Wheels and Waves-Biarritz 2012

I'm finally by a computer again, and this entire time I don't feel I've given you all a decent picture of this event that happened three weeks ago on the Atlantic ocean in southern France, within view of Spain and the Pyrannes mountains.

Right now the entire custom scene in the U.S. is probably still feeling the hangover and buzz from the Born Free show in southern California, but for me, I can't stop thinking about this event in France. I'm glad it was not even close to the size of some of the other events in Europe and the U.S. I felt that I was able to witness the beginning of a new custom scene, gathering here at this show. There were less than four Harleys there, but one needs to understand that if you don't have one, or most likely can't afford one here in Europe, this is what you do. If you are really about the machine, then your passion for the bike itself outweighs all stereo-types and molds. We have the bike scene from the 60's and 70's to look back at and pull ideas from. These guys have a real race history here, but I don't think much of a custom scene, so they are doing it themselves, and I got to see the early stages of this here!

I love my bike and the style it represents. I want to build another one, replecating even more aspects of our Northern California/Bay Area blood line. But I was blown away by all the really cool shit that showed up for this event. And like I said, we went on two rides, and both times we rode the living shit out of our machines. These things blew minds, and the wheels off!

So my plan was to put a post on here with links to all the sites and pictures, but Vincent from the Southsiders did this already. Here is the link to his page, check it out. Southsiders

 

                                  



On´the coast heading south to Spain, top
Niko (UK), Ben (New Zealand) and yours truly (California) Fucking tight pack!
Huge thanks to Vincent and the rest of the Southsiders


Photos: Sam Christmas and Benoit Guerry

Swapmeet

2nd annual Swap Meet september 29th. Estes Customs.  Parts,Food,Bands,Booze,Camping,Choppers,Hot Rods.      
 More details and Flyer to come soon

A Couple from the Road

Whitby Abbey, UK

Thanks Gaz



No Easy Days

It's expected that shit will just go wrong on an old bike, with no regards to how much money you spent, how much time it took you to put it together or how many bikes you've built in the past. If you ride your motorcycle, shit will happen.
This has become a common theme for all of my trips here in Europe. It's either the bike, the weather or me that is failing at some level.
Example would be almost every morning in northern France, I spent the first 20 minute of the day digging through the tool bag. Minor problems, but still problems.
Finally it had seemed things had worked themselves out, but on my way to Toulouse, several weeks later, the bike ran great, but as I had said before, I ran into some of the worst weather to date on this trip. I didn't mention, that I had also ran out of fucking gas 3 times that day, as I navigated back roads and short cuts in an effort to avoid the shitty weather.
Ok, plan your stops better, no problem. So last weekend, going to Chimay, we pulled into town, easy ride, no weather, no problems, and the group got separated. I decided to go and catch the stragglers, and told them to pull off and I'll explain directions. As I am giving them these very directions, the bike sat idling, and unbeknownst to me, was rolling backward down the street, until it finally fell over. Fucking mother fucker.
So at the end of a problem free day, I still had to find a welder and fix my carb support and sissy bar. The air filter was replaced a couple days later. And so, now it's back to usual, with shitty weather, more long days and who knows what will be next.
But with all this being said, I would do every day again, and would actually be worried if nothing ever went wrong! If it was easy, every poser would do it. And if you see me on the side of the road, pull over and give me a beer! See you out there

Chimay

Well survived another show. Chimay was huge, expensive, but also really cool. Lots of people to talk to, cool drags and some good live music. The weather held out for exactly one day, Saturday, and made up for lost time for Sundays ride to Antwerp. I think I'm still drying out.
Here for the next couple of days, doing some badly needed maintenance and repairs on the bike, and then it's off to Bayern for the next couple of weeks. Won't make Linkert Attacks unfortunately, but I think this opens up some rides into Italy and Switzerland.

Back in Luxembourg, off to Chimay

Only minor rain on the ride back north from Biarritz. A couple of really nice stops, good roads, and besides getting lost, bike ran good. New tire this morning, and off to Belgium.

Wheels and Waves, Biarritz France

It was a nice contrast in the motorcycle scene going from Bottrop one weekend, and then riding down to this show on the Atlantic coast.
A lot of really nice bikes, something representing every genre of motorcycle culture, sorry chopper guys, I was your poster boy here. Of course great drinks and food, but unlike the other events I've been to, we ended up in the road twice for some day rides. Both went into the mountains and into Spain. And both were full throttle, in and out of curves, traffic, and the sun and rain.
Great weekend, great friends, great time.

Last couple of stops

I left Bottrop in the sun, but quickly left that behind as I crossed into Luxembourg and then France. My destination was real close to Dijon, in the south east. Unfortunately I ended up in the back of Michels truck only about 30 minutes from a hot dinner and wine at Roberts house. But that night my bike was not going to be the final victim. Blown head gasket on the truck caused Robert to tow the whole circus through the French countryside in the middle of the night and rain.
I got lucky, and a quick fix I was on the road in the morning. Great ride through more country roads the next day with Robert, which of course ended up wet again.
Toulouse was next, and the forecast called for more rain. This leg of my journey was some of the worst weather I had seen so far. I made it though without problems, soaking wet for a stay with Vincent of the Southsiders. One night and it was off to Biarritz and finally some sun!

Bottrop, 2nd try

The flat tire the day before put me right in the middle of every single storm throughout Germany. Sharing the over pass with some other people.

I arrived fully blown away by everything. I think I looked like a child lost in the super market. Thankfully Keith and Rob of Eat Dust saw me standing there, and their parental instincs kicked in and totally took care of me for the entire show.

 On the road with the Berlin Crew. We cruised around, no helmet, yeah!

Myself, Julien and Keith

Looked like hell was coming, but great weather the entire time,

Le Beef and if you can't be a Marine, be a Submarine!

It was great show, with really cool cars and bikes and great people. I dont have any pictures of bikes or cars, I've spent the last 5 weeks on my bike on the road, talking to it, and the mother fucker never says anything. So it was nice to talk and meet all these great  people you only "see"on the internet.
Big thanks to Julien, Michel and the Draggers, Keith and Rob of Eat Dust, Le Beef, Berlin crew, Belgium guys and everyone else along the way.
Already in France, heading to the Atlantic...

Bottrop first attempt

Didn't get far. 50K, then another flat tire. Fucking rediculously hot. Sunbathing in the rain.

Some of the bikes in Bretagne

We ended up staying an extra day with Marco at the beach, so we were able to see everyone rip out of the driveway on their ways home through the rain.

When we meet up with everyone Lorient, there was a pack of about 40 rightous choppers going through the streets. It was a short ride to lunch, which I still fucking ended up on the side of the road for a quick stop, and then it was a cool ride out through the countryside afterwards out to the bay and the final campsite.

Thanks again!