealth of smaller but equally beautiful creatures can be found, including some superb small carnivores:








Side-striped jackal in the morning desert light.

Jackal portrait.


A group of african wildcats, they actually behaved very much like domestic cats, and at one point walked under our Hilux.

The insectivorous bat-eared fox.

The birdlife is also surprisingly prolific:

A kori bustard.


Blue-cheeked bee-eaters.

We experienced many close-encounters with raptors:


Dark-chanting goshawk.


Pale-chanting goshawk with a kill.

After several nights spent in the park, staying at the good National Parks huts at Nossob and Mata Mata, we left the desert with some great memories, not the least of which was of the gemsbok antelope after which the park is named, to be found deep in the dunes, looking quite majestic:


Robert O'Toole : 11 Oct 2005 21:40 |  Tags:             |  Comments (3) |  Report a problem

October 06, 2005

Bike Report: Advanced motorcycle training session 1

Follow-up to Manifesto: safe motorcycling is possible, but is the responsibility of the rider from Transversality - Robert O'Toole

I suspect that I am a good motorcylist. I have, at least, read and understood Motorcyle Roadcraft, the Police Rider's Handbook But like most riders, and unlike almost every car driver, I know that I must always work hard to maintain my skills and improve them. Therefore on Sunday I went for my first ride out with a qualified advanced motorcycling instructor.

For over two hours, the instructor, Bob from Kenilworth (RoSPA registered), followed me as I rode fast but (fairly) smoothely around Warwickshire. With Bob directing me along some challenging and testing corners and junctions, I really did have to work quite hard. I'm completely comfortable with almost all aspects of advanced riding techniques, and followed Bob's instructions to ride in my normal style. However, I did feel the need to push slightly harder in corners, considering Bob was riding a Triumph Daytona 955i sports bike (twice as powerful as my trail bike).

At the first stop, Bob told me that observing my ride was rather dull – not because I was going to slow, but because I was making no mistakes. I already have most of the skills and techniques that are taught on an advanced riding course. There were a few of useful points:

  1. I shouldn't do an un-necessary "over the shoulder" life-saver check when overtaking, I should already know what is behind me from previous mirro observation. This is different to the advice given to new riders, but makes sense for a fast rider who should spend more time looking forwards. A life-saver when accelerating out of a 30 mph zone is essential, as dumb car drivers will try to overtake a bike that is sticking to the speed limit. They do this all the time, despite the fact that I can accelerate twice as fast as them with no warning.
  2. Indicate only when it will actually make a difference to other road users. This is the advice of the Police book. It saves time, allows for concentration on taking information and manouvering, and avoids the problem of forgetting to cancel an indicator.
  3. Get into position to observe into the vanishing point of a bend earlier.
  4. Use other cues to observe the bend – tree lines etc.

Bob did quickly identify that my cornering isn't smooth enough. I need to plan better, observe and act decisesively, and accelerate through the bends. Even after 45,000 miles, I still find the GS Dakar a little intimidating in bends. It weighs almost 300kg (100kg more than a sports bike), and has dual-purpose tyres that tend to slide around. But I must remember that there are many riders who can ride GS bikes very fast.

At the end of the ride, Bob gave an amazingly detailed account of the whole ride. He identified many of the interesting incidents, and commented on how well I dealt with them, and what I can improve. On the whole, Bob was very positive about my riding. He even said that I only need a little practice before I can take an advanced riding test. Following the Roadcraft principles, I can ride very safely. He suggested that I join IAM and become a registered observer.

I shall now practice some bends. And then more lessons with Bob, which are really worthwhile.


Robert O'Toole : 06 Oct 2005 19:52 |  Tags:       |  Comments (0) |  Report a problem

September 25, 2005

Baby Report: I demand one million sweets!

Follow-up to Baby Report: The latest photos of Lawrence from Transversality - Robert O'Toole

I'm still not convinced that Lawrence O'Toole really is my son. You decide...

Baby Evil (left) and Dr Evil (right). Are they by some chance related? I think we should be told.


: 25 Sep 2005 20:29 |  Tags:        |  Comments (3) |  Report a problem

September 15, 2005

Manifesto: safe motorcycling is possible, but is the responsibility of the rider

Motorcycling: it's just suicidal isn't it? A mad gamble with death in the name of speed. After all, no matter what a rider does, no matter how skilled, its always the other drivers who are the threat. NO! This is a myth, It is simply not true, and the statistics prove it. Most motorcycle accidents can be avoided through better riding skills, better observation, more intelligence, experience, and better precautions. Many of them are caused by motorcyclists just making really basic mistakes. Here's the statistics for causes of accidents, along with the widely accepted methods of avoiding them.

The advice is compiled from advanced motorcycle training guides, and much experience, as in 75,000 miles of experience. It is also the result of a fundamental difference between car drivers and motorcyclists. Car drivers pass their test and never give a second thought to road safety and driving skills. Pick up this months copy of the leading motorcycle magazine RiDE, and you'll see that the main article (featured on the front cover) is an in depth analysis of safe overtaking techniques.

The guiding principle behind much work by the police, DoT and other bodies is that by applying these principles, accidents can be reduced dramatically. This is well worked out craft. The police even have a formal system governing every aspect of how they ride. Obviously some accidents will still happen. For example, a rider being hit by debris on a Catalan motorway can do little to predict or avoid disaster (although wearing a helmet gives him a life-saving advantage over a car driver who would be killed by an object smashing through their screen).

To begin, we have the most dramatic statistic, proving what all motorcyclists know, that they get it wrong in bends.

  • lost control on right hand bend – 16.7%
  • lost control on left hand bend – 13.7%
  • motorcycle crosses carriageway on l/h bend and collides with oncoming vehicle – 5.9%
  • motorcycle crosses carriageway on r/h bend and collides with oncoming vehicle – 3.9%

Yes, the fact is that most accidents are caused by riders simply not understanding how to go around corners. This is essentially alleviated by a formal method of control: adjusting the speed of the bike in accordance with the distance of the "vanishing point" of view away from the direction of travel of the bike.

Here's the trick: the further to the left or the right the point is, the more extreme the bend. If the point is moving quickly away, then the bend is tightening fast: slow down. If the point suddenly moves to the center, and forwards observation (of tree lines, hedges etc) suggests that a straight is ahead, it is time to accelerate. If the point stays to the side but is stable, then you're on a perfect sweeper. This is a technique that requires practice and constant monitoring. It must be taken very seriously.

The aim is to enter a bend so that sudden deceleration in not necessary, and the bike can smoothly accelerate through it. In addition, the official police method advises that the position of the bike be adjusted to gain a better view around the bend. For example, in a left hander, move over to the right to get a better view. Further issues to be taken into consideration include the observation of adverse camber, road surface and debris, and mid-bend junctions. Speed must also be adjusted so that the motorcycle may be braked within the limits of forward vision available into the bend. In other words, don't ride around a blind corner and slam into a stationary vehicle.

  • right turning vehicle hit by overtaking motorcycle – 12.7%

Simple. Absolutely never overtake at a junction, or anywhere that this may happen. However, it is probably the case that many riders just do not realise that they are overtaking at a junction. This is alleviated by adopting the correct observation position on the road whilst judging if the overtake is safe. That means dropping back and moving around the road to take better information. If there is any doubt, just don't do it. There will always be another opportunity to pass a little further down the road. As a final extra precaution, during the day go to full-beam and produce more noise before commencing the overtake.

  • motorcycle hit by emerging vehicle at junction – 9.8%
  • motorcycle collides with vehicle turning right across its path – 7.8%

Forward observation is essential. Always assume a road position that offers as wide a field of view as possible. That means dropping back from the car in front. Always ensure that drivers of cars at junctions are looking your way. Use your horn and engine noise to attract attention. If in any doubt, slow right down – this makes little difference to a bke, which can easily gain speed again.

  • motorcycle collides with rear of stationary vehicle at junction – 7.8%

I can't imagine how this can be caused by anything other than tiredness or riders not appreciating that their bikes accelerate twice as quickly as a car.

  • fell off – 6.9%

Practice control! Many of these are slow speed manouvres, particularly difficult on sports bikes with limted steering lock.

  • collisions on roundabouts – 6.9%

I assume that there are three causes for this:

  1. The traffic on the roundabout suddenly stopping (a common occurrence), the bike is cranked over to enjoy the corner, and hence cannot do an emergency stop. Solution: never lean hard in a roundabout that has traffic in front.
  2. Spilt diesel on roundabouts. Scumbag drivers of poorly maintained commercial vehicles spill diesel as they go around. For a cranked-over motorcycle on a wet road this means loss of control. Go slow on wet roundabouts.
  3. Vehicles coming onto the roundabout into the path of the bike. Solution: never ride beyond the limits of your view. If you can't see what is coming onto the roundabout, slow down. Secondly, never trust car drivers to see you at a junction. If necessary, slow right down. Use your horn, that's what it is for.
  • stationary motorcycle hit from behind – 5.9%

    • There are two causes of this, the first of which is entirely avoidable:

    1. The braking power of modern bikes is far greater than any other vehicle. This is good if you have to stop in a hurry. However, you will always out-brake the moron tail-gating car driver behind. They only ever watch brake lights, they will not predict that you are about to stop dead in a fraction of a second. Solutions: leave plenty of space for smoothe slow braking. Control the car behind through slowing it down, and through touching the brake leaver early to engage the brake lights, even when not actually braking.
    2. You are at the back of a stationary row of traffic. A driver simply fails to see you. Solutions: high visibility clothes. Also, always leave some space in front so that you can roll into it if a car seems to be driving towards you to quickly. Car drivers will find this hard to believe, but if I am ever in this position, I watch what is happening behind, and I will roll forwards just in case.
  • others – 2.0%

    • OK, ultimately the world is not entirely predictable. Random accidents happen. For example, I once saw a car the screen of which had been punctured by iron bars knocked from a fence on an overpass above. In such a case there is nothing that can be done. If you buy the best helmet, kevlar armoured clothes, gloves and boots, you stand a better chance of survival.

    The ultimate aim of motorcyling, whether as a sport or as a daily activity, is as follows: make rapid progress, smoothely, in complete control, and without any mistakes. Remember that Valentino Rossi is MotoGP champion because he goes fast, stays in control, and doesn't crash.


    Robert O'Toole : 15 Sep 2005 23:47 |  Tags:       |  Comments (1) |  Report a problem

    September 09, 2005

    Reflection: The best things that I have done

    Follow-up to Reflection: My personal manifesto from Transversality - Robert O'Toole

    Following on from my personal manifesto, I have created an incomplete and unordered list of the best things that I have done.

    It's interesting to note that few of these represent my work in e-learning, despite that being of very great importance to me. There are just no "big achievement" moments. We have made much progress, but it seems to be slow and incremental. This might be simply because we just aren't brave enough to go for recognisable big achievements. Also to note is the lack of team achievements, apart from the many things in the list carried out by Emma and I. That says a lot about the kinds of teams that I have been in. Again they have focussed upon small incremental change rather than big news-worthy achievements.

    What is also of great significance is that, although the items on the list below may seem really good, to me it is mostly insubstantial. It doesn't add up to much other than merely being entertained by the world. To me that just is not good enough. Maybe I am unrealistically ambitious. Perhaps it is the case that most people are just too easily satisfied with what really just amounts to passive entertainment. Anyhow, there's nothing on this list that resembles the achievements of the people I really admire.

    Here's the list…

    • Reading Anti-Oedipus from cover to cover, and understanding it.
    • Completing my undergraduate dissertation on Kant, Nietzsche, Deleuze and Guattari.
    • Presenting a paper at Virtual Futures.
    • Getting a first.
    • Our wedding at Jijima.
    • Getting a paper published in a book on Deleuze.
    • Speaking at the Shock of the Old conference at Oxford.
    • Walking with Jim and Mari in a frozen Port Meadow, Oxford.
    • Scotch bonnet chilli eating showdown with Mari and Jim.
    • Eating samphire for the first time (in Dorset).
    • Swimming in big waves at Porthkernow, Cornwall.
    • Seeing big paintings by Miro at the Foundacio Miro.
    • Sleeping on the grass in the Real Alcazar gardens in Seville.
    • Watching a hummingbird in a car park at Oracle in San Francisco.
    • Seeing the Cloudbusting video with Kate Bush and Donald Sutherland.
    • Listening to the Hounds of Love album for the first time.
    • Being in a herd of 500 elephants at Chobe.
    • Camping alone at Ngwethla Pan in Hwange, and getting chased away by elephants.
    • Hearing lions in the camp site at Ngwethla Pan.
    • Being chased by a honey badger at Sinamatella, Hwange.
    • Driving to the Grand Erg Chebbi dunes at Merzouga in the Sahara.
    • Walking to the top of a big Sahara dune.
    • Crossing through the snow line in the Atlas mountains in Morroco.
    • Crossing back through the Tizi-en-Tichka pass in a storm.
    • Driving to the Atlantic at Lamberts Bay, South Africa.
    • Seeing flamingoes in the Sahara, the Karoo, and millions of them flocked in the Makgadikgadi Pans in the Kalahari.
    • Seeing the Makgadikgadi pans full of water.
    • Driving through the West Caprivi, Namibia in an old Hilux bakkie.
    • Walking through a pride of lions with Frank Watts at Shimuwini, Kruger Park.
    • Seeing lions at night in the Kruger Park.
    • Seeing the Marsh Owl doing its silly walk at night in the Kruger Park.
    • Seeing a wild elephant for the first time, along the road between Nata and Kasane in Botswana.
    • Flying over the Okavango Delta in a small plane, and seeing a herd of a thousand buffaloes.
    • Floating along the Delta in a mokoro with Obe.
    • Staying at Delta Camp, Okavango, Botswana.
    • Having my leg bitten by a (baby) lion.
    • Seeing an african wild dog pack in Savuti.
    • Watching a cheetah catch a springbok in the Kalahari (Transfrontier) Gemsbok Park.
    • Getting soaked crossing the foot bridge on the Zambian side of Victoria Falls.
    • The end of the trans-Africa chapter of Jupiter's Travels.
    • Riding with Ted Simon at the end of his RTW.
    • Riding my GS cross-country from Cherbourg to Nouailles (near Villefranche-le-Rouergue east of Toulouse) in a day.
    • Riding across the Pyrenees on a small road somewhere east of Andorra.
    • Riding around the Place d'Catalunya in Barcelona 5 times before admitting that I was lost.
    • Riding from Shaftesbury to Stonehenge off-road in heavy rain with CW's.
    • Kick starting my R100GS-PD for the first time.
    • Passing the direct access motorcycle test.
    • Riding a 1000 miles in a day, Oxford to Toulouse.

    Robert O'Toole : 09 Sep 2005 08:53 |  Tags:       |  Comments (0) |  Report a problem

    September 05, 2005

    Reflection: My personal manifesto

    What really matters to me? I suddenly realised that I can't complain about not liking life if I don't get a good definition of what I actually like, the things that mean 'quality' and 'worthwhile' to me. This is my list, my manifesto for good living.

    I'm being entirely positive, There are a lot of things that I really don't want or like. For example, television, which given the items on this list should be almost entirely un-necessary. Also politicians. Class ridden english institutions. Cars. Supermarkets. Corruption. Lazy people. These things do not register, except as annoyances.

    On a more positive note, I can say that I already have many of these, in some cases (the owls that i can hear as i write this) all the time. Others I get occassionally but often enough (elephants). It certainly is the case that I do what I do (e-learning, philosophy) because my work may make many of these things more possible and common for me and others. However some, i just don't get at all (good cafes). And the purpose of this manifesto? Entirely selfish. I just want more of the things that I like…

    • To be able to walk from home to a good cafe. Sit outside in the summer. Waiter service. No smoking. Comfortable chairs.
    • Good coffees and food. No music. Read a good newspaper. Meet people. Intelligent discussion. Use wifi.
    • Cooking a different recipe every day, with fresh organic ingredients. Mediteranean food. Hot chillis. Fresh herbs from the garden. In season vegetables. Local growers and suppliers. Helpful shop assistants. A glass of good wine.
    • Cooking African style braiis (barbecues) with good beef and boerwors.
    • Friends visiting often for coffee, and expecting me to visit them (without planning or scheduling).
    • Discussing philosophy, art, people, plans for hours.
    • Maps.
    • Reading and writing books that create new concepts, that fundamentally alter the world in positive ways, that carry people forwards and away on new streams of activity, out of tired and un-productive traps.
    • Teaching that has an immediate, lasting and positive effect.
    • Working on projects that produce brilliant and positive results, getting feedback, building communities and traditions.
    • Working with enthusiastic, (deeply) dedicated, people with expertise and a sense of excitement.
    • Experiencing stunning art and theatre that finds itself repeated, in unforeseen ways, in life beyond its frame or stage.
    • Riding my GS all day on a dry dirt road with dramatic scenery.
    • Driving through wilderness with my wife and baby in an old bakkie.
    • Crossing long stretches of terrain and seeing the land slowly change.
    • Meeting people in resilient, live, communities embedded in and emergent from their unique localities and histories.
    • Trying new local foods in new places.
    • Camping alone in the wilderness, with only the sounds of nature and a wood fire.
    • Living near owls, buzzards and kites. Eagles and vultures in the wild.
    • Watching wild animals and birds. Watching elephants in the water. Big herds of game. Watching wild dogs, cheetahs, and predators.
    • Desert dunefields, salt pans, flamingoes.
    • Mountain passes and gorges, being above the treeline and in the snow.
    • Walking along the sea. Catching fish to eat. Watching whales and dolphins. Good fish and chips. Samphire. Oysters.
    • Walking in quiet english countryside, finding fruit to eat on the trees.
    • Canoeing along gentle but wild rivers.
    • Travelling silently by mokoro in the Okavango Delta.
    • Thoughtful journalism (and television) offering new and surprising theories and models about the world.
    • Reading and writing about travel, by great authors (Ted Simon, Dervla Murphy).
    • Having new music to listen to often. African music. Oliver Mtukudzi. Youssou N'dour. Aster Aweke.
    • New music by Kate Bush. Old music by Kate Bush. Any music by Kate Bush.

    Robert O'Toole : 05 Sep 2005 22:26 |  Tags:       |  Comments (0) |  Report a problem

    September 04, 2005

    Travel Report: using Metzeler Tourance tyres off–road

    Follow-up to Travel Report: off–road GS photos from Transversality - Robert O'Toole

    Should I switch to full off-road tyres? Or are the Metzeler Tourance dual purpose tyres on my GS sufficient?

    After the heavy rain we have had this week, I thought that my trail riding practice session on Saturday morning would be quite difficult. The Metzeler Tourance tyres that I have on my R100 GS PD are a good compromise between road and trail. However, the tread tends to fill up in muddy conditions, with no self-cleaning action. This reduces grip, especially when crossing ruts. The consequence being that the rear end is thrown out sideways.

    Here's a photo showing the tread on a dry track:

    The trick is to reduce the pressures by 1 bar at the front and back. This keeps more of the tread in contact, with the result being much greater control. The R100 GS PD, as with all Boxer GSs (not F650 or G/S), has no problem with tyre creep at low pressures, as it uses the Akront tubeless spoked rims.

    Once back on the road, I reinflated to 2.4 and 2.9 bar, and after shedding the remaining mud from the tread, was able to ride fast like a road bike.


    Robert O'Toole : 04 Sep 2005 08:31 |  Tags:       |  Comments (0) |  Report a problem

    August 30, 2005

    Baby Report: JDOM code for appending Lawrence

    Follow-up to Baby Report: The latest photos of Lawrence from Transversality - Robert O'Toole

    I've been doing lots of work with the JDOM Java xml parser. The result is as follows:

    Element robert = reality.getRootElement();
    Element lawrence = new Element("Lawrence");
    robert.appendChild(lawrence);

    However, if I try the following:

    Element robert = reality.getRootElement().getChild("robert");
    Element emma = reality.getRootElement().getChild("emma")
    Element lawrence = new Element("Lawrence");
    robert.appendChild(lawrence);
    emma.appendChild(lawrence);

    I get a nasty error message stating that the element lawrence cannot be appended to more than one parent element. Does XML only support single parent families? Should i be doing something tricky with XLink? Help!


    Robert O'Toole : 30 Aug 2005 16:15 |  Tags:        |  Comments (5) |  Report a problem

    August 29, 2005

    Travel Report: off–road GS photos

    Follow-up to Travel Report: Napton to Hellidon off–road on a GS from Transversality - Robert O'Toole

    Is that a tractor I here in the distance? No, it's a motorcycle. I've been ploughing the byways again on my GS...


    Robert O'Toole : 29 Aug 2005 21:16 |  Tags:       |  Comments (0) |  Report a problem

    August 20, 2005

    Baby Report: The latest photos of Lawrence

    Follow-up to Baby Report: Meet Lawrence O'Toole from Transversality - Robert O'Toole

    More photos of Lawrence...


    Robert O'Toole : 20 Aug 2005 19:55 |  Tags:        |  Comments (2) |  Report a problem

    August 17, 2005

    Baby Report: Meet Lawrence O'Toole

    And here he is...


    Robert O'Toole : 17 Aug 2005 10:32 |  Tags:        |  Comments (16) |  Report a problem