Magnificent motorsport memorabilia........

When one journey comes to an end another begins. This amazing journey from one cold February morning earlier this year thinking 'I'm going to learn how to ride an off-road bike and ride it somewhere interesting ', to now has been quite incredible.

To date we've raised almost £8,000 and the final furlong, as it were, is auctioning the quite fabulous and unique piece of motorsport memorabilia and history. The shirt bit.ly/nKiLRu been signed by; Valentino Rossi, nine Grand Prix World Championships and multiple MotoGP World Championship title holder, Jorge Lorenzo, 2006 & 2007 250cc World Champion, 2010 Moto GP World Champion, James Toseland, 2004 & 2007 World Superbike Champion - he retired last month due to a wrist injury,

Cal Crutchlow, British Supersport champion and British Superbike race winner, and the 2009 Supersport World Champion, Danny Webb, 125cc World Championship multiple title holder, Leon Haslam, British Superbikes, World superbikes, Ian Hutchinson, TT racer, Jonathan Rea, World Superbike racer, Keith Amor, TT legend, David Johnson, British Superbikes , James Whitham,TT Superbike champion, British Superbike Champion Supercup and the ACU TT British Superbike Champion, John McGuinness, TT legend, Neil Hodgson, British Superbike and World Superbike Champion & Ian Lougher, 9 victories in the North West 200, 10 wins at the Isle of Man TT Races and 42 wins at the Southern 100 Races and all the signatures were gathered by Steve Parrish. What an awesome collection.

Some say a journey is best measured by the new friends and people one meets.

Many have been asking what the next challenge will be, there were a number of answers to that a fortnight ago!

A seasoned off-roader who competes regularly and is awesome on a bike, called me last week. He's done the trip. He said 'Congratulations and well done! What were you thinking (I don't think I was), that was a truly epic challenge for such a beginner. Good on you for coming back in one piece'. I'm still surprising myself now thinking back to some of the terrain I covered on a dirtbike! Wouldn't have missed it for the world and the guys were all fantastic and very supportive and encouraging but crikey I didn't know what I didn't know ......... But I do now......!

Thank you, Merci and Grazie to so many people;

Donna Gray for getting me on the bike, in the right kit and starting off my very tentative learning experience, Martin Wittering, mechanic extraordinaire along with buckets of constant moral support and encouragement, Gary Faillettaz for his consistent unfailing encouragement, tuition and so, so very much patience and picking my bike up more times than should be allowed, team-mate fantastico, Steve Parrish for the fabulous signed shirt, books and WSB passes, Michelle Hunter for hosting the auction at the wonderful Queen Adelaide, John Kettley - without whom for sure this journey would never have really begun! Jim Gale for the brilliant graphics and plastics, Tamsin Jones for training, moral support and hugely boosting my confidence, Liz Rhodes at BBC Radio Cambridgeshire for constant encouragement, Nigel Wheatley and Michele Maddocks of Enduroland, Ed Blum, film director, Charley Boorman for tweeting, FB 'ing ( in fact getting me on FB), signing a book for the auction, Ross Noble for an auction prize and for making me laugh and keeping me human in Wales, Billy Ward for making these aforementioned things happen and for suggesting more training, not to mention making me smile on numerous occasions when I really needed to, Tim McEwan, auctioneer of the mostest, Ian Glover of Bloodhound SSC, Nigel Harrison, Jayne Perks, Jeremy Goring of the Goring Hotel, Sue & Andy Banham of Taylard House, Chris Evans (thanks as well as singlehandedly almost completely putting me off bikes forever!) and Cyril Despres, Graham Banks of GB Racing for so much, Sally Saunders of Esse (support and keeping me vaguely feminine), Jacquie and Matt of The Wendy House, Janine Wood of SLP, Tessa Roberts of Ocean One, Christian Malissard of Eagle Perf, Angela Dawson of Dawson VA Services, Dave Newman of SupremeBeing, Irene Routh-Jones for moral support, lovely friend Rachael for getting me packed and lovely texts when I was in the Pyrenees, dear friends Paul and Ailsa for airport runs, Caroline Faillettaz for huge support, my parents for looking after the girls, my fabulous friend Wendy for so much moral support and my gorgeous sister Elly who was particularly brilliant when I was finding it harder than hard, Mr T for so much and so much more and my beautiful girls. And of course to so many generous family and friends who gave donations, kind words and huge support, thank you, thank you, thank you, merci, merci, merci, grazie, grazie, grazie.

As for the next challenge..........Andalucia and Africa in my sights and perhaps a rally. Watch this space.......

A jigsaw of the most extraordinary proportions!

John Hall

arrived today just after lunch to load the bikes. Well! Wow! So many bikes into such a small space - it really was very, very impressive.

This last week, the over-riding feeling has generally been one of excitement - however as the last jerry can went in, I suddenly felt really rather nervous! Get those butterflies in formation, girl!

All that is left now is to enjoy, soak it all up and relax into it - that sounds more like a bath that an off-road adventure?!

I know that I have the skills, albeit more honed in some areas than others, so now it's up to me to use them and call upon those new found abilities and resources that are there.

Thanks so very much to all our friends and family for their continued fabulous support, encouragement and love, through the ebbing and flowing of emotions during the high days and the less so! It is so enormously appreciated and the monies raised thus far for GOSH and KidsCo is just wonderful - last look c £6700.

A bientot, Xx

Butterflies in formation.......

2 days to go to the Pyrenees trip for GOSH and KidsCo. Bike ready, toolkit ready - okay Mr T, Gary and Martin have prepared most of that - I got the cable ties and jerry cans(which daughter no. 1 has decorated) - mousses fitted. Have spare gear levers, camel back, metal putty - in with the SPF 20 lip balm (yes, I do have lip gloss too - for the evening obviously!).

Started packing my kitbag this evening - armour, helmet, boots etc - hmm - helmet and body lotion or - boots & jeans or - kit & no armour -arghhh. Determination aside and having travelled light on many, many, many occasion I still couldn't pack my kit into one bag. I've obviously never been away with some serious kit. My kitbag has been away for a little light windsurfing and sailing (which to be fair wasn't generally light) however kit for sailing and kit for riding off-road is clearly different means a bigger bag required! Mid-afternoon Sunday before schools go back - all my mates are out - eek! However, lovely mate Rachael then came to the rescue! So, have her diving bag - boots, helmet & kit & lots of muesli bars, isotonic stuff and various bike 'things' and voila! Yippee!

Donna Gray and Martin Wittering visited this morning, it if wasn't for them I wouldn't be even nearly where I am now. Huge thanks to them - they've been brilliant. They're off to Turkey this week on a rally.

Have more 'butterflies' than the London Butterfly House however as a gorgeous friend said to me a few years ago (she's a former Royal Ballet ballerina), butterflies are great, you just need to get them in formation. So that's what I'm working on. Thanks Shiv.

We're at £6200 for GOSH and KidsCo, so if you'd still like to sponsor or perhaps you'd like to put in a bid for the BBC signed shirt, it will be auctioned on our return. Jorge Lorenzo has signed it - what a top race today , Valentino Rossi and 16 other top top bikers have also signed it ..... I've slept in it - no I haven't really - joke?!?

Today's pic is a lovely off-road track in France - the power of positive thinking!!!

The expression goes.......

......that if one waits until one is ready for something, the readiness never comes. So, with that in mind, bring it on! I'm ready enough. 12 days to go, the bike's ready, mousses fitted, roadbook 'thingy' fitted, went on a wee shopping spree this afternoon for jerry cans, metal putty (cold chemical weld I'm told - not that I have any idea what to do with it!!) and enough zip ties to go around the world twice.

The bikes are being trucked to France in the next day or two, so when a window of opportunity appeared today for a practice I took it! It was also at the precise moment that the heavens opened on Cambridesghire - real Welsh rain it was!

My little Honda is on top form, Martin at TorqueRacing has worked his magic, the forks are 'lovely' (technical term), a lowering link on the back and a couple of bar risers. Perfick! Martin's the man.

The CRF 250 isn't as torquey as the 400, still need to work on my throttle control on set off, wheel span just the once - oop!

Had a fabulous outing, one of those 'big smile in the helmet' jobs. It was very slippery and I just love big puddles, they're as irresistible as dark chocolate! Played 'chicken' with a few young pheasants or maybe it was 'pheasant'! Had a major wobbly skid and just averted a spill - tee hee! I was absolutely soaked to the skin when I returned - not one item was dry. Jet -washed the bike, it was very satisfyingly grubby!

Very excitingly, we've raised a current total of £6207 for GOSH and KidsCo, the target is near! Thanks very, very much to everyone who has so generously donated, it means such a lot and personally has been such an incentive when the going's got tough (and that's been quite a lot of times!!) and to our wonderful sponsors; GBRacing, TorqueRacing, The Wendy House, Esse, Ocean One, SLP, ZeroNine, SupremeBeing, Eagle Performance, Dawson VAServices and my No. 1 trainer Donna Gray.

I'm wearing a rather lovely shirt tonight (bear with?!) which has been signed by Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, James Toseland amongst other notable legends of MotoGP, TT, WSB & BSB - hoping some expertise will rub off!! Kindly donated by Steve Parrish and it's going up for auction soon - watch this space.....

Doing it in the dark!

Well what an experience this evening was! Martin warned me about going out on my own off-road, however with 15 days to go and an opportunity in my sights, I went for it. Had phone & lip gloss, no metal putty, no gear levers and other stuff, however figured even if I did, I wouldn't know what to do with them!

I used to ride my boy (16'2 throughbred) in the evenings and the funny thing I noticed immediately, is that a horse will tell you what's going on, maybe deer, farm work, a person; long before you're even aware of whatever it might be. On the bike, I felt oddly alone and more responsible. The sunset was absolutely stunning, pinks, purples, reds and blues - lost the back end slightly at one point, possibly due to cloud gazing!

Was on the KTM 400 - loving it, have I switched allegiance even if I can't touch the ground when it's upright! The Honda is still stiff (?) and has gone for some magic intervention from Martin at TorqueRacing.

In the flat light, I couldn't see the lumps, bumps and ruts and therefore truly relied on my training and belief in my ability.

It was fantastic, at one point I was aware that I was looking just ahead of where I was at rather than properly ahead and I remembered breakfast some time back with Ross Noble and he said " always make sure you look where you're going, that's where you'll end up and the bike will take you". At that particular moment I was traversing some yukky hard ruts and thought, okay let's plan ( as per Si Pavey's advice) and look where I'm headed, gave it a bit of throttle too, just because and voila! Huge grin in helmet, then a deer appeared, several bunnies, a hare and some spooky partridges.

Still not sure of my iron steed in the Pyrenees however slowly but surely, I might just be getting there......

A stiff fork of a Sunday morning......?!

I think the expression could be one step forward, two steps back.

Whilst being all for plans coming together at the last minute, even by my standards, this is cutting it a bit fine!

My (new to me) Honda CRF 250X arrived on Friday - spotless, 4 stroke, push start loveliness in scarlet (matching nails opportunity?!) What with work, life, general stuff I didn't get to ride it properly until this morning.

Team outing; Gary, Mr T and myself (very excited), just as we were setting off, I was thinking, well it's not sublimely different, in fact my riding seems to be just as pants as it's ever been. 'Keep at it, girl' I thought. Novice, as I am after a small amount of road work and onto the byway, I couldn't help pondering why my hands were aching so much and hard as I tried, couldn't seem to stand up properly, or effectively anyway (I need some bar risers too). Of course, it could be that it's sulking - do bikes sulk? I dropped it before I'd even ridden it!

In a straight line all was well, however slow speeds and corners I was finding a tad challenging. Funny moment then ensued, I was in front at this point and was going round the edge of a grassy corner knowing that on other side there were some ruts. Chap appeared coming the other way on a KTM I think, with a bit of a lick on and the slightly horrified look combined with a possible "are you changing course or am I" look in his eyes was priceless! Huhh, I held my line. He was with about 15 or so others, bikes of all shapes and sizes - only a handful said hello or acknowledged ( in fact 4) and there I am telling anyone who will listen that bikers are mostly fabulous and really friendly (the exceptions to that rule were out in Hertfordshire this morning!).

So, back to the Honda. We stopped at a little clearing on the top of a hill with stonking views, there's a couple of banks which I now have the know-how to jump - yeehah! I can't remember if it was Gary or Mr T that asked if my forks were a bit stiff, I learnt over the front of the bike and pushed. "Try harder than that","I am trying" I replied - nothing! They had a go, nothing. To say I had stiff forks would be the understatement of the year, no wonder I'd been struggling.

I hopped onto the KTM - Mr T's 400- cripes - what a difference! I'll ride this thanks and I did. Mr T rode the Honda from then on and back home, didn't enjoy the fight by all accounts. I rode the KTM, my new best friend (BFF!). The good news however, is that now I know I'm progressing, hitherto, I felt so intimidated by the KTM, too heavy, too high. I had oodles of fun on it this morning. I even got a bit of air - a proper jump on it (both wheels)!

Last leg of the trip, situation normal, I was bringing up the rear as it were. Stopped at a main road where the Icknield Way crosses it, there was a stream of road-bikers, they all said hello, nodded etc, there were one or two rather aesthetically pleasing leather/ kevlar clad backsides too?! Devil's in the detail!

The boys were considering whether the bike was indeed even run in, it's not yet done 200km. Oh well, if I leave today I'll reach Biarritz in time and the Honda should be run in too!

Hopefully, Martin of TorqueRacing will work his magic otherwise I might yet be riding the Pyrenees on the GasGas!

16 days to go, more wonderful donations in last week for GOSH and KidsCo and I think I can almost, nearly call myself a bit of a biker, albeit one with dodgy forks!!

Who ate my sandwiches?

Out with Donna today for a day's fun in the sand. Brilliant! Lots of aha moments. Yet another learning curve..... - yeehaa and only dropped it the once!

Had a bit of tantrum this morning, tears (thanks waterproof Dior for not turning me into an Alice Cooper lookalike!), swore (a bit?!) and nearly stomped off! However, was in a wood with lots of twisty turny (technical term?) track and lots of gnarled roots so where exactly I would have stomped off to, I'm not entirely certain - but at the time it seemed like a possible plan! The reason for this tantrum was that I'd stalled the GasGas once or twice ( or .......) and in kick starting it again discovered that there was pure nothing under my left foot which is a bit pants for stability!

Tantrum over, my first exercise was to get into that powerband over and over and over again. We were at a fabulous track with ascents, descents, sand, woods, trees, woods, more sand, mud, twisty bits, turny bits and quite a dollop of sharp turns.

The GasGas and I were probably more together today than we've ever been - it's all coming together, getting in that power band doesn't actually last that long until you need to change up again. What's interesting is that I can feel it now too, as well as hearing it - what I mean is that I know when I need to power on, change up, down or plain rev the 'whatnots' off it! Not sure that's a bikey expression but hey ho. You'll spot in one of the photos just a tiny bit of 'air'! Yippee!

Had a few angry moments today, cross with myself, which when channelled effectively is power itself however as neuroscience will confirm, when anxiety kicks in, it's almost impossible to perform at peak, be it on a bike, a stage, as a leader.....

Donna got a bit cross for an entirely different reason today. During our lunch stop we were chatting about something or other and Donna went back to her bag to get her second sandwich and it had mysteriously disappeared! During the accusations & fall out that that ensured, a rather portly labrador appeared looking slightly guilty with a gently wagging tail. A canine opportunist. Tee hee!

Carpe diem....

Seize the day!

Taken a slightly different route with the blog today. Inspired by the words on this poster......

Pondering going out of a comfort zone, thinking about the aged expression 'you'll never know what you can do, if you always do what you've always done' .....all around whether I need a new bike with less than a month to go.....I've made a decision.

The GasGas still intimidates me slightly, however, in my work as an executive coach, I know that a few well chosen words have the power to inspire, enable and ignite that extra little spark that is often the turning point between succeeding or not. Equally, a few poorly chosen words can serve to undermine, discourage or completely extinguish that little spark in some-one that makes the difference.

It's ultimately about how we feel and using our drive and ambition to strive to greatness, mindful of those few well chosen words to help us on our way.

I've been so privileged along this journey to have been given a few well chosen words by a number of wonderful people and I thank you all so much for those (the less well-chosen, I'm choosing to park!). Simon Pavey & Chris Evans have said that they believe I can undertake this off-road challenge on the GasGas - and Simon Pavey has observed me on a bike, first hand, so know's exactly where I'm at - it wasn't a particularly good sight a month or so back either! Thanks to his tuition it's prettier now!

So 'seizing the day (by the cojones - as lovely mate added earlier today(!)) - I'm using the courage and guts definition.?!. ... that's where I'm at and tomorrow I'm going offroad for the day on the GasGas to an enduro track with Donna and a photographer will be there too.....?!:

Are you seizing your day?

Shall I wear it to bed?!

Cyril Despres's signed riding shirt has arrived! It's very cool! You may recall it got delayed on route from Andorra to Cambridgeshire prior to the auction.

I'm wondering if I should wear it from now until September - some of Cyril's expertise and karma might transfer from the shirt? Perhaps I'll wear it to bed...... whatever works.....?!

Went out last night (not in Cyril's shirt, if the winning bidder is reading - a bit - okay very muddy round here).

I'm definitely getting the hang of the GasGas, another aha moment last night, when giving it some welly, if I'm all over the front of it, standing or sitting, it doesn't feel like it's going to unceremoniously dump me in whatever might be nearby. Hoorah!

Still umming and erring over whether to get a 4 stroke 250.....the push start and smooth power delivery is very appealing! Watch this space.......off to find some mud.. !

24 hours counting.......and I've found it!

Just got a copy of Scenes of a Sexual Nature - with Ewan MacGregor (Charley's mate), Hugh Bonneville et al signed by Ed Blum the Film Director for the auction. His next movie is just on the horizon and if it gets the green light and the cast I've heard about, there may be an Oscar on the horizon! Thanks Ed.

So, 24 hours to go, Cyril's shirt is still somewhere between Andorra and Cambridgeshire - nothing is insurmountable ?! The BloodHound SSC print looks fabulous, got it framed yesterday.

Very excited, if a tad nervous ....situational normal for me then!

I have found the powerband on the GasGas and I'm very excited about that! I had a great chat yesterday with Chris Evans (who looks after Cyril Despres, the Dakar and writes a very funny column in TBM) and I was just relaying my concerns about the GasGas and maybe getting something a little less - err lively - err with electric start....! Seems getting a 4 stroke 250 of some sort - could be considered an easier option? ' Are you likely to carry on riding off-road after this trip, said Chris, 'is the Pope Catholic?' I replied. I'm completely smitten!

In that case, he said, keep with it and you'll learn a lot from it.

So, last night I went out for a few hours in search of the elusive powerband, I found it, I understand, I really understand - breakthrough - and you do have to get on it to keep it down - hurrah! There's hope for the girl yet! So, off to mess about in some sand next week with Donna. Oo - shall I re-word that, off for some dirk-bike training in some sandy terrain with Donna Gray former British Champ next week and if I mess up completely, I'll ponder the soft/ easier option!

And in case I hadn't mentioned it?! :)

See you tomorrow night at The Queen Adelaide in Croydon, Cambs, SG8 0DN - looking forward to it.....

Oh deer!

The shirts arrived today for the challenge - they're fabulous. Thanks so much Lee and Lisa at BRP imports. Beginning to look more and more like I know what I'm doing - I'm still working on the knowing and doing what I'm meant to be knowing and doing!

Took the Gasser for a spin this evening, new clutch - fab - and as Donna suggested 'you need to get it in the power band, Kate and feel it' - so that was my mission for this evening. Had a great time, loved riding it. Am I going a bit soft? I think I may have missed it whilst it was having said clutch fixed.

On my travels this evening a little Muntjac deer ran across the road, Gwyn at BMW OffRoad school would have been proud, I stopped - rather sharpish - and didn't lock anything up! Yippee. Being taken out by a deer of a Tuesday evening isn't necessarily my idea of bliss....come to that, probably not the Muntjac's idea of bliss either! I slowed up a bit then as deer rarely travel alone!

And if there were any further testament needed that I'm improving, I got 'the nod' a couple of times this evening from other bikers - a chap on a 'blade and another on a Ducati. Progress indeed, I'm obviously taking a dominant position on the road and 'look like' I know what I'm doing, as opposed to 'eejit with new bike and no clue' of a few months back. Whoopee!

Pressure cooker excitement building for the auction, 4 days to go.........

Getting my rocks off.......and tea at The Goring for GOSH and KidsCo

My toes don't ache! Everything else does though.........quite a lot!

I've just returned from an amazing time training with Tamsin Jones, one of only two British women to complete the Dakar. Tamsin runs www.blackdeserttraining.com in Wales with Craig Bounds and she generously offered to give me some tuition.

Could this possibly have been my best day yet! My steed for the day was a Yamaha (sorry not a complete biker yet - can't remember the model - it was blue ?!). A 250cc(?) 4 stroke; lovely smooth power delivery, forgiving and goodness it helped me achieve all sorts of terrain and going that a month ago I would have baulked at and frankly wandered off to find the nearest bus stop!

First we rode out of the valley to the Welsh mountains. If one thing would make me relax into the riding, it was the scenery, it is breathtaking.

We started off with some basic bike control and techniques, lots of slow work and standing up on the bike properly. Tamsin is incredibly encouraging. We talked about dealing with nerves, breathing correctly, relaxing on the bike and getting those shoulders down! Talked about belief in the bike too, the bike can do it. Like anything in life, if you're relaxed or at least free to move without tension, you perform so much better.

Then the excitement started!

We started off with ruts, sitting through them, standing through them - then ensued the first off - one of those flicky off jobs!

Next exercise was steep ascents. We stopped on a gravelly path and Tamsin told me that just a little further was a right hand turn and a steep ascent. It was cunningly disguised with some fluffy green and innocent luscious looking ferns!! Tams re-iterated trusting the bike, let it do its job and power on up the slope looking ahead and above. Well, bloomin nora, this particular ascent was not only very steep but covered in rocks, the smallest being about the size of a football! Cripes! I did it though! Wow! Then at the top had to brake rather sharpish where Tams was waiting and a steep descent in a load of squishy mud appeared, arghhh.....but managed that too.

I think I rode from one side of Wales to the other along ruts - okay, it was probably a mile or so, at the time however it felt like at least the width of a country! The ruts were of the narrow variety and with incredibly sticky, squelchy, squerchy mud - Shrek would have loved it!

Next a wood, it was raining by now, lots of slippery pine needles and tree roots. I came around one quite tight tree-lined bend feeling 'well chuffed' and then spotted three rather slippy and awkward looking tree roots. Arghh - so remembered the techniques - no sudden braking, maintain the throttle, pull in the clutch slightly and look where you're going - planning! I did it and in my sheer excitement and exuberance I think I must have looked down so that's where I ended up next. oop! We then did lots of trails, woods, water, slippery rocks, big rocks. Discovered that my boots leak - lost count of the number of water starts I did.

Funnily enough, there's lots of sheep on the mountains and it would appear that they either ignore the bikes completely or come straight at you skipping and seemingly larking about. They're bonkers, I thought, and then thought - hmm - pots and kettles?!

Tams kept the pressure on and the pace up all day, we had a lovely lunch stop and once or twice stopped to take some pics - in truth I just needed a breather. She is very positive and enthusiastic and didn't tell me too much about some of the stuff I was going to tackle which was great, no time to faff about or worry - just on and at it! Just after lunch we did some steep descents and played around with control on steep loose surfaces and braking. Then did a momentum exercise over a fallen stone wall - loose surface - understatement of the year. Nearly bottled that one ....but didn't hurrah!

Then did some hill starts on aforementioned steep rocky ascent - success ( bit of cussing and unscheduled stalls but did it).

The afternoon as Tams described it; ' some nice trail rides across the other side of the mountain' . Ooo I thought, excellent, I can chill and enjoy the view for a bit - wrong! More ruts, rocks, more rocks, water, more rocks, ruts, mud, more mud, water, rocks ......there's a pattern forming. Mid-afternoon, we were riding through a farm and a huge cow dawdled out onto the track ahead of us. It was sort of sashaying down the track so that we couldn't overtake, very amusing. If I could have stopped and hugged that cow, I would have. A little rest whilst behind a swaggering cow's backside was oddly a nice little reprieve!

At one point, I'd stalled (again) on the edge of a rut, a rock and well fresh air and I could see the next gate we were going to just around a corner next to a field of sheep - that should be a nice little grassy track to the gate I thought. Wrong again, more rocks, water, green looking rocks - that definitely means slippy. Hours and miles and it was truly fantastic, achieved riding over terrain that a month ago a girly tantrum would have ensued for sure! Tams shouted over, 'if you can do this Kate, the Pyrenees will be easy', I was thinking, if I can do this, anything life throws at me will be easy!

Thanks Tamsin for pushing me way beyond my comfort zone and out the other side and for the endless support, smiles and generosity. Thanks Craig too. The Pyrenees is now truly in my sights!

Fabulousness Auction update;

Traditional Afternoon Tea at The Goring Hotel (where Princess Catherine stayed with her family the night before her marriage to Prince William) - get those bids in!

In this pic - end of day and soo exhausted it's silly! Not however as exhausted as the guys who did the Romaniacs! Wow! Well done Ross!

PS. test rode another bike yesterday evening..........watch this space!

Mishap with a tree, a steep slope and a GasGas......

Out with excellent tutor Donna Gray today, former British Champion which was tops! I'm without doubt improving, though that's not withstanding that I still have a long way to go.

Donna as always was pushing my boundaries of comfort and encouraging me, even had me riding with one foot off the pegs for steering from centre point of one's bike purposes. Might have looked like I was trying ride like a flamingo but most importantly I could do it - it's just like using your weight appropriately when riding a horse.

In the photos, you'll see Donna showing how it's done and me well .....showing how it's not?! Answers on a postcard to what might be going on.....behind the tree!

Breakfast discussions with Ross Noble, Billy, Ian, various (many) others and a bit of heart-to-heart with Donna today, much as I love the GasGas, to use an equestrian colloquialism, I may have over-horsed myself! The GasGas is at optimum performance at a particular power band, it's not torquey so one has to keep it revving and it does go (off the proverbial shovel)! Of course that sometimes means wheelies if your weight isn't in the right place to keep the front end down. Now whilst wheelies are fun, when one's learning - they're a tad unnerving, I don't do them to order you understand, but I do them!

So, off very early for two days training tomorrow with Tamsin Jones, one of only two British Women to complete the Dakar - very excited if a little nervous!

Currently watching 60 years of Formula One and John Surtees just commented that you do become as one with your car and it talks to you. He was world champion on 2 and 4 wheels! Mr T drily commented 'you need to be at one with your bike, Mrs T'! Hmmm - I do indeed (I was always at one with my sadly departed 17'2 thoroughbred - he went like the proverbial and had a particular power delivery to work within too!!) The GasGas intimidates me a tad. Oddly enough, I actually believe deep down that I can complete the challenge on the GasGas however there is a massive confidence thing going in my ability, I'm reticent to let it get into that power band too much. Has life gone full circle? I felt just the same when I got Buns, aforementioned chestnut throughbred, green and unschooled from the racecourse...!? And of course on a thoroughbred, the option to close the throttle ........just isn't there!!!

I shall ponder the GasGas on my return........

Taking a dominant position........

In the course of my journey to ride over the Pyrenees for GOSH and KidsCo on an off-road bike, it didn’t really occur to me that road riding might be part of the learning curve. That said, I think a number of things didn’t occur to me; the terrain in the Pyrenees, the expertise required to ride off-road well, and of course being able to ride a motorbike in the first place!! Detail never was a strong point…..though always been strong on optimism..?!

So, yesterday I went out for a few hours on the road on a BMW G650GS with Ian Biederman from ART in Royston www.absoluteridertraining.co.uk. Found my road gloves, dusted off my helmet (well okay removed it, spotless as I’d left it, from it’s cover!). As you can imagine, as per usual, my nerves were running high. I mentioned this to Ian and he calming replied ‘I know, I thought you might be, no problem’, thus instantly diminishing a fair chunk of nerves and making me feel better.

Being back on the BMW was great and after a slightly hesitant off – away we went and I really relaxed into it. Ian and I were linked up by radio. He has a very calm and encouraging voice and talked me through every junction and feature of the road, which was brilliant. Ian is an absolutely superb instructor.

We stopped for tea – all very civilized, and in amongst my novice skillset, one thing I really need to sort is taking a dominant position on the road. Taking command of one's space and position, in the same way that we can use our body language powerfully in life or in a given situation makes a huge difference, it’s the same on the road! That makes sense. So, taking a dominant position was my task for the next few hours – fantastic! Throttle control getting better, poor clutch no longer being dropped with abandon and looking where I’m going. I've discovered this is particularly effective when going around tight roundabouts or tricky bends, that is unless you want to end up on the roundabout or in a flowerbed or hedge! When Ian was talking me through the features to look out for on a lovely country road with lots of bends and turns, I did recall Ross Noble saying to me - look where you’re going Kate and the bike will go there.I even touched 60mph at one point - yes really (and legally)!

So, from early angst in the week and shall we say variable confidence lurking, despite knowing that it’s now 1 month and 3 weeks to the trip or 43 days, not that I’m counting or panicking you understand…?!, It’s all coming together.

And if taking a dominant position is the way to go , I’m not about to disagree…….. !

Feel the fear.........

......and do it anyway.

That was the title of the bestseller and

so goes the expression..... Am feeling the fear for sure and whilst I have to say I'm enjoying the experience, it's for sure one of the steepest learning curves of my life and I'm perhaps finding it both very hard and tremendously exciting in equal measures. It's just under eight weeks until we go. Burst into tears today - something I don't do generally, lovely mate was there with tea and shoulder which was just what I needed. Thanks Caromy.

Whilst I'm finding this particular moment in the journey incredibly hard, this week I'm guest blogger for the GOSH blog http://greatormondstreethospitalcharity.wordpress.com/ Earlier this evening I was reading the heart-wrenching and amazing stories of the courage, bravery, love and steadfastness of children, parents and guardians alike. Truly humbling, inspiring and uplifting in the most difficult, challenging and tragic of situations. All the money that has been raised so far makes such a difference to the children at GOSH & KidsCo. The auction is two weeks away and counting.....

So, I am doing it anyway, not that I ever wasn't dear reader, I was just having a 'moment', feeling the fear perhaps!

As you will see from the pics, I have my leathers - I've always wanted some leathers and they smell great. However, didn't get them for smelling, obviously - just need the boots to go with. Don't know what 'Mary, Queen of Shops' would say but the bike shop in which I wanted to make a couple of purchases was shut when I ventured out, always shut on a Monday apparently! Bother!

The GasGas went to its first show (with me anyway) The Litlington Fete Bike Show; spot the odd one out - in the photo.. It was in a glorious line up of shiny, gleaming hogs, sportsbikes, roadsters.... lots of bike enthusiastic fabulousness. I said to Gary, I was a tad mortified that I'd turned up with a rather muddy bike. 'Authentic' was his response - I'm all for authenticity, so hurrah to that! I'd also mixed my own fuel! Thanks Martin, www.torqueracing.com and Donna for the advice. There's hope for the old girl yet?!

On another petrol heady note, The European Cannonball run set off yesterday and I was invited to the off -how excitingly exciting - wasn't sure eight year old and two year old would have been quite as keen as their Mum however!

Biketruck Billy, www.biketruck.com and Jayson Sticking are in a Dodge Viper (love those cars 8.3 litre, 400bhp - lots of oomph - technical term?!). How cool is that! Anyway.... Pyrenees, bikes, practice, determination.....

So, road riding, which will generally help my bike confidence along the way, on Wednesday. Between now and then I need to get some boots from a retailer that's open for business?

GasGas is getting a new master cylinder or is it a slave? Talking of slaves - I was with a client this morning, who I think quite inadvertently made me laugh lots. Been chuckling since, but then maybe that's a warped sense of humour?!.

I was telling him about the challenge, the auction, he also suggested a mid life crisis - but we've covered that! Anyway, he said ' Oh, auctioning, 'Slaves for the day, that sort of thing?'.

Well, no actually, but there's a thought.......

So, if anyone's game.........?

A GasGas isn't a GS ........

.......and I was really rather taken with the BMW G650GS that I rode in Wales at Si Pavey's offroad school .......and still can't stop talking about it to whoever will listen! My gorgeous sister, Elly, got the ins and outs of everything today whether she wanted them or not - thanks Elly!

This evening, I went out with Gary to tackle a rather steep chalk descent which previously I had considered to be way, way beyond my ability (to be fair it probably was). However, with lots of support from Gary and my new found skills from the two day course in Wales - I did it! There is another steeper and longer to tackle but baby steps and all that! Big whoop inside my helmet.

The photo doesn't really capture it - sort of a lip at the top and you can't actually see where you're going until you're there, as it were. I was however looking to where I was going (that's progress!) rather than at the ground I was on.

Not sure that the GasGas is performing at peak - I know that the clutch is grabbing but something else might be going on too. Stalled mid-hill going upwards and thought aha - I can turn the bike round as per my new found skills, however the clutch was having none of it, so Gary did it instead! Thanks Gary.

Appear to be not pulling very well either - oh dear that's disappointing!?! Being one who is learning but doesn't really know enough about the engine (yet) will have to consult my 'spanner'! Operator error aside, which happens often, it would transpire that very possibly one or two things are going on beyond my control and certainly not helping my mastery of the offroad art.

Very excited that next week, I'm going on road with Ian Biederman at ART in Royston for some on road time and on a GS650. Yippee! Just need leathers to arrive and road boots - unless I spend a few hours in first gear (can't change up in my offroad boots?!) - which isn't funny or clever! Teehee.

Midlife excitement!!!

I think I'm turning into a bit of a biker - okay not of the fast variety, I'm working on that - but it's got under my skin for sure!

Had a slightly shortened outing today as it transpired that a local sponsored ride was out and whilst most horses and their owners have no problem with offroad bikes, some have fizzy fits extraordinaire (the horses that is -well mostly anyway)! I've been out several times since the awesome training in Wales. It's all beginning to come together (at last!!) as Linley, Si Pavey's wife, predicted it would.

Getting faster, have a lovely visual image of Billy (Ward - currently working on the Africa project with Charley Boorman) , riding next to me, side saddle as he was in Wales, urging me on. An inspiration if ever there was!

Si would be impressed, I hope, with my vastly improved use of the clutch - yippee - and my figures of eight and circles on full lock (yes full lock!) are really quite pleasing.

Apparently however I'm having a mid life crisis! Was at a really lovely wedding reception on Saturday night and neighbours gorgeous daughter (well I used to think she was gorgeous!!) in her twenties, on hearing about my learning to ride a motorbike antics, said ' Kate, are you having a midlife crisis' ! At just off my twenties myself (?!???*) how could I possibly? That said, if this is a crisis, it's a very exciting one!

Nearly, ran out of fuel today. Bike started sounding funny (technical term) then I realised that it might have been the air it was struggling to run on without the fuel mixture! Oop! Next time I shall reach down, mid trajectory, flick the fuel switch to reserve and roar off. Haha ......

This week Tamsin Jones called me who is a bit of a legend, one of only two British women to complete the Dakar...... how stonkingly exciting, I shall be riding with her in Wales in a few weeks time - more on that to follow.

Won an eBay bid for some leathers today - they'll be no stopping me soon....... which as it is for such an important causes, Great Ormond Street Hospital and KidsCo is superb!

An ungainly stop in front of Steve Parrish, advice from Ross Noble and some serious training from Si Pavey!

How did I (as you know a biker of six months) come to an ungainly stop in front of Steve Parrish (MotoGP commentator) and Marc Potter (MCN editor) and end up training with Si Pavey (5 times Dakar winner) in Wales at the suggestion of Ross Noble (very funny man) in order to ride over the Pyrenees with Chris Evans (not of Radio 2)?

The pressure is on and I'm training with Si Pavey 8 times Dakar competitor at the BMW offroad school in Wales this weekend. Mr T is home alone with the girls. I have to admit, I'm freaking out ever so slightly - well I'm nervous anyways. Got a lovely new camelback today (to carry drinks) from Martin and Donna and am sitting here wondering whether water will be strong enough to calm said nerves. I'll be riding a BMW G 650 GS , the biggest bike I've ever ridden is hubby's KTM 400 XC!

You may remember, I came to a rather ungainly stop in the gravel car park of The Queen Adelaide pub in Cambridgeshire. This particular piece of rather inadequate bike handling was in front of not only Steve Parrish (the MotoGP commentator), but also Ross Noble (top comedian and biker), Marc Potter(editor of MotorcycleNews), Billy Ward, working on the Big Africa project with Charley Boorman and many other good and great of the biking world.

Unable to be beamed up in embarrassment or spontaneously combust, I parked up without a spill (just) and was tempted to keep my helmet on!

It was then that Ross Noble quietly suggested that some time with Si Pavey for some serious off road training might be a top idea. So when the opportunity presented itself, I panicked mildly and took it!

As an executive coach, I understand the need to harness both one’s confidence and positivity with technical/ professional expertise and capability. Confidence alone will only get one so far in any environment, be it leading a world class organisation or riding a bike. And my skills and capability on an off road bike are currently still lacking. As Ross Noble will testify!

The reason for all this, as you know, is to be able to ride over the Pyrenees with Chris Evans who works with Cyril Despres, one of the top enduro riders on the planet to raise £7500 for Great Ormond Street Hospital and KidsCo.

Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) will always be important after our eldest daughter was admitted for a benign lipoma in 2005.

Yippee! Little update; we have raised just shy of £3500 through kind donations and also sponsors of logos on the bikes, including Royston-based, GB Racing, Special Little People, a company specialising in aromatherapy for children, Esse Retail and Spa in Melbourn, Torque Racing and Stevenage-based Werx and ZeroNineMX . Support has also been given by OceanOne boutiques in the West Country, DawsonVAServices in Newcastle and Eagle Performance.

The fundraising auction for this challenge is on 30th July at the Queen Adelaide in Croydon. Thanks Michelle for so kindly hosting it. We now have some fab signed childrens books, The Tygrine Cat series by Inbali Iserles.

The next blog after two intensive days of training will either be elation or the polar opposite. I may need to lie in a darkened room for an hour or two and probably may have one or two tender spots!

Halfway there and botox for bikes?!

The GasGas isn't a new motorbike however now it has new plastics and graphics with logos of the companies and people that have generously sponsored and helped us so far, it looks not only fantastic but years younger! Hmm - like a bit of that myself! Botox for bikes!!?
A few firsts yesterday, we went to the Royston & District Motorcycle Club Show in Meldreth

I rode there and Gary kindly escorted me on his bike (bit of angst - situation normal - had set in). The two bikes were logo'd up and we were putting them on the TorqueRacing stand. I got overtaken by a classic Triumph on the way - teehee. When we arrived I was quite humbled, don't think I've ever seen quite so many bikes and I was certainly aware of my limited bike experience - didn't embarrass myself though or Gary (to my knowledge!!). There was everything there; hogs, roadsters, sports bikes, scooters, cruisers, a stunning Ducati desmosedici and of course enduros! Thank you to Mark Coningsby for the interview and letting everyone know what we're up to!

We are now halfway through this journey and have 2 1/2 months to go, I purposely haven't counted up potential training days for reasons of remaining calm.

So big list of thanks to; Donna Gray, former champion, and my trainer (keeps me smiling), Martin Wittering of Torque Racing for keeping my bike 'fit', Jim Gale at Werx for the graphics and plastics, Enduroland for being on their site and their constant support and motivation on practice days, Michelle at The Queen Adelaide for hosting the auction (don't forget 30th July), Dave Newman at Supremebeing for the challenge Tshirts for the auction and making us 'cool' in the process, Martin at Schoolyard for printing the challenge T-shirts. Billy Ward, Graham Banks of GB Racing for sponsorship and donation of the British Superbike Passes for the auction, The Wendy House, Ocean One, Special Little People, Steve Parrish for MotoGP goodies for the auction, Eagle Performance, Dawson VA services, Sally, Serena & Steff at Esse Retail & Therapy for their endless encouragement especially on the 'what am I doing?' type days!! So many thanks to all those who have very generously donated.

And of course to Gary for tips, techniques and buckets of patience, Caroline (Gary's Mrs) for so much encouragement, Mr T for limitless supplies of support, putting up with me and gently assisting (occasionally shoving) me out of my comfort zone and for lots of cheerleading and support from my sis, Elly and the girls.

And I rode in the dark too - not far mind, but a first!

We're at c£3500 in fundraising so here's to the next stage.

Lust and glitter........

I was thrilled to be asked to be a guestblogger this week on the

Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital blog http://greatormondstreethospitalcharity.wordpress.com/ - another first!

Lusting after the paint job (honest?!) on the Triumph Speed Triple that Ross Noble rode from one tip of the UK to t'other for Riders for Health, I was delighted to hear that Esse, one of our fabulous supporters of the challenge, offer glorious glittery Shellac nails. Perfect for bikers! Especially those lusting after.......

On more important matters, since my tuition with Gary at the weekend, I've been on the bike every day since - a record. On Mr T's bike to be precise. It still phases me a tad mostly because it's heavy, a 400EXC 4 stroke. Possibly also because it's a bit grotchety when first out of the garage and not yet warmed up - bit like me in the morning! However, it's all practice and if I can manoeuvre that particular beasty in a figure of eight, the GasGas should be easy, apart from the blipping the throttle bit, which you don't really need to do on the 4 stroke.

From all this slow work on heavy bike I'm developing all sorts of muscles in my legs and boy my stomach muscles ached yesterday.

I've practiced all the techniques that Gary shared; ascents, descents, lots of figures of eight and little right hand circles (yeuk - not good at them) got some air again of the top of the hill- teehee. I was enjoying it too, even if the thumping in my heart indicated otherwise once or twice.

Then as an extra boost, albeit unplanned, a couple of eejits had somehow managed to get their car (what it was doing on the byway I have no idea) stuck on something and was blocking the way rather. In fact it wasn't blocking the way, it was blocking my way, my usual route that is! So, on heavy bike I went through a little gap with a big lumpy bit in the middle, a concrete slab, a muddy puddle and a thorny bush and aforementioned car to my right. A scenario that would ordinarily have rendered a stop on my part and help from one of the boys or another way to go. Either way, a mishap would potentially have been expensive. As Mick Andrews said in a trials video (vintage technology) that we've borrowed from Gary, it's often all in the head, the difference between a successful manoeuvre and one less so.

I did it!

There's hope for the old girl yet or perhaps it was just a spot of fairy magic from my glittery biker nails. Positive psychology! Whatever works eh....!