Moto Girl Cafe Interview

A few days ago I had an amazing trans-Atlantic interview with well known Robin Dail in the USA, founder of the cool Moto Girl Café site.  Some very interesting questions!

Here in the article you'll see the connection with the Ace Cafe on my blog and where the idea for the adventure came from - enjoy!

Click below for the full story -
Motogirlcafe.com interview

Photoshoot with Arnie’s Terminator III bike for Triumph Live Summer Festival

A great, fun day yesterday having a few photos taken with the Terminator3 Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Bonneville bike which has been shipped to Jack Lilley’s Triumph dealership ready for Triumph Live on 12 July.  It will be with me for the book signing.  This bike is amazing – the side bags looked like they had special effects explosion equipment inside and the paintwork a real eye-opener and masterpiece in what can be achieved in creating our imagination to go wild for Hollywood films! 

I also received true heartfelt, touching words ... from my sister Lisa who’s just read the book. For some frustrating reason she couldn’t post it onto the Waterstones site so here it is.  And I love Arnold Palmer’s quote – something my father kept in his wallet which made it even more moving ...   

Read this then make your own dream come true ...

The sheer grit and determination of this woman to achieve her dream of riding solo unsupported on a Triumph across America bounces off every page. What engaged me most of all was her character; here was a person whose longest bike trip to date was less than 100 miles now tackling a journey of over 5000 miles!  Most endearing of all was the contradiction of someone with the raw courage to even attempt this coupled with palpable fear and anxiety over some of the big and small challenges the trip threw up.
You essentially want to be on the back of the bike with her and by reading this you are along for the ride. And what a ride! Away from all the predictable routes she always leads us to some fascinating place that she seems to have an unerring sense of discovering. Along the way we are introduced to wonderful characters. Zoe Cano has done all the hard work in pioneering this particular road trip - I suspect many more will want to follow her along these roads less travelled.

For me the spirit of Bonneville Go or Bust is summed up by something Arnold Palmer once said:
 
If you think you're beaten you are
If you think you dare not you don't
If you'd like to win but think you can't it's almost certain that you won't
Life's battles don't always go to the stronger woman or man, but sooner or later those who win are those who think they can
 
Read this, then make your own dream come true. 

  

 

Waterstones distribution of 'Bonneville Go or Bust' 1 day until nationwide release

Waterstones will have the book available from tomorrow, Saturday 31 May - simply click on link below to pre-order or obtain more information.  You can also drop into your local store to order one  -

Ordering 'Bonneville Go or Bust' through WATERSTONES

So Cool it was burning hot - Bike Shed Event at Tobacco Dock, ECI London - 24/25 May

Not exaggerating but this little outing must have just been to one of the coolest, underground events anywhere.  The pictures talk for themselves but set in the old Tobacco Docks in East London, came a gathering of café racer builders from around the UK and Europe were showing off their incredible pieces of work.

These beautiful Bikes looked simply like pieces of Art alongside the iconic wall art including the rare Club 59 black and white photographs displayed on the white barren and metal pillared dock building walls.

And for us mere mortals the sun came out and shone brightly, piercing it’s light through the tall glass windows and onto these beauties with the majestic tall sail ships from another era simply and happily floating next to our parked-up bikes in the quayside.

Champagne bars, cigar rooms and even the hippest tattooed barbers cutting the sleek hair of those stylized guys sitting next to the beauty of the bikes just melted in with the unique atmosphere with everyone on the same wave length – beauty, art, appreciation, freedom.

The Belgian guys from Kruz showed off this great grey bike with a small round ‘ball’ headlight which looked like a lighthouse beacon which you could imagine finding its way through a foggy road.

And of course Triumph had their own ‘art gallery’ with a handful of bikes standing proudly between leather bound sofas and open eyed admirers and a Triumph Live retro wall mural.

It’s just 6 weeks until Triumph Live (www.triumph-live.com) Saturday 12th July at the National Heritage Museum but today has to be the best event anywhere for that cool, hip feel – Coincidentally (or is it) I’d seen that Dave from Oily Rag Clothing was exhibiting with his bikes and great t-shirts – bumped into him when he was being interviewed by Henry Cole and will definitely see each other at Triumph Live.

Out drinking a glass of champers  I was introduced to Blue Miller, Editor of 100% Biker – such a small world – she'd also met the elusive George The Painter from the days when she was editor of the UK Bike Street Chopper Magazine!  Now sounds she has the right life balance – half the year in sunny Arizona and half back in the UK!

“The Bike Shed Motorcycle Club (BSMC) was created when a group of cool guys. Moved by the usual apathy, dis-organisation, and general “we are all individuals” issues around being a motley crew of shed-bike, cafe racer, scrambler and street-tracker riders, these guys decided to combine their infrequent blogs, blags and email banter into a more coherent group blog/glog/mag thing. If actually they did have sheds (well, apparently Adam has got a shed, and Tim & Kev work in one), then they’d metaphorically be in them tinkering or talking bikes whenever they weren’t out riding…”

“…Sheds are where men (and a few hardy women) escape to leave behind the world and all it’s crap. To oogle over metal, oil and fuel, in perfect harmony – where what looks right, is right, and the freedom of two wheels is one of our greatest pleasures” -  @bikeshedmc

Long may it go on – see you at the next one!  But sssssh don’t tell everyone! J

And I look forward to seeing you all at Triumph Live on 8 July for the book signing and world launch of 'Bonneville Go or Bust' ...

 

Book 'Bonneville Go or Bust' receiving amazing reviews

Amazon reviews

Before the official launch and book signing at  Triumph Live 14 (look on the news page),  I'm overwhelmed by the amazing reviews - makes me happy that people from all over are enjoying and getting inspired! Thank you

Triumph Live 2014 - Invited to do the World Book Launch there!

Roller coaster and a half -  Road Dog Publications shipped over the first two boxes of books over last week for me to send out to the UK press before the book is officially launched outside the USA. 
Reviews on the other side of the Atlantic have been great - no better than great - all have given 5 star ratings on Amazon.com.
Finally holding that book felt so sweet!

Dave at Jack Lilley www.jacklilley.com then invites me to book sign on their stand (with a lot more surprises to follow) during the mega prestigious Triumph Live 2014 - the event of the summer attracting over 10 000 people.  This will be the only book launch during their event!

Full details click below on Triumph Live 2014 - Summer Festival Weekend 12 July

Full details on Triumph Live 2014

Book signing 'Bonneville Go or Bust'

on the Jack Lilley Triumph Stand

Retail - Central Area,

Heritage Motor Museum, Gaydon, Warwickshire

 

 

So guys take a look at the event and maybe see you there!  The impossible sometimes can happen!

Yes I did go crazy the day I opened that box of books - had to chew on one to make sure it was for real! :)  Again thank you for your belief in all of this adventure.