A Little Bit Of TLC... Every Tigger Needs It!

With every fill of a tank I have taken it upon myself to give my Tigger some TLC (Tender Loving Care).

And that starts with a little lube on the chain - not too much - just a 'splash'.

Sawing On RATPack91 Patches

It's time I displayed my colours...



So what better way to put your mother into use than giving her the task to spend the evening sawing patches onto things!
:-)

Frustrating Day - Need A Curry!

So the day didn't quite turn out as I thought it would!

Planned was to have a new chain set on my Tigger, install the Touratech crash bars and fit the Touratech gear shifter.
Well - the wrong chain was ordered!
The Touratech crash bars don't fit!
But the gear shifter was OK...

Now I have to confront Touratech and give back their product that doesn't fit!

That's a full inch out! The other side isn't any better...


So - that only thing needed to calm me down is a nice hot curry!

Day Out To The Bodensee - Dental Appointment

Took the day off work to have a dental check-up. My dentist is still the same one as I had when living in Öhningen back in 1989!

Once the check was done, I decided to drive back through the village of Öhningen and see what has changed...

Much!

What was once Ritz's supermarket!
CLOSED

  What was once the village butcher!
CLOSED

  What was once Conny's Cafe & Bakery!
CLOSED


Sad to think that I spent so much time there - it was where I learnt German, made friends, made memories... 

What was still open was the Adler hotel.

And the Grille pub.

 

 Upsetting to think back and see now.
Just goes to show - time stops for no one!

So I continued to Stein am Rhein for my breakfast - since I hadn't eaten anything prior to the dental appointment at 7:30 am!

Stein in the snow!!!
Yes, it's still winter and snowing...

Nice snow...

But coffee was needed!

And possibly a second one ;-)

From there a quick trip to Touratech to collect some items...

Before driving back to my clubhouse (Moto91) for yet another coffee :-)

A busy day...
Always is when I go to The dentist!

*thumbs up*

Dunlop Trailmax TR91 Adventure

Well I had the chance to ride on a Dunlop event: "Trailmax TR91 Adventure".

The event was held around the lake of Como and we were based in the Park Hotel in Abbadia Lariana - the next village down from Mandello del Lario.






I chose to ride down on the Friday, over the Splügen pass!

The route took me up and past the Viamala Schlucht.




I must come back here one day and walk down the gorge.

From there the road goes up and over the Splügen pass ~ where I was greeted with THIS kind of weather...





Then going down the Italian side was foggy and wet ~ with a little detour off on a track or two...




Finally, 400km later I was at the Hotel where a warm shower followed by a shed full of beer was awaiting me...
I had actually ridden on a day early - the main group would be coming the next day!
So I had the privilege to join the host, Reto Camastral from Dunlop Switzerland and Michael Kutschke from Toeff Magazine at the evening meal.



Interesting Pizza!!!



The next day the other 5 riders joined us at the hotel...




We were then briefed as to what the day would involve and what was expected from us:
- Test the Trailmax TR91 tyre to the limit!
- Report back as to how it felt!

I was feeling fresh - and worried - but then realised that the other riders had already done hundreds of kilometers that morning! They had already ridden over the Alps!

They are ANIMALS!!!
:-)


But first, we had a ride up to Varenna and into the harbour where we did some quick photo shooting for the reports and possible magazine review.






Then the riding section arrived!!!
Up...
Down...
Up...
Down...
... the mountain!
Around the bend as fast as you can!

STOP!
More photographs...




Then more riding....
:-D

Actually is was great fun and I was learning a lot!

1) How to corner with more confidence and security
2) How bloody good these tyres are!
They are like super glue on the roads... Confidence inspiring.


STOP!
More photographs...




Then more riding and a few more stops... That's right ~ Photographs!
:-)



Then back down to Varenna for a final coffee...
NO PHOTOS!




After a good number of kilometers we were back at the hotel - showered and ready to go for food!
A small walk to the restaurant was called for!
Well - we had to let the bikes cool down!




The food was lovely!


During the meal there was a spectacular thunderstorm...



But not to worry - expresso and grappa was awaiting in the warmth...



The next day we were back on the road - direction home - the LONG way!
First port of call was back up to Varenna to get the ferry over to Menaggio...






Then we rode over to Porlezza and went South around the lake Lugano passing through Claino con Osteno. Then ont Pellio Intelvi and Lanzo d'Intelvi where we took a small track up the mountain to a spectacular view over Lugano!




Again - some more photographs... :-)



Then we rode back down into Switzerland and through Arogno and Maroggia where we took the motorway North to the San Bernardino pass.




We were also greeted by our friends on the other side of the hill...



But not to worry - all was OK and we were soon on our way home - stopping off for one last coffee before our ways parted...



All in all:
A FANTASTIC TIME
GREAT PEOPLE
LOVELY AREA
and most importantly...
SUPER SAFE TYRES that kept me rubber side down!

Dunlop Trailmax TR91

Best rated tyres to date!
Get them fitted.
NOW!