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From Mandello with cravings

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 19:18:00 -0400

I have to admit it. After visiting Mandello del Lario this summer I'm craving for yet another Guzzi. A veteran one.

Reflection and carburettor

At the end of June we headed south. I'd already prebooked an apartment in Piemonte for an extended stay there, and we even took the car this year. But first we had to pay homage to Mandello. Neither my daughter nor my wife had ever been to this to us Guzzisti Sacred Shrine of Guzzi Goodness, so we decided to take a couple of days there.

Mamma Ciccia is THE place to stay while in Mandello, and Silvia had made everything ready for us when we arrived. Just a week before we came to Mandello the weather was rather lousy they told us. But not now, with temps hovering well above 35 C.

Prime Norwegian Guzzisti Roar and his wife Nina. They've visited Mandello each year for the last 20 odd years. Roar rides a Guzzi 1200 Norge, while Nina rides a Buell Adventure. Despite this Nina is a keen Mandellista.

Mandello to us is all about Guzzi. We paid our respects to Carlo Guzzi at his grave, as we did to Duilio Agostini's. We wandered the streets of Ing Giulio Cesare Carcano and Lafranconi. We visited the museum at the factory, and had our pictures taken in front of the Red Gate which, together with the yellow building, has become a landmark for Guzzisti all over the world.

Wandering along the streets of Mandello we suddenly encountered an entourage of German classic Guzzi riders. One on his classic Falcone 500, one on his Astore 250 and the third on a Lodola, which by the way was the last that was designed by Carlo Guzzi himself in the mid-Fifties.

It was then the craving for another Guzzi became stronger. A classic one. A veteran one. So now I'm trying to talk my wife into the fact that we actually need a classic veteran Guzzi in our garage. Not necessarily the steeply priced Falcone, but perhaps a nice Astore, or Super Alce...

Three days in Mandello might have got her heart beating for the bikes too, so who knows...?

No complaints regarding the temps...

A Falcone, an Astore and a Lodola. German plated.

The Falcone was a popular bike amongst the Italian Polizia from the Fifties throughought the Sixties.

The Germans had apparently participated in a classic run from Milano to Taranto with their noble Guzzis.

Getting ready for departure. They all three fired right up.

Duilio Agostini died in 2008, just a week before I came to Mandello for my first time. Duilio was well known amongst the Guzzisti, both for his racing career and for establishing one of the most venerable Guzzi shops around. He only shared his last name with is far more famous racing name brother Giacomo Agostini.

Daughter Oda properly inaugurated to the Guzzi world by having her picture taken in front of The Red Gate of Mandello.

A pic of a pic which hangs on the wall at the Guzzi museum in Mandello,
showing Duilio Agostini (12) ahead of Dickie Dale (34) and Bill Lomas.

Just as a sidenote: While we were in Monforte, Piemonte, after our Mandello visit, the local wine farmers arranged their first Veteran Tractor Rally. Fun stuff!

Sakke's desert trip

Sun, 27 Jun 2010 16:09:00 -0400

The other day I got this pic from Sakke. He's in Mongolia.

Whereas I am about to take my summer's vacation trip to Italy, I got this e-mail from Sakke Häyrinen from Finland. He had attached this pic, showing his KTM 690 Adventure pretty loaded with gear. He'd also attached a link to his blog. Suddenly I realised he's on his way to the Gobi desert. This pic is from Mongolia.

Now how's that for a decent summer trip?

MC Rally Norway - saved by good friends

Sat, 26 Jun 2010 08:05:00 -0400

The organizers of the MC Rally Norway must have been everywhere else but at the actual rally. It was nothing short of an organizational disaster. Fortunately I was surrounded by good friends.

Averøy MCC, some from Asker MCC and Jon at my place the evening before departure to MC Rally Norway at Fredrikstad

17-20 June Fredrikstad MCC failed totally in producing the sort of event the MC Rally Norway is supposed to be. E.g. the check-in failed with too few taking care of the riders, six toilets for 2000 riders, food and beer ran out, nobody removed garbage which meant one giant party for the seagulls - and then it started to rain. In short, a receip for disaster. Luckilly for the organizers a handful of NMCU'ers and some of the volunteers took charge when the malorganization became evident and rescued the bits and pieces that was left.

If it wasn't for us being surrounded by good friends this wouls have been one rally not to remember. Thanks to Averøy MCC, Jon, NMCU president Bent, some friends from Ski MCC and Anne to mention but a few, the rally became quite jolly after all.

We had sneak-started the party when the Averøy MCC people and a couple from Asker MCC turned up at my porch Thursday and stayed the night - some indoors, and some outdoors in tents pitched on my lawn. We departed at different times towards Fredrikstad at Friday morning, as it is only an hours ride away from where I live.

Jon and I spent most of the day in the old fortified town of Fredrikstad on Saturday, dodging the rain and drinking beer with other riders who had had enough of the rally organizers' attempt of making a proper rally. Luckily the weather became fairer Sunday so we could have a dry departure.

Next year the MC Rally Norway is arranged by Koffer Itj MCC and Steinkjer MCC at Steinkjer. I know a few of them were at Fredrikstad to scout out good tips before their own rally next year. What they learnt, though, is probably how NOT to organize a rally..

In front of my garage Thursday evening

We needed to pitch a couple of tents to make room for everybody. Wonder what the neighbours thought...

Decorating my garage...

Finally at the rally, with the lavvo pitched in no time to avoid the hail that met us... Jon turned 50 that Friday!

Look! Another broken BMW...

Jon and I took refuge in the old fortified town of Fredrikstad.
Enough was enough...

Lars from Averøy MCC cooked us some fantastic venison meat for dinner

Anne had made Jon a magnificently yummy birthday cake, which was properly served on princess cardboard plates...

An Averøy MCC princess trio

Averøy MCC won a bunch of prizes for largest club, longest
ridden club etc etc. As usual.

You can see some more pics here.

Crazy TT pilots...

Sat, 12 Jun 2010 18:57:00 -0400

Those Isle of Man TT pilots are nuts... But you can't help but admire people with such skills.

Two stroker with turbo

Sat, 12 Jun 2010 11:09:00 -0400

WTF?!? An old MZ ETZ 301 Kanuni two stroker with turbo?!?

NORGE: Tullete gul vest-påbudsforslag - igjen

Sat, 12 Jun 2010 06:25:00 -0400

Igjen vaier forslaget om å påby gul vest på MC-førere. Denne gang kommer forslaget fra en MC-fører som synser om synlighet.

Harald Fredriksen, Wings of Rogaland. Foto: Privat

VG.no skriver at MC-føreren Harald Fredriksen maser på samferdselsdepartementet for å få påbudt gul vest. Han hiver forskning, prinsipper og kunnskap over bord og satser på at egen synsing på feltet duger for å få innført nye regler.

Men dette forslaget er å skyve ansvaret over på det potensielle offeret. I prinsippet det samme som å gjøre kvinner ansvarlige for å unngå å bli voldtatt.

8 av 10 kollisjonsulykker mellom MC og bil skyldes at bilisten ikke oppfattet MC'en (TØI-rapport). Mer eksakt: MC'en blir sett, men fordi den er mindre, blir den mentalt *oversett* fordi den pga størrelsen ikke oppleves truende. Undersøkelser fra Sverige og Norge viser at MC'er er fullt synlige uten at man utstyrer føreren med refleksvest. Frontlyset, f.eks., er langt viktigere. Dette handler med andre ord om andre ting enn gul vest.

MC-miljøet er motstandere av et gul vest-påbud (merk: Ikke motstandere av vesten) fordi det er prinsipelt galt å gjøre MC-føreren ansvarlig for noe som er bilførerens problem. Løsningen ligger i en bilføreropplæring som lærer bilisten virkelig å være oppmerksom på MC'er. Det fungerer på samme måte som at en bilist garantert oppfatter en politimotorsykkel på lang avstand fordi han/hun selv har trent seg til å se etter den spesielle fargekombinasjonen. Husk at politiet inntil nylig kjørte i helt svarte dresser. De er ofte ute hele året, og antall ulykker siden man innførte MC-politi kan man telle på en hånd...

Men ikke alle er like hjertelig enige i at gul vest bør påbys fordi de har hørt argumentene fra NMCU (Norsk Motorcykkel Union). I stedet for å synse kan man lese fakta hos dem. Det er også ganske fornøyelig å se hvordan MC-importørene v/ Arve Lønnum og andre prøver å vise at de er handlekraftige mht å få ned ulykkesrisikoen på MC. Sannheten er selvfølgelig at bare motorsyklistene selv kan gjøre det, og de gjør det gjennom Norsk Motorcykkel Union.

Hardanger by bike

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 12:29:00 -0400

Hardanger is the Norway cliche: The scenery and the motorcycle roads are totally magnificent!

On the road between Utne and Jondal. More pics below.

My mate Tor and I was supposed to go to Nordkapp that week, but things came in our way so we postponed the whole trip. As a small substitution we decided to do
Vis større kart">Hardanger by bike.

Hardanger is one of the most beautiful areas of Norway, situated in the Western parts near Bergen, with its green fjords (due to melted ice), blooming fruit trees, lush green hills, narrow corrugated roads and perfect weather. Well, the latter is a bit hit-and-miss, but this particular weekend the weather was just that. Perfect.

My other mate Jon from the UK joined Tor and I for the trip. Jon borrowed my Guzzi Griso, while I took the Quota. Tor picked his new (to him) Aprilia Caponord.

I was the travel guide, and laid out a route taking us up the Hallingdal, crossing the Hardanger plateau, passing the Vøringsfossen (approx 200 m of fantastic waterfall), spending the night at a historic hotel in Utne, crossing the Hardanger fjord from Jondal and head for Voss, do the Lærdal tunnel - the world's longest road tunnel at 24.5 kms - and head home down the Numdal.

From sea level to approx 1100 metres the landscape varied from summery lush green to snowy barren mountains. Jon coined it Saturday when he said he "could just go on and on" as the scenere changed every few minutes.

The hotel at Utne was a grand place. We came there while a wedding party was taking place. Instead of throwing ourselves into the party (...) we ordered dinner and shared a couple of wine bottles with the tender lamb we had. We also met fellow riders from Belgium, a band of some six riders doing the Western parts of Norway through nine whole days.

Our trip back home on Sunday took us again through a varied landscape, cutting short at Gol and heading back the same Hallindal as we came instead of going down the Numdal. Never mind - we were all three happily satisified after these two days in bliss.

The next time you're in Norway, make sure you visit Hardanger. Or come here just to see it. I assure you it's a pretty sight come rain or sun.

These boots aren't made for walking: Jon had his gear back in the UK so he bought a pair of boots at Biltema and borrowed some gear and a bike from me.

Two of the tres hombres: Jon (left) riding the Griso, Tor his Aprilia Caponord.

We rode into a Porsche rally at Gol. Even if they have way too many wheels some of them look quite nice.

The Quota and Tor's Caponord at a rest stop at the Hardanger plateu, crossing over from Eastern to Western Norway. Still snow and ice covering the lakes.

The Vøringsfossen waterfalls. It's pointless to try to take pics from this angle as it doesn't show the waterfall's might. But I assure you - it's a mighty sight!

Jon waiting for the ferry from Kinsarvik to Utne. He had just returned

from a nine day ride from UK to Spain, taking a few ferries

en route so this was routine to him.

On board the ferry from Kinsarvik to Utne.

Jon got the room with a view at the Utne hotel, appropriately

decorated with Union Jack.

Relaxing at the Utne hotel. The ferry quay was just 30 metres from the hotel.

Our Belgian friends whom we met at the Utne hotel.

Inside the Lærdal tunnel they have made parking spots where you can

stop to take the obligatory pics.

Check out more pics here!

Motorcycle Addicts MCC is now live!

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 17:45:00 -0400

The Motorcycle Addicts MCC interNETional is now live! The club house has been built in Facebook - and YOU can become a member!

Here's from the club house poster:

An interNETional motorcycle club for active motorcyclists all over the world. YOU can join today! It doesn't cost anything to become a member, and you'll even get a badge to put on your bike, jacket, vest, helmet or wherever you choose to put it (as soon as it is ready).

Remember, though, that this is a club for motorcycle ADDICTS, not merely motorcycle riders, likers or fans. It's a gathering of likeminded riders for whom the life would be utterly miserable without motorcycles. You know who you are!

There are no "biker club" rules here. Our club house is on Facebook. However, by becoming a member you are expected to:

- be an active rider who doesn't shy away from a good ride in rain, sun, hail or snow. Again, this is a club for motorcycle ADDICTS.

- report from rides and rallies to inspire fellow members. A FB pic, a tweet, a full report, a video - the choice is yours

- join your national riders' rights organisation (if you're not already a member, of course) because nobody except us riders fight for our own rights.

Motorcycle addicts are to be found all over the world. Therefore we stick to English in our club house.

Welcome! And have a great ride!

Italian delights

Sun, 30 May 2010 14:53:00 -0400

More than 100 italian bikes, even more great people: How much better can a weekend become?

M/C Rally debutant Cindy on her nice Nevada 750

Not much if you ask me. The weekend of 28 - 30 May 2010 gathered a bunch of riders of Italian bikes - and a few non-Italian too actually - at a camp site some 1.5 hrs ride south of Oslo, becoming this year's edition of the Italian Bikes' Spring Rally.

The home contingent consisted of my wife and I, as our kids stayed over with relatives. My wife rode on her 750 Breva and myself on the Griso 850. We didn't carry too much as we would spend the nights in a cabin.

My Guzzi friend Bjørn and I was in charge of the whole event this time, very well supported by our amici in the local Guzzi club I belong to. Naturally the Spring Rally pulled riders from all over Norway, but also quite a few from Germany plus Andrew and his girlfriend (whom I didn't catch the name of) from the UK on his only too good looking Stelvio 1200.

The weather forecast was pretty bad at the start of the week, but the weekend ended up with pretty much sun, not as much rain as we feared - only a few drops actually - and ca 120+ riders turned up.

I'm already looking forward to the Autumn Rally which is held in Kristiansund, which is to the North-East in one of my favourite parts of Norway. Great people, great bikes, great rides, great surroundings - what more can you ask for?

Wife getting ready for the ride-out.

Displaying a correct Guzzi mechanic attire from 1972!

A Guzzi in the sun

The Cali II Diesel monster!

Queueing up for dinner

Tor (left) and Flemming closing in on the food - which makes them happy.

Check out more pics here!

Whitsunday weekend

Tue, 25 May 2010 15:39:00 -0400

My daughter Oda and I saddled up the Quota and went for an extended Whitsunday weekend trip.

We had the tent part of the camp site for ourselves.
The site is by the Lake Mjøsa in beautiful surroundings.

As my wife and son had their schedules full this weekend, Oda and I decided to go on a trip of our own. We didn't go too far, only to Gjøvik which is the small town where I grew up and Oda was born. It's a couple of hours ride from where I live now. We loaded the Quota with all kinds of stuff to make the trip comfortable: A lavvo tent for space, two camp beds, thick mattresses, table, plenty of cooking equipment, the Heat Pal oven (the nights are still chilly even in May) - and plenty of food. The Quota swallowed it all, but it's not to deny that it was a heavy beast with all that stuff, Oda and myself on board.

We were blessed with perfect weather the whole weekend. After parking the bike and putting up our camp at a camp site just north of Gjøvik we took a trip to a theme park in the neighbouring town of Lillehammer, had some china food in Gjøvik, threw stones into Lake Mjøsa (Norway's largest btw - the lake, not the stones), took cover for a wee squall of hail, put up a campfired, had an old friend over for a chat, solved some puzzles, read a lot - and relaxed all the time.

Oda and I had a great time and decided we'd do it again during the summer.

The Quota swallowed all our gear without complaining

Oda chillin' out on her camp bed.

Our lavvo tent with plenty of space for the two of us and all our gear
for the whole extended weekend.

Oda trying to connect through the head set microphones.

Oda at the Hunderfossen theme park. Norwegian folklore is the theme, btw

Protective head wear under the helmets we used for go cart racing

Solving some puzzles into the late hours

A small camp fire by the lake