Une bien belle phrase d'Audiard qui justifie amplement de partir et de voyager pour le plaisir de découvrir, d'apprendre et se faire de nouveauw amis:

"Un intellectuel assis ira toujours moins loin qu'un con qui marche".

Et comme on est toujours le c.. de quelqu'un autant en profiter!

While having a moment of « negotiation » with my newborn son I noticed that in fact there isn’t that much difference in the way you manage noise on a bike and on a baby.

On a motorcycle you take a nice noisy exhaust pipe (you know those marked “for race use only” and you add in it as many chicanes as possible. This forces the bad little noise to run around like a poor devil until it gets “exhausted” and doesn’t make more noise than a purring kitty. I am of course talking here about the European norms and ways to manage people’s ear sanity; if you consider how exhaust pipes are managed in the US for example (just look at “American Chopper” to see how a simple pipe becomes an exhaust pipe) you may not face the same problem.

Another way is to spend a long time explaining to the nice policeman in front of you that in fact your engine is set so that at the specified rpms the noise is as it should be: low, but yes of course … as you may have noticed … there is a different noise when accelerating … but you know … blablabla. By the way that solution doesn’t really work isn’t it? In the macho world we still live in there maybe a chance for our lady bikers to get out of it but us men: no chance!

Now consider a crying baby: it is the same issue! The noise from the engine comes directly out the exhaust! But here you have two! The upper one and the lower one. Unlike a bike on a baby the more noisy one is the upper one (if not please take your kid quickly to the MD or change the food!). So like on the bike two solutions:

• You try to negotiate, but directly with the baby, no policeman involved here, to get the noise down and get a better setting on the engine for lower sound emission. This will mainly never work (a bit like with the police officer)!
• Which takes us to the second solution: use a chicane or equivalent device: the lollipop! Works just like the Euro norms exhaust pipe: suddenly the ugly noisy cry sounds like a nice low suction sound!

Make sure you have your bike’s lollipop when you ride in Europe during a Motorcycle Tour or on your own!

Finaly the sun is out for a long time and the temperatures are getting warmer by the day, at least on the French Riviera and some other parts of southern Europe!

Now is the time to clean the bike, get the dirt and the rain marks away! Isn’t that great to know that now the only things to remove are the dead mosquitoes (see our note about a simple and efficient trick to get rid of them)? Don’t you like that feeling while you slowly dry the body of the bike? While the sun starts to play with the shiny paint or chromium?

It is now possible to use cold water without freezing, cleaning the bike in the sun without wearing a fleece, gloves, jacket, etc… That’s the sign: rides will be great! Bikes will stay clean!

This is the time if the year we do like as it means: a lot of motorcycle riding and many great times for motorcycle tours in southern Europe!

Hello ladies! Dust off your bike and get ready for the upcoming season. The Spring is nearly heeeeere !!!

Even if the winter was almost inexistant on the French Riviera (sweet temperatures and no snow at all), we dreamt so much about this moment... Now the sun is shining frankly, birds are in love… it’s time to start great new rides!

But before leaving, don’t forget to check the following points: correctly charged battery, the proper tire pressure (think about tire replacement if necessary), good tension of the chain drive (or the belt), correct level of fluids, check for loose, missing or broken parts.

You’re now ready to start your beloved motorcycle. After a little warm up, test the brakes as well as the clutch. You have also to be sure that the lighting is ok.

Now take on the complete gear (don’t do a special remake of Paris Hilton naked on the horse: a fantastic picture, but so dangerous riding a bike! ;-): proper shoes, clothing and eyes protection.

It’s time to go. Enjoy, and drive safely!

Hello les filles! Dépoussiérez votre monture et soyez prêtes pour la belle saison qui arrive. Le printemps est presque lààààà !

Même si l’hiver a été quasi inexistant sur la Côte d’Azur (des températures très douces par rapport au reste du pays et pas du tout de neige), nous avons rêvé de ce moment… A présent le soleil brille, les oiseaux sont amoureux… donnons le départ pour de nouvelles aventures sur la route !

Mais avant de partir, n’oubliez pas de vérifier les points suivants : batterie chargée, bonne pression des pneus (pensez d’ailleurs à les changer le cas échéant), tension correcte de la chaîne (ou de la courroie), niveau correct des fluides, aucune pièce manquante ou cassée.

Allez, vous avez le droit de démarrer votre moto adorée. Après l’avoir laissée chauffer, il faut tester les freins et l’embrayage. Sans oublier les feux qui doivent fonctionner correctement.

Maintenant arborez l’équipement complet (pas de remake particulier de Paris Hilton nue sur son cheval: une photo particulièrement belle, mais une situation un peu trop dangereuse à mon goût lorsque l’on roule à moto ! ;-) : les chaussures, la veste, le pantalon, le casque adéquats pour une protection totale.

Il est temps d’y aller. Amusez-vous bien, et pilotez prudemment !

A short note to let you know that you can access our quarterish Newsletter (latest news about the Unicorn Adventures Ltd Motorcycle Tours, tips and tricks, cultural information, ladies stuff) on our Newsletter Archive.

You can also subscribe to the Newsletter on the www.unicornadventures.com site in the Newsletter section in the main menu.

Riding on a Unicorn Adventures Ltd motorcycle tour doesn't mean you have only to talk about bikes and curves, you can also enjoy some drops of local culture.

We have already written a note about food and wine in Provence, and quoted the 13 xmas desserts in it, but what are those desserts?

In the past, seems the tradition started around the 19th century, the tradition at Xmas was to present to the guests 13 desserts (the Messia and the 12 apostles) once back from the mass.

 

The four dry fuits part of those 13 desserts are called the "beggars" as their colour is the one of the religious "beggars" orders: the nuts for the "Augustins", the figs for the "Franciscains", almonds for the "Carmes" and dry raisins for the "Dominicains" . (www.web-provence.com/histoire-13-desserts.htm).

 

Nowadays this tradition has left its religious side to get to a more commercial side but still it is important to get the 13 desserts on the table at the same time. Make sure you have the 4 "beggars" as well as two types of nougat (white and black) and a "pompe à huile" (typical Provence bred/pastry).

Complement those with fresh and crystallized fruits and candies.

As one can imagine all those desserts after a nice Xmas dinner are quite light and give a delicious end to a great dinner!

Read more on www.web-provence.com/histoire-13-desserts.htm

Come enjoy the Provence and its many traditions during our "A ride in Provence and Camargue" tour!

Participer à un circuit Unicorn Adventures Ltd n'implique pas de ne discuter que de motos et de virages. De temps à autres une petite goutte de culture peut aussi faire du bien.

Dans un billet précédent portant sur les plats et vins de Provence, les 13 desserts de Noël fûrent évoqués, mais quels sont-ils?

Dans le passé, il semblerait que la tradition apparaisse au 19ème sciècle, il était de coutûme à Noël, au retour de la messe d'offrir à ses invités 13 desserts (pour le Messie et ses 12 apôtres).

"Les 4 fruits secs qui font partie des treize desserts sont dénommés les mendiants en raison de leur couleur à l'image de celle des robes portées par les ordres des mendiants : noisettes pour les Augustins, figues pour les Fransciscains, amandes pour les Carmes et raisins secs pour les Dominicains. (d'après web-provence)

Aujourd'hui, cette tradition a largement dépassé le cadre religieux mais il est toujours important de présenter ces treize desserts à table en même temps. Bien que leur type puisse être choisi à votre guise il est de bon ton de présenter les 4 mendiants accompagnés de deux nougats (blanc et noir) et d'une "pompe à huile" (pain/pâtisserie typiquement provençale). N'hésitez pas à compléter la liste avec des fruits frais et confits.

Il est aisé de s'imaginer le plaisir que de se régaler des ces légers desserts après un bon repas de Noël!

Apprenez en plus sur web-provence.

Venez découvrir la provence et ses nombreuses traditions lors du circuit "Provence et Camargue"!

For 2006 the Unicorn Adventures Ltd team has developed a program of 6 tours taking place in Southern Europe, all starting from the French Riviera

The objective for 2006 was to provide a central theme for each tour around which we did select our favorite roads, curves, vistas and places to stay and visit.

One part of a motorcycle tour is the riding but not to be forgotten the second part: where to overnight and enjoy food and drink. Each hotel has been hand picked and checked by us to make sure you will have a great rest in lovely castles or *** to **** hotels.

The 2006 catalogue offers 6 products:

• The Mediterranean Coast Tour
• A Ride in Provence and Camargue Tour
• The Corsica Tour
• The Northern Italy Tour
• The Napoléon Road Tour
• The Alpine Passes Tour

Each tour has its own personality and character to enjoy!

You have decided to attend a motorcycle tour with friends or a Motorcycle Tour Operator like Unicorn Adventures Ltd, for example.

You will of course think about the usual important stuff for the motorcycle, your gear, clothing, maybe even food! You will definitely check twice all your documents and maps, get yourself some nice road books and some gas in the tank, as well as check the oil and tire pressure.

But will you think about your body? Well yes you will definitely think about the “biker look” to make sure you get the right looks or even, for those hitting the beach, make sure you get rid of that little unnecessary fat. Most if us are so used to take the motorcycle everyday or so that we do no more pay attention to body needs.

Before hitting the road “Jack” for a long trip and enjoy twisty roads why do you work out a bit? It will definitely help you be sharper on the motorcycle for longer periods.

The abs, yes those muscles that everyone talks about but no one ever saw, are essential for motorcycle riders as they help maintain your back and are a nice support for your lumbar muscles (yes those should get some workout too).
Getting a bit more juice in the arms and shoulders as well as pectoral muscles will help a lighter handling of the bike and support strong and efficient breaking, especially with a sleepy passenger.

Don’t get ready for the next Bodybuilding world championship (or you won’t be anymore able to move your bike or even close your jacket) but get fit to enjoy twisty roads at your best!

Some time ago we wrote a note about a nice, cheap and efficient system to attach your helmet to your motorcycle while you enjoy a nice and refreshing beer under the sun (e.g. during a Unicorn Adventures Ltd Tour).

But why should one go for that system or the one included on the motorcycle (only works for one helmet and not all the times in the best way) when it is possible to leave the helmet on the ground and use the motorcycle wheel lock to keep the helmet attached to the bike?

Well consider the fact that, at least in Europe and especially in southern Europe, dogs walk very often freely on the sideway or road in town. In fact consider all dogs as often at the other end of the leash you can find a person who doesn’t care about where the dog will pee.

I think that now you get the point: dogs enjoy peeing inside a nice “egg”, colorful, warm (if you just stopped), and even smelly (depends of your shampoo)! For once they have something else than just a pole or an overused tree!

I don’t think there is any need to go further in the description about the moment you pull the helmet over your head!

Next time think about it before leaving your beloved helmet on the ground!

I really don't like motorcycle accidents! Like all of us! And seeing a fellow biker on the ground is always painful, but a couple of days ago I could think about one I saw "That's all you derserve mate!".

5 minutes before crossing him sitting on the sideway with people around him waving at the ambulance that guy passed me in a busy street with full throttle and doing his best to get a wheelie! Oh maybe I should mention that there was a passenger with him!

I mean Ok it is nice and fine to get a nice wheelie in but is it necessary to do that in the street? In the middle of the cars and people?

From what I could see he was on the only one hurt (and the bike of course), and the passenger seemed ok, luckyly!
This comes as a perfect illustration to a note I read recently but can no more find! And here on the Bikes in the fast lane blog is another perfect example on how an idiot can crash your day!

As my dad always says "Never drive thinking you are OK but always drive thinking the danger comes from the others!"...the man is definitely right!